News Archive : July 11-20, 1997
-"Not The Jack Docherty Show"
-"Alma Matters" - release + video
-"I Dream Of Morrissey" reports


July 31 97

Modern Rock Live

Saw this on AOL's discussion forum:

Subj: Morrissey on Modern Rock Live
Date: 30 Jul 1997 15:38:30 EDT
From: GirlAfrd

...Morrissey will be on Modern Rock Live at 7:30 PM P.S.T. on August 17th.

This is a radio interview/call-in show, which Morrissey also did in 1994.


Maladjusted in Japan

From
Miki Kawahara:

A booklet of this album begins with the following words...

"ON THIS GLORIOUS OCCASION, OF THE SPLENDID DEFEAT" - Anthony Newley

All lyrics are written in this album..

Hopefully lyrics will be included in the other releases also.


Noted

*
Moz2699 let me know that Maladjusted received a favorable review in the Aug. 21 issue of Rolling Stone.

* From
Christian Arvidson, "it's dotmusic’s comments to the UK singles chart":

16 ALMA MATTERS (Morrissey)

Believe it or not it is almost ten years since The Smiths announced their split. It means that the Mozza, feted by many as one of the greats of English music, has now had a solo career longer than the career of his old band. Over that period of time his fortunes have waxed and waned like an erratic mood, showing flashes of genius at times, at others descending into the realms of self-parody. His first release for 18 months suggests that his fortunes may be on the rise again, with a well-received single that becomes his biggest hit since 'The More You Ignore Me' made Number 8 in March 1994. His appeal has never broadened beyond his admittedly loyal and substantial fanbase so do not expect any major commercial smashes over the next few months, but for the moment welcome the continuing presence in the charts of an artist whose semi-legendary status seems destined to remain forever undimmed.


July 27 97

Stills from "Alma" Video

Thanks again to Stephen.B for his quickness in giving us stills from the "Alma Matters" promotional video (8 total). From, according to Stephen, " ...primetime ITV ‘Chart Show’, 11am Saturday morning, the second biggest music show in the UK next to ‘Top of the Pops’."

Here's a brief description of the video by
Rachel Mckeon:

It mainly consisted of Moz just singing in a dingy-looking building but this was interspersed with a few other clips. First there is a clip of Moz sitting at a table, eating doughnuts. Then, in the next shot, there is a cat on the table and Moz is feeding it doughnuts and playing with it. Later in the video there are several blurred shots of various aggressive, thuggish-looking individuals. Then there is another shot of Morrissey, this time wearing a Beck t-shirt. He pours himself a bowl of cereal and sits at the table. There is a tattooed, skinhead woman stood behind him, shouting at him, and, in the end, he throws the cereal over her!

"Alma Matters" is close to being a top-ten hit for Moz. It placed at #9 in the Chart Show, but according to several people who e-mailed me, the official charts will be out later today. I will update if I hear before I leave. Oh, by the way, I am leaving out of town for a couple days so the next update won't be until Weds. or Thurs. (30/31). Check the discussion board as I'm sure others will leave messages there if anything important comes up. Please also continue to e-mail me the news, you are all doing a great job.


#16

Rachel Mckeon e-mailed right before I left:

Just been listening to the chart rundown on Radio One. Alma Matters is number 16 in the official UK charts - a bit disappointing after it had appeared at number 9 in the Chart Show's chart. Let's hope that he'll make an appearance on Top Of The Pops this Friday!


More on the "Alma Matters" video

From
Theresa Snooks:

...elated to spot the Moz as promised on ITVs Chart Show today (Sat. 26th July) at approx. 11.16am for approx. 2 mins! ‘Alma Matters’ video in (half) its full glory (with Moz feeding his kitty and a bit of acting with a bowl of milky cereal! Wish I were THAT skinhead!) The text refers to recent Big Iz article. For anyone wishing to stay up late/set their vids, this edition will be repeated on ITVs Chart Show this Wed. night/Thurs. morning 3.20am (so he’ll be on around 3.36am!!)

Also - am I the first to have spotted the ‘Alma’ poster on a billboard?? Said poster was freshly pasted up in Tottenham Court Road, South end, opposite-ish the Virgin entrance last week...


Suedehead: Best Of... — Aug. 25

A correction on the release date from
Rachel Mckeon:

According to the Blackpool branch of HMV, ‘Suedehead:Best Of’ will be released on 25th (not the 22nd) of August.


July 25 97

Stills from "Not The Jack Docherty Show"

scan by Stephen.B

Thanks a lot to Stephen.B for stills from the show that aired yesterday. Click here to see the others (14 total). They're a bit heavily compressed, (not to complain!)

Here's a report from Stephen:

Channel 5i is a new station dying on it’s feet, so why Moz is making it his first live TV for ages on it, only god himself knows.

...He did sing "Alma Matters", live, to a playback tape. The boys in the band seem un-changed to me, but I don’t claim to be an expert. The host was a comic from Northern Ireland who was standing in for Jack Docherty. The show itself is a rather tame imitation of ‘Letterman’, but the stand in host was obviously a genuine Moz nut and went right over the top with excitement and a fawning introduction. As for the audiance a vast majority seemed to be Moz fans too giving him a roaring send off. I could have kicked myself because at the end of the show they gave ticket details for the recording of the show; free, turn up on the night, easy to get in, and only 2 miles away from my house.

And thanks to Grant for answering my question about the show:

Jack Docherty is a Scottish chat show host who appear every weekday night on Channel 5 at 11pm. His show is a mixture of interviews and bands and is in a very light hearted humorous vein. He has his own house band as well. Channel 5 started transmitting in April 1997 but is only available to about 20% or so of the UK population (due to TV’s not tuned in to accept reception etc.) Highest viewing figures are around 1.7m, which doesn’t compare too well with any of the other 4 channels, especially the ‘big 2’ channels, BBC and ITV, who command audiences of around 18m for their most watched programmes. So now you know!


More "I Dream of Morrissey"

I forgot to add
this report on the convention by Robbie LeBlanc (thanks).


"Maladjusted" Review (negative)

Thanks
snowselc for pointing out:

Maladjusted was ridiculed by Toronto’s Now Magazine (www.now.com) in a review appearing today. Ouch.

I'll start compiling the reviews so please send any local ones that you see.


"No comment" On "Sorrow..."

Thanks
Christian Arvidson for an article on the "Sorrow..." exclusion in the UK (from the Swedish newspaper Goteborgs-Posten, July 24). A (translated) segment from the article:

  • I don’t feel like commenting on why, says the Island Records press spokesman David Peschek, who doesn’t even want to be quoted. We had to make a choice, that’s all I can say.

July 24 97

"Not The Jack Docherty Show" Tonight

From Naomi (thanks):

Morrissey is, according to the TV listings in The Independent, going to be appearing on Channel 5’s "Not the Jack Docherty Show" at 10.50 pm tonight.

... I can’t get Channel 5 where I live and, really, this sort of thing is enough to make me vomit. I’ll pay a fair price + spare copy of The Big Issue with Moz etc.

Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!!!

(July 27 -- been told Naomi has gotten hold of a copy of the show)

Thanks also to
Pete Barry for letting me know. If anyone is able to tape it, please do contact Naomi, it is the least you could do for such a frequent contributor. Also let me know what happens, please!

Question — Who is Jack Docherty?


"I Dream Of Morrissey" convention reports

* Article - "Is He Miserable Now?" Thanks, Rachel Mckeon for this article/quotes from Channel 4 teletext.

* Article - "Still A Byword For A Fun Evening". Thanks to both Ebeth Fyffe and Naomi who have sent transcripts of an article in The Independent.

Naomi helped me clear up the organizer's name. It is neither Amy Lame or Lam, it is Lamé, according to Naomi, "...with an accent at the end so it’s pronounced "Lamay" (as in the material)." OK, I get it now. Corrections around the site have been made.


July 23 97

Scan City

Gotta thank all the people who sent me scans over the past few days. Here they come:

scan by Alistair McGown,
cover of Maladjusted as previewed
on sleeve of "Alma Matters"

"Alma Matters" single.
Andrea Borgnino sent a scan of the radio promo inner sleeve. It is similar to the regular release, but I thought I would use this one anyway. Thanks Little Bastard and Alistair for similar scans from the regular release.

Thanks also to Little Bastard for scans of the
actual CD and back cover.

"Mozzer's Palace"
scan from the Aug. Q Magazine added. Thanks Torr.
BritPopRck also sent in a slightly better scan of Johnny Marr in the same issue.


"Alma" in the US - Aug. 5

Thanks John Szolscek and also James for answering my question about the US release date, Aug. 5 according to different sources.

* I have also been sent a couple reviews/opinions on the single. If you have a review, send it to me and I may do something with it, but maybe not.


The first concert almost confirmed

Thanks Brad for this e-mail:

Just a note about from the new rock preview on Toronto’s CFNY radio station today (Tuesday July 22nd). It is rumoured and almost confirmed that Morrissey will play in Toronto, September 12th. And I’ve heard from some source that it will be at the Guvernment or the Warehouse.


July 21 97

"Alma Matters" Today In England

Remember, first week (and second week for this matter) sales are important so rush out and purchase. When is the release of the single in America? Morrissey said the 23rd in the 2nd KROQ interview (transcription still forthcoming) but we will see about that...


Another "Papa Jack"

Coincidence? From Ryan:

I stumbled across a book today titled "Papa Jack". It the story of a black boxer back in the 20’s or 30’s, I’m not really sure, named Jack Johnson. Just thought you might want to know.


* BritPopRck sent me a scan of the photo of Johnny Marr and Jamie from Marion.


  Maintained by David Tseng. Please e-mail me with news/updates (no matter how insignificant it may seem) from the internet, music magazines, or any other source. To keep this page updated I'll need help from all you trainspotting Moz followers!

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