FRIDAY.....WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED????

At 6.00am this morning, I posted the latest in the series of Morrissey singles. Some 16 hours later, the posting had gone.....without any warning whatsoever from Blogger....no dmca notice or anything. Indeed, I wouldn't have spotted it without someone very kindly leaving a comment in last Friday's posting to say that Part 28 was missing....

The thing is, given I've had no hassle with Morrissey posts all this year this was huge shock, but I've learned my lessons from problems of old and habitually do a back up. I managed to have a look at the files, and I found what I said:-

Someone had a wee pop at me last week with a few words to the effect that for someone who is a Morrissey fan I seem to spend a fair bit of time being critical of his output.

The idea of this series looking at all the singles in his long and distinguished solo career is to bring them all together in one place, complete with the numerous b-sides.

What I feel however, is that it does throw up is the fact that a fair number of the singles have been rather poor efforts, often saved by the inclusion of one or more great b-sides and or cover versions.Today's offering is the lead-off single from the much-criticised 1997 LP Malajusted, and this may surprise one or two of you as it is one that I like.

Alma Matters was the first song released by Morrissey, in July 1997, for his new record label, Island. I really thought it was a welcome return to something resembling form after the disappointing lack of half-decent tunes on Southpaw Grammar a couple of years earlier.

mp3 : Morrissey - Alma Matters

It was a view that was seemingly shared by a fair number of fans, as we bought enough copies of the single to allow it to reach #16 in the UK Charts, after the previous six singles had all stalled outside the Top 20, and I don't think I was alone in looking forward to the album which hit the shops about a week later. Sadly, the album was a bit of a let-down......but I don't think it is anything as bad as some of the critics made it out to be, and in Trouble Loves Me you have one of the best things he's ever recorded. Having said that, it also contained the truly appalling Roy's Keen.

But back to Alma Matters.....There's two extra songs on the CD single, one of which I'm fond of, but the other is one that I played just now for maybe the first time in 12 years as I typed these words.....and I'll be surprised if I listen to it again before 2021 (and I dont mean not after long 8 o'clock in the evening):-

mp3 : Morrissey - Heir Apparent
mp3 : Morrissey - I Can Have Both

For the avoidance of any doubt, its the tuneless and dirge-like Heir Apparent I was referring to in the previous paragraph.Trivia facts.

The nipple-tweaking photo was taken by Derek Ion and in small print on the back of the sleeve, Morrissey thanks Willie Garcia (at least I think its says Garcia....the print is tiny and my 46 year-old eyes ain't as good as they used to be). I have no idea why these thanks were offered.......

More trivia facts. Morrissey is well known for going on the road and promoting his new material. However, there were only two UK gigs in December 1997, one at the Battersea Power Station in London and the other at the Northgate Arena in Chester....it would be 1999 before most of us got to hear live songs from the LP. But I'll save that for another time.

So fuck you whoever got the original taken down......

And here's what folk have said previuosly as I still have the comments via email:-

Ed has left a new comment on your post "FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 28)":

Bought this at the time...I really like this one, too!


Phil Spector has left a new comment on your post "FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 28)":

Have you seen that new book, Mozipedia? It looks right up your street. £20 in Waterstones, though I'm sure it'll be cheaper elsewhere.

Laura has left a new comment on your post "FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 28)":

Totally agree with you about "Trouble Loves Me." But "Roy's Keen" isn't THAT bad... But maybe I'm the only person who thinks so! :)

Victoria has left a new comment on your post "FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 28)":

You're not alone, Laura. I think "Roy's Keen" is a fun song and felt kind of bad about it getting left off the "Maladjusted" reissue.

But YES - "Trouble Loves Me" is absolutely gorgeous.


Rol has left a new comment on your post "FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 28)":

I've been listening to the Maladjusted reissue myself recently, and have found myself enjoying it more than the Southpaw reissue. Particularly as it now features the great lost Moz song, Lost.

(But sorry to the above commenters, it's also improved by the removal of Roy's Keen imho!)

And here's what tipped me off.....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE....WITH MORRISSEY (Part 27)":

I think Blogger deleted your latest Friday I'm In Love With Morrissey. :-( I didn't get to read it yet.

Here's yer mp3s once again:-

mp3 : Morrissey - Alma Matters
mp3 : Morrissey - Heir Apparent
mp3 : Morrissey - I Can Have Both

Now listen for a minute whichever cunt it was that demanded a takedown.......get a fucking life and leave those of us who actually appreciate music alone to get on with what we like doing.

And if you get this taken down, just remember, I've backed it up, and while it is a pain in the arse, I'll just repost it again.