You asked a couple things ... which band had the most songs that you can't get out of your head? My answers are the ones where Marr was a part of it.
A good example is the Cribs. Marr only did one album with them but "We Share the Same Skies" is one of my most favorite songs and Marr is the reason why. His influence is obvious on that song. Without him, the Cribs are ... well meh.
I find Modest Mouse to be hit or miss but I like Ship Even Sank the best (although this is not considered MM's best album).
Nonethless, I don't disagree at all with your notion. The combination of Morrisey and Marr are a far greater combination than any of the combos that Marr was a part of.
Here's my top 20 "Johnny Marr" songs ...
1. Some Girls are Bigger Than Others
2. Down on the Corner (The Healers, 7 Worlds Collide)
3. Get the Message (Electronic)
4. The Headmaster Ritual
5. We Share the Same Skies (The Cribs)
6. Bangin On (Healers)
7. Vivid (Electronic)
8. Dashboard (MM)
9. Learn to Crawl (7 Worlds Collide)
10. New Town Velocity (Solo)
11. How Soon Is Now?
12. Bigmouth Strikes Again
13. Sexuality (Billy Bragg)
14. Disappointed (Electronic)
15. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
16. Walking Down Madison (Kristy MacColl)
17. Windows of the World (The Pretenders)
18. Dogs of Lust (The The)
19. Easy Money (Solo)
20. Florida (MM)
To better clarify, I meant which band
that Marr was a part of was the best or had the most songs you couldn’t get out of your head.
The point being (and you got it anyway) that more of your favorite songs were from The Smiths than any other of his bands. It’s not to say he didn’t continue to make good music with his other bands- your list includes good songs from some of his other bands- but the stuff he did with the Smiths... What he came up with at that time together with Morrissey... how those two took their instruments (Marr’s guitar and Morrissey’s voice) and just got out there and created such a wonderfully original sound and so many good songs, it’s just incredible and that was never close to being matched with Marr’s other bands (and obviously not matched with anything Morrissey did since).
Even if you just single out what Marr did while at The Smith’s, it’s so far superior - so much more original than most of what he did afterwards.
I would put at least 15 songs by The Smiths ahead of just about any song either JM or M made since. Heck
Take a listen to any of these below and hear how less safe Marr is. So unexpected. Nothing sounds like anything you’ve heard before. Nothing gets repetitive and boring. Goodness, even just some of his intros here.
Note: This is not necessary my order of favorites.
How Soon Is Now
There is a Light that never goes out
The Headmaster’s Ritual
Please Please Please Let me Get what I Want
Big Mouth Strikes Again
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before
Panic
Asleep
Half a Person
Girlfriend in a Coma
Shoplifters Of The World Take Over
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Ask
I know it’s over
Unhappy Birthday
I Won’t Share You
Heaven knows I’m miserable now
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Hand in glove
Death Of A Disco Dancer (Intro)
Sheila Take a Bow
A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours
This Charming Man
I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish
That Joke isn’t funny anymore
What Difference does it make
Sweet and Tender Hooligan
William it was really nothing
Barbarism Begins at Home
Never Had No one Ever
Oscillating Wildly
Unlovable (a bit of a Billy Bragg sound)
Is it really so strange
Rubber Ring
These Things Take Time
Paint a Vulgar Picture
You Just Haven’t Earned it Yet Baby
Nowhere Fast
Frankly Mr. Shankly
Cemetery Gate
Death At One’ Elbow
What She Said
I Want The One Thing I Can’t Have
London
Back to the Old House
Girl Afraid
Stretch out and wait
Vicar in a Tutu
This night my has opened my eyes
What She Said