Welcome to... _________________________________________________ | \ | S T R A N G E W A Y S > |________________________________________________/ A forum for Morrissey and The Smiths. Volume 1, Issue #10 To post to Strangeways, please send mail to Kevin at kkawado@bonnie.ics.uci.edu. To join the mailing list, please send mail to Michael at Michael.C.Massengale% mac.dartmouth.edu. **Notes: ICS (our mail/news/connection to the real world computer) has been down for a few days...If you've tried to send mail, it's probably bounced. This is probably why I haven't received mail recently from anywhere. Please resend if your post does not show up in this issue. ----- Date: Sat, 9 Mar 91 12:40:22 MET From: Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen Subject: Strangeways Wow! Some real discussion here! >1. Why did they break up? Morrisey has said in some interview that the breakup came as a complete surprise to him. After an especially gruelling American tour they were all a bit run down, and Marr and Morrisey had a talk about quitting, but Morrisey thought that it was just talk. A couple of weeks later he hears from some friends that Marr had quit. Without telling Morrisey. Anyway, that's what Morrisey says. Marr hasn't, to my knowledge, said anything about the breakup at all, except things like "it was getting tired" and "the music had gotten stale and boring". >2. Could there ever be a release of "lost" Smiths recordings? >(and I'm not asking for you to be psychic, I just >want to know if they recorded a lot more than they released) I think everything has been released. And re-released. It's a shame, but there weren't many live recordings, almost no videos. And they released everything they recorded in the studio. Says Morrisey. >3. Where did this Stephen Street guy come from? As K said, he was the Smith's engineer and sometimes producer. > And what happened to him, now that there's no mention of him on Kill Uncle? Morrisey and Street had a falling out. Street didn't get the production royalties or something for "Interesting Drug" so he slapped an injunction on it halting its release. Morrisey was very pissed. Street said that he was just looking after his own rights, and that Morrisey was impossible to deal with whenever a slight difficulty turned up. He just stays at home and refuses to take any calls. I can see how that might make things a bit difficult, but apparently they managed to get things kinda sorted out, because Street produced a couple singles more after "Drug". But the relationship was bound to fall apart. Street is now running an indie record company and producing various stuff. > And is there a particular reason why Morrissey doesn't continue to > record with Rourke, Joyce, and Gannon? I suspect that Morrisey will continue to work with Rourke and Joyce in the future. There isn't any bad blood between them, I think. Gannon, on the other hand, sued the Smiths some time back for royalties from the last album or something. And he won. Morrisey was extremely angry. In a way. > 4. (kind of related to #1) Any chance of a reunion? Morrisey has said that if Marr gives him a call he would be on the first bus to see him. Marr says it isn't very likely. > 5. What's the deal with Morrissey's sex life? Why is it an issue? Dunno. Is it? > Is he really celebate? I've heard not, and I've also heard >that he's bisexual. Are the two things exlusive? Yes, he is celibate, despite some recent lapses. He says that he has had an handful of bad relationships and that he isn't suited for it. OK. About him being gay or bi: He has said countless times that he doesn't want to have any label etched into his forehead. He says he's above all silly distinctions of "hetero", "gay" or "bi". And if he says so, he probably means it. But there's one thing to be had in mind: If he is straight, he wouldn't go around saying "I'm a women-loving straight hetero, me" like some assholes I can think of. If he was gay he probably wouldn't go around saying "Oooo, there was this boy last night..." So we don't know. Which is the way he wants to keep it. >The compilations both have new songs and songs from the >previous album, and the subsequent releases both follow within a matter of >months. Is this Morrissey's idea of a marketing scam? Nobody else does this, >which is why I'm suspicious of the allegations that "the record company made >him do it." "Marketing scam"? Are you saying that Hatful of Hollow, The World Won't Listen and Bona Drag are bad albums in any way? Hollow and World both have _16_ (sixteen) songs! "Scam"? Making lots of songs from singles cheaply available? "Scam"?!? I simply can't understand what people are on about when talking about rip-off Smith albums. [ Probably because most Smiths/Morrissey fans know that Morrissey likes to release singles and an actual album is rare. Most Smiths/Morrissey fans I know collect the singles. Now when a new album is announced, people are expecting new material, but it only comes out as a compilation of singles and people feel ripped-off. (I personally don't mind because it's easier to carry around one compilation CD rather than seven CD singles) =K= ] > It seems that Marr left the Smiths (even though Morrissey > went and recorded _Viva Hate_ in Winter 1987 while _Strangeways..._ > wasn't recorded until Spring 1987). No. I'm quite sure you're wrong. Viva Hate was recorded after Strangeways. I'm 98% sure. [ Those dates are from the covers of the albums. The songs on _Strangeways_ may have been written before _Viva Hate_, but it seems that _Viva Hate_ was RECORDED before _Strangeways_. Then again, the covers could be wrong. Any ideas? =K= ] Oh... the new album, Kill Uncle. Which I love. But I realise that I would love anything that Morrisey does. If he recorded twenty polka tunes with burping on top, I would listen to it 20 times and then go "Hm... this isn't so bad." I don't judge him, I just love him. Blindly. Having said that, the new album is probably the worst thing he has ever done. Some good songs, "Sing Your Life" and so on. The rest is very boring. But I love it. And Tony The Pony isn't on the domestic release... (Only kidding. Domestic in Kaula Lumpur.) The European version doesn't have Tony The Pony. It's on the Our Frank CD single and 12", along with the Street-penned Journalists Who Lie. What do you mean I've rambled on long enough! Oh. Feel free to hack away at anything I've said. larsi@ifi.uio.no | Dreams kept away Lars Ingebrigtsen | She could never allow ----- Date: 09 Mar 91 17:25:40 From: Nicole.E.Nelson%mac.dartmouth.edu@ICS.UCI.EDU Subject: Strangeways first top ten album in no order The Queen Is Dead-The Smiths A Broken Frame-Depeache Mode Seventeen Seconds-The Cure Floating into the Night-Julee Cruise Technique-New Order Skylarking-XTC Passion-Peter Gabriel Reading,Writing,Arithmetic The Sensual World-Kate Bush Hatful of Hollow-The Smiths My personal idea of why the Smiths broke up, Marr got a little fed up with Morrissey using the smiths to give his opinions on things. I think that the first time that street worked worked with the smiths was Meat is Murder , he was the engineer. For what I know Morrissey and Street had a little falling out after they did "Interesting Drug" . As to Morrissey's sexual orientation just LISTEN TO THE LYRIC OF SOME OF HIS SONGS- Example TONY THE PONY- come on, there should not be any questions As for Kill Uncle - i got Friday and I have listen to about five to six times since then, include once in the Music library on headphones-which everone should do once. My thoughts- well i find the music just a little bit haunting at times, but that's all i have to say about it now, because I think to form an opinon i will have to listen to the CD for about two- three months. Nicole Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. ----- Date: 09 Mar 91 19:03:53 From: Nicole.E.Nelson%mac.dartmouth.edu@ICS.UCI.EDU Subject: Strangeways 1)How many people have read one or even both of Morrissey's books? 2) Is there a Video for the new single? Does anyone have The Smithsa video released between sometime between the Queen Is dead and Strangeways-I would really like of copy of it. 3) on the topic of video's what does everyone think of Morrissey's (not including The Smiths) video's Nicole ----- Date: Sat, 9 Mar 91 16:57:43 PST From: CAR-RT SORT 09-Mar-1991 0729 Subject: Kill Uncle, etc. I agree with Brian Pane about KILL UNCLE. Perhaps if I gave it another listen or two - but I doubt I'll be able to do that in rapid succession. Maybe sometime next month. I paid $11.77 for it and THAT was too much for the 37.12 - or maybe its a good thing that its so short. Incidently, a friend of mine was going to order HATFUL of HOLLOW in the UK or another friend here but the guy in the store doubted it would come soon with this new Morrissey and a SMITHS GREATEST HITS COLLECTION coming out soon. Has anyone heard of this? Ed ----- Subject: Strangeways Date: Tue, 12 Mar 91 14:29:53 PST From: Bernard Baker I joined this mailing list last week, so I think it's about time I add to the flow. If anyone gets a chance, check out the article on Morrissey in the March 1991 issue of "Details". I found it to be somewhat informative and interesting--there are a few good Morrissey-type quotes in it. I picked up "Kill Uncle" (w/ Tony the Pony) and must say that it has potential--"Tony the Pony" is one of the best songs on this disc, so get it while it's availalbe(if the information is correct about it soon not being on the disc). I still need more time to get used to the other tracks on the disc, before I can give a strong opinion of it. Anyhow, I'm enjoying the discussions on this mailing list, so keep up the good work. bernie bernie@sc.hp.com "still can't afford a sig" ----- From: Simon Hughes Date: Mon, 11 Mar 91 14:00:00 GMT Subject: Strangeways: issues arising from #8 & #9! >What does everybody think of Kill Uncle? (I sent this to the Manchester mailing list. Apologies if you've already read it.) Well, I got Kill Uncle last Monday (day of issue) and I'm not too impressed. To give you some background, I thought Viva Hate, it's accompanying singles and the Playboys/Drug singles were excellent. I started to lose the thread around about Ouija Board time. Sure he's done some good (all this IMHO, of course) songs since then but nothing remotely brilliant. This LP was going to be make or break for me and I'm afraid I've broken! Basically I don't think Nevin can write decent tunes - at least not an LP's worth. And while I used to get a lot out of listening to Moz's lyrics, these days most of them seem to pass me by. I reckon Sing Your Life (I think this is to be the new single, released on 2 April) ranks with the best he's done since Interesting Drug and I'd also give honourable mentions to Our Frank, King Leer (the best lyric on the LP?) and Mute Witness. But most of the rest seems to be witless dirge. Listen to Asian Rut and try telling me it ain't so! Simon P.S. The next single should come with a version of The Jam's `That's Entertainment'. Now, that I do want to hear! My UK CD release of Kill Uncle has no Tony the Pony on it. I haven't heard of the mispressing over here. >Why did they break up? I think the Morrissey Marr relationship had run its course. Marr wanted to expand his horizons and that was detrimental to The Smiths. >Could there ever be a release of "lost" Smiths recordings? Seems unlikely. Bits and bobs appeared on the last Smiths singles. >Where did this Stephen Street guy come from? Didn't he produce some Smiths stuff? When they split, Street got in touch with Moz with some tunes. >And what happened to him There were rumours of a bust-up with Moz. Hard to know the truth where Moz is concerned but its eminently believeable! He's got his own label (Foundation, I think) which has released stuff by (for instance) Bradford (a band with the Moz seal of approval). >And is there a particular reason why Morrissey >doesn't continue to record with Rourke, Joyce, and Gannon? Well Gannon & Moz had a legal bust-up (I think over royalties) which Gannon won. I suspect Rourke & Joyce are just busy with other things or weren't asked (for no particular reason). >Any chance of a reunion? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! >What's the deal with Morrissey's sex life? Why is it an issue? Is he really >celebate? I've heard not, and I've also heard that he's bisexual. Moz claims to be largely celibate. There have been, shall we say, incidents! He writes in a very camp, often gender non-specific way and there are enough people who are hung-up enough about homosexuality to make it an issue for Moz. Who cares anyway (not me, I don't fancy him)! Regarding the release patterns of Hatful/Meat and Bona/Kill, Bona was a sort of replacement for an album which never quite made it. Only six tracks were recorded at the relevant sessions and these were released as the November and Piccadilly singles. >even though Morrissey went and recorded _Viva Hate_ in Winter 1987 while >_Strangeways..._ wasn't recorded until Spring 1987 You're not suggesting that the Viva Hate sessions happened before the Strangeways ones are you? Cos. they didn't! However they did happen very soon after the split. >>...I reckon Sing Your Life (I think this is to >be the new single, released >>on 2 April)... > >Can anybody confirm this one? Yeah! Me!! I made the original post (see above). I read it in a british music rag. Simon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Simon Hughes, Dept. of Computing, Imperial College. Email: sph@doc.ic.ac.uk ----- From: Simon Hughes Date: Mon, 11 Mar 91 14:03:14 GMT Subject: Strangeways: Discography Originally posted this on 1 March. Am reposting it in case it's one of the files you lost. A few bits and bobs arising from the discography in Strangeways #5. Everything here refers to UK Rough Trade releases unless otherwise stated. There was a 12" of Shakespears Sister with extra track `Stretch Out and Wait'. The 7" of Girlfriend in a Coma was backed with `Work is a Four Letter Word', not I Keep Mine Hidden. I believe that I Started Something and Stop Me if You've Heard this One Before were corresponding US and UK releases. But I can't remember which was for which country! Whichever was released in the UK had a cassette release which included Pretty Girls Make Graves (radio session version?), Some Girls are Bigger than Others (live, with extra verse) and What's the World (live cover of a James song). Incidentally the videos for ISS and SMIYHTOB were exactly the same! Simon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Simon Hughes, Dept. of Computing, Imperial College. Email: sph@doc.ic.ac.uk ----- From: Simon Hughes Date: Mon, 11 Mar 91 13:23:42 GMT Subject: Strangeways: Wonderful Woman, Smiths covers compilation, Peel sessions, Kill Uncle Cc: The following didn't appear in Strangeways #8 or 9 so I'm reposting it to you. (Original post made on 1/3/91). [ Geez...what happened!?!? I know our mail system has been acting up, but that's been just recently. How annoying. I hope no one else is having the same problems. If you are, try sending mail to Michael...it could be some stupid problem with our ICS server. =K= ] Various points arising from Strangeways #4. Wonderful Woman was the B-side of the (1st) UK 12" release of the This Charming Man single. A lot of people accuse Moz of having a droning whining voice and offhand I can't think of better evidence than this song! It is a bit of a dirge!! Pleasant though --- "When she calls me, I do not walk I run" Actually its the only Smiths song I know that has had two completely different titles and lyrics. What I mean is that there was an early Smiths song called `What Does She See in Him' which had completely different lyrics to Wonderful Woman but the same music. I've only ever seen it in one place which was a bootleg tape of one of their early gigs (the earliest I've seen bootlegged). Marc Howard Anderson writes >Also, I heard a rumor a while back that there were plans to possibly >release a collection of Smiths unreleased songs including a cover of New >Order's "Blue Monday". Has anyone else heard similar rumors? I think this is referring to the deliberate hoax I saw in a British music rag. Could have been an Aprils fool joke but I don't remember. Moz did record a session for John Peel's BBC radio program but he didn't like it so it was never broadcast. Bet there's a bootleg of it somewhere! The Smiths did at least three Peel sessions (from memory) Handsome Devil, Reel Around the Fountain, Miserable Lie, What Difference Does It Make This Charming Man, Back to the Old House, This Night has Opened my Eyes, Still Ill Nowhere Fast, Rusholme Ruffians, Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, ? They also did a few sessions for other radio programs. E.g. some of the Hatfull of Hollow tracks are from a David Jensen session. The UK release of Kill Uncle (all 33 mins of it!) should be out 4 March. Simon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Simon Hughes, Dept. of Computing, Imperial College. Email: sph@doc.ic.ac.uk ----- Date: Sun, 10 Mar 91 19:07:50 -0800 From: "Michael A. Ramirez" Subject: Strangeways There was some talk of a Smiths cover of New Order's Blue Monday. I would really like to hear this, so if anyone has a copy could you please e-mail me. I heard Moz will be touring the US during the summer. The reason given for taking so long to get a tour going is because of problems getting a band together. He has one now and they are now rehearsing. Info courtesy of LIVE 105 FM San Francisco. --Mike [ Just a question for everyone...where did this "Moz" originate from? I've never really heard that nickname before until I heard Nicole use it. Just curious. =K= ] ----- Date: 11-MAR-1991 20:57:51 GMT From: NMF%ABERYSTWYTH.AC.UK%pucc.princeton.edu@ICS.UCI.EDU Subject: Strangeways... Hi, Someone asked a few questions, The one about the reunion has been answered, A possible smiths lp of unreleased material was mentioned by 'rough trade' a few months ago as the smiths still have one lp left on the 'rough trade' contract. Stephen Street and Morrissey got a bit unfriendly because stephen didnt get money for co writing/producing (i think) _interesting drug_ straight away and the pair havent worked together since, if you listen to ouija board the board spells s-t-e-v-e-n p-u-s-h o-f-f, can only mean him!!! Nick P.s. i spelt steven wrong at the start!!!!! p.p.s. does anyone else think _he knows id like to see him_ is about morrissey wanting to meet back up with johnny marr, because he said if johnny ever phones him up and askes him to work with him again he'd be on the first bus round his house.. p.p.p.s eek another , no the uk of _kill uncle_ does not contain _tony pony_ ----- Date: 12 Mar 91 17:45:19 From: Michael.C.Massengale%mac.dartmouth.edu@ICS.UCI.EDU Subject: Strangeways Well, I've been giving Kill Uncle a thorough listen, and I'm pleased. As a matter of fact, I eased into it more quickly than Viva Hate. Although I still don't really care for Asian Rut, everything else is pretty good. A track that I really like that I don't recall anyone else mentioning is Mute Witness. On another subject, a guy I met told me that he's got a Japanese disc with the Smiths live (not Rank). I'll get my hands on it after our break and give you all a full report (I assume nobody else has run across this...). Michael