Bona Drag

Bona Drag
Compilation album by Morrissey
Released	October 15, 1990
Recorded	1987-1989
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	49:45
Label	HMV
Producer	Stephen Street; Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Blender link Entertainment Weekly (B+)[1] Q Dec 2000 Robert Christgau (B+) link
Morrissey chronology
Viva Hate (1988) Bona Drag (1990) Kill Uncle (1991)

Bona Drag is a compilation album by Morrissey released on October 15, 1990. 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 outfit 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 06/12/2000.

About the album

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 independent 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.

Composition

Bona Drag features nearly all of the strong pieces of material written by Morrissey in the first three years of his solo career. The tracks include four top ten hits. Morrissey included two tracks on this compilation from his Viva Hate album: "Suedehead" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday".

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 #2 on the Modern Rock chart. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" went to #3, "November Spawned a Monster", #6, and "Interesting Drug", #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 the photo.

Track listing

All songs by Morrissey/Street, except where noted.

LP

Side A

1. "Piccadilly Palare" – 3:28 [single A-side] (Morrissey/Armstrong)
2. "Interesting Drug" – 3:27 [single A-side]
3. "November Spawned a Monster" – 5:28 [single A-side] (Morrissey/Langer)
4. "Will Never Marry" – 2:22 [edited version of B-side of "Everyday is Like Sunday"]
5. "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference" – 2:51 [B-side of "Interesting Drug"]
6. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" – 3:40 [single A-side]
7. "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" – 4:25 [single A-side]

Side B

1. "Hairdresser on Fire" – 3:49 [B-side of "Suedehead"]
2. "Everyday Is Like Sunday" – 3:34 [single A-side]
3. "He Knows I'd Love to See Him" – 3:08 [B-side of "November Spawned a Monster"] (Morrissey/Armstrong)
4. "Yes, I Am Blind" – 3:44 [B-side of "Ouija Board, Ouija Board"] (Morrissey/Rourke)
5. "Lucky Lisp" – 2:51 [B-side of "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"]
6. "Suedehead" – [single A-side]
7. "Disappointed" – [B-side of "Everyday is Like Sunday"]

Personnel

• Morrissey – voice
• Vini Reilly – guitar, keyboards
• Craig Gannon – guitar
• Kevin Armstrong – guitar
• Stephen Street – keyboards, guitar, bass guitar
• Andy Rourke – bass guitar
• Andrew Paresi – drums
• Mike Joyce – drums

Guest musicians

• Graham "Suggs" McPherson – additional vocals on "Piccadilly Palare"
• Kirsty MacColl – backing vocals on "Interesting Drug"
• Mary Margaret O'Hara – additional voice on "November Spawned a Monster"

Technical staff

• Stephen Street – producer
• Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley – producer

References