Customer Reviews

Bona Drag: 20th Anniversary Edition

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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"!

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.

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.

With read reviews rating this release, I must agree with the other reviewer's views on their negative criticism however am fully drawn on the fact of the additional bonus tracks worth a release, finally. All the negative feedback from those reviews are not what I am interested in but the anticipation of a few bonus material tracks that finally see the light of day, and are worth the weight alone. I do have to say, what happened to Strip Tease With A Difference? At least this part was a complete disappointment for me. For this alone is the reason why I shy away from giving this remastered Bona Drag a 5 stars, and in only consideration of the release of the bonus material rather than all other facets considered by others.

1. Please Help the Cause Against Loneliness - an excellent Motown catchy guitar strung tune...
2. Lifeguard On Duty - a soft subtle tune with a nice chorus - very Smiths' like...
3. Happy Lovers At Last United - would have still been a great b-side to the same sessions of Everyday Is Like Sunday, even scored with strings.
4. Oh Phony - crisp, clear playing from co-writer Kevin Armstrong and a great tune entirely. Should have still been properly released as b-side, at least to Strip Tease With A Difference had it ever been considered as another single after prior to scratching the actual Bona Drag studio album. There is a better roaming internet copy of the song with complete drums and bass, and it too is of high quality sound...worth looking into as the official release copy on this cd seems incomplete, not intending to be an acoustic version of the song.
5. The Bed Took Fire - just prior to being remixed by Stephen Street and later being called At Amber for the Piccadilly Palare b-side however was recorded during the sessions and intended for the Interesting Drug single.
6. Let the Right One Slip In (long version) - makes no sense as to why this poor quality demo was even issued on this re-release of Bona Drag when it was not even recorded during this era but for the Your Arsenal era. This addition was completely unfounded...

With the flaws of the re-release, remastered Bona Drag, I am nonetheless truly excited to have most of these bonus songs in a official release. This should be reason alone if nothing else to consider purchasing it.

Hi. The original version of this album seemed at the time to be a cobbled together affair to give some product to us Yanks until a proper new album could be made. As a fan I had all the tracks via cd singles so it was redundant. But there were some great songs on there for the casual fan who didn't track the UK releases that would make me give this 4 stars... but this release is really about the rarities..

What's disappointing is that the bonus tracks aren't that great. If you're hoping for lost gems this is not the treasure trove. These tracks are for the train spotter. The two strongest tracks are variants of other B-sides and the others went unreleased with reason. With all the singles released, if these were keepers, they would have been a track 3 or 4. Interesting songs to listen to once... maybe twice if you're obsessive... but that's it. These should have been issued as extra tracks on a cheap single trying to draw interest to a greatest hits package or something like that. Oh, well. That's how they sell us the same thing over and over.

Cheers!

Another 180 gram re-release and this time its complete with bonus songs. I am a vinyl collector and my opinion goes both ways when it comes to all the re-releases that the record companies are putting out on vinyl. If you do not have a good copy of Bona Drag, this is the one that you would want to purchase. It comes with six extra tracks that Morrissey has never released on an official release. Four of the tracks were never heard unless you were in the Moz family of friends because unreleased tracks were never kept secret. A few of these tracks may have showed up in inferior quality on one or two bootleg releases. There is also a long mix of the Moz B-side, "Let The Right One Slip In" and a demo version of "Please Help The Cause Against The Loneliness". These extra songs are so good that I wondered why he never wanted to release them before? I should state that I am a longtime fan of The Smiths and I used to be a devout Moz fan but now a casual listener. My taste in his music went by the wayside right around the time that in my opinion his last somewhat good album was released entitled You Are The Quarry. If someone said a bad word about him to me during the nineties I would have defended his name to the death. But he last eight to ten years his albums have been about half entertaining compared to his earlier catalog. I am a fan of the band he had working with him through the nineties. They were solid and Morrissey's brilliant writing was always sounded top notch with that band. This release of Bona Drag sounds fantastic. If you are familiar with Drag you probably know that all 14 songs are superb top notch tracks. Its sort a greatest hits/single release. The original Bona was his second studio release and this new one is the twentieth anniversary issue. This was released on Major Minor records and they did an awesome job with the double LP packaging including the new photos and color that they used compared to the ones they used on the original Bona Drag. Hope this helps Morrissey fans. If you are new to Morrissey and you are wondering which album to buy, start off with this one. You will be happy that you bought it after you experience it.
~Note: To All Moz Die-Hards: Editing has been done on "Ouija Board" {middle cut out}. This can and mostly will get Morrissey devotees a bit steamed. If you love or are used to the original you may want to stay away from this release.Other than that, all is good.~
Rob/Boston

If you are a fan of the smiths and Morrissey, then this album is a must have. The Vinyl Version comes in a two LP set, each has it's own sleeve with handpicked photos of Morrissey. The LP's have Morrissey's original etchings in the middle. The LP comes with a huge fold-out poster of Morrissey. The sounds quality on the LP version is amazing. Bona Drag is a collection of Morrissey's first few singles, and tracks from viva hate. So If you love Morrissey and the Smiths, then this is a must have!!!

Paper packaging, but glossy and sturdy. Booklet is hevy glossy stock, with some great photos.

I read these first reviews and was worried, and after getting the CD I'm happy. Would I have like a 24 page booklet? Sure. But It's 8 pages and it's nice.

Seems Morrissey is varying the style of repackaging these rereleases. Maladjusted, Southpaw, and now this one, are all very different in build. Would I prefer 3 standard jewelcases? Personally, No.

Sound quality is fantastic, with 6 solid bonus cuts. I recommend to fans. Don't let the first reviews scare you off.

Don't think about getting this wonderful album, JUST GET IT. There's nothing to think about, IT WAS GREAT WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT, and it's EVEN GREATER NOW that it's remastered and including beautiful tracks like LIFEGUARD ON DUTY, and more. The whole lil package is gorgeous and will have you staring at it for hours. If you're not a DIE HARD fan of Steven Patrick, then this is a FANTASTIC album to start or continue with. You won't regret it. Thank you, Amazon!

Happy Lovers, Lifeguard, and Please Help the Cause are all WONDERFUL songs and the alternative version of Piccadilly Palare make this a worthwhile purchase.