Suedehead (single)

Cover art

Mael Mix 10" picture disc.

MORRISSEY Single
Name	Suedehead
Release	27 February 1988 24 January 2006 (Mael Mix) 21 April 2012 (Mael Mix, 2012)
Total Length	3:54 6:37 (Mael Mix) 3:35 (Mael Mix, 2012)
Recorded	Autumn-Winter 1987
Writer/composer	Morrissey/Street
Producer	Stephen Street
Art work	Geri Caulfield (cover) Kevin Cummins (Mael Mix cover)
Vinyl Etching	DREAMS...ARE JUST...DREAMS
Publisher	HMV Records (UK) Sire Records (US) EMI Records (Mael Mix)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD, 10" Vinyl Picture Disc (Mael Mix), Digital download (Mael Mix)
Chart position	UK #5
Single chronology
Suedehead → Everyday Is Like Sunday
Single (Mael Mix) chronology
Glamorous Glue ← Suedehead → The Last Of The Famous International Playboys (Reissue)

Information

"Suedehead" was Morrissey's debut single as a solo artist. Released on 27 February 1988 by HMV Records, the single came a mere nine weeks after The Smiths' single "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" from their final album, Strangeways, Here We Come. "Suedehead" was produced and co-wrote by Stephen Street, and was the first single released from Morrissey's debut album, Viva Hate.

Recording

Recording for Viva Hate commenced at The Wool Hall studios in Bath, England in early October and would last until late December. During one of the sessions, EMI executives stopped by the studio to check up on the recording progress, to which Street played them a rough mix of "Suedehead". The executives responded positively which, according to Street, gave he and Morrissey a better sense of freedom with the album and the confidence that they were heading in the right direction.

Release

Upon release, "Suedehead" reached the #5 slot in the UK charts. With the momentum of a hit single, two weeks later Viva Hate was released and debuted at #1 on the charts.

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [HMV POP1618]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 27907-7]

1. Suedehead – 3:54 (Morrissey/Street)
2. I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01 (Morrissey/Street)

12" Vinyl

UK - [HMV 12POP1618]
US - [Sire/Reprise 9 20877-0]

1. Suedehead – 3:54
2. I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01
3. Hairdresser On Fire – 3:51 (Morrissey/Street)

CD Single

UK - [HMV CDPOP1618]

1. Suedehead – 3:54
2. I Know Very Well How I Got My Name – 2:01
3. Hairdresser On Fire – 3:51
4. Oh Well, I'll Never Learn – 2:01 (Morrissey/Street)

Mael / Sparks Mix

"Suedehead", as remixed by Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks (6:37) was released on the Rhino Records UK compilation Future Retro (Jan. 24, 2006).

From the Sparks mailing list (April, 2005):

THE MAELS MIX MOZ

Ron and Russell were invited to take part in a themed remix album called The 80’s Remixed on which various artists get to remix another compatible or comparative artist whom they admire. Warner Bros. gave the Maels the choice of remixing a Smiths song or a Morrissey song. They chose to do a unique and extreme 6-1/2 minute remix of “Suedehead”, and Moz happily gave them his blessing. The masterful Mael mix is heavy on vocals and set to a completely different chord progression. The label was gracious enough to let Ron and Russell do their own thing, sparing them the horror of doing a redundant club mix. The album will be released in the UK in April.

10" Picture Disc/Digital Download

On 21 April 2012, in celebration of Record Store Day, EMI released a limited edition 10" picture disc, and a subsequent digital download on 23 April, of "Suedehead" (Mael Mix), edited down from the original version released in 2006 from 6:37 to 3:35. The single also feature two previously unreleased BBC live versions of "We'll Let You Know" and "Now My Heart Is Full", recorded at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in February 1995.

UK - [Liberty 10LBF15461]

1. Suedehead (Mael Mix) – 3:35
2. We'll Let You Know [Live - 26 February 1995, BBC Theatre] – 4:13 (Morrissey/Whyte)
3. Now My Heart Is Full [Live - 26 February 1995, BBC Theatre] – 4:55 (Morrissey/Boorer)

Lyrics

Why do you come here

And why, why do you hang around? I'm so sorry I'm so sorry

Why do you come here When you know it makes Things hard for me? When you know, oh Why do you come?

Why do you telephone And why send me silly notes? I'm so sorry I'm so sorry

Why do you come here When you know it makes Things hard for me? When you know, oh Why do you come?

You had to sneak into my room 'Just' to read my diary It was just to see, just to see All the things you knew I'd written about you Oh so many illustrations

Oh but I'm so very sickened Oh, I am so sickened NOW It was a good lay, good lay It was a good lay, good lay It was a good lay, good lay It was a good lay, good lay It was a good lay, good lay It was a good lay, good lay It was a good lay, it was a good lay It was a good lay, good lay, good lay It was a good lay...

Personnel

• Morrissey - Vocals
  
• Vini Reilly - Guitars, Keyboards
  
• Stephen Street - Bass guitar, guitars
  
• Andrew Paresi - Drums
  
• John Metcalfe - Viola
  
• Fenella Barton - Violin
  
• Mark Davies - Cello
  
• Richard Koster - Violin
  
• Robert Wollard - Cello
  
• Rachel Maguire - Cello
  
• Producer - Stephen Street
  
• Assistant Engineer - Steve Williams
  
• Art co-ordination - Jo Slee
  
• Layout - Caryn Gough
  
• Photography - Geri Caulfield
  

Music Video

640px

Credits

• Directed by Tim Broad

Live History

Play count (Morrissey concert): 380

Morrissey live history:

• Wolverhampton, England 1988-12-22 (Morrissey concert)
• Dublin, Ireland 1991-04-27 (Morrissey concert)
• Paris, France 1991-04-29 (Morrissey concert)
• Deinze, Belgium 1991-04-30 (Morrissey concert)
• Utrecht, Holland 1991-05-01 (Morrissey concert)
• Cologne, Germany 1991-05-04 (Morrissey concert)
• Berlin, Germany 1991-05-05 (Morrissey concert)
• Hamburg, Germany 1991-05-06 (Morrissey concert)
• Copenhagen, Denmark 1991-05-07 (Morrissey concert)
• Aberdeen, Scotland 1991-05-14 (Morrissey concert)

... further results

Appears On

• Suedehead (single)
• Viva Hate
• Hulmerist
• Bona Drag
• We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful (single)
• Live In Dallas
• Your Arsenal
• Beethoven Was Deaf
• Suedehead: The Best Of Morrissey
• The CD Singles '88–91'
• The CD Singles '91–95'
• ¡Oye Esteban!
• ¡The Best Of! Morrissey
• Greatest Hits
• The HMV/Parlophone Singles '88–'95
• Very Best Of Morrissey
• This Is Morrissey

Appears On Covers Compilation

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of The Smiths & Morrissey

Cover Versions

• Good Charlotte
• I Am The World Trade Center
• Kaki King
• Pete Yorn
• Suggs
• The Mountain Goats
• Thelma Houston
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star

Related Items

• "Suedehead" discography - Passions Just Like Mine
• "Suedehead" Wikipedia page - Wikipedia
• "Suedehead" 1988 release info/scans - Vulgar Picture
• "Suedehead" info/quotes - The Motor Cycle Au Pair Boy
• "Suedehead" UK TV ad with voiceover by John Peel - YouTube link posted by Uncleskinny / Morrissey-solo Forums
• "Suedehead" (Mael Mix) released (UK - April 21, 2012) - Morrissey-solo (Apr. 21, 2012)
• "Suedehead" filming / Fairmont Indiana photos by Kevin Cavanaugh from 1988 - Morrissey-solo forums, original story from Kevin Cavanaugh (Mar. 20, 2003).
• Morrissey's nephew Sam Rayner in "Suedehead". - post by sensible, Morrissey-solo forums (July 26, 2004).
• The camera that Morrissey uses in "Suedehead". - post by Librarian on Fire, Morrissey-solo forums (Feb. 1, 2005).
• Morrissey leaves his mark in Fairmount, IN - post by mozmal, Morrissey-solo forums (Aug. 31, 2008).
• Bloodhound Gang choose Morrissey videos on MTV2 - Morrissey-solo (Dec. 23, 2000)
• The Donnas' guitarist mentions "Suedehead" as favorite song - Morrissey-solo (June 28, 2001)
• Robbie Williams threatens paparazzi with Morrissey - Morrissey-solo (Dec. 7, 2004)
• ESPN Sports Guy names "Suedehead" #2 song of the 80's - Morrissey-solo (Jan. 30, 2005)
• Russell Brand stand-up tour - pre-show Mozza warm up. - Morrissey-solo (July 17, 2007)