Bona Drag | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 15 October 1990 | |||
Recorded | 1987–1989 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 49:45 | |||
Label | HMV Major Minor (reissue) | |||
Producer | Stephen Street; Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley | |||
Morrissey chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Bona Drag | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Chicago Tribune | [2] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ [3] |
Los Angeles Times | [4] |
NME | 8/10 [5] |
Pitchfork | 9.8/10 [6] |
Q | [7] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
Uncut | [9] |
The Village Voice | B+ [10] |
Bona Drag is a compilation album by the English singer Morrissey, released on 15 October 1990 by HMV. The album features an array of Morrissey's most popular songs from his early solo career, most of which had not been released on any previous album. The album name meaning nice outfits is an example of the subculture slang Polari explored further on the album's first track "Piccadilly Palare". The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on 6 December 2000. In 2010, the album was remastered and expanded to include six bonus tracks.
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 stand-alone singles in the hopes of achieving success in that market. Morrissey initially planned to release a second album after releasing a few holdover singles.
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.
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]
Bona Drag features all of Morrissey's solo singles up to that point, two of which ("Suedehead" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday") were taken from his first solo album Viva Hate , while the others were making their first ever appearance on an album. Four of these singles were Top Ten hits. The album also includes several B-sides, none of which had appeared on an album before.
The album is also significant for including the first tracks by Morrissey to chart in the United States. "Piccadilly Palare" and "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" both reached number 2 on the Modern Rock chart. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" went to number 3, "November Spawned a Monster", number 6, and "Interesting Drug", number 11. Bona Drag launched Morrissey's career in the US, and in many ways it marked the turning point after which he became less popular in the UK but achieved increasing success in America.
The album sleeve is taken from Morrissey's "November Spawned a Monster" promotion video. Morrissey's shirt colour was altered from black to red.
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'.
All songs by Morrissey and Street, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | A-side/B-side | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Piccadilly Palare" | Morrissey, Armstrong | Single A-side | 3:28 |
2. | "Interesting Drug" | Single A-side | 3:27 | |
3. | "November Spawned a Monster" | Morrissey, Langer | Single A-side | 5:28 |
4. | "Will Never Marry" | Edited version of B-side of "Everyday Is Like Sunday" | 2:22 | |
5. | "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference" | B-side of "Interesting Drug" | 2:51 | |
6. | "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" | Single A-side | 3:40 | |
7. | "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" | Single A-side | 4:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | A-side/B-side | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hairdresser on Fire" | B-side of "Suedehead" | 3:49 | |
2. | "Everyday Is Like Sunday" | Single A-side | 3:34 | |
3. | "He Knows I'd Love to See Him" | Morrissey, Armstrong | B-side of "November Spawned a Monster" | 3:08 |
4. | "Yes, I Am Blind" | Morrissey, Rourke | B-side of "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" | 3:44 |
5. | "Lucky Lisp" | B-side of "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" | 2:51 | |
6. | "Suedehead" | Single A-side | 3:54 | |
7. | "Disappointed" | B-side of "Everyday is Like Sunday" | 3:06 |
The 2010 re-release features the following additional tracks:
The following changes have been made to the original album:
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [14] | 57 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [15] | 40 |
UK Albums (OCC) [16] | 9 |
US Billboard 200 [17] | 59 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [18] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [19] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Stephen Brian Street is an English record producer best known for his work with the Smiths, the Cranberries and Blur. Street collaborated with Morrissey on his debut album Viva Hate following the split of the Smiths.
...Best II is a compilation album by the Smiths. It was released on November 2, 1992, by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA. Its highest British chart position was #29; it did not chart in the U.S.
Andrew Michael Rourke was an English musician best known as the bassist of the 1980s indie rock band the Smiths. Regarded as one of the greatest bassists of his generation, he was known for his melodic and funk-inspired approach to bass playing.
Brick by Brick is the ninth studio album by American singer Iggy Pop, released in June 1990 by Virgin Records.
Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey is a compilation album by English singer Morrissey, released on 8 September 1997. It contains material released during Morrissey's EMI period.
"Interesting Drug" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released as a non-album single on 17 April 1989. Co-written by Morrissey and former Smiths producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's fourth release after the Smiths break-up. Morrissey was inspired lyrically by the drug culture in the English lower class, which he felt was being clamped down on by the power-hungry Thatcher government. These political themes were further explored in its music video. The single was the second and final Morrissey solo single to feature his former Smiths bandmates Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Craig Gannon.
"November Spawned a Monster" is a song by the English singer Morrissey, released as a single in April 1990 by HMV. It was written by Morrissey and Clive Langer and features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from the Smiths, Andy Rourke, on bass guitar. The single reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. The track and its B-side "He Knows I'd Love to See Him" appear on his compilation album Bona Drag (1990).
The Divine Miss M is the debut studio album by American singer and actress Bette Midler, released in 1972 on the Atlantic Records label. The title of the album refers to Midler's famous stage persona. The album was co-produced by Barry Manilow, and includes several songs that since have become repertoire standards, such as "Do You Want to Dance?", "Chapel of Love", "Hello In There", "Friends" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". The album art was designed by Richard Amsel. It was released on CD for the first time in 1990. A remastered version of the album was released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1995. A remastered deluxe edition was released in October 2016.
"Ouija Board, Ouija Board" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released as a single in November 1989. The track appears along with its B-side "Yes, I Am Blind" on the compilation album Bona Drag. A shorter edit, omitting a verse, appeared on the 2010 reissue of Bona Drag. The single was poorly received by the music press and the public; its highest position on the UK Singles Chart was No. 18, making it the first solo Morrissey single not to reach the top 10. "Yes, I Am Blind" was composed by Morrissey's ex-Smiths partner Andy Rourke, and the picture on the sleeve was taken by Anton Corbijn.
"Piccadilly Palare" is a song by the English singer Morrissey, released as a single in October 1990 by HMV. The song features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from the Smiths, Andy Rourke on bass guitar, marking the last time any former member of the Smiths would collaborate with Morrissey. Backing vocals were provided by Suggs, lead vocalist of the ska and pop band Madness. "Piccadilly Palare" reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and number five in Ireland.
Barbra Joan Streisand is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released in August 1971 on Columbia Records. It was her second consecutive album produced by Richard Perry and features backing work by members of the female band Fanny. Like the two previous studio albums, the singer continued to opt for a more contemporary repertoire, this time choosing three songs by Carole King, two by John Lennon, two by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in medley form, one each by Laura Nyro and the trio Michel LeGrand, Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman, and one by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, who would go on to form Steely Dan.
Hulmerist is a VHS and DVD release that includes seven promotional films for songs by Morrissey, released initially on VHS, in 1990, and then on DVD in 2004. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on 18 January 1991.
Backtrackin' is a two-disc compilation album by Eric Clapton spanning the years 1966 to 1980. It was released in 1984. The compilation contains all of Clapton's best known songs with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and his solo 1970s work through his 1980 live album Just One Night. This compilation album is made in Germany and is only available in the United States as an import. It was originally released by Starblend Records, and has since been reissued by Polydor Records. This 2 CD compilation is currently out of print in some markets while still available in some form in others.
A Trip to Marineville is the debut studio album by English art punk band Swell Maps. It was released in June 1979, through record labels Rather and Rough Trade.
The Magic of Christmas is a 1960 album by Nat King Cole, arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael.
Mental Floss for the Globe is the debut album by Dutch rap rock band Urban Dance Squad. Released in 1989 and produced by Belgian guitarist Jean-Marie Aerts, the album features a crossover of several music genres, such as rock, hip hop, and funk. It spawned the hit single "Deeper Shade of Soul," which gained the band international recognition, including in the United States, where they toured with Living Colour. The album got to #54 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Friendship is a studio album by American singer and pianist Ray Charles. It was produced by Billy Sherrill and released in August 1984 by Columbia Records and Epic Records. The album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Very Best of Morrissey is a compilation album by Morrissey, containing material he released during the 1980s and 1990s on EMI. It was released on 25 April 2011.