News

20th Anniversary Editions of Bona Drag To Be Released

• 13th Jul 2010

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, on 27th September, EMI will release through the resurrected 1960s Major Minor label, with Morrissey’s
full cooperation, a remastered Special Edition of Bona Drag.

Originally released to much acclaim in October 1990, Bona Drag perfectly captures Morrissey’s effortless transition in becoming a solo artist.
It brings together his exceptional first seven singles, four of which went Top 10: his triumphant Top 5 debut, ‘Suedehead’; the anthemic,
apocalyptic lament to wet seaside towns, ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’; ‘Interesting Drug’, and 'The Last Of The Famous International Playboys'.
The Top 20s 'Ouija Board, Ouija Board', 'November Spawned A Monster', and 'Piccadilly Palare' and a selection of high quality b-sides from all the
singles complete the album.

The compilation has now been remastered and overseen by Morrissey, and is updated with the addition of
six previously unreleased and much coveted songs from the era:

– Happy Lovers At Last United
(Outtake from ‘Sunday’ sessions)

– Lifeguard On Duty
(Outtake from Viva Hate sessions)

– Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness (demo)
(Outtake from Viva Hate, previously covered by Sandie Shaw)

– Oh Phoney
(Outtake from Bona Drag sessions)

– The Bed Took Fire (early version of ‘At Amber’)

– Let The Right One Slip In (alternate long mix)*

Directing the artwork for the reissue, Morrissey has chosen to return the cover art – taken from the ‘November’ video – back to its natural colour,
so his shirt is black. In addition, he has also decided to update the back and inner artwork with a selection of favourite,
hand-picked and rarely-seen photos.

The LP version will be a double heavyweight 180g vinyl, housed in a wide-spine sleeve with a pull-out poster. The CD will be housed in a gatefold,
card sleeve with an eight-page booklet, which will contain the aforementioned photos.

Major Minor Records was started by Radio Caroline manager, Phil Solomon. Its truly eclectic roster of artists and singles releases
makes it a perfect home for Morrissey. These include such esteemed and high-watermark pop classics, as:

David McWilliams – Days Of Pearly Spencer
Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg – Je t'aime… moi non plus
Them – Gloria
Tommy James and The Shondells – I Think We're Alone Now & Mony Mony
Taste – Blister On The Moon
July – My Clown
Frazer Hines – Who's Dr. Who?
Malcolm Roberts – May I Have The Next Dream With You
Isley Brothers – It's Your Thing
Karen Young – Nobody’s Child
The Dubliners – Seven Drunken Nights

This will be the first release on the label since 1970.

There will be more Morrissey news to come in the next month.

‘Bona Drag’ tracklisting (running order subject to change)

1. Piccadilly Palare
2. Interesting Drug
3. November Spawned A Monster
4. Will Never Marry
5. Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference
6. The Last Of The Famous International Playboys
7. Ouija Board, Ouija Board
8. Hairdresser On Fire
9. Everyday Is Like Sunday
10. He Knows I’d Love To See Him
11. Yes, I Am Blind
12. Lucky Lisp
13. Suedehead
14. Disappointed
15. Happy Lovers At Last United Previously unreleased
16. Lifeguard On Duty Previously unreleased
17. Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness Previously unreleased
18. Oh Phoney Previously unreleased
19. The Bed Took Fire Previously unreleased
20. Let The Right One Slip In Alt. long mix, previously unreleased