The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (single)
| MORRISSEY Single | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Last Of The Famous International Playboys |
| Release | 11 February 1989 8 April 2013 (Reissue) |
| Total Length | 3:40 |
| Writer/composer | Morrissey/Street |
| Producer | Stephen Street |
| Art work | Morrissey |
| Vinyl Etching | ESCAPE FROM VALIUM (A-side) RETURN TO VALIUM (B-side) |
| Publisher | HMV Records (UK) Sire Records (US) Parlophone Records (Reissue) |
| Format(s) | 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD |
| Chart position | UK #6 |
| Single chronology | |
| Everyday Is Like Sunday ← The Last Of The Famous International Playboys → Interesting Drug
| |
| Single reissue chronology | |
|
Suedehead (Mael Mix) ← The Last Of The Famous International Playboys → Satellite Of Love (live)
| |
Track list
7" Vinyl
UK - [HMV POP1620]
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys – 3:40 (Morrissey/Street)
- Lucky Lisp – 2:51 (Morrissey/Street)
12" Vinyl
UK - [HMV 12POP1620]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 21163-0]
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys – 3:40
- Lucky Lisp – 2:51
- Michael's Bones – 3:10 (Morrissey/Street)
CD
UK - [HMV CDPOP1620]
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys – 3:40
- Lucky Lisp – 2:51
- Michael's Bones – 3:10
7" Vinyl Picture Disc (Reissue)
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys – 3:40 (Morrissey/Street)
- People Are The Same Everywhere – 2:50 (Morrissey/Tobias)
CD (Reissue)
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys – 3:40
- Action Is My Middle Name – 2:45 (Morrissey/Boorer)
Digital Download (Reissue)
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys – 3:40
- The Kid's A Looker – 3:09 (Morrissey/Boorer)
Lyrics
Dear hero imprisoned,
With all the new crimes that you are perfecting Oh I can't help quoting you Because everything that you said rings true
And now in my cell (Well, I followed you) And here's a list of who I slew Reggie Kray - do you know my name? Don't say you don't Please say you do
I am: The last of the famous International playboys The last of the famous International playboys
And now in my cell (Well, I loved you) And every man with a job to do Ronnie Kray - do you know my face? Don't say you don't Please say you do
I am: The last of the famous International playboys The last of the famous International playboys
In our lifetime those who kill The newsworld hands them stardom And these are the ways On which I was raised These are the ways On which I was, which I was raised
I never wanted to kill I'M NOT NATURALLY EVIL Such things I do Just to make myself More attractive to you HAVE I FAILED?
The last of the famous International playboys
Sleeve Artwork
Cover art. (1989)
Reissue cover art. (2013)
Music Video
Credits
- Directed by Tim Broad
Live History
Play count (Morrissey concert): 128
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)
Appears On
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (single)
- Hulmerist
- Bona Drag
- Live In Dallas
- Your Arsenal
- World Of Morrissey
- Suedehead: The Best Of Morrissey
- The CD Singles '88–91'
- ¡Oye Esteban!
- ¡The Best Of! Morrissey
- That's How People Grow Up (single)
- Greatest Hits
- The HMV/Parlophone Singles '88–'95
- Very Best Of Morrissey
- This Is Morrissey
Appears On Covers Compilation
Cover Versions
Mentioned In
- Reggie Kray
- Ronnie Kray
- Additional Morrissey news - Release Information (January 31, 2013)
- Press release: The Last Of The Famous International Playboys: Special Edition single; Kill Uncle: Album remastered - Release Information (February 5, 2013)
- Artwork for The Last Of The Famous International Playboys and Kill Uncle - Release Information (March 5, 2013)
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys and Kill Uncle: Remastered single and album can now be pre-ordered - Release Information (March 27, 2013)
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys and Kill Uncle: Remastered single and album released today in the UK - Release Information (April 8, 2013)
Discogs Information
Credits
- Bass Guitar - Andy Rourke
- Drums - Mike Joyce
- Engineer [Assistant] - Steve Williams (6)
- Guitar - Craig Gannon
- Guitar - Neil Taylor
- Keyboards - Stephen Street
- Producer - Stephen Street
- Sleeve - Caryn Gough
- Sleeve - Jo Slee
- Sleeve - Morrissey
- Voice - Morrissey
- Written-By - Morrissey
- Written-By - Stephen Street
Notes
Released in printed cardboard & paper jackets. Paper jacket has small circular sticker in upper right corner of jacket(see pictures), "VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LIMITED". No record of Japanese pressing, so possibly a UK pressing exported to Japan for sale. All other jacket printing & record matrix/runout identical to UK pressing. ℗ © 1989 EMI Records Ltd.
Images
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/4752
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (7" 45 RPM Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/409748-Morrissey-The-Last-Of-The-Famous-International-Playboys
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Images
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (12" Promo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/678420-Morrissey-The-Last-Of-The-Famous-International-Playboys
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Issued in a cardboard sleeve.
[Sleeve:] 1: Digital remaster ℗ 2013 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd. Remastered by Bill Inglot at Digiprep
2: Recorded 10th June, 2011 for the Janice Long Show on Radio 2 and broadcast 15th June, 2011. ℗ 2013 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by the BBC. Mastered at the Lodge.
℗ 2013 The copyright in this compilation is owned by EMI Records Ltd. © 2013 EMI Records Ltd. Made in the E.U.
[CD face:] Recording first published 1989 Made in the E.U. Stereo recording
Images
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (Single Stereo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/4458702-Morrissey-The-Last-Of-The-Famous-International-Playboys
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Track 1 remastered. ℗ 2010 Track 2 recorded 10th June, 2011 for the Janice Long Show on Radio 2 and broadcast 15th June, 2011. Released by arrangement with BBC Music. ℗ 2011
Made in the EU. ℗ 2013 © 2013
Picture disc vinyl issued in 18,50 cm x 18,50 cm transparent PVC bag with sticker.
Images
- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (7" 45 RPM Single Picture Disc Remastered) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/4458308-Morrissey-The-Last-Of-The-Famous-International-Playboys
Wikipedia Information
 |
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" is a 1989 song by British vocalist Morrissey. Co-written by Morrissey and producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's third release after the 1987 breakup of his earlier group Smiths. Morrissey's lyrics were inspired by gangster brothers the Kray Twins, notorious in London's East End during the 1960s, whom he believed to be an example of the media glamourizing violent criminals. Street wrote the music, which took influence from the post-punk group the Fall and an introduction similar to that of "The Man Who Sold the World" by David Bowie. The single was the first Morrissey solo single to feature his former Smiths bandmates Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Craig Gannon. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was recorded and released following Morrissey's debut album Viva Hate. Upon release, the single became another commercial hit for Morrissey, reaching number six in the UK despite initially mixed reviews. The song later appeared on the 1990 compilation album Bona Drag. The song was a commercial success upon its release and has since been praised as one of Morrissey's best songs.