Suedehead

"Suedehead" is the debut solo single by English singer Morrissey, released in February 1988. The track was featured on Morrissey's debut album, Viva Hate, and the compilation album Bona Drag, the latter of which also featured the B-side "Hairdresser on Fire". The artwork of the single features a photo taken by Geri Caulfield during a Smiths gig at the London Palladium.

For the subculture that evolved from skinheads, see Suedehead (subculture).
"Suedehead"
Single by Morrissey
from the album Viva Hate
Released27 February 1988 (1988-02-27)
RecordedOctober – December 1987
GenreJangle pop[1]
Length3:54
LabelHMV (UK)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stephen Street
Morrissey singles chronology
"Suedehead"
(1988)		 "Everyday Is Like Sunday"
(1988)
Viva Hate track listing
12 tracks
  1. "Alsatian Cousin"
  2. "Little Man, What Now?"
  3. "Everyday Is Like Sunday"
  4. "Bengali in Platforms"
  5. "Angel, Angel Down We Go Together"
  6. "Late Night, Maudlin Street"
  7. "Suedehead"
  8. "Break Up the Family"
  9. "The Ordinary Boys"
  10. "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me"
  11. "Dial-a-Cliché"
  12. "Margaret on the Guillotine"
Music video
"Suedehead" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

"Suedehead" charted higher than any of the singles released by Morrissey's former band the Smiths, peaking at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top 10 in Ireland and New Zealand. The music video, directed by Tim Broad, features Morrissey walking through the streets of Fairmount, Indiana,[3] the hometown of actor James Dean, including shots of the school where Dean studied and the Park Cemetery, where he is buried. Other allusions to Dean in the video include a child (played by Sam Esty Rayner, Morrissey's nephew, who went on to direct the video for "Kiss Me a Lot" in 2015) delivering to Morrissey a copy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, Dean's favourite book.[4]

Critical reception

NME gave the single 'Single of the Week 2' saying that "his vocals hit a pitch that turns your stomach with queasy delight. It makes you feel vulnerable and provokes emotions you've forgotten about." In the 1988 NME Year in Review the song was described as "The best No. 1 '88 never gave us".[5]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic Ned Raggett described it as "a memorable number, with Street's subtle orchestrations carrying the sweep of the song."[2]

Track listings
  • 7-inch vinyl
  1. "Suedehead"
  2. "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name"
  • 12-inch vinyl
  1. "Suedehead"
  2. "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name"
  3. "Hairdresser on Fire"
  • CD and cassette
  1. "Suedehead"
  2. "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name"
  3. "Hairdresser on Fire"
  4. "Oh Well, I'll Never Learn"
Country Record label Format Catalogue number
UKHMV7-inch vinylPOP1618
UKHMV12-inch vinyl12POP1618
UKHMVCDCDPOP1618
UKHMVCassetteTCPOP1618

Etchings on vinyl

British 7-inch and 12-inch: "DREAMS...ARE...JUST...DREAMS"/none

Personnel

Charts
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australia (Australian Music Report)[6][7] 45
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 30
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 5
West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 29

2012 reissue
"Suedehead (Mael Mix)"
Single by Morrissey
Released21 April 2012 (2012-04-21)
Length6:36
LabelEMI (UK)
Morrissey singles chronology
"Glamorous Glue"
(2011)		 "Suedehead (Mael Mix)"
(2012)		 "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
(2013)

A remix of the song by American band Sparks was released for Record Store Day 2012. The remix was originally released in 2006 on a compilation album. [14]

Track listing

10-inch (EMI 5593331)

  • "Suedehead (Mael mix)"
  • "We'll Let You Know" (live in London 1995)
  • "Now My Heart Is Full" (live in London 1995)

See also

References
  1. Leivers, Dannii (3 December 2014). "Live Report: Morrissey At The O2 Arena, London". Clash. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  2. Raggett, Ned. "Suedehead Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  3. Bret, David (2004). Morrissey: scandal and passion. London: Robson. p. 105. ISBN 978-1861057877.
  4. Devereux, Eoin; Dillane, Aileen; Power, Martin J. (2012). Morrissey : fandom, representations and identities. Bristol: Intellect. p. 25. ISBN 978-1841505961.
  5. NME Suedehead Reviews
  6. "Australian Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 15th May, 1988". ARIA. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 208. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  8. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5 no. 11. 12 March 1988. p. 17. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Suedehead". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Morrissey – Suedehead" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  11. "Charts.nz – Morrissey – Suedehead". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Morrissey – Suedehead". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  14. "PassionsJustLikeMine.com". Retrieved 24 December 2017.
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