Song · The Smiths
“The Headmaster Ritual” by The Smiths
From the album Meat Is Murder (1985)
“The Headmaster Ritual” by The Smiths appears on 12 radio countdowns from 5 stations between 1985 and 2024. It was first released in 1985 on the album Meat Is Murder. Its best result is #29 on the John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1985. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #129 alternative song of 1985 and #1,626 alternative song of all time.
12countdowns
5stations
#29best position
0#1 finishes
0top 10 finishes
1985–2024years charted
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
All Rock Formats
Year-end countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 29 | John Peel (BBC Radio 1) | John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1985 | 50 |
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1406 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) | 2002 |
| 2003 | 600 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) | 2044 |
| 2007 | 781 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) | 2008 |
| 2008 | 733 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) | 2009 |
| 2009 | 751 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) | 2010 |
| 2010 | 769 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) | 2011 |
| 2011 | 776 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) | 2011 |
| 2013 | 768 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) | 2012 |
| 2014 | 745 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) | 2013 |
| 2020 | 1315 | WXPN | WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time | 2020 |
| 2024 | 475 | KEXP | The Best Opening Tracks of All Time | 738 |