Morrissey - Viva Hate (re release) (Mar. 26, 2012)

Is that CD or vinyl? I have a UK first vinyl pressing (bought the day of release), and both CDs (the original and EMI Centenary edition with that ugly cover and anachronistic B Sides). The original CD sounds - and looks - fine.

I'm curious to hear the remastered version, but butchering it the way he has is utterly daft.

Casagrande's comment made me laugh though. Even if I think Kill Uncle's pretty good.

 

That's what I have done so far. I have none of the reissues. For Viva Hate I will stick to my Parlophone CD bought on release when I still had a better opinion of this idiot.

Looking forward to the re-re-re-issue campaign when the albums will be promoted as "finally complete"....

 

I concur: it's a pretty useless reissue. I'd forgotten that Treat Me Like A Human Being was already released as a b-side for the Glamorous Glue cd-single from last year. Which I actually own, but never bothered to listen to.

At least the remasters of Southpaw Grammar and Maladjusted had nice bonus material.

 

He seems to have a real problem with revisiting his past. In interviews and live performances, he's generally pretty dismissve of anything he recorded before You Are the Quarry (aside from the few tracks that he's still "proud of"). I think the only way he can motivate himself to do anything with the older material is to somehow reinvent it, to create something new. It's a shame someone with better business sense doesn't step in and prevent him from doing this. Everyone involved would have made a lot more money out of standard deluxe editions of this and Bona Drag.

It could still happen someday, it just won't be part of this reissue campaign.

 

I spotted that bit on the lyrics to "This Charming Man" and more or less in any song ever since.

 

Wow - this guy has no shame whatsoever at this point. He was quite a poser back in the day it turns out. Still love the Smiths catalog and much of his solo output, but I won't buy any further releases from this guy. No tacky badges either.

 

It's "alright",nothing special.

 

Hmm I wonder what tracks he'll replace on "Your Arsenal" or "Vauxhall and I".....

 

Probably delete "National Front Disco" and replace it with There Speaks A True Friend and Pashernate Love.

 

Stop the madness!

 

I'm not sure if you were joking or not here, Frank, but I honestly think that's EXACTLY what is going to happen.

I picked up the new Bona Drag (because I never owned it on CD before!), but otherwise, I've been ignoring these remakes/remodels/reissues too. They don't really bother me that much -- he can do what he wants, I guess -- but they haven't inspired me to purchase either. A big fat "meh" from me.

That said, "Ordinary Boys" is one of my favorite songs on Viva Hate, and I also do not care at ALL for that recasting of the cover logo. Yuk.

 

It's not clear there are any bonus tracks according to the press release the OP posted.

I don't understand why tracks are being removed and replaced. It's nuts.

 

Who TF is Morrissey?

 

I'm buying 100 copies.

 

Yes,"National Front Disco" seems to be the most obvious track to go given all the publicity in recent years,but it wouldn't surprise me if he left it on "Your Arsenal".

I like the idea of these reissues but would really like a new album as well.

 

Why do so many of you care if Ordinary Boys is on there or not? It's not like you're required to turn in your original release in order to buy the new one. Afterall, isn't the purchase all about the bonus tracks (as much as we despise shelling out $18 for 2 or 3 new songs).

 

I agree in principle with your statement -- it isn't like the original version is going to disappear! -- but I don't think there are bonus tracks here (outside of the one cut replacing Ordinary Boys, which was already available anyway).

 

For that matter... doesn't look like he's even included "Hairdresser on Fire" on this version!

 

now that's not good

 

Unlikely as he's played it live in recent years.

'We'll Let You Know' is way more contentious, but again, most with an IQ of at least.... say, 6 or thereabouts can see it is clearly a character song.

 

As for dropping 'The Ordinary Boys', he's obviously just dodging responsibility for naming Samuel Preston's low-quality band.

 

I was kidding, Hut. It's one of his greatest songs too. But, seeing as he's decided to inexplicably maim his debut by deleting a decent (but not great) song and replacing it with a substandard outtake (Moz doesn't have any gems in his vault), I don't see why he shouldn't go the whole hog and start messing with the near perfection of Your Arsenal and Vauxhall.

 

Hey frank, I have both the original US CD and vinyl. Both are superb, but I've never compared them to anything else. I'd love to hear the original UK vinyl!

 

I really don't see the need to 'tweek' a classic album that most Morrissey fans would consider his best.
I think 'Ordinary Boys', is a great little song. I'd love it if we all decided to boycott the re-issue and download 'Ordinary Boys' instead making it a huge hit.
That would really pee him off...haha!