Suedehead (single)
| 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/Street |
| Producer | Stephen Street |
| Art work | Geri Caulfield (cover) 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
| |
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.
Recording
Recording for Viva Hate commenced at The Wool Hall studios in Bath, England in early October and would last until late December. During the 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.
Song Versions
"Suedehead" (Intro Edit)
Bona Drag - 20th Anniversary
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"Suedehead" (Sparks Mix)
Future Retro
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"Suedehead" (Mael Mix)
Suedehead (Mael Mix)
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Track list
7" Vinyl
UK - [HMV POP1618]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 27907-7]
- Suedehead – 3:54 (Morrissey/Street)
- I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01 (Morrissey/Street)
12" Vinyl
UK - [HMV 12POP1618]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 20877-0]
- Suedehead – 3:54 (Morrissey/Street)
- I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01 (Morrissey/Street)
- Hairdresser On Fire – 3:51 (Morrissey/Street)
CD Single
UK - [HMV CDPOP1618]
- Suedehead – 3:54 (Morrissey/Street)
- I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01 (Morrissey/Street)
- Hairdresser On Fire – 3:51 (Morrissey/Street)
- 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)[1].
From the Sparks mailing list (April, 2005)[2]:
- 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]
- Suedehead (Mael Mix) – 3:35 (Morrissey/Street)Property "Tracklistsong" (as page type) with input value "We'll Let You Know [Live - 26 February 1995, BBC Theatre" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.
- We'll Let You Know [Live - 26 February 1995, BBC Theatre] – 4:13 (Morrissey/Whyte)Property "Tracklistsong" (as page type) with input value "Now My Heart Is Full [Live - 26 February 1995, BBC Theatre" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.
- 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...
Personnel
- Morrissey - Vocals
- Vini Reilly - Guitars, Keyboards
- Stephen Street - Bass guitar, guitars
- Andrew Paresi - Drums
- John Metcalfe - Viola
- Fenella Barton - Violin
- Mark Davies - Cello
- Richard Koster - Violin
- Robert Wollard - Cello
- Rachel Maguire - Cello
- Producer - Stephen Street
- Assistant Engineer - Steve Williams
- Art co-ordination - Jo Slee
- Layout - Caryn Gough
- Photography - Geri Caulfield
Sleeve Artwork
Original cover art. (1988)
Mael Mix cover. (2012)
Music Video
Credits
- Directed by Tim Broad
Live History
Appears On
Viva Hate (1988)
Bona Drag (1991)
Beethoven Was Deaf (1993)
The CD Singles '88–91' (2000)
¡The Best Of! Morrissey (2001)
Greatest Hits (2008)
Very Best Of Morrissey (2011)
Related Items
"Suedehead" 1988 release info/scans - Vulgar Picture
"Suedehead" info/quotes - The Motor Cycle Au Pair Boy
"Suedehead" (Mael Mix) released (UK - April 21, 2012) - Morrissey-solo (Apr. 21, 2012)
"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).
The camera that Morrissey uses in "Suedehead". - post by Librarian on Fire, Morrissey-solo forums (Feb. 1, 2005).
Morrissey leaves his mark in Fairmount, IN - post by mozmal, Morrissey-solo forums (Aug. 31, 2008).
Suggs covers "Suedehead" on UK TV, 1993 - YouTube
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)
I am the World Trade Center covers "Suedehead" in concert - Morrissey-solo (Apr. 22, 2003)
Good Charlotte singer performs 'Suedehead' with Alain, Boz and the band - Morrissey-solo (May 27, 2004)
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)
The Mountain Goats cover "Suedehead" in concert - Morrissey-solo (Oct. 22, 2008)
References
- ↑ presley1. (2005-04-11). Future Retro (out Jan. 24) includes "Suedehead" (Sparks mix,) listening party stream. Morrissey-solo. Retrieved from morrissey-solo.com.
- ↑ Sven68. (2005-04-11). "Suedehead" - remix by Sparks to be released on "The 80's Remixed" (April). Morrissey-solo. Retrieved from morrissey-solo.com.