FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 1)
Yet another series is launched at TVV....and the intention for the next few Fridays (not sure yet just how many), is to focus on songs recorded by Stephen (sic)Patrick Morrissey since he embarked on his solo career back in 1988.
Thus far, not including compilations, he's graced us with 8 studio LPs, 2 live albums and 38 singles.
Today's offering dates from 1995 when the great man had just moved to RCA Records after seven years with EMI. After the critical and commercial success of Vauxhall and I in 1994 in which the demons of the past including accusations of racism had been almost wiped out, the content of follow-up LP Southpaw Grammar baffled many fans.
It contained just 8 tracks in total, of which two were more than 10 minutes in length and a huge departure from anything else he'd done in his solo career. It was an album cover that did not feature a photograph of Morrissey - again this was a departure from anything else thus far in the solo career, albeit the single Boxers, his final record for EMI at the beginning of 1995, had also not featured the singer on the cover.
Southpaw Grammar was released at the end of August 1995 and received a critical panning, although it sold well enough with long-time fans to reach #4 in the UK charts. Having said that, I wonder just how many, like myself, played it a couple of times and then quietly filed it away on the shelf.....
Two singles were taken from the LP. The first was Dagenham Dave, which appeared some 7 days in advance of the album (it too had a non-Morrissey sleeve).
The second single was The Boy Racer which came out some three months later. Given the time gap between the two singles, and the fact that Morrissey appears on the sleeve of one of the two CDs that were issued, I'm making an educated guess that it was an effort by the singer and his label to try and generate some fresh interest in the LP.
It was a ploy that failed, as the single got next to no airplay and barely dented the Top 40.
The lack of new songs for the b-sides didn't help either - all that was on offer were live recordings from a London gig in February 1995.
It's a bit of a shame as The Boy Racer, while by no means the greatest thing ever recorded, is a reasonable single that was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's certainly the most accessible bit of music on the parent album.
But if there's one thing it did highlight, it was that Morrissey's performances of songs by his old band left you pining for Johnny Marr:-
mp3 : Morrissey - The Boy Racer
mp3 : Morrissey - London (live)
mp3 : Morrissey - Billy Budd (live)
mp3 : Morrissey - Spring-Heeled Jim (live)
mp3 : Morrissey - Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself (live)
Happy Listening.
11 comments:
Speaking as one of those long-time fans who buy everything Moz releases, and so helped propel Southpaw Grammar to #4 in the charts, even I must confess that I, like you, filed it quietly on the shelf after not too many spins.
According to Wikipedia (so by no means guaranteed, I know), BMG plan a remastered reissue of this album on 26th January 2009. Supposedly, this will include four extra tracks, three of which are previously unreleased ("Honey You Know Where To Find Me", "Fantastic Bird", and "You Should Have Been Nice To Me"). It'll have new artwork too.
Having said that, it's not available for pre-order on Amazon yet, so I'm sceptical...
I heard the re-issue had been pushed back until later next year, Mister P, so as not to clash with the new Moz album out in February.
Thanks for an extra reason to look forward to Friday, JC! The Boy Racer was a far better single than Dagenham Dave, and deserved a little more recognition.
I quite liked Southpaw Grammar! Still listen to it once in a while when I'm the mood for a more energetic Moz.
I'm a new reader to your blog by the way; keep up the good work! :-)
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I'm a long term Moz fan and must confess that I think Southpaw Grammar up there with his best work, precisely because its so different from the rest of his solo output.
Lets face it would could probably have survived without a one minute long drum solo but despite that I think the album as a complete work is more satisfying than most of his solo stuff and a vast improvement on the turgid Kill Uncle at the very least.
I'm not sure all accusations of racism have been completely laid to rest either?
Should be a cracking series of posts anyway and I'm sure will get your 'hits' up. Thanks for the b-sides too. I was unaware this single even existed so I appreciate the tunes for the sake of completeness. Now I will have to hunt down the originals.
Keep up the good work too JC. I may not always leave a comment but I do appreciate what you do even if I'm too lazy to say thank you on a regular basis!
Mike
The racism stuff is most certainly not laid to rest.
And "Hairdresser On Fire" is all one needs of Moz's solo career.
He is now an egocentric pastiche of his former Smiths self.
"After the critical and commercial success of Vauxhall and I in 1994 in which the demons of the past including accusations of racism had been almost wiped out..."
To avoid any misunderstanding, what I was trying to say that after a couple of years in which the racism issue had dominated his headlines, the release of 'Vauxhall and I' had finally got folk talking about his music again. I was also meaning that at long last, he had produced a fine solo LP.
I fully accept that there are many out there who will continue to argue that Morrissey's behaviour at the beginning of the 90s and at times since has had racist tones about it. Without being a total apologist for him, I still maintain a lot of it was blown out of proportion....
Oh Morrissey, NOTHING to answer for.
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"Dagenham Dave" contains a hidden gem! "Nobody Loves Us" is the best b-side Mozzer wrote and the music is far superior to anything on Southpaw Grammar.
Morrissey doesn't like his first name used--by himself or by others. But it's still spelled, "S-T-E-V-E-N." Thanks.
As above post states, it is witha a 'V' (as unusual as this is for an Irish Stephen). He alludes to this in 'Ouija Board, Ouija Board' and in the extended version of 'Will Never Marry' on the flip of the 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' 12". Pedant!! Sorry.
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