FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 23)
Many thanks for all the kind words left behind in the comments section welcoming back this long-running series that was, by necessity, interrupted by the 40 days of guest postings.
Today's offering is the third single lifted from the 2006 LP Ringleader of The Tormentors. Morrissey was riding the crest of a critical wave on back of the album as well as gaining loads of kudos for a UK tour that had taken him to loads of smaller venues in towns that rarely attracted any decent live gigs (e.g. Greenock, Grimsby, Halifax, Whitehaven, Blackburn, Truro, Cheltenham, King's Lynn). The goodwill extended to his fans who bought enough copies of the single to take it to #17 in the charts.
I was personally surprised that this was released as a single. I'm not arguing that its a dull or boring song, but it wasn't one of the stand-out tracks on the LP by any stretch of the imagination. The opening 20 seconds or so remind of songs by T Rex and Oasis, and I suppose I can never really get those thoughts out of my head as it unravels itself over the next three and a bit minutes...but it is, on reflection, the sort of track that would sound reasonable enough when coming over the radio airwaves.
mp3 : Morrissey - In The Future When All's Well
mp3 : Morrissey - I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now (live)
mp3 : Morrissey - To Me You Are A Work Of Art (live)
The two live tracks are Ringleader tracks that were recorded on Sunday 28th May 2006 at the London Palladium on what was the last night night of the UK tour (Morrissey, in a tribute to an old TV variety show had played three Sunday Nights at The London Palladium during May). They're actually quite good versions of the tracks.....Morrissey is in very good good voice while his backing band stick to faithful reproductions....
There was also one new track is one that I think deserved a place on the album itself rather than being thrown away on a b-side....but then again this outstanding tribute to the French fashion designer is probably the reason so many of us bought the actual single. It's one that, to the best of my knowledge, he's never played live, but knowing that he loves to put something very surprising into the setlists on every tour, I can only hope he decides to include this sometime in the future:-
mp3 : Morrissey - Christian Dior
Oh and I also love the sleeve on this one. I'm sure I had a jacket exactly like that when I was about 12 years of age....and I certainly would have had an ice cream like that when I was that age....
PS:
You've all probably worked out that all my postings are prepared a few days in advance...so a small addendum and my own thoughts to the news that will no doubt dominate the internet today, namely the death of the 'King Of Pop' at the age of 50.
I was no big fan of Michael Jackson, but I wont deny he released a number of songs that will go down as classics. However, he also recorded loads of songs that were, IMHO, just appalling nonsense and the less said about his troubled personal life the better.
When I heard the news, I immediately thought of this song:-
mp3 : The Smiths - Paint A Vulgar Picture
There's no doubt that someone, somwehere at the record label will be shedding crocodile tears, and the marketing folk will be planning their assault on the wallets and purses of record buyers...
13 comments:
I could never understand why that was released as a single either.
As to Jacko, you're right about the record companies, they will of course be out to milk this for all its worth. He'll sell more records this year than he has for the last ten, which is sad in a way. But that's just the nature of the world, and the business. The demand will be there from the public - and far be it from me to offer a defence for the industry scumbags - and all they're really doing is meeting that demand. They're not forcing people to spend money only those inevitable tribute records... I'm sure neither you nor I will be spending anything.
I think your comments on Jacko are very true, loved a lot of his stuff, thought some were rubbish and Paint A Vulgar picture is rather apt.
Thanks for these posts - two reasons
a) they are excellent
b) you're about the only person on hypem not posting fucking Michael Jackson songs.
At least the ludicrous hysteria following Princess Diana's death will at last seem modest and understated by comparison. So some good of it will come out of it I suppose.
ryko25@yahoo.com
Wow, I have never heard the Christian Dior track. Your blog is such a great source for thoughtful writing about Morrissey. I followed him so closely when I was younger but really stopped keeping up on my Morrissey news after I went to college. Thanks to your blog posts I'm getting back up to speed. So glad this feature is back!
Re: MJ, I'm more upset about Steven Wells really. One of the few writers for the NME that I'd enjoy reading, even though I frequently disagreed with and was often furious after his pieces.
And Farrah Fawcett - she (and her hair, teeth and tits picture) encapsulated a time we will never see again.
No matter how perfectly formed we may seem at 1 point in time, we are all ravaged by age and disease.
Anyone fancy a pint?
Farah doesn't mean much to me, I must confess. Too young for Charlie's Angels.
"I wont deny he released a number of songs that will go down as classics. However, he also recorded loads of songs that were, IMHO, just appalling nonsense"
Couldn't you say that about 99.9% of pop stars who have long careers? Really no need to pick on him for that.
Sorry if you thought I was picking on him Lee...
I suppose the clumsy point I was trying to make that I knew we were going to get bombarded with tributes all day long via the media to for the of the 'King Of Pop' (and the use of ' ' is deliberate), when I honestly think way more of his songs have been shit than have been been gold.
I do get that loads of folk will be genuinely upset today...and I would never mock them. But the main thing I was trying to get across is how the product will now be so sellable...
But I do disagree that 99.9% of pop stars with long careers also record loads of songs that are just apalling nonsense. I reckon the figure is 100%....
never liked jacko, never will, the hype and the shrieking grief of twats is unjustified, all surface no subtance. What happened to steven wells, no other news is coming out in the hysterical wake of jackos death, according to another blog sky saxon has passed away which is to me far sadder news.
A.J
Christian Dior is just classic Morrissey...biting and beautiful, it builds around you, and stays on you for hours...Should have been a single and as big as Suedhead or There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - yes I think it is THAT GOOD!
As for the discussion of Michael Jackson, I have to say the song that came into my mind while I was glued to CNN that night was Elvis Costello's "The Man Out of Time"...I think if we or our souls do return to this earth over and over again, Michael was in tune with that. A child/man, a genius/ingenue, an icon/recluse...
I'll not defile your blog with my thoughts on MJ and I do agree that those who wish to mourn him should do so.
But this Morrissey tradition... honey, you have such a winner here, obviously! I've learned so much, heard so much, intend to learn and hear more. So eat your veggies and don't smoke and keep doing this for 30 or 40 more years, ok? xoxoxo
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