Ouija Board, Ouija Board" has a verse removed ("The glass is moving, no, I was not pushing that time") BRIDGWOOD: Morrissey would come into the control room, have a listen and give his seal of approval, or not. Unlike other singers, he doesn’t interfere in the musical process, although he’ll steer it in a direction he’s comfortable with. Bona Drag: 20th Anniversary vinyl and CD editions release information". True To You. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012 . Retrieved 17 January 2012. And then the wheels fell off. Morrissey began what was to be his follow-up album, Bona Drag, surrounded by acrimony and litigation. He had fallen out with producer Stephen Street, plus former Smiths bandmates Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke-- all of whom had played key roles in that successful string of hits. The breakup of his partnership with Street was the most devastating: He had co-written all of Viva Hate and served as an unofficial mentor for Morrissey's early solo years, performing on records and playing several instruments. JONNY BRIDGWOOD, bassist: There was a general air of excitement from day one. The feeling was that we were about to create something that was quite special. Everyone was keen and enthusiastic.

As such, he released " The Last of the Famous International Playboys", " Interesting Drug", and " Ouija Board, Ouija Board" over the course of 1989. The first two of these became top ten hits. However, by the end of 1989 it became apparent that he would not be able to put out an album of new material soon enough. STEPHEN STREET, producer: Although it wasn’t long after Strangeways…, there was some trepidation, because this was pastures new and there was no guarantee that it would work. When Morrissey and I first started thinking about who could be involved, I wanted a technically good guitar player. But most of all I wanted someone who was completely different, style-wise, from Johnny Marr. Vini comes from Manchester too, so I thought that would help bring a mutual understanding. Bona Drag (LPCompilation) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/635531-Morrissey-Bona-DragBona Drag: 20th Anniversary Edition album released today in the UK - release information (October 4, 2010) NEVIN: Around the dinner table there’d be lots of chat going on. Although Morrissey often wouldn’t say anything, which could be very intimidating. He’d sit there silently presiding over our nervousness and awkwardness. I felt a bit like a new kid at boarding school. LANGER: Morrissey and I used to go on really long walks in the forest. I felt like I got pretty close to him and lived in his world for a year or so. And it’s not a logical world. He lives by his own rules and you have to live those rules as well when you’re with him. In a way it’s a bit sad, because it was an intense experience, then when you finished working with him, that was the end. It feels like you’ve made a friend, then you don’t hear from them again. ARMSTRONG: Morrissey had the haunted master bedroom at Hook End Manor. It’d belonged to David Gilmour, but originally it was the Bishop of Reading’s place or something, from the 16th Century. It’s got a long history and there were creepy vibes in the house. I think Morrissey got quite into that. We did actually play ouija one night. All sorts of things were spelt out. Alcohol and various things had been taken, so I can’t really remember. But we were in a darkened room with a candle.

MORRISSEY: He asked me what kind of LP I wanted to make, and I said, “One people would listen to for a very long time,” and he said, “Oh, all right then,” as if I’d asked him to put the cat out.Plagenhoef, Scott (15 October 2010). "Morrissey: Bona Drag[20th Anniversary Edition]". Pitchfork . Retrieved 15 October 2010. Bona Drag (LPCompilationLimited EditionReissueRemasteredStereoTeal) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/19609480-Morrissey-Bona-Drag LANGER: We weren’t interested in musical fashions at the time, like the whole Manchester thing. That’s why Kill Uncle got slated, because it didn’t fit in and didn’t sound like The Smiths. But I thought that was its strength. Each song had a different story and feel. I wanted to pull out the colour in each song, without making it sound too over the top. STREET: I’m not a keyboard player, but for “Ouija Board, Ouija Board” it was Morrissey’s request to do something more like Sparks. Then, when I was no longer on the scene, Langer and Winstanley did their version. Issued in a gloss sleeve with a top opening picture/lyric inner sleeve which has a small die cut thumb section.

In October 2010, the album was reissued on the resurrected Major Minor label, with six officially unreleased studio recordings. The artwork was edited and inner artwork updated with previously unseen photos chosen by Morrissey. [12] It entered the UK charts at number 67. [13] The reissue notably included several edits, including removing a verse from 'Ouija Board Ouija Board' and restoring a previously cut verse to 'Piccadilly Palare'. VINI REILLY, guitarist: Recording with Morrissey was one of the best experiences of my life. I think the fact we were both Irish gave us something in common; we understood each other and there were lots of similarities. And we’d both had difficult childhoods and the rest of it. It forged a friendship between Morrissey and me, and a mutual respect that was based on him taking the piss out of me. Morrissey decided to scrap the idea of a full-length LP and release a compilation of singles and B-sides instead. Thus, the Bona Drag project was born. " November Spawned a Monster" was released in May 1990 to modest success; the album and the single " Piccadilly Palare" followed, both released on the same day that October. Morrissey explained, "People will view it suspiciously in England but not in the rest of the world where all those funny little singles were never released. It was initially for the rest of the world, but EMI were determined to release it here." [11] Composition [ edit ] After releasing Viva Hate in March 1988, Morrissey modified his method of releasing music. Instead of choosing to produce an immediate follow-up album, he decided to release a string of independent singles in the hopes of achieving success in that market. Morrissey initially planned to release a second album after releasing a few holdover singles. Kot, Greg (15 November 1990). "Morrissey: Bona Drag (Sire/Reprise)". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 1 February 2016.Initially conceived as the follow-up to Viva Hate, Bona Drag instead morphed into a superior collection of singles (“Piccadilly Palare”, “November Spawned A Monster”) and killer B-sides (“Disappointed”, “Will Never Marry”, “Hairdresser On Fire”). Morrissey – Chart history | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016 . Retrieved 4 September 2015. The remastered and expanded 20th anniversary edition. Includes four never-before heard Morrissey songs." Bona Drag: 20th Anniversary vinyl and CD editions release information - release information (July 12, 2010)