Best of by collaborator

A

Alma Matter

Guest
The discussion on Kill Uncle got me thinking. If we looked at the major Morrissey solo co-writers, who has the best/ worst track record. The rules I am following is only 10 songs per co-writer. If they don't have 10, they don't get to take part. I believe the following are all co-writers who have written at least 10 songs:
1) Alain
2) Boz
3) Nevin
4) Street
5) Tobias

Today I will tackle Jesse Tobias to see if I am too harsh on this fellow.
Here are my best of Jesse/ Moz album:
1) You Have Killed Me - Great Single
2) In the Future When All's Well - Very Cool Oasis vibe
3) The Youngest Was the Most Loved - Over-rated. Its fine
4) All You Need is Me - I really don't like this era of Morrissey. This Song does little for me
5) Kiss Me A Lot - Not a big fan
6) The Bullfighter Dies - Also over rated
7) What Kind of People Live in These Houses? - I think this is a stand out track
8) Knock About World - decent song
9) Smiler with Knife
10) If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look at Me - I really like this b side

This is a Decent set of songs. The issue for me is there is very few more I would even want to listen to at all.
 
Mark Nevin is a pretty good collaborator for Morrissey. Imagine if Kill Uncle was only a Nevin collaboration. I would say it would be a very strong album.

1)Our Frank
2)I know Its Going to Happen
3)Place in Hell
4)Pregnant for the Last Time
5)The Loop
6)Changed my Plea
7)You're Going to Need Someone On Your side
8)SING YOUR LIFE!
9) End of the Family Line
10) My Love Life

This is a very strong set of songs. Some of my favorites of all time. They benefited from the Lads live, but these studio recordings hold up very well.

Nevin is stronger then Jesse for me. Franky its not even close.

Up next Boz. After that the big two: Whyte & Street.
 
Boz. The steady presence. As a songwriter, I was surprised how thin his song list was. That said, he has a good set of 10 songs. But given how many years it took to record these 10, I am surprised how light his contribution has been.

  1. Now my heart is full
  2. The More You Ignore Me
  3. Speedway
  4. Reader Meet Author
  5. Come Back to Camden
  6. Crashing Bores
  7. Black Cloud
  8. Staircase at the University
  9. World Peace is None of Your Business
  10. JACK THE RIPPER
After this 10, he falls off very fast - as fast as Jesse. That said, he wrote some of the greats in and around the Vauxhall period. If you took that era out, Boz wrote very little that is memorable. Admittedly Reader Meet Writer is a personal fav. But it could have been written in the Vauxhall era
 
Gus-‘Taco’ Manzur has also written at least 10 songs. Just in case you didn’t know. Hope this is allright.
Best wishes for the weekend!
 
Jesse Tobias

1. My Hurling Days are Done
2. What Kind of People Live in These Houses?
3. Once I Saw The River Clean
4. The Youngest Was The Most Loved
5. You Have Killed Me

-------- That's it for me when it comes to Jesse.
 
Boz Boorer

1. Now My Heart is Full
2. Speedway
3. Come Back to Camden
4. Jack the Ripper
5. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
6. I Can Have Both
7. The More You Ignore Me
8. World is Full of Crashing Bores
9. I Like You
10. Blue Dreamers Eyes (unreleased)
 
This song deserves a proper release, fantastic.

 
This song deserves a proper release, fantastic.


Yes. Yes and yes Amy...
A good selection lass,
Have you noticed in places like South America, the audience seem to throw their children his way...
Curious really....
 
Jesse Tobias

1. You Have Killed Me
2. Kiss Me A Lot
3. Knockabout World
4. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
5. When You Open Your Legs
6. The Bullfighter Dies
7. The Youngest Was The Most Loved
8. Once I Saw The River Clean
9. What Kind Of People Live In These Houses?
10. I Am Not A Dog On A Chain

Gustav Manzur

1. Spent The Day In Bed
2. Earth Is The Loneliest Planet
3. Bobby, Don't You Think They Know?
4. One Of Our Own
5. Love Is On Its Way Out
6. Neal Cassidy Drops Dead
7. The Truth About Ruth
8. In Your Lap
9. The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel
10. Israel

Mark Nevin

1. You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side
2. I Know Its Gonna Happen Someday
3. Pregnant For The Last Time
4. My Love Life
5. King Leer
6. Driving Your Girlfriend Home
7. Our Frank
8. Found Found Found
9. (I'm) The End Of The Family Line
10. Asian Rut

Boz Boorer

1. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
2. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
3. Come Back To Camden
4. Art-Hounds
5. All The Young People Must Fall In Love
6. Speedway
7. World Peace Is None Of Your Business
8. That's How People Grow Up
9. I Like You
10. I Wish You Lonely

Stephen Street

1. Suedehead
2. Everyday Is Like Sunday
3. The Last Of The Famous International Playboys
4. Alsatian Cousin
5. Dial-a-Cliché
6. Angel. Angel, Down We Go Together
7. Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference
8. Lifeguard On Duty
9. I Don't Mind If You Forget Me
10. Oh Well, I'll Never Learn

Alain Whyte

1. First Of The Gang To Die
2. The Never-Played Symphonies
3. The National Front Disco
4. Irish Blood, English Heart
5. I Have A Forgiven Jesus
6. The Lazy Sunbathers
7. Why Don't You find Out for Yourself?
8. Certain People I Know
9. Dagenham Dave
10. Life Is A Pigsty

Johnny Marr

1. I Know It's Over
2. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
3. Bigmouth Strikes Again
4. Panic
5. How Soon Is Now?
6. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
7. This Charming Man
8. The Headmaster Ritual
9. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
10. Handsome Devil

'The Rest'

1. Piccadilly Palare (Kevin Armstrong)
2. Mute Witness (Clive Langer)
3. November Spawned A Monster (Langer)
4. Home Is A Question Mark (Mando Lopez)
5. Striptease With A Difference (Langer)
6. Yes, I Am Blind (Andy Rourke)
7. Wide To Receive (Spencer Cobrin)
8. My Love, I'd Do Anything For You (Lopez)
9. Never Again Will I Be A Twin (Lopez)
10. Darling, I Hug A Pillow (Lopez)

Covers

1. That's Entertainment
2. No One Can Hold A Candle To You
3. It's Over
4. Skin Storm
5. Suffer The Little Children
6. Morning Starship
7. Some Say I Got Devil
8. Lady Willpower
9. Only A Pawn In Their Game
10. Wedding Bell Blues
 
Manzur is HORRIFIC. If his songs were people, I’d smash their faces in. Absolute f***ing trash and a big reason as to why so much of Moz’ latter day material has been so weak. The only exception being One of Our Own - did he really write that one? I thought that was Boz.
 
:unsure:



Some may view the Smiths as another Morrissey solo vehicle, so
Marr would then make the list too
as a solo co-writer to be fair.


The discussion on Kill Uncle got me thinking. If we looked at the major Morrissey solo co-writers, who has the best/ worst track record. The rules I am following is only 10 songs per co-writer. If they don't have 10, they don't get to take part. I believe the following are all co-writers who have written at least 10 songs:
1) Alain
2) Boz
3) Nevin
4) Street
5) Tobias

Today I will tackle Jesse Tobias to see if I am too harsh on this fellow.
Here are my best of Jesse/ Moz album:
1) You Have Killed Me - Great Single
2) In the Future When All's Well - Very Cool Oasis vibe
3) The Youngest Was the Most Loved - Over-rated. Its fine
4) All You Need is Me - I really don't like this era of Morrissey. This Song does little for me
5) Kiss Me A Lot - Not a big fan
6) The Bullfighter Dies - Also over rated
7) What Kind of People Live in These Houses? - I think this is a stand out track
8) Knock About World - decent song
9) Smiler with Knife
10) If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look at Me - I really like this b side

This is a Decent set of songs. The issue for me is there is very few more I would even want to listen to at all.
 
Manzur is HORRIFIC. If his songs were people, I’d smash their faces in. Absolute f***ing trash and a big reason as to why so much of Moz’ latter day material has been so weak. The only exception being One of Our Own - did he really write that one? I thought that was Boz.

Boof! - don't hold back now. Tell us how you really feel! haha
 
:unsure:
Some may view the Smiths as another Morrissey solo vehicle, so
Marr would then make the list too
as a solo co-writer to be fair.
No, I think that's just you.
 
Manzur is HORRIFIC. If his songs were people, I’d smash their faces in. Absolute f***ing trash and a big reason as to why so much of Moz’ latter day material has been so weak. The only exception being One of Our Own - did he really write that one? I thought that was Boz.
Manzur is not even on my 'radar' as a songwriter - the co-writes are crap - but this was funny. I felt that way about Jesse until Dog, where he redeemed himself a bit.
 
I think Jesse has steadily improved and diversified over time. The early guitar chuggers didn't really impress, but there have been several strong co-writes...

My Hurling Days are Done
Once I Saw the River Clean
I'm Not a Man
What Kind of People Live in These Houses?
Kiss Me a Lot
Smiler With Knife
Jim Jim Falls
I'm OK by Myself
The Youngest Was the Most Loved
In the Future When All's Well...

Gustavo and Mando have both co-written some strong songs and sometimes it has been the lyrics that have been a bigger failing.

Obviously Mark Nevin, Alain and Boz all have plenty of strong co-writes, but the truth is that the standard of Morrissey's solo collaborators has always been patchy.
 
Jesse Tobias

1. You Have Killed Me
2. Kiss Me A Lot
3. Knockabout World
4. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
5. When You Open Your Legs
6. The Bullfighter Dies
7. The Youngest Was The Most Loved
8. Once I Saw The River Clean
9. What Kind Of People Live In These Houses?
10. I Am Not A Dog On A Chain

Gustav Manzur

1. Spent The Day In Bed
2. Earth Is The Loneliest Planet
3. Bobby, Don't You Think They Know?
4. One Of Our Own
5. Love Is On Its Way Out
6. Neal Cassidy Drops Dead
7. The Truth About Ruth
8. In Your Lap
9. The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel
10. Israel

Mark Nevin (redone)*

1. You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side
2. I Know Its Gonna Happen Someday
3. Pregnant For The Last Time
4. My Love Life
5. King Leer
6. Driving Your Girlfriend Home
7. Our Frank
8. (I'm) The End Of The Family Line
9. Asian Rut
10. I've Changed My Plea To Guilty

Boz Boorer

1. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
2. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
3. Come Back To Camden
4. Art-Hounds
5. All The Young People Must Fall In Love
6. Speedway
7. World Peace Is None Of Your Business
8. That's How People Grow Up
9. I Like You
10. I Wish You Lonely

Stephen Street

1. Suedehead
2. Everyday Is Like Sunday
3. The Last Of The Famous International Playboys
4. Alsatian Cousin
5. Dial-a-Cliché
6. Angel. Angel, Down We Go Together
7. Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference
8. Lifeguard On Duty
9. I Don't Mind If You Forget Me
10. Oh Well, I'll Never Learn

Alain Whyte

1. First Of The Gang To Die
2. The Never-Played Symphonies
3. The National Front Disco
4. Irish Blood, English Heart
5. I Have A Forgiven Jesus
6. The Lazy Sunbathers
7. Why Don't You find Out for Yourself?
8. Certain People I Know
9. Dagenham Dave
10. Life Is A Pigsty

Johnny Marr

1. I Know It's Over
2. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
3. Bigmouth Strikes Again
4. Panic
5. How Soon Is Now?
6. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
7. This Charming Man
8. The Headmaster Ritual
9. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
10. Handsome Devil

'The Rest' (redone)*

1. Piccadilly Palare (Kevin Armstrong)
2. Mute Witness (Clive Langer)
3. November Spawned A Monster (Langer)
4. Home Is A Question Mark (Mando Lopez)
5. Striptease With A Difference (Langer)
6. Yes, I Am Blind (Andy Rourke)
7. Wide To Receive (Spencer Cobrin)
8. My Love, I'd Do Anything For You (Lopez)
9. Found Found Found (Langer)
10. Never Again Will I Be A Twin (Lopez)

Covers

1. That's Entertainment
2. No One Can Hold A Candle To You
3. It's Over
4. Skin Storm
5. Suffer The Little Children
6. Morning Starship
7. Some Say I Got Devil
8. Lady Willpower
9. Only A Pawn In Their Game
10. Wedding Bell Blues
 
Manzur is not even on my 'radar' as a songwriter - the co-writes are crap - but this was funny. I felt that way about Jesse until Dog, where he redeemed himself a bit.
Agree. Never even thought about his songs. They are terrible.
 
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