Interesting Drug (single)
| MORRISSEY Single | |
|---|---|
| Name | Interesting Drug |
| Release | 29 April 1989 |
| Total Length | 3:27 |
| Recorded | Circa late 1988 |
| Writer/composer | Morrissey / Stephen Street |
| Producer | Stephen Street |
| Art work | Photo: Lawrence Watson Layout: Caryn Gough |
| Vinyl Etching | ESCAPE FROM VALIUM (A-side) RETURN TO VALIUM (B-side) WHAT KIND OF MAN READS DENIM DELINQUENT? (etched 12" A-side) MOTOR CYCLE AU PAIR BOY (etched 12" B-side) HOSSCAH! HOSSCAH! (etched 12" promo) |
| Publisher | HMV Records (UK) Sire Records (US) |
| Format(s) | 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD |
| Chart position | UK #9 |
| Single chronology | |
| The Last Of The Famous International Playboys ← Interesting Drug → Ouija Board, Ouija Board
| |
Information
Kirsty MacColl provides backing vocals on this song.
Denim Delinquent magazine is mentioned via the matrix message (etched 12" A-side).
Motor Cycle Au Pair Boy on the etched 12" B-side matrix message is taken from Round the Horne.
Track list
7" Vinyl
[HMV POP1621]
- Interesting Drug – 3:27 (Morrissey/Street)
- Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference – 2:50 (Morrissey/Street)
Etched 12" Vinyl
[HMV 12POPS1621]
12" Vinyl
UK - [HMV 12POP1621]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 21232-0]
- Interesting Drug – 3:27
- Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference – 2:50
- Sweet And Tender Hooligan [Live - 22 December 1988, Wolverhampton] – 4:00 (Morrissey/Marr)
CD
[HMV CDPOP1621]
- Interesting Drug – 3:27
- Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference – 2:50
- Sweet And Tender Hooligan [Live - 22 December 1988, Wolverhampton] – 4:00
Lyrics
There are some bad people on the rise
There are some bad people on the rise
They're saving their own skins by
Ruining people's lives
Bad, bad people on the rise
Young married couple in debt - ever felt had?
Young married couple in debt - ever felt had?
On a government scheme
Designed to kill your dream
Oh mum, oh dad
Once poor - always poor
Interesting drug
The one that you took
TELL THE TRUTH - IT REALLY HELPED YOU!
An interesting drug
The one that you took
God, it really really helped you
You wonder why we're only half-ashamed?
"Because ENOUGH is TOO MUCH!
And look around...
...can you blame us?
CAN you blame us?
On a government scheme
Designed to kill your dream
Oh mum, oh dad
Once poor - always poor
Interesting drug
The one that you took
TELL THE TRUTH - IT REALLY HELPED YOU!
An interesting drug
the one that you took
God, it really really helped you
You wonder why we're only half-ashamed?
"Because ENOUGH is TOO MUCH!
And look around...
...can you blame us?
CAN you blame us?
Sleeve Artwork
Cover art. (1989)
Alt. cover. (1989)
Music Video
Credits
- Directed by Tim Broad
Live History
Play count (Morrissey concert): 66
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
- Interesting Drug (single)
- Hulmerist
- Bona Drag
- Live In Dallas
- Your Arsenal
- Suedehead: The Best Of Morrissey
- The CD Singles '88–91'
- ¡Oye Esteban!
- ¡The Best Of! Morrissey
- The HMV/Parlophone Singles '88–'95
- Very Best Of Morrissey
Mentioned In
Discogs Information
Credits
- Bass [The Bass] - Andy Rourke
- Coordinator [Art Co-ordination] - Jo Slee
- Drums [The Drums] - Mike Joyce
- Engineer [Assistant] - Steve Williams (6)
- Guitar [Guitars] - Craig Gannon
- Guitar [Guitars] - Neil Taylor
- Hair - Stephen Powner
- Keyboards - Stephen Street
- Layout - Caryn Gough
- Mastered By - Tim Young
- Photography By [Picture] - Lawrence Watson
- Producer [Produced By] - Stephen Street
- Voice, Sleeve - Morrissey
Notes
Issued with a black poly-lined inner sleeve.
[Sleeve:] ℗ 1989 Original sound recording made by EMI Records Ltd © 1989 EMI Records Ltd
[Labels:] Made in Gt. Britain Side A: Bona Relations/Warner Chappell Music/SBS Productions Ltd/Virgin Music (Publ.) Ltd Side B: Track 1: Bona Relations/Warner Chappell Music/SBS Productions Ltd/Virgin Music (Publ.) Ltd Track 2: Warner Chappell Music Recorded live at The Wolverhampton Civic, December 1988.
Runouts are stamped except for the etched 'ESCAPE FROM VALIUM' and 'RETURN TO VALIUM'.
Images
- Interesting Drug - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/4656
- Interesting Drug (12" 45 RPM Single Red Labels) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/1067491-Morrissey-Interesting-Drug
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Comes in a plain Red Morrissey branded bag with the His Masters Voice logo on the front and cat no on back. Label is white with the track title(s) and cat no in Red and a large A or B in pink behind it.
B2 recorded live at The Wolverhampton Civic, December 1988.
℗&© 1989 EMI Records LTD
Images
- Interesting Drug (12" 45 RPM Promo Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2348472-Morrissey-Interesting-Drug
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Issued in a side opening gloss sleeve, spine without text. Original copies had a black poly-lined inner. Includes a brown or white sticker with the text "Special Etched Disc".
Runout characters are stamped up to and including "Penthouse", thereafter they are hand etched.
[Sleeve:] ℗ 1989 Original Sound Recordings Made By EMI Records Ltd. © 1989 EMI Records Ltd.
[Label:] Bona Relations/Warner Chappell Music Ltd/SBS Productions Ltd/Virgin Music (Publ) Ltd Manufactured in England by EMI Records Limited
Images
- Interesting Drug (12" 45 RPM Single Sided Single Etched Stereo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/463383-Morrissey-Interesting-Drug
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Very limited edition release with one track on A side, and 'Motor Cycle Au Pair Boy' and Oscar Wilde etching on the B-side
Images
- Interesting Drug (12" 45 RPM Single Sided Single Etched Promo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2949648-Morrissey-Interesting-Drug
Wikipedia Information
 |
"Interesting Drug" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released as a non-album single on 17 April 1989. Co-written by Morrissey and former Smiths producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's fourth release after the Smiths break-up. Morrissey was inspired lyrically by the drug culture in the English lower class, which he felt was being clamped down on by the power-hungry Thatcher government. These political themes were further explored in its music video. The single was the second and final Morrissey solo single to feature his former Smiths bandmates Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Craig Gannon. "Interesting Drug" was recorded and released following Morrissey's debut album, Viva Hate. Upon release, the single became yet another commercial hit for Morrissey, reaching number nine in the UK in spite of controversy regarding its lyrics and music video. The song would later appear on the 1990 compilation album, Bona Drag. In the years since its release, "Interesting Drug" has received positive critical reception.
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