Suedehead (single)

Cover art

Mael Mix 10" picture disc.

MORRISSEY Single
Name	Suedehead
Release	27 February 1988 24 January 2006 (Mael Mix) 21 April 2012 (Mael Mix, 2012)
Total Length	3:54 6:37 (Mael Mix) 3:35 (Mael Mix, 2012)
Recorded	Autumn-Winter 1987
Writer/composer	Morrissey / Stephen Street
Producer	Stephen Street
Art work	Photo: Geri Caulfield (original cover) Layout: Caryn Gough Photo: Kevin Cummins (Mael Mix cover)
Vinyl Etching	DREAMS...ARE JUST...DREAMS
Publisher	HMV Records (UK) Sire Records (US) EMI Records (Mael Mix)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD, 10" Vinyl Picture Disc (Mael Mix), Digital download (Mael Mix)
Chart position	UK #5
Single chronology
Suedehead → Everyday Is Like Sunday
Single (Mael Mix) chronology
Glamorous Glue ← Suedehead → The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (Reissue)

Information

"Suedehead" was Morrissey's debut single as a solo artist. Released on 27 February 1988 by HMV Records, the single came a mere nine weeks after The Smiths' single "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" from their final album, Strangeways, Here We Come. "Suedehead" was produced and co-wrote by Stephen Street, and was the first single released from Morrissey's debut album, Viva Hate.
The cover photograph was taken live at The Smiths concert at The Palladium, London (October 26, 1986).

Recording

Recording for Viva Hate commenced at The Wool Hall studios in Bath, England in early October and would last until late December. During one of the sessions, EMI executives stopped by the studio to check up on the recording progress, to which Street played them a rough mix of "Suedehead". The executives responded positively which, according to Street, gave he and Morrissey a better sense of freedom with the album and the confidence that they were heading in the right direction.

Release

Upon release, "Suedehead" reached the #5 slot in the UK charts. With the momentum of a hit single, two weeks later Viva Hate was released and debuted at #1 on the charts.

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [HMV POP1618]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 27907-7]

1. Suedehead – 3:54 (Morrissey/Street)
2. I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01 (Morrissey/Street)

12" Vinyl

UK - [HMV 12POP1618]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 20877-0]

1. Suedehead – 3:54
2. I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01
3. Hairdresser On Fire – 3:51 (Morrissey/Street)

CD Single

UK - [HMV CDPOP1618]

1. Suedehead – 3:54
2. I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01
3. Hairdresser On Fire – 3:51
4. Oh Well, I'll Never Learn – 2:01 (Morrissey/Street)

Mael / Sparks Mix

"Suedehead", as remixed by Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks (6:37) was released on the Rhino Records UK compilation Future Retro (Jan. 24, 2006).

From the Sparks mailing list (April, 2005):

THE MAELS MIX MOZ

Ron and Russell were invited to take part in a themed remix album called The 80’s Remixed on which various artists get to remix another compatible or comparative artist whom they admire. Warner Bros. gave the Maels the choice of remixing a Smiths song or a Morrissey song. They chose to do a unique and extreme 6-1/2 minute remix of “Suedehead”, and Moz happily gave them his blessing. The masterful Mael mix is heavy on vocals and set to a completely different chord progression. The label was gracious enough to let Ron and Russell do their own thing, sparing them the horror of doing a redundant club mix. The album will be released in the UK in April.

10" Picture Disc/Digital Download

On 21 April 2012, in celebration of Record Store Day, EMI released a limited edition 10" picture disc, and a subsequent digital download on 23 April, of "Suedehead" (Mael Mix), edited down from the original version released in 2006 from 6:37 to 3:35. The single also feature two previously unreleased BBC live versions of "We'll Let You Know" and "Now My Heart Is Full", recorded at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in February 1995.

UK - [Liberty 10LBF15461]

1. Suedehead (Mael Mix) – 3:35
2. We'll Let You Know [Live - 26 February 1995, BBC Theatre] – 4:13 (Morrissey/Whyte)
3. Now My Heart Is Full [Live - 26 February 1995, BBC Theatre] – 4:55 (Morrissey/Boorer)

Lyrics

Why do you come here
And why, why do you hang around?
I'm so sorry
I'm so sorry

Why do you come here
When you know it makes
Things hard for me?
When you know, oh
Why do you come?

Why do you telephone
And why send me silly notes?
I'm so sorry
I'm so sorry

Why do you come here
When you know it makes
Things hard for me?
When you know, oh
Why do you come?

You had to sneak into my room
'Just' to read my diary
It was just to see, just to see
All the things you knew
I'd written about you
Oh so many illustrations

Oh but I'm so very sickened
Oh, I am so sickened NOW
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, it was a good lay
It was a good lay, good lay, good lay
It was a good lay...

Music Video

Credits

• Directed by Tim Broad

Image Gallery

• 

  News blurb in the February 13th, 1988 issue of Record Mirror (U.K.)

• 

  J-card slimline case front cover insert for the U.K. CD single

• 

  J-card slimline case rear cover insert for the U.K. CD single

• 

  Music Week full-page ad (Feb. 13, 1988)

Live History

Play count (Morrissey concert): 380

Morrissey live history:

• Wolverhampton, England 1988-12-22 (Morrissey concert)
• Dublin, Ireland 1991-04-27 (Morrissey concert)
• Paris, France 1991-04-29 (Morrissey concert)
• Deinze, Belgium 1991-04-30 (Morrissey concert)
• Utrecht, Holland 1991-05-01 (Morrissey concert)
• Cologne, Germany 1991-05-04 (Morrissey concert)
• Berlin, Germany 1991-05-05 (Morrissey concert)
• Hamburg, Germany 1991-05-06 (Morrissey concert)
• Copenhagen, Denmark 1991-05-07 (Morrissey concert)
• Aberdeen, Scotland 1991-05-14 (Morrissey concert)

... further results

Appears On

• Suedehead (single)
• Viva Hate
• Hulmerist
• Bona Drag
• We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful (single)
• Live In Dallas
• Your Arsenal
• Beethoven Was Deaf
• Suedehead: The Best Of Morrissey
• The CD Singles '88–91'
• The CD Singles '91–95'
• ¡Oye Esteban!
• ¡The Best Of! Morrissey
• Greatest Hits
• The HMV/Parlophone Singles '88–'95
• Very Best Of Morrissey
• This Is Morrissey

Appears On Covers Compilation

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of The Smiths & Morrissey

Cover Versions

• Good Charlotte
• I Am The World Trade Center
• Kaki King
• Pete Yorn
• Suggs
• The Mountain Goats
• Thelma Houston
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star

Related Items

• "Suedehead" discography - Passions Just Like Mine
• "Suedehead" UK TV ad with voiceover by John Peel - YouTube link posted by Uncleskinny / Morrissey-solo Forums
• "Suedehead" filming / Fairmont Indiana photos by Kevin Cavanaugh from 1988 - Morrissey-solo forums, original story from Kevin Cavanaugh (Mar. 20, 2003).
• Morrissey's nephew Sam Rayner in "Suedehead". - post by sensible, Morrissey-solo forums (July 26, 2004).
• Bloodhound Gang choose Morrissey videos on MTV2 - Morrissey-solo (Dec. 23, 2000)
• The Donnas' guitarist mentions "Suedehead" as favorite song - Morrissey-solo (June 28, 2001)
• Robbie Williams threatens paparazzi with Morrissey - Morrissey-solo (Dec. 7, 2004)
• ESPN Sports Guy names "Suedehead" #2 song of the 80's - Morrissey-solo (Jan. 30, 2005)
• Russell Brand stand-up tour - pre-show Mozza warm up. - Morrissey-solo (July 17, 2007)

Mentioned In

• James Dean
• Sparks
• Statement from Morrissey to True-to-you - true-to-you.net (December 16, 2009)
• Statement - true-to-you.net (January 15, 2012)
• Viva Hate and Suedehead - Release Information (February 14, 2012)
• Suedehead (Mael Mix): Single release details - Release Information (April 11, 2012)
• Suedehead (Mael Mix): Single released today in the UK - Release Information (April 21, 2012)
• Suedehead (Mael Mix): Digital download available in the UK - Release Information (April 28, 2012)

Discogs Information

Credits

• Bass Guitar, Guitar [Guitars] - Stephen Street
• Coordinator [Art Co-Ordination] - Jo Slee
• Drums [The Drums] - Andrew Paresi
• Engineer [Engineered By] - Steve Williams (6)
• Guitar [Guitars], Keyboards [Keyboard] - Vini Reilly
• Hair [Hair By] - Robert Stanley (5)
• Lacquer Cut By - Tim Young
• Layout - Caryn Gough
• Management - Gail Colson
• Music By - Stephen Street
• Photography By [Picture By] - Geri Caulfield
• Producer [Produced By] - Stephen Street
• Sleeve - Morrissey
• Voice - Morrissey
• Words By - Morrissey

Notes

Recorded at the Wool Hall in Bath.

℗ 1988 Original sound recordings made by EMI Records Ltd © 1988 EMI Records Ltd

Runouts are stamped except for "DREAMS...ARE JUST...DREAMS", which is etched.

Images

• Suedehead - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/4575
• Suedehead (7" 45 RPM Single Push-Out Centre) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/410610-Morrissey-Suedehead

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Versions were released with and without the "Morrissey" sticker on the cover.

Images

• Suedehead (12" 45 RPM Numbered Promo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2108905-Morrissey-Suedehead

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Record Store Day 2012 release, limited to 1000 copies Issued in a PVC sleeve with a wraparound sticker.

B1, B2: previously unreleased

A: Warner Chappell Music Ltd./EMI Virgin Music Ltd. Mixed at Sparks Studio, Los Angeles. P 2005 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd.

B: 1. Warner Chappell Music Ltd./Sony Music Publishing Ltd. B: 2. Warner Chappell Music Ltd. Recorded live in concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for BBC Radio 1. First Broadcast on 26th February 1995. P 1995 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by the BBC. Licensed courtesy of BBC Worldwide.

© 2012 EMI Records Ltd. Made in the EU.

Images

• Suedehead (Mael Mix) (10" 45 RPM Record Store Day Single Picture Disc) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/3552782-Morrissey-Suedehead-Mael-Mix

Wikipedia Information

"Suedehead" is the debut solo single by English singer Morrissey, released on 15 February 1988. Co-written by Morrissey and former Smiths producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's first solo release after the Smiths break-up. Morrissey was inspired lyrically by the suedehead subculture, recalling an individual from his teenage years in the context of the movement. Street, who had originally sought to contribute his musical ideas to Morrissey to use for Smiths B-sides, also contributed bass guitar, while Vini Reilly and Andrew Paresi rounded out his new solo band. "Suedehead" was featured on Morrissey's debut album, Viva Hate, and the compilation album Bona Drag, the latter of which also featured the B-side "Hairdresser on Fire". Upon release, the song saw commercial success, reaching number five in the UK, as well as rave reviews for its Smiths-esque musicianship and the new Morrissey-Street writing team. Encouraged by the success of the single, Morrissey would continue working with Street for subsequent singles and the rest of Viva Hate. Since its release, "Suedehead" has become one of Morrissey's most successful songs and remains critically acclaimed by modern writers.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suedehead

Related Forum Threads

• "Suedehead" filming / Fairmount Indiana photos from 1988 are HERE - Morrissey-solo (Mar 23, 2003)
• Markie Winslow incident in Fairmount Indiana 1988 from Morrissey's "Autobiography" challenged - Morrissey-solo (Nov 01, 2013)
• The camera that Morrissey uses in "Suedehead". - Morrissey-solo (Feb 02, 2005)
• Morrissey leaves his mark in Fairmount, IN - Morrissey-solo (Aug 31, 2008)
• "Suedehead" (Mael Mix) released (UK - April 21, 2012) - Morrissey-solo (Apr 21, 2012)
• Suedehead reaches 100 million plays milestone on Spotify - Morrissey-solo (Feb 28, 2023)
• Morrissey A-Z: "Suedehead" - Morrissey-solo (Sep 03, 2021)