In probably our favorite news item of the year (so far), a 20th anniversary edition of Morrissey's Bona Drag is in the works. This kinda freaks us all over, in a good way. Bona Drag has always stood as our favorite collection of Morrissey work to date. Never a proper album, but more a collection of singles and their respective b-sides, Bona Drag signifies everything iconic about Moz - the cover, the accompanying photos, and some of his finest recordings to date. The Last Of The Famous International Playboys, Everyday Is Like Sunday, Will Never Marry, Lucky Lisp - the list goes on and on.
It's time get the proper re-release and this one is Morrissey approved. Moz, along with EMI, will release the special edition via the resurrected 1960's label, Major Minor.
The music has been remastered and the reissue contains six previously
unreleased tracks. Morrissey is overseeing the reworking of the art,
but has chosen to keep the original cover in place. We often
forget that the cover shot of Moz was taken from the November Spawned A
Monster video. His shirt was switched to red (from its actual color, black) on the original. Morrissey has chosen to drop the red and reinstate the black.
Not only will there be a CD version (with eight page booklet) to sink into, but a 180 gram double vinyl treasure will also make its way to the turntables of the land. The vinyl will be housed in a wide-spine sleeve with a pull out poster.
Moz fan site True To You originally announced the release with a promise
of more Morrissey news to come in the next month. Moz playing Bona
Drag live in full? COME ON. Please.
Check out the previously unreleased tracks -
Happy Lovers At Last United (from "Sunday"
sessions)
Lifeguard On Duty (from Viva Hate
sessions)
Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness (demo)(Outtake from Viva
Hate)
Oh Phoney (from Bona Drag
sessions)
The Bed Took Fire (early version of "At Amber")
Let The Right One Slip In (alternate long mix)
Some great stuff here,
but noticeably missing is the stellar Striptease WIth A Difference.
Most fans have it, but it would have been great to hear it remastered
and cleaned up.
Release, September 27th - UK only it looks like?
This is excellent news especially the proper release of those extra tracks. Bona Drag was always a favorite of mine and I'm glad it's getting a makeover. There's so much I can remember at the mere mention of this album (on the way my life was going at the time, etc.) Looks like this will be yet another purchase from Amazon UK.
Posted by: V. | July 16, 2010 at 09:15 AM