Morrissey Central "SMITHS NOT OK" (September 11, 2024)

September 11, 2024

The proposed greatest hits album by The Smiths entitled Smiths Rule OK! has been blocked by J Marr. The album (above), and also the single Hand In Glove (below)

were planned for 2024 worldwide release by Warner Records along with a deluxe box release of The Smiths first album in order to commemorate its 40-year anniversary, and also a new 7-inch of This Charming Man. Warner approached Morrissey and Darren Evans to assemble artwork for all four releases, all of which were rejected and halted out of hand by J Marr.

SMITHS NOT OK - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - SMITHS NOT OK

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

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Media item:

• Stereogum: "Now Morrissey Says Johnny Marr Has Blocked A New Smiths Deluxe Reissue" - September 11, 2024

 

[Amy]

I’m hoping for another Marr to play E.T. was Spielberg’s first choice comment. Lol.



some people are sadly humorless.

Well, it got him booed and he had to backtrack quickly, so it fits the bill

 

[dneuer]

Morrissey’s second cash grab within a couple of weeks knocked on the head by
JM.
He must be spitting feathers.
How many times can you flog a dead
Horse.

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the term “spitting feathers”. Surely someone has had the good sense to title an album, song or book by this name?

 

[No 27]

I think we can safely say M was influenced by the punk scene.

I think we can say M was safely influenced by the punk scene.

 

[DaveJCarr]

A Tale of Morrissian Vengeance ~

'Smiths Rule Ok' is an arcane reference to seminal counter-cultural tricksters The Goodies, and their prophetic slant on both the emergence of Punk Rock and also the travails of Morrissey's career(s):

'It is the early '60s and the Goodies are trying to make it big as pop stars. However, at every turn, their ideas are ripped off by acts who then go on to be much more successful than the Cricklewood trio - the Beatles, the Supremes and...Oasis. Now in the mid-'70s the Goodies are despondent and living on Skid Row, they decide to get their own back...'

Note the cryptic bicycle reference to Stop Me If You Think You've Read It On Central A Billion Times Before.

View attachment 111073

This makes me like the proposed cover more! Thanks for the context!

 

[Roman Holiday]

How about vegan talk in a new thread about vegan talk?

The topic is specifically a dispute between Morrissey and Marr over a Smiths compilation, and more broadly their relationship post-Smiths. Any rifts or differences between the two of them are ancillary and on-topic, though obviously admin may disagree. We're talking about their approaches to veganism, not our own.

 

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the term “spitting feathers”. Surely someone has had the good sense to title an album, song or book by this name?

Or a new Smiths compilation?

 

[SteveWS]

The Guardian's latest report states that the album and other releases were only rejected by Johnny because of the cover-art(?)

Morrissey claims Johnny Marr blocked new Smiths greatest hits album

Former Smiths frontman claims Warner Music proposed reissue programme including best-of called Smiths Rule OK!, but Marr rejected proposed artwork

www.theguardian.com

 

[Seymour Glass]

Is that sleeve supposed to be serious or some sort of joke? I don't understand.

 

[Redacted]

The Guardian's latest report states that the album and other releases were only rejected by Johnny because of the cover-art(?)

Morrissey claims Johnny Marr blocked new Smiths greatest hits album

Former Smiths frontman claims Warner Music proposed reissue programme including best-of called Smiths Rule OK!, but Marr rejected proposed artwork

www.theguardian.com

That is actually how I read the original post, it was the cover art. I would not be surprised at all if Morrissey is telling half truths to get Johnny to defend himself.

 

[No 27]

he was going for a punk diy kinda vibe.

... the irony of which could hardly be more striking given his self-imposed requirement to be recruited, once again, by a multinational entertainment conglomerate before putting any more of his product into the marketplace.

He's spent years refusing to "do it himself" very largely because he's desperate to be slightly more famous(ish) again.

Not exactly Crass, is it?

 

[Thewlis]

The Guardian's latest report states that the album and other releases were only rejected by Johnny because of the cover-art(?)

Morrissey claims Johnny Marr blocked new Smiths greatest hits album

Former Smiths frontman claims Warner Music proposed reissue programme including best-of called Smiths Rule OK!, but Marr rejected proposed artwork

www.theguardian.com

‘The Guardian has contacted Warner Music and representatives for Marr for comment.’

 

[overthemoors]

I can't help but feel that this is all coming across as slightly desperate, and somewhat embarrassing... Surely you would just let go when you realised the other party is not interested (especially in light of the 'Open Letter to Johnny Marr').

If not for this announcement, I would have probably refused to believe that Morrissey's reconsidering things is Oasis reunion-induced, but now I am starting to believe that it indeed is.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Well, it got him booed and he had to backtrack quickly, so it fits the bill

He backtracked humorously. He loved getting a little rise from his audience with that.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

... the irony of which could hardly be more striking given his self-imposed requirement to be recruited, once again, by a multinational entertainment conglomerate before putting any more of his product into the marketplace.

He's spent years refusing to "do it himself" very largely because he's desperate to be slightly more famous(ish) again.

Not exactly Crass, is it?

Is Crass the only punk band you know? There are plenty of punk bands, that had labels put out their records for them.

Good try though

Edit: btw, that F Turner sounds like shitty Green Day! maybe Morrissey would like it. Lol.

 

[Anonymous]

The Guardian's latest report states that the album and other releases were only rejected by Johnny because of the cover-art(?)

Morrissey claims Johnny Marr blocked new Smiths greatest hits album

Former Smiths frontman claims Warner Music proposed reissue programme including best-of called Smiths Rule OK!, but Marr rejected proposed artwork

www.theguardian.com

That’s how it reads to me as well. How much do you want to bet Morrissey dug in his heels and refused to compromise on the cover artwork?

 

[Redacted]

I can't help but feel that this is all coming across as slightly desperate, and somewhat embarrassing... Surely you would just let go when you realise the other party is not interested (especially in light of the 'Open Letter to Johnny Marr').

If not for this announcement, I would have probably refused to believe that Morrissey's reconsidering things is Oasis reunion-induced, but now I am starting to believe that it indeed is.

I think it has something to do with Oasis too

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

‘The Guardian has contacted Warner Music and representatives for Marr for comment.’

Lol. The Guardian are now unknowingly doing Morrissey’s bidding.

Mastermind, indeed.

 

[Lujan369]

What's wrong with the Smiths? God!!!!!

 

[suburbanskies]

Another compilation would be a cash grab. But a re-issue of original studio albums (and Rank)
à la Rhino High Fidelity series, or like a Vinyl, Me Please anthology series would be much, much nicer. The OG copies go for crazy money --if you can find one out in the wild, in at least VG+ condition.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

What's wrong with the Smiths? God!!!!!

I don’t know. Good band though. You like their tunes?