I preferred 'the first of the gang'.
John

Can someone explain the reason for separate release dates between the U.S. and U.K.?

This has always baffled and frustrated me terribly so. Remember the whole "Louder Than Bombs" controversy?

Anyway, the whole idea of separate release dates is terrible, I think. For example, Starsailor is a band I love. Their latest album, Silence is Easy, is magnificent. It has received ZERO airplay here in the US. And ZERO attention. It is really a great album- sheer genius. However there was a 6 month gap (approx.) between the U.K. and U.S. release dates. Of course, the Brits got their hands on it first (deservedly so in many respects). I think, however, that this type of practise is hateful and eventually poor business for the bands.

What do you think?

I think a week is sufficient in separating the release dates, but in this age of Mars exploration and high-speed connections, it just doesn't make sense.

Love,
Ken

At least progress.

Such a great song to come back with!
Not really radio-friendly but they won't be playing Moz anyway, but music fans around the world will be baffled and get the message: Moz is back

First of the Gang would've been the radio-friendly choice, but Moz wants to come back with a controversial lyric that'll get people talking. Love the John Barryesque guitars, too.

Hope the Japanese CD offers something extra, as they often do!

I was hoping he would pick a new song for the lead single, I've played this one to death.
I guess it makes sense if the masses haven't yet heard it. Now it's all about the b-sides.

Can we all please just stop moaning about seperate release dates and liking other songs better?! Morrissey is releasing a single ffs! I never thought I'd see the day, and now it's almost here. We must all rejoice. And I for one intend to get very, very drunk for Morrissey tonight. I advise all of you to do the same.

Morrissey is back! Be happy, you miserable bleeders. (I always use that term affectionately ;)

...now we can anticipate a tour

Just what does the term "You Are the Quarry" signify?

Awww..... how fitting!

it's just too personal. it's only of interest to people who know and care about what Morrissey's been through. it's not a song that we can all sing along to. vague political sentiment (sick of labour and tories), with over dramatised self-importance (no regime can buy or sell me!).
'first of the gang' is a lovely song. much more poetic, clever, and tuneful.
I hope this is just another internet rumour.

the first single will be an import in the US?

hey, i don't mind. just find a way to get it to me ASAP.

Woooohooooo!

Irish Blood, English Heart is the best choice. It got lyrics that for sure will catch attention; it got a catchy melody; and it got a clever song structure, different from the boring verse-chorus-verse structure (such as in first of the gang).

IBEH is a tower of a song - a great choice!!!

It's a good choise for a first single and a comeback single.

However, this song won't be a hit in America.
I mean, I know that doesn't matter, but just sayin....

Anyway, who's got a scoop on the b-sides??????

And, please, Morrissey. Don't allow this to be one of those evil two part singles that end up costing Americans 20 bucks for just a few songs.

he's not doing himself any favours with IBEH. to the old detractors it'll sound like he's still banging on about race issues, while hardly showing off his peerless grasp of pop melodies (as in 'first of the gang').

still i with his 'punk' producer i imagine IBEH sounds pretty powerful.

no compromise, after all these years. he's teetering between heroism and suicide...

...and it even sounds better live... can't wait to hear it live again SOON!

You're all talking like you've heard the studio release of IBEH...did it leak?

I realize that Irish Blood isn't the most commercial choice, but then perhaps that's the plan. If there is any controversy involving the song, that could elevate it a lot more than a catchy chorus. There hasn't been a good single since Vauxhaull, and I think this could be a triumphant moment for Morrissey. The last thing he needs is another bland single like Alma Matters or Roy's Keen. Why are his B sides always so much better than the singles anyway..even better than the album tracks in many cases...case in point...Jack the Ripper..etc.

Morrissey best single ever.

It reflects the views of a many of the British Public as we don't have a much of a political choice any more. Haven't you too had enough of Labour and Tories and their Media Circus?

I doubt that IBEH will be the US single, cause it wont mean much to most Americans.

Normski

It's a song to be admired rather than loved and at a time when his profile is higher than it has been since 1988 it would be a tragically wasted opportunity. A decent tune with a lyric even lightly doused with the searing wit of yore would garner critical re-acceptance and airplay. Irish bllod is playing into the hands of the non-believers

Plus, semantically, why does he refer to the english being sick to death of labour...when it makes significantly more sense to refer to the 'british'(who all get to vote). It smacks of little englanderism. A word I have invented, and hope never to see again.

There's a real danger of him looking like the out of touch 'rocker', pontificating on a society he opted out of years ago from the comfort of his L.A boulevarde.

I have every reason to believe that 'quarry' will be a great recording. To introduce it via some potted controversy is disappointingly predictable.

YES!
This song brought chills down my spine when I first heard it at the first of the two gigs at the Albert Hall.
It's a huge middle finger raised at his detractors, the british music press (an answer to all thos ridicilous racist rumours) and a powerful kick at everything he is known to hate.
This single will bring Morrissey back with a BANG, not a whimper... exactly what he needs.
And in my opinion this is one of the strongest songs of his entire career (yes, The Smiths included).
Good choice, Moz!

I am very surprised that 'Irish Blood' should be the first single - in fact, I doubt that this information is true. While it's a good song, I think it's decidedly less single material than 'First of the gang', 'Crashing Bores' or 'I like you'. They simply have a much more catchy tune.

Irish Blood, English Heart is most certainly not a good choice for the lead single. It's not a bad album song though but I still think it'll make good fodder for his critics who will no doubt slate it. However I do find it's chorus a tad tuneless. Realistically it'll only make the top 20, which is disappointing. With Morrissey seemingly back in vogue at the minute I think he'll be "missing the boat" a bit with IBEH. Let's just hope there's a change of heart and The First of The Gang is released instead as I firmly believe that there is a real possibility that he could crack the top 10 with that one. Not that chart positions matter anyway.

here in the UK at least.
With his current profile 'First of the Gang' could go top 10 and would introduce him to a whole new range of fans of a younger NME-buying age group (mid teens to mid twenties). This would make him a relevant 21st century artist and not just the 1980's nostalgia act for thirty-somethings which he is in danger of becoming.

IBEH would be a very clumsy song to release as a single. it's about Morrissey's insular little world which even as a fan don't really care about.
He still rather offensively confuses England with Britain and his politics are depressingly woolly, vaguely lambasting labour and tories. Songs which express this side of his personality just leave you with a bad taste in your mouth regardless of his good intentions.

It's a bad choice. It won't get much airplay cos no stations will touch it because of the "To be English" line. Lots of Brits who might have been amenable to the idea of him coming back will be offended by it and fans will find themselves having to defend him again when he's just being silly and contrary. At the end of the day, like Bengali In Platforms, it serves to reveal that he has a tragic lack of grasp on these matters and is at his weakest when dealing with them so directly. (Compare that to the wonderful subtleties of We'll Let You Know.) So he just comes across at best as out of his depth intellectually and as a self-justifying moaner. Which is a shame, because he needs a response like V&I got.

If Morrissey does happen to peruse this site now and again, its a surprise he doesnt just decide to pack it all in. I bet theres no other fan site on the whole of the web with such a moaning bunch of so-called fans. we've not had any new material for years and yet any news of forthcoming releases is met with whinging and complaining instead of words of excitement. I cant wait for the new singles and album - anything that Morrissey releases will be relief from the drivel inflicted on my ears by Robbie Williams, Timberlake and the conveyor belt Pop Idols.

You're right! Instead, he should record and release another lame homo-erotic song about window cleaners. Maybe for some variety, it could be about his lust for a mailman next. I love Morrissey most when he is bitter and in your face, not when he is fey and boring.