Article: Viva Hate reissue downscaled according to forum post; Kill Uncle, Your Arsenal, Vauxhaul And I to be reissued later this year

[modrevolve]

You can view the page at http://www.morrissey-solo.com/content/638-Viva-Hate-reissue-downscaled-according-to-forum-post-Kill-Uncle-Your-Arsenal-Vauxhaul-And-I-to-be-reissued-later-this-year

[VivaGil]

Looking forward to hopefully non altered rereleases. I don't mind a good ole remastering, but changing artwork an tracks is just horrid

[Mr Reynolds]

Yes this is all true. EMI pulled out the Wolverhampton gig masters but Morrissey didn't like what he heard at all. My man inside said that there were second discs planned for all the reissues, with proposed rareities etc and all this was scuppered by Moz. There were other live show recordings proposed for Uncle etc too but I gather these were all dismissed by him. So prepare for further album track 'casualties' and bizarre 'demo' versions of half finished tracks inserted instead.

[Anonymous]

Yes this is all true. EMI pulled out the Wolverhampton gig masters but Morrissey didn't like what he heard at all. My man inside said that there were second discs planned for all the reissues, with proposed rareities etc and all this was scuppered by Moz. There were other live show recordings proposed for Uncle etc too but I gather these were all dismissed by him. So prepare for further album track 'casualties' and bizarre 'demo' versions of half finished tracks inserted instead.

It doesn't concern me much at all. I have the original versions I bought when they were released with the art work and track listing that changed my life. Was I wrong back then to be moved beyond belief by supposedly inferior audio quality? Does my life now require remastering to adjust to the new re releases? Yes I'm sure it would have been great to get thos miraval sessions on a disc and Wolverhampton but most of us already have those tracks and that gig. I would love to have the video of Wolverhampton aka the "Sister I'm a Poet" footage but I doubt we will ever see that. Like most intelligent forward thinking people I like to go back in time gracefully and will continue to occasionally lay down on the sofa and drop needle to vinyl. I've already been released!

- marred

[DAVIE]

This is just making me angrier....and angrier. Give us Wolverhampton 88 now Morrissey!

[DAVIE]

I don't think they'll re-release all the other albums this year though.....I just don't think its possible.

[Tom]

This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. I will fear the worst for the remaining releases, but hope for the best. I can only imagine what horror awaits by the time Vauxhall and I is released.

Wolverhampton will never happen... at least not officially. Morrissey squashed its release in 1989 and he squashed it now (and will again if given the opportunity). For some reason, he feels the rough sound of the gig sounds inferior and doesn't feel proud of his vocal performance. He fails to see it as the historical archive that is and couldn't possibly give a damn that fans all over have been clamoring for it for nearly 25 years. Even in audio form only, its inclusion as a bonus disc would have guaranteed a purchase from scores of fans, but now, where's the motivation to buy this butchering of history?

The iconic cover with it's fantastic lettering is now dismissed for this abysmal piece of Photoshop dullness, a seminal track is replaced with a poor quality demo and the album's masterful ballad has been chopped and gutted. Like last year's Bona Drag, I'm sure every track will bleed into the next without proper fading or appropriate silence between tracks. The songs are given no room to breathe and we as the listeners don't even get a nano second to absorb the song we just heard before progressing to the next. Sure it may sound nice in parts, but my original CD and vinyl sound fine and the 1997 re-issue sounds marginally better. I'll stick with those.

Morrissey lives on his own planet, that much is clear. It is what makes him brilliant, but it's also what makes him an exceedingly frustrating artist to be a fan of. His decision making is poor with just about every aspect of his career ranging from what singles to put out, how to handle re-issues and even what songs he decides to perform live. I find it amusing how he always seems baffled that these re-issues perform so poorly... if he just gave the fans what they wanted (and avoided what they don't want), the sales of such releases would be something to take pride in.

Why pass on tracks that would attract more sales? Is releasing a demo from a well-loved song like "Everyday Is Like Sunday" really so bad? Will it damage his image any more than crow-baring an unfinished demo into a classic album? Why include alleged bonus tracks from a concert from 1995 when this album came out in 1988? Most fans already have Drury Lane concert since it was a radio broadcast in the US and the UK. Nothing rare there, but a rare concert from 1988 that was a one off gig that has taken on a mythical status? Now that would be something....

These abandoned tracks (including Wolverhampton) will eventually leak out in bootleg form... maybe not this year, but they will. The vinyl bootleg "Revelation" came about by people associated with the EMI projects, so I'm sure a future vinyl (or CD) pressing will be in the cards. If a bootleg came about that included Wolverhampton, plus all the unreleased songs Moz passed on... who wouldn't buy it? I bet the sales numbers for that bootleg would far exceed those of this poorly conceived re-release.

Oh, well... he'll never learn.

[Anonymous]

I feel he was on a roll with the Bona Drag and Southpaw reissues. Great unreleases tracks on those. Maladjusted was bad, and no Viva Hate is as well. I hope for rarities on the other reissues.

If you read the collectors appendices (SP?) on pjlm.com for all these albums it looks like there were plans by Rhino in the USA to re-release VH thru V&I with bonus tracks (disc?) of some amazingly rare stuff.

[Anonymous]

This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. I will fear the worst for the remaining releases, but hope for the best. I can only imagine what horror awaits by the time Vauxhall and I is released.

Wolverhampton will never happen... at least not officially. Morrissey squashed it's release in 1989 and he squashed it now (and will again if given the opportunity). For some reason, he feels the rough sound of the gig sounds inferior and doesn't feel proud of his vocal performance. He fails to see it as the historical archive that is and couldn't possibly give a damn that fans all over have been clamoring for it for nearly 25 years. Even in audio form only, its inclusion as a bonus disc would have guaranteed a purchase from scores of fans, but now, where's the motivation to buy this butchering of history?

The iconic cover with it's fantastic lettering is now dismissed for this abysmal piece of Photoshop dullness, a seminal track is replaced with a poor quality demo and the album's masterful ballad has been chopped and gutted. Like last year's Bona Drag, I'm sure every track will bleed into the next without proper fading or appropriate silence between tracks. The songs are given no room to breathe and we as the listeners don't even get a nano second to absorb the song we just heard before progressing to the next. Sure it may sound nice in parts, but my original CD and vinyl sound fine and the 1997 re-issue sounds marginally better. I'll stick with those.

Morrissey lives on his own planet, that much is clear. It is what makes him brilliant, but it's also what makes him an exceedingly frustrating artist to be a fan of. His decision making is poor with just about every aspect of his career ranging from what singles to put out, how to handle re-issues and even what songs he decides to perform live. I find it amusing how he always seems baffled that these re-issues perform so poorly... if he just gave the fans what they wanted (and avoided what they don't want), the sales of such releases would be something to take pride in.

Why pass on tracks that would attract more sales? Is releasing a demo from a well-loved song like "Everyday Is Like Sunday" really so bad? Will it damage his image any more than crow-baring an unfinished demo into the album would? Why include alleged bonus tracks from a concert from 1995? Most fans already have Drury Lane concert since it was a radio broadcast in the US and the UK. Nothing rare there, but a rare concert from 1988 that was a one off gig? Now that would be something....

These abandoned tracks (including Wolverhampton) will eventually leak out in bootleg form... maybe not this year, but they will. The vinyl bootleg "Revelation" came about by people associated with the EMI projects, so I'm sure a future vinyl (or CD) pressing will be in the cards. If a bootleg came about that included Wolverhampton, plus all the unreleased songs Moz passed on... who wouldn't buy it? I bet the sales numbers for that bootleg would far exceed those of this poorly conceived re-release.

Oh, well... he'll never learn.

well said Tom.

- marred

[shayde]

yes tom is right.

also - wouldn't it make sense for morrissey when he is looking for an major label to take interest again - to make sure the re-issues were in a form that fans would like to buy? dropping classic tracks, and butchering others - is never going to be popular and will almost certainly reduce sales on the re-issues (most will keep their old copies - its better to have a complete 80s version, than a neutered remastered one) - which any prospective new record company will take note of. it sounds like EMI's intended re-issues would have sold in numbers, (because fans would have wanted the untouched album + rare material), but i suspect morrissey's hatcheted viva hate sales will just be another reason why a major would stay away from him.

also if he liked that very very rough demo of 'treat me like a human being' so much - and had to have it there, why didn't he finish it with stephen street this year so it would be listenable?

[Anonymous]

First, thank fuck that awful impossible new verification device has gone.

Second, well commented, Tom, I agree.
Its painfully easily to see why majors run from Morrissey.

[Anonymous]

yes tom is right.

also if he liked that very very rough demo of 'treat me like a human being' so much - and had to have it there, why didn't he finish it with stephen street this year so it would be listenable?

Especially when that "treat me like a human being" demo was already on the "Best Of". Wtf is the point of also splicing it into Viva Hate?

[Anonymous]

Personally, I doubt that the reason for refusing to release the Wolverhampton gig is dissatisfaction with the performance, itself. Just a guess, here, but I think it probably has more to do with the fact the the band comprised three of the other Smiths, all of whom threatened, or actually took, legal action against him. We already know that he hates Mike Joyce *yawn* and I'd guess he has no love for either Craig Gannon or Andy Rourke. I'm presuming that all four band members would have to be paid if a Wolverhampton DVD were released and, for Morrissey, that'd be intolerable. The footage would probably also lead to lots of praise for Rourke, Gannon and Joyce and, given that his current session musicians get criticism aplenty, I think that that's likely to harden Morrissey's attitude still further.

Thoughts?

[carnal artist]

As EMI are currently being taken over - and there's much chaos as people leave etc - all of these recordings will 'find their way out' on good bootlegs.

By refusing to release some of this stuff (Like the Wolverhampton gig) officiall - Moz is going to be missing out on the money he could earn.

[2-J]

Ok, so Wolverhampton is never coming out officially - that much is clear.

It is now time for those few fans who have a copy (yes, some do) to 'do a Hollywood Bowl' and release it for the masses to enjoy.

[Tom]

Ok, so Wolverhampton is never coming out officially - that much is clear.

It is now time for those few fans who have a copy (yes, some do) to 'do a Hollywood Bowl' and release it for the masses to enjoy.

That's not gonna happen. When it leaks (and it will), it won't be a free download leaked by a fan.

As for Moz not releasing Wolverhampton because of the ex Smiths members playing on it, that's just nonsense. If that were the case, last year's Bona Drag re-issue would not have been released since ex Smiths play on about half the songs on it.

[Anonymous]

No Wolverhampton ever.
Because it would earn performance royalties for a certain drummer (and to a lesser extent, a certain bassist and guitarist).
Old Scrooge McMoz doesn't play well with others. God Bless Boz, he must have the patience of a Saint.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone explain the need for rereleases in this day and age when most people download their music?
I feel it is a very uncreative thing to do and wish they would come up with something different. I'd prefer releases of alternative versions or studio outtakes and stories told about the recording process and what went on during the recordings.
Releasing the same material again makes no sense to me at all and I find it amazing that people are prepared to pay for it.

Urban in Sweden (got myself banned cause the forum bored me shitless)

ps. I would like to say hello to Uncleskinny (Peter Finan) or Chemical Ali as he is known in Bradford. Keep up the good work matey!

[Anonymous]

Anyone pining for the Wolverhampton show has never heard it. I have it straight from the board and its pure shite.

[Tom]

Anyone pining for the Wolverhampton show has never heard it. I have it straight from the board and its pure shite.

That's proof to me that you don't have it. It's not shit at all... it's rough, aggressive and passion filled. Do the songs sound perfect? No, but that's why it's so damn awesome... The imperfection is what makes it brilliant. It's filled with blistering energy and the band does an incredible job considering there's only one guitar. Personally I prefer an edgy live sound to a polished live performance that sounds nearly identical to the original recording.

[Anonymous]

That's proof to me that you don't have it. It's not shit at all... it's rough, aggressive and passion filled. Do the songs sound perfect? No, but that's why it's so damn awesome... The imperfection is what makes it brilliant. It's filled with blistering energy and the band does an incredible job considering there's only one guitar. Personally I prefer an edgy live sound to a polished live performance that sounds nearly identical to the original recording.

I couldn't agree more!

Urban the swede

[Bobmoz]

Ugh when will these reissues stop, next week were gonna hear he's reissuing, quarry, ringleader, swords and refusal, if he had put out the Wolverhampton gig I would actually shell out the cash to get it. I know many old school moz fans would love to have it. I've listened to Morrissey for almost 20 years and to be honest I don't see his music career getting any brighter, he's on the decline, he's made brilliant f$&@?ng music in his career more then most artist can do in 2 or 3 lifetimes, but I think he should call it a career. He's not Smiths Morrissey, or Early solo Morrissey, or mid 90's Morrissey or the Morrissey we all picture in our head that we want him to be. He's old stubborn run of the mouth, money grubbing Morrissey who plays with really nice guys but who really can't put out a really good tune for him to sing to and will continue to slow down the pace of the songs played live to compensate for Morrissey's increase in age. I also know why Morrissey wants a record lablel instead of puttimg it out himself independently, he wants a record label, because when the album flops or doesn't really chart he can blame the record label, that they didn't handle it right or they didn't promote him correctly.

Now before you Religious Morrissey nuts start attacking me because I said something negative about Morrissey or his band, or what kind of a fan am I or that I'm not a fan because I said such a thing. Get it thru your heads I am a fan I know what Morrissey is capable of doing as a singer songwriter, and to be honest I Know he can do way better then what's he's been doing the last past 8 years and I'm complaining because I do care.

[FROSTY]

Ugh when will these reissues stop, next week were gonna hear he's reissuing, quarry, ringleader, swords and refusal, if he had put out the Wolverhampton gig I would actually shell out the cash to get it. I know many old school moz fans would love to have it. I've listened to Morrissey for almost 20 years and to be honest I don't see his music career getting any brighter, he's on the decline, he's made brilliant f$&@?ng music in his career more then most artist can do in 2 or 3 lifetimes, but I think he should call it a career. He's not Smiths Morrissey, or Early solo Morrissey, or mid 90's Morrissey or the Morrissey we all picture in our head that we want him to be. He's old stubborn run of the mouth, money grubbing Morrissey who plays with really nice guys but who really can't put out a really good tune for him to sing to and will continue to slow down the pace of the songs played live to compensate for Morrissey's increase in age. I also know why Morrissey wants a record lablel instead of puttimg it out himself independently, he wants a record label, because when the album flops or doesn't really chart he can blame the record label, that they didn't handle it right or they didn't promote him correctly.

Now before you Religious Morrissey nuts start attacking me because I said something negative about Morrissey or his band, or what kind of a fan am I or that I'm not a fan because I said such a thing. Get it thru your heads I am a fan I know what Morrissey is capable of doing as a singer songwriter, and to be honest I Know he can do way better then what's he's been doing the last past 8 years and I'm complaining because I do care.


...agreed... I'm in the 20+ year following him rage as well and it seems pretty silly to NEED a major label... his point seems to me to be that his art is more valuable than what is promoted my major labels now... this may be buy why care to compete? He has the resources and the catalogue and the fan base to release quality art of his liking with total control... it's his life if he want s to keep changing the releases its his prerogative the prior art he released will not evaporate, but needing a major label.... come on. Money is in touring and merch.

[Thesmithsmorrissey]

Fucking lolz at that "Scrooge McMoz" remark