Bona Drag: 20th Anniversary Edition [Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered]

Morrissey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B003XKAZKO
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,427 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piccadilly Palare

2. Interesting Drug

3. November Spawned a Monster

4. Will Never Marry

5. Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference

6. The Last of the Famous International Playboys

7. Ouija Board, Ouija Board

8. Hairdresser on Fire

9. Everyday Is Like Sunday

10. He Knows I'd Love to See Him

11. Yes, I am Blind

12. Lucky Lisp

13. Suedehead

14. Disappointed

15. Happy Lovers at Last United [#][*]

16. Lifeguard on Duty [#][*]

17. Please Help the Cause Against Loneliness [Demo Version] [#][*][Demo Ver

18. Oh Phoney [#][*]

19. The Bed Took Fire [#][*]

20. Let the Right One Slip In [Long Mix] [#][*]

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded 20th Anniversary edition of the former Smiths vocalist's 1990 album. Bona Drag brings together his first seven singles including 'Suedehead'; 'Everyday Is Like Sunday'; 'Interesting Drug', 'The Last Of The Famous International Playboys', 'Ouija Board, Ouija Board', 'November Spawned A Monster' and 'Piccadilly Palare' alongside a selection of high quality b-sides from all the singles. With Morrissey's full involvement, the original album has been remastered and expanded with six previously unreleased tracks. Directing the artwork for the reissue, Morrissey has chosen to return the cover art to its natural colour and to update the back and inner artwork with a selection of favorite, hand-picked and rarely-seen photos. 20 tracks. EMI. 2010.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Age of the Downgrade, October 25, 2010

By 

David (The Eastern States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bona Drag: 20th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

Why should an "Anniversary/Deluxe/Remastered" edition of an album be a downgrade from previous editions?

I could complain about the flimsy packaging, but I won't. I could complain about the lack of sleeve notes, information and lyrics, but I won't. I could complain about the changed cover (which has rendered the original striking image as pale and non-descript) but I won't. After all, it's the quality of the contents that are important - and that's what I do wish to complain about.

Although the remastering itself seems fine in terms of sound quality, the contents of this album have been edited and altered from the original, with no notice or reasons given. The middle of "Ouija Board" has been cut out, thereby losing the structure and integrity of the song. It's always been one of my favourite songs on the album, and now the whole payoff/punchline is inexplicably gone! This is revisionism as vandalism, and constitutes unforgivable meddling with the integrity of the original song and album. The bone-headed decision to blend the end of one song into the beginning of the next is also a serious offence, demonstrating contempt for the integrity of the original.

No number of "Bonus tracks" on a reissue will make up for losing or altering the original!

The best options here are to stick with the original CD or singles or, better still, get Hmv/Parlophone Singles '88-'95 (3 CD Set). It's good value, and includes several relevant b-sides left off both the original Bona Drag album and this remaster's bonus tracks. Its sound is a bit quieter than this remaster.

Don't sell me a "downgraded" version of something I already own by telling me it's an "upgrade"!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Appreciate this for what it is, November 6, 2010

By 

wanker - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bona Drag: 20th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

Maybe we're missing the point. When I found out there was going to be a reissue of Bona Drag, I lept on it and preordered. I spent the next month dreaming about bonus tracks, new cover/sleeve art, and fabulous photos. I had such lofty expectations, anything would have been a letdown.

I would call the packaging simple and minimal. I actually like the changed cover photo; it's striking where the original was flashy. The additional photos left me feeling as grey as the spectrum they display.

As for the remastering, the sound is better; richer and fuller than before. The arrangement has somewhat of a cut-and-paste feel, but I can appreciate what's been done. Compare a theater-released film vs. the inevitable "director's cut". While the original will always have a place in your heart, the new versions find their way into your mind.

The bonus tracks? Well, you could add a rendition of "itsy-bitsy spider" that he sings in the shower and I would be enthralled, so there's no way I could pretend to be impartial. However, unless you feel the same way, you may be better off finding these songs elsewhere.

And maybe THAT'S the point here. We expect so much, and accept so little. As I understand it, he's still without a major label, right? Had this been from SONY, the outcome would be different I'm sure.

So don't be too quick to judge based on his relatively safe endeavor with a smaller production company.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Discount reissue, October 29, 2010

By 

René West (Horsens Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bona Drag: 20th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

It's amazing that Morrissey have approved this reissue?
I would have thought that a 20 anniversary cd would have come in a deluxe packaging and not in a poor cardboard thing with a boring coverart. Can't understand why they decided to change the original blue background. And furthermore, when you look inside you find a thin inlay with about 3-4 photographs of Morrissey and hardly any written words whatsoever.

And about the remastering? I find it hard to hear any difference between my old copy of Bona Drag and the new one. Actually they have shortened a Ouija Board. And Interesting drug fading into November Spawned A Monster. I guess the reason is to fit in the 6 previously unreleased songs on one cd. An interesting thing is Picadilly Palare that has another mix where Morrissey sings some other words that is not on the original one.

I have rated the reissue with one star, for what you get for your money. It's a total rip-off and nothing more and it shows that Morrissey is quite a hypocrite thinking of what the man himself have said about the Music Industry (Paint A Vulgar Picture).

I bought the original Bona Drag for a couple of months ago because my old one had quite a few scratches. The price was 2-3 pounds which is quite a bargain. I would recommend those of you that haven't done the same mistake as me to go and find the original cd instead of this sad excuse of a 20 anniversary edition.

Bona Drag is a fabulous compilation that deserves more than this.