Certain People I Know

Last updated

"Certain People I Know"
MorrisseyCertain.jpg
Single by Morrissey
from the album Your Arsenal
B-side
  • "Jack the Ripper"
  • "You've Had Her"
Released7 December 1992 (1992-12-07) [1]
Genre Rockabilly [2]
Length3:12
Label HMV
Songwriter(s) Morrissey, Alain Whyte
Producer(s) Mick Ronson
Morrissey singles chronology
"Tomorrow"
(1992)
"Certain People I Know"
(1992)
"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

"Certain People I Know" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released in December 1992 as the third single from his third studio album, Your Arsenal (1992). It was the third and final Morrissey single to be produced by glam rock musician Mick Ronson. Reaching number 35 in the UK Singles Chart, the song had the distinction of being Morrissey's lowest-charting solo single up to that point.

Contents

"Certain People I Know" was the first Morrissey single to be released following the singer's bottling off stage at the Madstock festival when he supported Madness and the subsequent NME story regarding his alleged racism. [4] [5] This led to the single cover being changed from featuring the singer's name spelt out in the colours of the Union Jack to plain black writing. [6]

Reviews

Ned Raggett of AllMusic called the lead track "a bit of an odd choice" for a single but added that its B-sides "are among Morrissey's best". [3]

Track listings

7-inch vinyl and cassette

  1. "Certain People I Know" (Morrissey, Alain Whyte)
  2. "Jack the Ripper" (Morrissey, Boz Boorer)

12-inch vinyl and CD

  1. "Certain People I Know"
  2. "You've Had Her" (Morrissey, Boorer)
  3. "Jack the Ripper"
CountryRecord labelFormatCatalogue number
UKHMV7-inch vinylPOP1631
UKHMV12-inch vinyl12POP1631
UKHMVCompact discCDPOP1631
UKHMVCassetteTCPOP1631

Musicians

Related Research Articles

Martin James "Boz" Boorer is an English guitarist and producer who founded the new wave rockabilly group the Polecats; and for a 30-year period beginning in 1991 was co-writer, guitarist and musical director with Morrissey.

<i>Beethoven Was Deaf</i> 1993 live album by Morrissey

Beethoven Was Deaf is a live album by Morrissey, recorded around the time of the tour for Your Arsenal. The songs were recorded live at Paris Zenith on 22 December 1992, except for "You're the One for Me, Fatty," "Certain People I Know," "The National Front Disco," "We'll Let You Know," "He Knows I'd Love to See Him," "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side" and "Glamorous Glue" which were recorded in London 2 days before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">November Spawned a Monster</span> 1990 single by Morrissey

"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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Youngest Was the Most Loved</span> 2006 single by Morrissey

"The Youngest Was the Most Loved" is the second single from English singer-songwriter Morrissey's eighth studio album, Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006). The track was written by Morrissey and Jesse Tobias. It was released as a single on 5 June 2006 and reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was performed on the popular UK television chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 19 May 2006 and again on Later with Jools Holland on 2 June 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sing Your Life</span> 1991 single by Morrissey

"Sing Your Life" is a single by English singer-songwriter Morrissey released in April 1991. It was the second single taken from the Kill Uncle album. On release this was Morrissey's lowest charting single in the UK charts, reaching only number 33. One of the single's B-sides was a cover version of "That's Entertainment" by The Jam which had backing vocals by Chas Smash, a.k.a. Carl Smyth the second singer of the band Madness. Vic Reeves also recorded backing vocals for the song, but they weren't included in the final version. He is thanked in the sleeve notes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Kiss You</span> 2004 single by Morrissey

"Let Me Kiss You" is a song written by Morrissey and Alain Whyte. It was recorded by both Morrissey and by Nancy Sinatra, both of whom released their version as a single in the United Kingdom on 11 October 2004. Both versions entered the UK Singles Chart, Morrissey's peaking at number eight and Sinatra's at number 46. Morrissey's version also reached number 19 in Sweden and number 44 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pregnant for the Last Time</span> 1991 single by Morrissey

"Pregnant for the Last Time" is a song by Morrissey, released as a non-album single in July 1991. This was the first time Morrissey worked with guitarist Boz Boorer, who consistently worked with him until 2020. The single reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart. B-side "Skin Storm" was originally written and performed by Bradford, while another B-side, "Cosmic Dancer", is a cover of a T. Rex song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love Life</span> 1991 single by Morrissey

"My Love Life" is a song by Morrissey released in September 1991. It was a stand-alone single rather than taken from any studio album, although it was included on the compilation albums World of Morrissey (1995) and Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful</span> 1992 single by Morrissey

"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey from his third studio album, Your Arsenal (1992). It was released as the lead single from the album on 27 April 1992 by His Master's Voice (HMV). It was the first Morrissey single to be co-written with guitarist Alain Whyte and produced by glam rock guitarist Mick Ronson, known for his work with David Bowie as one of the Spiders from Mars. The song peaked at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're the One for Me, Fatty</span> 1992 single by Morrissey

"You're the One for Me, Fatty" is a single by Morrissey released in July 1992. It was taken from the then-unreleased Your Arsenal album and was the second Morrissey single to be co-written with Alain Whyte and produced by glam rock legend Mick Ronson. The title is a pun on the Marvelettes' song "You Are the One for Me, Bobby". The track reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get</span> 1994 single by Morrissey

"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, co-written by Boz Boorer released as a single on 28 February 1994. It was taken from the then-unreleased Vauxhall and I album and was the first Morrissey single to be produced by Steve Lillywhite. The extra B-side "I'd Love To" features Kirsty MacColl on backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy's Keen</span> 1997 single by Morrissey

"Roy's Keen" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in October 1997. It was the second single to be taken from the Maladjusted album and was the third solo Morrissey single not to feature himself in the cover picture, instead using a photograph of two boys taken by Roger Mayne on London's Southam Street in the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alma Matters</span> 1997 single by Morrissey

"Alma Matters" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in July 1997. It was the first single to be taken from the Maladjusted album and was released one week before the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satan Rejected My Soul</span> 1997 single by Morrissey

"Satan Rejected My Soul" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in December 1997. It was the third single to be taken from the Maladjusted album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First of the Gang to Die</span> 2004 single by Morrissey

"First of the Gang to Die" is a song co-written by Morrissey from his 2004 album You Are the Quarry. It was released in July 2004 as the second single from the album. It was written by Morrissey and Alain Whyte, the two being responsible for lyrics and music respectively. Following the success of "Irish Blood, English Heart", from the same album, the single reached the number six spot in the UK Singles Chart, giving Morrissey two top ten hits in a row for the first time since "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and "Interesting Drug" both reached the top ten in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold On to Your Friends</span> 1994 single by Morrissey

"Hold On to Your Friends" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in May 1994. It was the second single taken from the number 1 album Vauxhall and I. Morrissey claimed, "It was written about somebody I know, in relation of their treatment towards me."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxers (song)</span> 1995 single by Morrissey

"Boxers" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released in January 1995 to promote a tour of the same name. The single reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart despite not appearing on an album at the time of the release. The title track and the two B-sides would later be compiled on the World of Morrissey that was released in February that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dagenham Dave</span> 1995 single by Morrissey

"Dagenham Dave" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, issued as a single in August 1995, a week prior to the release of his fifth studio album, Southpaw Grammar (1995). It was Morrissey's first release on RCA Records, the label he had signed to after leaving EMI. This was the second Morrissey solo single not to feature the singer on the cover; instead, English football coach and former player Terry Venables is pictured sticking out his tongue. Venables was born in Dagenham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boy Racer</span> 1995 single by Morrissey

"The Boy Racer" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released as the second single from his fifth studio album, Southpaw Grammar (1995), in November 1995. It was Morrissey's second and final single released on RCA Records after leaving EMI Records. The single was released across two CDs, each with different covers but both featuring a young boy. Contrary to rumour, the child is not Morrissey's nephew. The song reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny (Morrissey song)</span> 1995 single by Morrissey

"Sunny" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released as a single in December 1995. It was released by Parlophone to try to cash in on Morrissey's Southpaw Grammar album that had been released that year by RCA Records and consists of three songs that Morrissey had recorded while under contract to Parlophone. "Sunny" had initially been planned to appear on the "Boxers" single released in January 1995, and "Black-Eyed Susan" had at one point been allocated to be the B-side of "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" in 1994.

References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 5 December 1992. p. 25.
  2. Thompson, Dave. "Morrissey - Certain People I Know song review". Allmusic . Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 Raggett, Ned. "Certain People I Know Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  4. "Disastrous festival performances". Virginmedia.com. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  5. Veltman, Chloe (July–August 2008). "The Passion of the Morrissey". The Believer . Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  6. Q Magazine Smiths and Morrissey Special Edition, 2004