Public Servant Lifestyle

Morrissey fans get a rare treat – a chance to relive some of his stunningly received 2004 UK live shows on CD and DVD – and there are Smiths tunes on the set list...

Morrissey Live At Earls Court/Who Put The ‘M’ In Manchester? - by Morrissey

Following a triumphant series of sold out live dates in the UK in 2004, Attack Records release a live-in-concert CD capturing tracks performed from his platinum selling album, You Are The Quarry, entitled Morrissey Live At Earls Court. This live album contains never-before-performed B-sides, and rare Morrissey classics, as well as classic - and rarely performed, let alone here in the UK - songs from The Smiths’ much-loved back catalogue.

After a seven-year hiatus, Morrissey 2004 was one of the most successful comebacks ever, with a Brit Award nomination, a specially curated festival (Meltdown), festival appearances, front covers on NME, Mojo, Word and Time Out, numerous TV appearances, and of course a string of sold out arena dates accomplished. His hit comeback album, You Are The Quarry, became Morrissey's most commercially successful album to date, clocking up platinum album sales.

The album lapped up the critics' praise, trouncing all comers and achieved 4 consecutive UK top 10 singles – and he was the only artist to achieve this in 2004 - with first single Irish Blood, English Heart charting in the top three (his highest single charting in his career).

Morrissey Live At Earls Court then, seems to encapsulate 2004 as a vintage year for one of Manchester's - and indeed the UK's - favourite prodigal sons. Morrissey didn't disappoint at this sold-out London show, delivering a powerful live performance ("...what begins as a confident and vigorous display...concludes in triumph" - The Mail on Sunday) which showcased just why his legions of diehard fans now find themselves bumping shoulders with the mainstream.

The Smiths

The Live CD begins by ripping into a show-stopping rendition of the Smiths anthem, How Soon Is Now?, followed soon after by First Of The Gang... the second (and many say most cheerful-sounding) hit single to be taken from "You Are The Quarry" - here delivered immaculately and with trademark wit by our delightfully miserable Mancunian antihero. More highlights from You Are The Quarry follow, interspersed with gems from The Smiths years including Shoplifters Of The World Unite and Big Mouth Strikes Again. Another Smith's classic Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me rounds off this lasting tribute to a truly landmark live performance in pitch-perfect fashion. Wonderful stuff.

That full Morrissey live CD track listing looks like this:

1. How Soon Is Now?
2. First Of The Gang To Die
3. November Spawned a Monster
4. Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice
5. Big Mouth Strikes Again
6. I Like You
7. Redondo Beach
8. Let Me Kiss You
9. Munich Air Disaster
10. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
11. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
12. Friday Mourning
13. I Have Forgiven Jesus
14. The World Is Full Of Crushing Bores
15. Shoplifters Of The World Unite
16. Irish Blood, English Heart
17. You Know I Couldn't Last
18. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Neon

As for the DVD – well this is Morrissey at his grandstanding best, as he celebrates his 45th birthday, with a sell-out homecoming gig at the barn that is the MEN arena next to Manchester’s Victoria Station.

Appearing against giant (neon?) ‘Morrissey’ lettering in a clear Elvis homage, the performer rips into the first track of the evening, sending the front rows of M-people into a state of bedlam from which they never quite come down...More highlights from You Are The Quarry follow, interspersed with gems from The Smiths years including Shoplifters Of The World Unite and Rubber Ring. An encore of the beautiful "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" brought the audience of the MEN Arena to the end of their emotional rollercoaster, confirming Morrissey's status as a unique artist and a national treasure.

Who Put The 'M' In Manchester is mixed for dts, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and 2.0 stereo with DVD bonus material which includes live performances of Irish Blood, English Heart, Every Day Is Like Sunday, First Of The Gang To Die, I Have Forgiven Jesus and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, as performed at Old Trafford Cricket Ground for the Move Festival in Manchester in July, last year. Who Put The 'M' In Manchester? also contains the music videos for Irish Blood, English Heart, First Of The Gang To Die (U.K. and U.S. versions) and I Have Forgiven Jesus.

"Don't forget me..." Morrissey implores as he leaves the stage at the Live At Earls Court show. Not likely.

Also on Lifestyle:

More information available in Music, DVD / Home Video