Exit Smiling

From Morrissey-solo Wiki
Exit Smiling cover
Literature
Name Exit Smiling
Author Morrissey
Pages 68
Release Written "around 1979"
Published in Sep. 1998
Publisher Babylon Books, Manchester
ISBN 9780907188476 (UK)

Information

Description (from Kulik Selzer product page):

First edition, limited to 1000, published by Babylon Books 1998

‘His original unpublished unedited manuscript, An affectionate recollection of some of the screens also-ran's’

An absurd book of Steven Morrissey’s humorously tragic reviews of cinema and televisions ‘also-rans’ from the films and shows to the stars themselves. Being a facsimile of the original unedited manuscript, all the text is in typewritten form complete with visible pen annotations, interspersed with numerous black and white photographic illustrations. A certificate of authentication signed by Babylon Books founder John Muir.

Morrissey's statement regarding the release posted on the Reprise Records website (September 23, 1998) (source):

AN ESSAY OF MINE ENTITLED "EXIT SMILING", WRITTEN (I THINK) AROUND 1979, IS ABOUT TO BE PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM BY A COMPANY CALLED BABYLON BOOKS. THE PUBLICATION OF "EXIT SMILING" IS VERY MUCH AGAINST MY WISHES, AND I ASK ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INTEREST IN ME NOT TO BUY IT. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED MONEY FROM BABYLON BOOKS FOR "EXIT SMILING", AND ALL PROFITS OF SALES OF "EXIT SMILING" WILL GO DIRECTLY TO BABYLON BOOKS. PLEASE DO NOT THINK THAT THIS BOOK IS IN ANY WAY SANCTIONED BY ME.

BABYLON BOOKS PUBLISHED TWO PREVIOUS ESSAYS BY ME FROM THE LATE 70'S, ONE ON JAMES DEAN, ONE ON THE NEW YORK DOLLS, WHICH I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE BOUGHT. I TRIED TO STOP PUBLICATION, BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE I HAD ACCEPTED FIFTY POUNDS FROM BABYLON BOOKS (IN 1978!) AS OVERALL PAYMENT. ONCE AGAIN, I DID NOT WANT THESE "BOOKS" PUBLISHED, I DID NOT EARN ANY ROYALTIES, I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFFERED ANY ROYALTIES, I DID NOT CONSIDER THE ESSAYS TO BE WORTHY OF PUBLICATION IN BOOK FORM, AND FOUND THE FINAL DESIGNS TO BE TATTY AND EMBARRASSING.

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE BABYLON BOOKS ANY MORE OF YOUR MONEY. THEY ARE EXPLOITING MY NAME IN THE SHABBIEST MANNER.

MORRISSEY

Image Gallery

Mentioned In