Morrissey reissues on the way - Bona Drag up first

Cover of Bona Drag

We've known for a while that most of the EMI owned Morrissey back catalogue was to get the reissue treatment. However, firm news has finally been revealed about the 20th anniversary reissue of the a-side/b-side mop up album, Bona Drag.


Hitting shops 27th September, the album will be remastered AND feature 6 previously unreleased tracks:
1. "Happy Lovers At Last United" (Outtake from "Everyday is Like Sunday" sessions)
2. "Lifeguard On Duty" (Outtake from Viva Hate sessions)
3. "Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness" (demo) (Outtake from Viva Hate)
4. "Oh Phoney" (Outtake from Bona Drag sessions)
5. "The Bed Took Fire" (early version of "At Amber")
6. "Let The Right One Slip In" (alternate long mix)

To appease fans as well, apparently the sleeve is finally going to be corrected. Taken as a still from the "November Spawned a Monster" video, Morrissey wore a black top in the video, but it was changed to red for the sleeve. The booklet is also to feature exclusive new photos. No word yet on what else the liner notes might hold.

The full track listing of the reissue is as follows:

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)

 To commemorate the reissue, EMI is resurrecting ANOTHER dead record label just for Morrissey. Fans will remember when he originally signed to the label in 1988 his debut album Viva Hate was issued on the resurrected HMV label. This time round, the label getting the Morrissey kiss of life is Minor Major Records, famed for their 1969 #1 record "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg.

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• Morrissey readies 20th anniversary edition of "Bona Drag", unreleased tracks, vinyl, and more (theredradio.typepad.com)

Mozza label-less again

Morrissey seems to be labelless again.

According to rumours, he copped a strop when Sanctuary released a press statement saying he'd play this weekend's Isle of Wight festival. He won't, and apparently he won't be releasing anything else on Sanctuary either.

According to various sites, he's busy working on a new album and hasn't sacked his drummer. Of course, he's never welcome back to the Isle of Wight festival either.

For those counting, this makes five record labels for his last five albums, so I guess no one could be really surprised at this news.

Number Two for Mozza

Mozza was held off top spot in the chart wars this week by a band called Keane. Dunno if they're named after the Man U ruffian or not. More to the point I don't care.

Congrats to the Pope of Mope, though. Looks like all the slogging around the chat shows paid off. This week, it's America's turn as Mozza does a residency on the Craig Kilborn show every night this week (keep an eye on BitTorrent sites, if you don't live in North America!!)

In similar news, "Irish Heart, English Blood" fell out of the top 3 and landed at number 18 this week. If you still haven't got this single, hunt down the North American release as it collects all the tracks on ONE CD (i.e. all the b-sides together on one disc) ... see elsewhere for my ranting about the hacked state of the UK single industry.

AND.. if you haven't lately, check out The Smiths' "Strangeways, Here We Come". For a swansong, this album can't be beat. Might be a bit more mainstream than their previous three albums, but there are so many excellent gems on here - both lyrically and musically. You also get to hear an extended piano "solo" from Mozza. Now that IS a bargain!

The Miserablist is Back!

Cover of You Are The Quarry (Gatefold)

Good news to anyone who grew up in the 80s, wore black and had a pair of NHS specs. Mozza is back. After seven years, his new album "You Are The Quarry" is seeing the light of day May 17th.

It's to be-preceded by a single "Irish Blood, English Heart" which is to hit stores a week before. Both releases are being put out by Attack! Records, a subsidiary of the increasingly popular Sanctuary Records.

To celebrate the upcoming release, Mozza is playing a one-off gig in Manchester on May 22. This homecoming show is the first for the LA-based performer in 12 years and the first UK gig since his celebrated Albert Hall shows last October.

What do we have to say about this? Well, the last couple of studio albums showed the poet of a generation running out of ideas. Sales were down and his relevance was coming into question at every turn. The man who brought us essential listening like "Your Arsenal" and "Viva Hate" just didn't seem to be speaking for his generation anymore.

There's been quite a few previews of the upcoming material (most famously on the Janice Long Show on Radio 2 a few months back) and it sounds as strong as ever. Hopefully these past few years have rejuvinated the man and we can see him fighting fit once more.