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"A Matter Of Opinion" - 'lost' Smiths track unearthed during Simon Goddard's research for new book
posted by davidt on Friday May 24 2002, @08:00AM

 Thanks to everyone who sent in this news item. Ruffian was the first:

A Fresh 'Opinion' From The Smiths - NME.com (22-05-2002-12-55)
A brand new ‘lost’ song by THE SMITHS has been unearthed, coinciding with the band topping the poll of NME’s most influential bands of all time in our recent 50th anniversary issue.

The Morrissey/Marr composition ‘A Matter Of Opinion’ was discovered during research for a new book analysing the career of the legendary Manchester quartet.

Author Simon Goddard, who also writes for NME's sister magazine Uncut, was searching through the tape archives of Smiths drummer Mike Joyce when he made his discovery.

He told NME.COM: "As part of my research I was the first journalist ever to be granted access to drummer Mike Joyce’s personal tape archive of rehearsals, soundchecks and outtakes. It was like a Smiths 'Ark of the Covenant' - lost instrumentals, some very exciting alternate versions but easily the most mindblowing was the discovery of a never-before-mentioned Morrissey/Marr song from 1982 called 'A Matter Of Opinion'".

For more, see this week's NME, which is out now.
---
Additionally, Marilyn sends the link to the Yahoo! headline from Ananova: Smiths biographer uncovers new track. Excerpt:

Author Simon Goddard told NME he'd found enough rare material amongst Joyce's tapes to make up a Beatles Anthology-style box set...

...easily the most mind-blowing was the discovery of a never-before-mentioned Morrissey/Marr song from 1982 called A Matter Of Opinion.

"Musically, it's very much in the same R 'n' B vein as What Difference Does It Make? while the lyrics are typical Morrissey and quite cynical."

It's not yet known whether the track will be released.
---
Update: 05/25 00:48 GMT: An anonymous person adds details from the print NME:
...while the lyrics are typical Morrissey and quite cynical. The opening line is - "Sit by the fire with your books and pretend that you're active"

But they never played it live and there's just the one copy on a rehearsal tape. It's been kept quiet for nearly 20 years so from a fan's perspective this is sensational news."

...Simon Goddard's The Smiths - Songs That Saved Your Life will be published in November by Reynolds & Hearn
---

 
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    "A Matter Of Opinion" - 'lost' Smiths track unearthed during Simon Goddard's research for new book | Log in/Create an Account | Top | 49 comments | Search Discussion
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    The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
    Cynical in the extreme (Score:1)
    You wait till you read Goddard's book, "The Songs that saved your life". It makes Rogan's tarty effort look like the Beano! Rock on.
    Fairmount Gas -- Friday May 24 2002, @08:10AM (#30474)
    (User #4713 Info | http://www.fairmountgas.co.uk/ )
     i am a simple man...
    but is it any good? (Score:3, Insightful)
    Obiviously very interesting, at least as a curiosity, as it appears to be a very early song, but is it any good? I'm not saying it isn't, but I also find it curious that Morrissey never granted it a release or even mentioned it. I mean, he has even mentioned "Striptease..." without releasing it. I've always thought that if Morrissey wants to keep a song hidden in obscurity, he's got his good reasons.
    Nevertheless - I'm eager to hear it!
    Puppet on string <tweedcoat@hotmail.com> -- Friday May 24 2002, @08:21AM (#30475)
    (User #2114 Info)
     Everyday I have the blues!
    today was a good day (Score:1)
    What a day at morrissey-solo: a tour, new songs, old songs that weren't realesed. Damn, this almost makes up for that bit on morrissey and marr's first meeting.
    Andy-Mats -- Friday May 24 2002, @09:50AM (#30485)
    (User #151 Info)
    Why even tell us this? (Score:0)
    I don't see the point. It's most likely we will NEVER hear this song. Why tease us like this?
    Anonymous -- Friday May 24 2002, @11:07AM (#30502)
      a message on an ill wind (Score:1)
      If this is the same Simon Goddard who wrote the To Kill A Mockingbird piece on Your Arsenal then this is definitely good news.

      Why not hear what this geezer has to say - it's not like anybody else has uncovered any unreleased Smiths stuff in past few years. There's obviously a method to this madness and it's about time a new book came along to challenge Rogan's.
      Alf Ramsey's Revenge -- Friday May 24 2002, @04:40PM (#30513)
      (User #4965 Info | http://www.mehstg.co.uk/ramsey.htm )
       It's all a matter of opinion...
        Curious (Score:2, Interesting)
        Does anyone know the full lyrics to this song?
        Violeta -- Friday May 24 2002, @05:52PM (#30517)
        (User #1820 Info)
         swivel and sway
        what the hell? (Score:1)
        I surf by Mike's page regurly

        What a load of crap, saying this NME journalist
        found it.

        Mike wrote on his page a time ago, he had 3
        unreleaesed Smiths tracks, and I'm sure 'a matter
        of opnion' was the one he mentioned.

        Am I going insane, or is Mike 'that' desperate
        for media attention?
        Celibate Cry <vauxhall@mail2uk.com> -- Friday May 24 2002, @09:54PM (#30520)
        (User #220 Info)
         and the hills are alive with celibate cries
        mmmm... (Score:0, Offtopic)
        ..a Smiths Anthology Box Set...

        TIME FOR YOUR MEDICATION!

        oh, yeah..
        Whalley Ranger -- Saturday May 25 2002, @03:26AM (#30532)
        (User #2431 Info)
         "Give me a broom, and I'll sweep my way to Heaven"
          Don't hold out too much hope... (Score:1)
          Sorry to extinguish the flames of hope, but I asked Mike what the problem was with the song, and he said that as Morrissey retained a 50% publishing interest, until he acquiesced, there wasn't much chance of the song getting released anywhere.

          They haven't spoken since 1996, and there's still a veritable bank of bad blood after the court case, so I for one am not holding my breath, for fear of passing out.
          spentspentspent <cheekydeek@yahoo.co.uk> -- Sunday May 26 2002, @03:44PM (#30613)
          (User #3260 Info)
           "I'm starved of mirth; Let's go and trip a dwarf"
            reader meet author (Score:0, Interesting)
            It sounds similar to all the Nirvana track hassles. But in all of this fuss over the song nobody seems to have said much that there's going to be a NEW SMITHS BOOK. Not just a load of photos or a dodgy city guide but a "proper" book. November it says in NME? Will November spawn a monster or a masterpiece? Either way that's me Christmas present list sorted for another year. Don't disappoint us Goddard.

            Lonely June Brides fan, Nottingham, UK
            Anonymous -- Sunday May 26 2002, @04:09PM (#30615)
            Mp3 would be nice... (Score:2, Interesting)
            To whoever has 'Matter of Opinion' (i.e. Mike Joyce if nobody else has it) why not release it annoymously as an mp3, for example through Audiogalaxy. All it would require would be a few annoynmous emails here and there, and as soon as a few fans have it, it could spread around the internet, and you wouldn't have to do anything more, not even host the mp3.
            Anyone who cares about this track (i.e. only Smiths and Morrissey fans) would buy any future box set or rarities compilation anyway. To make sure, just release the track as a relatively low quality mp3, say 128kpbs. The fans would be over the moon, you'd avoid any litigation and I doubt a single penny of future revenues would be lost - it is unlikely Morrissey will ever consent to its release, but as I said if he ever did, I don't think sales would be affected.
            Please?
            2-J -- Monday May 27 2002, @07:54AM (#30639)
            (User #4798 Info)
            Well....what. (Score:1)
            What the heck now? Thank the Lord above for Marr. Woo Hoo....Morrissey...and, I guess yay, the Smiths too.
            Damn...imagine..all that greasy untouched Smiths love, just waiting to be released.
            AAhhh....can you feel it..can you feel it.
            Its love.
            Mozkateer -- Wednesday May 29 2002, @03:14PM (#30772)
            (User #1871 Info | http://www.myspace.com/saenz01 )

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