Morrissey, Viva Hate (1988)

I bought this for my wife because she’s the Morrissey fan in the house. But I’m the vinyl fan. So although she plays some records from time to time and doesn’t mind when I’m playing records at all it is usually left to me to drop the needle. That means I’ve been listening to this a lot more than she has. But then I probably have some catching up to do. She listens to Morrissey now in the way, probably, that I do with Lou Reed: just a few times a year and with fondness for the time, way back, when it was such a discovery and when so many moments were linked to it. I found Moz on my own though – eventually. I didn’t care all that much for him but liked Suedehead and We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful. Then I picked up World Of Morrissey which I loved, especially his (long) version of Moon River. Then it was to The Smiths and for the longest time I was happy with Smiths only, no Morrissey. I’ve been keen on the Morrissey comeback stuff, You Are The Quarry is my favourite Morrissey album. But that’s changing. Only now. Viva Hate has the prize. Many fans tell me it’s his best work. It’s my only Morrissey LP at this stage. But I still mean it – on some level beyond that – when I say it’s my favourite.

Sample Track: Alsatian Cousin

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown