Maladjusted
Encyclopedia
Maladjusted is an album
by Morrissey
, released on 11 August 1997. The album (particularly the lead single "Alma Matters
") was praised at the time as a return to form for Morrissey, albeit one without the broad appeal of some of his earlier work.
Jed The Fish show on 4 July 1997. It was well received by fans and critics alike, praised for its surprisingly upbeat sound. The single reached #16 in the United Kingdom
, making it Morrissey's highest charting single in the decade between the Vauxhall and I
and You Are the Quarry
releases.
Maladjusted was Morrissey's attempt to integrate the torch songs that he experimented with on Vauxhall and I
with the indie rock
of his earlier career. His efforts were largely successful. In addition to "Alma Matters
", the tracks "Trouble Loves Me", "Ammunition, and "Roy's Keen" stand out as high-quality songs reminiscent of the Vauxhall and I
and Your Arsenal
era. As such, the album met with mixed but generally positive reviews and is considered a strong work by fans. Despite this, the album was not a huge commercial success, bowing at a respectable but underwhelming #8 in the UK. The follow-up singles, "Roy's Keen
" and "Satan Rejected My Soul
" peaked at #42 and #39, respectively. Still, the album reached #61 in the US and has sold 88,000 copies to Southpaw Grammar' s 65,000.
The album caused a small amount of controversy over what was to be the penultimate track. Entitled "Sorrow Will Come in the End", it featured Morrissey intoning, rather than singing, over a backing of manic strings and the beat of a judge's gavel
. The song is clearly about the Mike Joyce royalties dispute, and lyrically takes the form of, essentially, an extended threatening message to him and his representatives. "Don't close your eyes/Don't EVER close your eyes/A man who slits throats/Has time on his hands/And I'm gonna get you". Island Records
, Morrissey's label at the time, dropped the track from UK versions of the album for fear of libel action. Joyce, for his part, said of the song, "I just found it funny. If Lemmy had written it, I might be concerned."
On the inside sleeve of the LP is printed "John Bindon
1943–1993", a reference to the British underworld figure and actor.
Track listing:
Playing time: 61:40
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
, released on 11 August 1997. The album (particularly the lead single "Alma Matters
Alma Matters
"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....
") was praised at the time as a return to form for Morrissey, albeit one without the broad appeal of some of his earlier work.
The record
Morrissey released "Alma Matters" on 21 July 1997 to support the album. The song premiered on the KROQ-FMKROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
Jed The Fish show on 4 July 1997. It was well received by fans and critics alike, praised for its surprisingly upbeat sound. The single reached #16 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, making it Morrissey's highest charting single in the decade between the Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I is a 1994 Parlophone album by British musician Morrissey. Q listed it as one of the top ten albums of 1994. The release cemented Morrissey's success in the US, giving him a top 20 album and his first hit single there with the song "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"...
and You Are the Quarry
You Are the Quarry
-CD:-DVD:# "Irish Blood, English Heart" # "First of the Gang to Die" # "First of the Gang to Die" # "I Have Forgiven Jesus"...
releases.
Maladjusted was Morrissey's attempt to integrate the torch songs that he experimented with on Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I is a 1994 Parlophone album by British musician Morrissey. Q listed it as one of the top ten albums of 1994. The release cemented Morrissey's success in the US, giving him a top 20 album and his first hit single there with the song "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"...
with the indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
of his earlier career. His efforts were largely successful. In addition to "Alma Matters
Alma Matters
"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....
", the tracks "Trouble Loves Me", "Ammunition, and "Roy's Keen" stand out as high-quality songs reminiscent of the Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I is a 1994 Parlophone album by British musician Morrissey. Q listed it as one of the top ten albums of 1994. The release cemented Morrissey's success in the US, giving him a top 20 album and his first hit single there with the song "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"...
and Your Arsenal
Your Arsenal
Your Arsenal is a 1992 album by British singer Morrissey, which was released through HMV Records. The album was regarded by many fans and critics as his strongest and heaviest effort yet upon its release...
era. As such, the album met with mixed but generally positive reviews and is considered a strong work by fans. Despite this, the album was not a huge commercial success, bowing at a respectable but underwhelming #8 in the UK. The follow-up singles, "Roy's Keen
Roy's Keen
"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 Morrissey single not to feature himself on the cover, instead a photograph of two boys taken by Roger Mayne on London Southam Street in the...
" and "Satan Rejected My Soul
Satan Rejected My Soul
"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....
" peaked at #42 and #39, respectively. Still, the album reached #61 in the US and has sold 88,000 copies to Southpaw Grammar
The album caused a small amount of controversy over what was to be the penultimate track. Entitled "Sorrow Will Come in the End", it featured Morrissey intoning, rather than singing, over a backing of manic strings and the beat of a judge's gavel
Gavel
A gavel is a small ceremonial mallet commonly made of hardwood, typically fashioned with a handle and often struck against a sound block to enhance its sounding qualities. It is a symbol of the authority and right to act officially in the capacity of a chair or presiding officer. It is used to call...
. The song is clearly about the Mike Joyce royalties dispute, and lyrically takes the form of, essentially, an extended threatening message to him and his representatives. "Don't close your eyes/Don't EVER close your eyes/A man who slits throats/Has time on his hands/And I'm gonna get you". Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, Morrissey's label at the time, dropped the track from UK versions of the album for fear of libel action. Joyce, for his part, said of the song, "I just found it funny. If Lemmy had written it, I might be concerned."
On the inside sleeve of the LP is printed "John Bindon
John Bindon
John Dennis Arthur "Biffo" Bindon was a British actor and bodyguard who had close links with the London underworld. In numerous films, he played gangsters or tough police detective. Bindon has been described as "the archetypal actor-villain, and an all-round 'good geezer'". He was also notable for...
1943–1993", a reference to the British underworld figure and actor.
Track listing
All tracks written by Morrissey/Whyte, except where noted.- "Maladjusted" – 4:42 (Morrissey/Boorer)
- "Alma MattersAlma Matters"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....
" – 4:48 - "Ambitious Outsiders" – 3:56
- "Trouble Loves Me" – 4:40
- "Papa Jack" – 4:33
- "Ammunition" – 3:38 (Morrissey/Boorer)
- "Wide to Receive" – 3:53 (Morrissey/Cobrin)
- "Roy's KeenRoy's Keen"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 Morrissey single not to feature himself on the cover, instead a photograph of two boys taken by Roger Mayne on London Southam Street in the...
" – 3:36 - "He Cried" – 3:21
- "Sorrow Will Come in the End" – 2:51 – Not included on UK release
- "Satan Rejected My SoulSatan Rejected My Soul"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....
" – 2:56 (Morrissey/Boorer)
2009 remaster
Island Records released a remastered and redesigned version of Maladjusted on 4 May 2009. It included a new sleeve and track listing, several rare B-sides, and the first UK release of "Sorrow Will Come in the End". However, two songs ("Roy's Keen" and "Papa Jack") were left off the new track list. In the initial press release, "Ambitious Outsiders" was incorrectly listed as "Ambitious Lovers". It was released on the Polydor label.Track listing:
- "Maladjusted" – 4:42
- "Ambitious Outsiders" – 3:55
- "Trouble Loves Me" – 4:39
- "Lost" – 3:54 (b-side from the "Roy's KeenRoy's Keen"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 Morrissey single not to feature himself on the cover, instead a photograph of two boys taken by Roger Mayne on London Southam Street in the...
" single) - "He Cried" – 3:20
- "Alma MattersAlma Matters"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....
" – 4:46 - "Heir Apparent" – 3:56 (b-side from the "Alma Matters" single)
- "Ammunition" – 3:38
- "The Edges Are No Longer Parallel" – 5:04 (b-side from the "Roy's Keen" single)
- "This Is Not Your Country" – 7:24 (b-side from the "Satan Rejected My Soul" single)
- "Wide to Receive" – 3:53
- "I Can Have Both" – 4:05 (b-side from the "Alma Matters" single)
- "Now I Am a Was" – 2:35 (b-side from the "Satan Rejected My Soul" single)
- "Satan Rejected My SoulSatan Rejected My Soul"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....
" – 2:55 - "Sorrow Will Come in the End" – 2:54
Playing time: 61:40
The band
- Morrissey – vocals, main performer
- Alain WhyteAlain WhyteAlain Gordon Whyte is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is most known for being Morrissey's main songwriting partner since 1991 and his lead guitarist from 1991-2004...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals (background), pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Boz BoorerBoz BoorerBoz Boorer is a British guitarist and producer most known for his work founding the new wave rockabilly group, The Polecats, and later for his work as a co-writer, guitarist and musical director with Morrissey.-The Polecats:The band "Cult Heroes" was formed in 1977 by Tim Worman , Boz...
– clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Jonny Bridgewood – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Spencer Cobrin – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....