h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

..not sure about their dog, though.

tends to s**t all over my garden and try to shag your leg everytime it comes near you

Sounds like a typical to me...

Nice article, well informed and written. I got into them rather late (just as Rank was released) but saw Morrissey a couple of years ago at Battersea. Anyway, cheers.

Thank you!
You know Morrissey's song "You're The One For Me, Fatty"? When I first heard that, I was convinced that I heard him sing: "All over Battersea, some hope and some despair". I think I still prefer my version of the lyric to his...

Erm - I thought 'Battersea' WAS the lyric. I remember first listening to 'Your Arsenal' and not liking the rockier sound, especially after the rather delicate 'Kill Uncle'. Grew on me, though. I dug out 'Hatful of Hollow' for the first time in a while the other day and was captivated by it. It really is a remarkable album.

Good grief - I've just checked that "Fatty" lyric and you're right! I'd just reasoned that the "Battersea" reference was too silly, and that it must really be "although we're bound to see..." Never again will I underestimate Morrissey's quirkiness!
"Hatful Of Hollow" is all the more remarkable for the fact that it wasn't really a "proper" album, in the sense that it wasn't all recorded together as an album, but was a compilation of early odds and ends, such as radio sessions and demos. It's amazing how well it all holds together despite that.

Yeah, I think a lot of it is Peel Sessions. The whole 'Your Arsenal' and 'Beethoven Was Deaf' period of Morrissey's career marked the high watermark of his curious fascination with the London criminal underworld, which began with the 'Kray' references in 'The Last Of The Famous International Playboys'. I think I'm right in saying that a single cover during this time features Joe Richardson, of the notorious South London 'firm' of the early Sixties. The book 'Peepholism', has some fantastic photos from this time.

Been listening to "Hatful Of Hollow" an lot recently. I'm only just getting into Morrissey's solo material though. What would you recommend?

There are a few compilations out which are routinely slated by the music press but are nonetheless valuable sources of more obscure material. For a 'proper album', have a bash at 'Vauxhall and I' or the rockier 'Southpaw Grammar'. Best of luck - tell us how you get on.

..to someone who wants to listen to Morrisey's solo stuff?

Get out more
Make some friends
Take more stimulants
Give up wearing black scarves

Spoken like a true Robbie Williams fan, Livzy...

I'd heartily recommend "Vauxhall & I" too. I'd say that's Mozzer's most consistently fine solo album. I'm also very fond of his most recent effort, "Maladjusted". Anyone who can write a song called "Satan Rejected My Soul" is fine by me.

*Thanks*

What would life be without a few inhrent prejudices along the way??!!

He's touring in the New Year, apparently. Dates to be announced in February.

Thanks for all the advice [but I don't wear black scarves, sadly ]. I may go to see him live with a friend...marvellous

It is good to hear that Mozzer's back in action. Hope he comes home to Britain for a couple of shows. I'd be there, waving my black scarf!

I know that nobody is even looking at this conversation now, which I think is sad, in a depressed kind of way. I love the Smiths, the jingly, jangly guitar, the excellent lyrics. I still play them at top volume whenever I'm feeling down, and it is enough that I can sing along and still feel that somebody is worse off than me. My personal favourite is Bigmouth, because it reminds me of me.

It's got to be the whole of 'The Queen Is Dead' for me. An absolutely fantastic album - sometimes beautiful, sometimes funny, constantly inventive and inspired. There are a few of the later singles that I really love too: 'Sheila Take A Bow', 'Panic', 'Shoplifters Of The World Unite'.

Hope getting a reply wasn't too much of a shock!

BOO!!! Make that two replies

I totally agree with the sentiments about "The Queen Is Dead". Its been my all time favourite album since I first heard it. I do have a soft spot for "Strangeways" as well.

The funny thing is that I really have no time for anything that Morrissey or Marr produced after the split. I guess The Smiths were a band that was more than the sum of their parts. They also rather spoilt the memory when it came out that they were ripping off Andy and Mike on the division of the royalties. Can either of you remember how that sorry saga finished?

It finished with Mike Joyce much better off and poor Andy Rourke much less so. See Footnote 4 at the end of the Smiths Entry.

Yeah, I noticed the footnote when I clicked back through the article.

*note to self: read ALL of an entry before asking questions*