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

 

[Surface]

Crikey, is Morrissey skint or something, why on earth would he be happy with that title and font, pictures ok though.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Johnny is preparin' for his
"Johnny sings The Smiths" series.

That well could be the reason for J. Marr’s war
on Morrissey. Saying no to the reunion and no to these reissues because they would get in the way of his plans for the ‘Johnny Sings The Smiths’ album and 2025 tour.

 

[Tampa Moz Fan]

I don't see this on Morrissey Central now. Was it pulled down?

 

[Phranc & Open]

Who would hate Johnny for blocking this pointless re-re-re-release? No-one on earth, outside Morrissey’s bubble. Mission failed.

 

[Famous when dead]

I don't see this on Morrissey Central now. Was it pulled down?

Direct URL:

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

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

If you look on the home page here, you'll see 2 links to Central. 1 will show the latest update - it's entirely their setup that causes issue.
FWD.

 

[A Man Escaped]

Who would hate Johnny for blocking this pointless re-re-re-release? No-one on earth outside Morrissey’s bubble.

I think Morrissey was hoping that a favourable response to this release could be his best/only hope to getting a solo record deal. He is clearing raging that Marr vetoed it.

 

[it's just me]

PS Surely that art work/title is a hoax?! That cannot be serious!

I was about to say, that has to be a hoax right? It's so bad! Maybe Moz is trying to rile people up against Johnny Marr while he is on his tour with James. Moz is jealous!

But, I would be curious what the track listing would have been on the deluxe box version.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I think Morrissey was hoping that a favourable response to this release could be his best/only hope to getting a solo record deal. He is clearing raging that Marr vetoed it.

I don’t know either, but can you tell us where other Smiths reissues have helped him get a solo recording contract before?

 

[Mosserray]

This was an actual thing from '23 going forwards.
My contact had dropped this in the conversation back in my rumour post of Feb 6, 2023:

"Rumour mill (but a credible source):
A Warner's The Smiths 'greatest hits' is being compiled for later in the year (yes, another).

You may have heard it here first folks."

When following it up privately myself, there was 'no permission' to proceed, but not who was blocking it.
Regards,
FWD.

When was the project vetoed? Was it a recent thing or is Morrissey just getting around to complaining about it?

 

[Tampa Moz Fan]

I don’t know either, but can you tell us where other Smiths reissues have helped him get a solo recording contract before?

Perhaps it was part of a proposed deal from Warner - we will release your solo records if we can also release a Smiths comp, reissues, etc..

 

[Phranc & Open]

I think Morrissey was hoping that a favourable response to this release could be his best/only hope to getting a solo record deal. He is clearing raging that Marr vetoed it.

So he is perfidiously linking his own economic interests with an indictment. Because of Johnny, we and many potential younger or new fans can't buy another re-re-release. That's just not very clever. Where is the new manager?

In case of The Smiths (more than with any other band), the original LPs + 7" + 12" singles remains the holy grail. No re-release needed. Really.

 

[Les Tameside]

I love the proposed title, and the sleeve is a great idea poorly executed. Nevertheless, I anticipate some contributors here will already be busy with the spray paint, around Manchester.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Perhaps it was part of a proposed deal from Warner - we will release your solo records if we can also release a Smiths comp, reissues, etc..

well anything’s possible. But I was hoping for a little proof to actually back up these ideas, i.e., why Morrissey does what he does.

 

[Anonymous]

So he is perfidiously linking his own economic interests with an indictment. Because of Johnny, we and many potential younger or new fans can't buy another re-re-release. That's just not very clever. Where is the new manager?

In case of The Smiths (more than with any other band), the original LPs + 12" singles remains the holy grail. No re-release needed. Really.

I was just at a record store where they had brand new vinyl copies of Louder Than Bombs for sale. That complilation can hardly be improved on.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I think Morrissey was hoping that a favourable response to this release could be his best/only hope to getting a solo record deal. He is clearing raging that Marr vetoed it.

So he is perfidiously linking his own economic interests with an indictment. Because of Johnny, we and many potential younger or new fans can't buy another re-re-release. That's just not very clever. Where is the new manager?

In case of The Smiths (more than with any other band), the original LPs + 7" + 12" singles remains the holy grail. No re-release needed. Really.

Actually, according to A Man Escaped, because J.Marr vetoed these reissues, it may ruin every Morrissey fan’s chance to hear Bonfire, etc.

Btw, I agree with you. I’ve only ever needed the original albums.

 

[Thewlis]

I suppose you could interpret this as some kind of weird visual provocation/threat/joke to ruin the legacy as a retaliation for the visual attack of the JM Farage post? Maybe just another avenue to get a rise out of JM? Perhaps sparring is better than being ignored in his mind? I still can't believe that he could seriously propose this with a straight face! It only makes sense as some kind of weird, perverse April Fools'........except we're in September....

It's not the artwork, I think he wants the world to believe Johnny is blocking the release of a Smiths box-set/re-release and a Smiths-reunion.

Just like in 1987 he blamed Johnny for the break-up of The Smiths, he now blames him for their not reuniting, and even blocking releases... Johnny will have to tell us his side of the story.

 

[Les Tameside]

Or is Johnny going for Morrissey?

it takes two to tango.

Two testicles, according to Morrissey.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

It's not the artwork, I think he wants the world to believe Johnny is blocking the release of a Smiths box-set/re-release and a Smiths-reunion.

What makes you think Johnny isn’t blocking these releases?

Just like in 1987 he blamed Johnny for the break-up of The Smiths, he now blames him for their not reuniting, and even blocking releases... Johnny will have to tell us his side of the story.

I take it that ignoring the reunion offer and blocking theses reissues are Johnny’s responses to Morrissey and particularly the open letter.

Morrissey is simply making it known.

 

[Southport Grandma]

Why can’t we just have a complete Smiths BBC Sessions and/or the Troy Tate version of the first album rather than another greatest hits?

 

[William Fisher]

Oh Moz. Stop it.