The Analog Kid

It’s Smiths/Morrissey week here on the Analog Kid blog! Why, you ask?

Because it may all end tomorrow, or it could go on forever (in which case I’m doomed).

Back in the ancient early days of the Analog Kid blog (i.e. last December), one of my first posts was about some of Morrissey’s rarest b-sides. This was my introduction to that blog entry:

Morrissey’s solo career has been a record collector’s dream, but also a bit of a nightmare. Moz always adds new tracks to his single releases, and he even occasionally releases stand-alone singles that do not appear on any album. He has also released many compilation CDs that include some of these rare songs, but these discs often contain multiple versions of album tracks that fans already own. It can be very frustrating for someone to track down every Morrissey song, not to mention quite expensive.

In fact, many of Morrissey’s best b-sides remain unavailable on any compilation. If you want to get them, you have to track down the original releases and spend big bucks– unless, of course, you happen to stumble upon the Analog Kid blog and find the idiot who has already done just that…

Read/listen to the whole post here: https://theanalogkidblog.com/2013/12/19/morrisseys-rarest-b-sides-part-1/

And now, I present Part 2 of Morrissey’s Rarest B-Sides!

Morrissey: Pregnant For The Last Time [U.K. 12″]

HMV, 1991

1. “Pregnant For The Last Time” (Morrissey/Nevin)

Pregnant For The Last Time

2. “Skin Storm” (Hodgson)

Skin Storm

3. “Cosmic Dancer [Live]” (Bolan)

Cosmic Dancer [Live]

4. “Disappointed [Live]” (Morrissey/Street)

Disappointed [Live]

I included the song “Pregnant For The Last Time” in Part 1 of this post, but the entire single is really a rarity. “Skin Storm” is a great track that has never appeared on any Morrissey compilation, and the live versions of “Disappointed” and T-Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer” effectively capture the lunacy of early Moz solo gigs.

Morrissey: “Get Off The Stage” (Morrissey/Rourke)

From the U.K. 12″ single Piccadilly Palare

HMV, 1990

Get Off The Stage

Hard-core Morrissey fans understand his wicked sense of humor, and this self-deprecating track is a great example of it. Andy Rourke co-wrote the song and plays bass, and this single marks the last collaboration between Morrissey and any former members of The Smiths.

Morrissey: “Journalists Who Lie” (Morrissey/Street)

From the U.S. 12″ Our Frank

Sire Records, 1991

Journalists Who Lie

An interesting b-side if only for the hint it provided into Morrissey’s future rockabilly leanings…

Morrissey: “Will Never Marry” (Morrissey/Street)

From the U.K. 12″ Everyday Is Like Sunday

HMV, 1988

Will Never Marry

This is the full-length “Will Never Marry,” not the neutered version featured on the Bona Drag compilation.

Morrissey: “There Speaks A True Friend” (Morrissey/Whyte)

From the U.K. 12″ You’re The One For Me, Fatty

HMV, 1992

There Speaks A True Friend

“There Speaks A True Friend” is another slight-but-slightly-charming b-side that has never appeared anywhere else. I especially enjoy the George-Harrison-circa-1962 attempt at a guitar solo.

Morrissey: “Sweet And Tender Hooligan [Live]” (Morrissey/Marr)

From the U.S. 12″ Interesting Drug

Sire Records, 1989

Sweet And Tender Hooligan [Live]

Morrissey usually ignored The Smiths’ catalog at his solo gigs until the mid-’90s, but he did play “Sweet And Tender Hooligan” at his very first live show in Wolverhampton in 1988. Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke were with him (along with Smiths touring guitarist Craig Gannon), so this was really as much a goodbye to the Smiths as the start of a solo career.

Morrissey & Sioxsie: “Interlude” (Delerue/Shaper)

From the U.K. 12″ Interlude

Parlophone, 1994

Interlude

Two legends collide! Inexplicably unavailable for purchase anywhere on planet Earth at the moment…

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

Morrissey: “Our Frank” (Morrissey/Nevin)

From the U.S. 12″ Our Frank

Also available on the album Kill Uncle

Sire Records, 1991

Our Frank

Morrissey: “Everyday Is Like Sunday” (Morrissey/Street)

From the U.K. 12″ Everyday Is Like Sunday

Also available on the album Viva Hate

HMV, 1988

Everyday Is Like Sunday

Morrissey: “You’re The One For Me, Fatty” (Morrissey/Whyte)

From the U.K. 12″ You’re The One For Me, Fatty

Also available on the album Your Arsenal

HMV, 1992

You’re The One For Me, Fatty

Morrissey: “Interesting Drug” (Morrissey/Street)

From the U.S. 12″ Interesting Drug

Also available on the compilation album Bona Drag

Sire Records, 1989

Interesting Drug

Morrissey & Sioxsie: “Interlude [Extended]” (Delerue/Shaper)

From the U.K. 12″ Interlude

Parlophone, 1994

Interlude [Extended]

Morrissey: “Piccadilly Palare” (Morrissey/Armstrong)

From the U.K. 12″ Piccadilly Palare

Also available on the compilation album Bona Drag

HMV, 1990

Piccadilly Palare

The Beatles: “One After 909 [Take 2]” (Lennon/McCartney)

From the bootleg CD Ultra Rare Trax Vol. 1

Swingin’ Pig Records, 1988

One After 909 [Take 2]