It is one of his worst singles for a while though, so im not too surprised. thought Southpaw would have charted though!

threllyp

"The Youngest..." was a much different story. There were new songs included on that release, and pretty good songs to say the least.

Why would we expect to see Morrissey disappointed about "Skull" charting so low? If the man cared, he would've put new songs on the single. When you release a product with live songs that have been available on the net for a while now, this is what happens.

Skull is not radio friendly at all. The song starts off brilliantly but the drum "blast" in the end spoils it completely and the "you swore" bit just goes on for toooo long.

Shame really. I shouldn't think there will be any more singles off the album?

I'm glad it hasn't entered the top 40, I said it was a mistake as a single way back when they announced it (had to be It's Not Your Birthday Anymore) & with there being no new songs on it, it was a total waste of time.

In mitigation however, it's got to number whatever based on physical cd & vinyl sales only. I don't know about iTunes but it isn't available on download at HMV or Amazon until Monday, I'm assuming that's the same story with all download sites. So maybe it'll chart next week... although I won't be holding my breath.

sorry to say, but expecting a single off an album, with no new b-sides, to fare very well in the charts, is a bit optimistic in these days of file-sharing and what not. you could maybe get away with it 10 years ago, but now...not so much.
i'll still buy it though.

... that there was hardly any publicity for the single at all. I know he's been touring the US, but a few long distance radio appearances, or some sort of advertising around the UK wouldn't go amiss.
Being pretty busy these days, I don't visit this site as often as a used to, so even I missed the release date. My friend had to tell me the single and albums were out because he read it on ceefax.
Sorry Moz, but it's all about the marketing. Get on to the label and your PR about that, they need to start organising things better for you.

Young people just aren't interested in buying singles anymore. They either download it for free or get it from itunes. And these are the kids who download Lady gaga and RnB shit into their mobile phones.

Singles are a novelty these days. The older people who would buy the actual CD format can't find them anywhere!!

This was the single that should have been the first single off of the record. Would have been the best way to announce the record to the public. Paris is a nice enough track but it's a not an attention grabber. The other thing that signaled its doom was the non-inclusion of new material as b-sides.

dcn

Who cares about the singles chart! Is it even relevant anyway? I think not. And this has nothing to do with those no-shows in Florida and will have little or nothing to do with his summer tour. The tour will go on without 'Skull' being a top 40 hit.

thetexasbloke

I think either this song or any other of a # of Moz songs would go down well on Dancing w/ the Stars. I haven't seen one played on the American version yet; don't know about any of the other countries.

However, I do know something about marketing music. The major labels pay the "indies" and the indies pay off the music directors and this is how songs become "commercial" & "popular." (An indirect form of payola which is technically illegal.)

Well, no big deal if he's missed the Top 40 Singles Chart when you see who's around ...Beyonce , Lady Gaga,Enrique Iglesias ...Oh GOD !!!

I don't know if this was posted but it made number 46

'Something Is Squeezing....' isn't Top 40 material, but by no means am I saying it's bonfire material like the other scraps in the charts.

It isn't his best work but then Years Of Refusal isn't his best album. I suppose it is a good thing because it'll keep those pubescent midges away.
To me Morrissey's recent efforts seem to be hedging more towards photo shoots and fashion accessories, there ain't anything wrong with this (everybody is entitled to show some meat through their Fred Perry torso), but also required to show they still give a dollop of shit.

This was one of the worst singles from him (if not the worst) to come out in ages. Forgetting that the song isn't a wise choice (Black Cloud) would have worked better, this has the worst bsides in history. Enough with the live tracks! Fans will be a single if you offer some new songs, not lame live tracks that are easily available on youtube.

The album's long since bombed from the charts, and everyone that wanted ...Skull already has it.

He can moan all he wants - at the end of the day he needs to offer more than just token B-sides if he expects people to part with their money.

I walked past it in a singles rack in HMV last weekend. Didn't feel even remotely inclined to buy it. Seeing as though I've bought every Moz single since Suedehead, it should feel like a big deal, but to be honest I just feel completely indifferent about his music right now.

When I first heard Irish Blood, English Heart at the Albert Hall I was thrilled - not only the best Morrissey song I'd heard in years, but it felt like the best song by anyone that I'd heard in ages. YATQ hit, and bar a couple of tracks I was fairly underwhelmed. Still, the wave of good press was lovely - it felt like he was back. I bought every mag with a new interview in.

Then ROTT. I didn't like the singles, then - Pigsty aside - I wasn't massively taken with the album either.

And now Years Of Refusal.

You can tell how much I like an album by how many tracks remain on my ipod a few months after release. Only I'm OK By Myself remains.

Disturbing fact: I have more tracks from Kill Uncle on my ipod than from the last 3 Morrissey albums.

I've enjoyed his critical and commercial renaissance in recent years far more than I've enjoyed his music, and now he's peed that away, I don't really see where he goes from here.

Time to get on the phone to Mr Marr, methinks.

Charts are dead and buried. The last time they anyone cared was 1976 (and that was a long time ago).

If anyone knew anything this song would be number one

-21punksalute

Why would anyone buy this release if they already have the album? Certainly not for the b-sides. This release was Moz at his laziest, and he's received exactly what he's deserved. If it weren't for the fanatic collectors out there, it would have ranked even lower.

The next single should have been the strongest song on the album: Mama.
It isn't the best song he's ever recorded, but its within the top 20. It's a very strong song and well played live.
He miscalculated.

I wonder if this flop single will result in another single quickly released, or kill the possibility of any additional releases from the album?

Aside from dcn, I'm surprised nobody is standing up for this song...it's a great song, single, album opener, etc., etc.

I do agree, however, that better B-sides and a better video would have helped especially considering everyone has the album with THE SONG on it anyways.

Sometimes it's like Morrissey doesn't get it even though he's so knowledgeable about music, It's weird.

Ok, so no one can be shocked over this. Any Morrissey fan who is likly to buy one of his singles is more likly to have the album the single came from already, so if he/they don't fill the single with something more than the song that we have already, what are we buying it for?

So I suppose then that it wont be included on the next greatest hits hits compilation??? The one we can all expect next year.

Release one three months prior to an album release and a second, the month before. Then none afterwards. Only stand alone singles with new extra tracks should ever be considered in the months after an album. Times are different, people want the music more than the physical product (regardless of how many naked photos are on the inner sleeve).

i like skull alot, but as a single didnt expect it to do much,its just not radio friendly, shame cause it is a great song. Black cloud or the brilliant ok by my self should have been released instead, and as for the b sides, well nothing exciting there, although i do like the new this charming man.
I did buy all 3 formats,just to keep my collection up to date, plus ,moz is looking dam hot! xx

Viva moz xx

no suprise.

I warned him, but he just wouldn't listen.

Maybe he should have released That's How People Grow Up or All You Need Is Me?

Oh no, wait. He did that for the last album.

The album was leaked in January. The b-sides aren't new songs, but from a live performance uploaded on youtube. Years of refusal was mediocre. It didn't deserve a better place

morrissey has sold out all his concerts so do you think really not getting in the charts is so important.. since 1982 it has not been and 27 years later he is still touring, so hey ho moz stirling tonight, dundee tomorrow, glasgow to come all your loyal fans will be there, the chaarts are boring....

...Shocking!!!

Someone said this went in at 46. It's much worse - the official chart website doesn't have Skull or Refusal in the Top 100. A poor single, but the tragic truth is that the music industry has killed off the single and there are hardly any shops left to pick up the damned things. Such a shame because Moz obviously insists on some effort being put into things like the quality of sleeves (some of us DO notice!) and making sure there's a vinyl version. All 3 versions were available for a fiver online, but there's not much loyalty around these days it seems. Personally I'm still smarting about the Greatest Hits road-crash and it looks like many more Mozheads are too. Ah well, we'll always have Paris (and the tour!).

Wows! Morrissey and I finally have something in common.

If people choose to buy remastered albums instead of a song they already have, that's their business. Personally, I'll have to wait for the stimulus package to afford them.

Finally he chooses [for us fans] a well known
old song, but it's good, a perfect song for a single

i'm ashamed though it's not official released in
Holland, that singles released before who were
worse got a better chartposition

better b -sides would've helped maybe but it's all guessing
A lot of good bands have singles out past weeks,
but a top 10 hitsingle for is birffday would be
  a nice gift for His Master's Voice

Well, this is a sign of what to expect in the future and I place the blame firmly on the shoulders of his un-inpired rock band.

I have never seen a group of musicians so tedious and annoying as this lot.

Dont get me started on Tobias and the bass player.

I dont care much for the singles chart but it is still the marker to gauge how well an artist is doing and the results havent been good have they , come on lets be honest here.

You could argue that there is not so much emphasis on the 'single' nowadays but i dont buy into that.

There are many bands that still release this format because the mark up on manufacturing to the sale of the item is still great.

If this is a dying format , then why arent other groups following suit? because the reality is , the format isnt dying.

This single is let down by a very poor A side and live b sides.

I always feel ripped off with live b sides even though two of the current are smiths classics.

Maybe the magic has gone aswell. I didnt buy this single on the day of release but some 6 days later. Why?. I was bored and went to the shops for something to do.I have never done this before , never.

I am afraid to say this but I dont see M going on much longer. The tripe that has been released since vauxhall has been shocking.

truly gutted.

...and I never have!!

So who cares anyway????

Does HE care? I don´t really believe that!

Greetings from Germany,

Alex

So there

Southpaw Grammer was actually the first Morrissey cd I actually ever heard. So for me it was always his most underrated. Dagenham Dave always deserved better.
http://www.allmylittlewordsonline.com [allmylittl...online.com]

Thank You Jesse T! Or Should I Call You "Timmy T" because your song writing skills are just as good as Timmy T!!

here's my reference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NkyRT6WLGo

Some of you could make me projectile vomit.

Calling for Moz to just pack it in and/or cutting down his songs on the past few albums...

You all are the same lot that will be crying and shitting your pants when he does stop recording and touring...

Pathetic.

I've already ordered my copy of the single. Both cd's and the 7" too, but I'm obsessive about collecting Morrissey stuff for the sleeves if nothing else. I agree that without new material on the b-sides most people will pass on the purchase. Same rules apply for the Maladjusted reissue. I'm SHOCKED, however, that Southpaw didn't do better in the charts given that it contains three new songs. Oh well, Morrissey's next move should be signing sleeves until he develops carpal tunnel, then selling them at the gigs. That's bound to increase sales......right?????

wrote this song. Why is Jesse Tobias getting
blamed for it ? You are all idiots.

A questionable single from a good album which was leaked several weeks before its release; two b-sides spread across two CDs that were available on a good quality bootleg weeks before the release - it's no surprise that this has been a flop. How about a new song as the next single? How about more than one track as a b-side? I agree that the charts are just a joke nowadays, but we, the devoted fans, deserve better.

and I can´t really understand all this obsession with the charts. I don´t give a damn about which position his singles reach. It´s music that matters, not sales.

The chart position isn't good after a long run of good spots, but I think some of you fans need to get over yourself.

The strange title will still appear in the Guinness Book of Hit Singles with a weirdly low chart position beside it. Bound to intrigue some intrepid eight year old who might chance upon the entry in year to come.

to buy such luxuries

I always buy singles at the time of release, but then wonder what to do with them shortly afterwards. By the time I've put them on, they're finished, and the song is out of context when it doesn't sit with the rest of the album. Perhaps Morrissey could just release more albums and stop doing singles? His band are quite prolific so I'm sure he could do this. And it's not as though he has to maintain his profile or make any more money. His position is already secured. Yamaha

WHO IN THE FUCK IS LADY GAGA? I have seen some of her videos on VH1. She is one freak girl. Ok as for the new MORRISEEY single. Well I like it and MORRISSEY sings very aggressive on that song. I hope he comes back to Southern California and choose a wonderful venue in the LA aera. As for all the crying and bitching and moaning about who wrote it or how fucking bad the single is or his performance in a live gig and or his ant-ti meat eater. Shut the fuck up people and keep it to yourself you bunch of whinys.

My local HMV didn't even bother stocking it.

It didn't deserve to chart with the shocking bsides, there was no reason at all for fans to pick it up. =(