Of the most recent singles, this is probably the one that is most popular among fans.
It will always have a special place in my own memory, given it was the song that opened his 45th birthday gig in Manchester back in 2004, during which both myself and Mrs Villain hung onto one another for dear life as we willingly got dragged into a mosh pit down the front. We then showed a huge amount of common sense by retreating some 20 yards from the stage where we watched the rest of the show in a bit more comfort and a great deal more safety.
And yet…..when you compare it to many of the early Morrissey singles, it’s a tune that’s really quite ordinary, albeit it’s a song that has a catchy enough chorus:-
mp3 : Morrissey – First Of the Gang To Die
It was the second single taken from You Are The Quarry, and while it didn’t match the Top 3 position of Irish Blood, English Heart, its performance in reaching #6 in the UK charts meant at the time it was his third-highest single chart position, and more incredibly, First Of The Gang To Die became the best-performing follow-up single he had released in his solo career.
It’s a song that clearly means a lot to Morrissey as he’s performed it live more than any other.
But as I mentioned earlier, while it is one I have fond memories of, I don’t rate it as one of my all time favourite Morrissey tunes, although I do love his Buddy Holly impression near the end when he sings ‘he stole all hearts away-a-hay-a-hay-a-hay….’
The single was released on vinyl and CD, and there were three tracks which, in old money, would be called b-sides:-
mp3 : Morrissey – My Life Is A Succession Of People Saying Goodbye
mp3 : Morrissey – Teenage Dad On His Estate
mp3 : Morrissey – Mexico
The first of these is one of the very best-ever Morrissey b-sides, and a song that is arguably superior to some of those which appeared on You Are The Quarry. However, I feel that while Mexico has a nice enough melody, it is somewhat let down by an unusually dull lyric, and while Teenage Dad… has an engaging and sarcastic lyric, it is very badly let down by a pedestrian and plodding tune.
But I’m sure there will folk out there prepared to tell me that I’m well wide of the mark with such observations.
Incidentally, the photo used on the sleeve would appear to have been taken the same day as the photo that features on You Are The Quarry as the suit, shirt and tie combo appear to be identical.
Enjoy.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 