24 August 2010

It is with great sadness and regret that the death of Jo O Keefe has been announced this week. Jo's onscreen contribution to The Smiths South Bank Show documentary (1987) was greatly appreciated by The Smiths, and Jo's years of vocational loyalty towards The Smiths will never be forgotten by Morrissey. Jo went on to write for the British television programs EastEnders and Coronation Street. It is understood that Jo, who was 41, has died from an asthma attack.

14 August 2010

1. New York Dolls New York Dolls

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2. Ramones Ramones

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3. Patti Smith Horses

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4. Nico Chelsea Girl

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5. Iggy & The Stooges Raw Power

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6. Sparks Kimono My House

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7. The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat

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8. The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground & Nico

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9. Roxy Music For Your Pleasure

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10. Damien Dempsey Seize The Day

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11. Smoking Popes Born To Quit

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12. Jeff Buckley Grace

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13. Jobriath Jobriath

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11 August 2010

Following the announcement last month of the 20th anniversary Special Edition of Bona Drag, to launch the album the week before EMI will release through the resurrected 1960s Major Minor label, with Morrissey's full cooperation, a special edition of his timeless 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' single.

Originally released in 1988, 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' reached no. 9 on the UK singles chart. The song is one of Morrissey's - if not the - greatest and most-loved English pop singles ever released, in what has proved an inimitable and prolific career, from an artist who has redefined the cultural landscape. Its distinctive opening bass line and stabbing and sweeping strings frame a melancholic, yet uplifting anthemic lament of apocalyptic foreboding, amidst a forgotten seaside town.

Written in language which evokes the poetic prowess of John Betjeman or Philip Larkin, 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' is a gloriously eternal piece of high-pop-art, which has endured to become a favourite of each new generation.

In keeping with the song's pop classicism, it will be made available on two vinyl 7-inch singles – the first with an orange Major Minor label and a rare Morrissey photo on the cover; the second with a red, black and white MM label and range bag - as well as an E-CD and digital download, with all formats featuring previously unreleased songs, including the alternate version of 'November Spawned A Monster', 'November The Second' (E-CD), and an incredibly rare TOTPs performance of 'Everyday Is Like Sunday', which is unavailable anywhere, including YouTube.

All of this has been remastered and overseen by Morrissey himself.

Formats:

- 7-inch single no. 1
A. Everyday Is Like Sunday
B. Trash (live at Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, CA, 1991) (previously unreleased)

- 7-inch single no. 2
A. Everyday Is Like Sunday
B. Everyday Is Like Sunday (live at the Hollywood Bowl, June 8, 2007)
(previously unreleased)

- E-CD single
1. Everyday Is Like Sunday
2. November The Second (previously unreleased)

E-CD section:
Everyday Is Like Sunday (original promotional video)
Everyday Is Like Sunday (on Top Of The Pops, 9th June, 1988) (previously unreleased)

- Digital Download
1. Everyday Is Like Sunday
2. November The Second (previously unreleased)
3. Everyday Is Like Sunday (live at the Hollywood Bowl, June 8, 2007) (previously unreleased)

Following the single's release, on 4th October a remastered 20th Anniversary Special Edition of Bona Drag will be released, with six previously unreleased and much coveted songs from the era:

- Happy Lovers At Last United
(Outtake from 'Sunday' sessions)

- Lifeguard On Duty
(Outtake from Viva Hate sessions)

- Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness (demo)
(Outtake from Viva Hate)

- Oh Phoney
(Outtake from Bona Drag sessions)

- The Bed Took Fire (early version of 'At Amber')

- Let The Right One Slip In (alternate long mix)

This reissue has also been overseen by Morrissey, and will feature updated artwork, hand-picked and rarely-seen photos. It will be available on CD - housed in a gatefold, card sleeve with an eight-page booklet, which will contain the aforementioned photos – and 180g heavyweight vinyl, housed in a wide-spine sleeve with a pull-out poster.

Major Minor Records was started by Radio Caroline manager Phil Solomon. Its truly eclectic roster of artists and singles releases makes it a perfect home for Morrissey. This will be the first release on the label since 1970.

12 July 2010

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, on 27th September, EMI will release through the resurrected 1960s Major Minor label, with Morrissey's full cooperation, a remastered Special Edition of Bona Drag.

Originally released to much acclaim in October 1990, Bona Drag perfectly captures Morrissey's effortless transition in becoming a solo artist. It brings together his exceptional first seven singles, four of which went Top 10: his triumphant Top 5 debut, "Suedehead"; the anthemic, apocalyptic lament to wet seaside towns, "Everyday Is Like Sunday"; "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys"; and "Interesting Drug". The Top 20s "Ouija Board, Ouija Board", "November Spawned A Monster", and "Piccadilly Palare" and a selection of high quality b-sides from the singles complete the album.

The compilation has now been remastered and overseen by Morrissey, and is updated with the addition of six previously unreleased and much coveted songs from the era:

- "Happy Lovers At Last United"
(Outtake from "Sunday" sessions)

- "Lifeguard On Duty"
(Outtake from Viva Hate sessions)

- "Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness" (demo)
(Outtake from Viva Hate, previously covered by Sandie Shaw)

- "Oh Phoney"
(Outtake from Bona Drag sessions)

- "The Bed Took Fire" (early version of "At Amber")

- "Let The Right One Slip In" (alternate long mix)

Directing the artwork for the reissue, Morrissey has chosen to return the cover art - taken from the "November" video - back to its natural colour, so his shirt is black. In addition, he has also decided to update the back and inner artwork with a selection of favourite, hand-picked and rarely-seen photos.

The LP version will be a double heavyweight 180g vinyl, housed in a wide-spine sleeve with a pull-out poster. The CD will be housed in a gatefold, card sleeve with an eight-page booklet, which will contain the aforementioned photos.

Major Minor Records was started by Radio Caroline manager Phil Solomon. Its truly eclectic roster of artists and singles releases makes it a perfect home for Morrissey. These include such esteemed and high-watermark pop classics as:

David McWilliams - Days Of Pearly Spencer
Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg - Je t'aime... moi non plus
Them - Gloria
Tommy James and The Shondells - I Think We're Alone Now & Mony Mony
Taste - Blister On The Moon
July - My Clown
Frazer Hines - Who's Dr. Who?
Malcolm Roberts - May I Have The Next Dream With You
Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing
Karen Young – Nobody's Child
The Dubliners - Seven Drunken Nights

This will be the first release on the label since 1970.

There will be more Morrissey news to come in the next month.

Bona Drag tracklisting (running order subject to change):

1. Piccadilly Palare
2. Interesting Drug
3. November Spawned A Monster
4. Will Never Marry
5. Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference
6. The Last Of The Famous International Playboys
7. Ouija Board, Ouija Board
8. Hairdresser On Fire
9. Everyday Is Like Sunday
10. He Knows I'd Love To See Him
11. Yes, I Am Blind
12. Lucky Lisp
13. Suedehead
14. Disappointed
15. Happy Lovers At Last United (Previously unreleased)
16. Lifeguard On Duty (Previously unreleased)
17. Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness (Previously unreleased)
18. Oh Phoney (Previously unreleased)
19. The Bed Took Fire (Previously unreleased)
20. Let The Right One Slip In (Alternate long mix, previously unreleased)

8 July 2010

photograph of Rick Astley and Morrissey taken backstage at Top Of The Pops in London, February 1989. Morrissey's "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys" and Rick's "Hold Me In Your Arms" were released on the same day, and both charted on their first week of release.

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26 June 2010

Morrissey's summer 2004 Glastonbury Festival set is one of BBC 6 Music's Top 20 Glastonbury performances since the festival was launched in 1970. Listeners voted for the Top 20 from a shortlist compiled by BBC 6 Music. The full Top 20 list is available at www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/.

29 May 2010

According to a BBC press release, the sixth episode of I'm In A Rock 'N' Roll Band will be broadcast on Saturday, 5 June, at 10 p.m. on BBC Two, and will announce the top three favorites in each of the online polls for the series.

As previously posted, the polls include a best singers poll, in which Morrissey is one of the 10 singers shortlisted, and a best bands poll, in which the Smiths are one of the 10 bands shortlisted.

Voting is still open at the BBC website.

Please visit www.bbc.co.uk/rocknrollband/singers/ for details of how to vote for Morrissey, and www.bbc.co.uk/rocknrollband/best-band/ for details of how to vote for the Smiths.

Update: Please note that online voting will close on Thursday, 3 June, at 1:30 a.m. (BST).

The sixth episode of the series will also invite viewers to vote by telephone for favorites in each of the poll categories.

22 May 2010

Morrissey is 51 today. Happy Birthday, Morrissey!

2 May 2010

Morrissey is one of the 10 singers shortlisted in the best singers poll for the new BBC Two series I'm In A Rock 'N' Roll Band. The Smiths are one of the 10 bands shortlisted in the best bands poll for the same series. The BBC compiled the shortlists with the help of a panel of 19 BBC Radio DJs.

Voting is now open at the BBC website.

Please visit www.bbc.co.uk/rocknrollband/singers/ for details of how to vote for Morrissey, and www.bbc.co.uk/rocknrollband/best-band/ for details of how to vote for the Smiths.