Morrissey did not approve of upcoming Moz box sets
There’s been a frenzy of reissues and over the last few years, a trend that has been welcomed by music fans and record collectors. Seminal recordings from influential artists are being resurrected and given a spit and polish through remastering and, in most cases, the addition of additional material like rarities and b-sides.
Just this year, EMI/HMV/Parlophone will be releasing two archival box sets of Morrissey’s 7″ singles. The sets will be titled 7″ Singles 88 – 91 and HMV/Parlophone Singles 91 – 95. The releases will surely be embraced by Morrissey fans. But if it was up to the Moz himself he wouldn’t want his fans to buy these releases. According to Morrissey himself, the two sets were released without his approal and he will not receive royalties for the sale of these products. Morrissey’s complete message, which appeared in an official Morrissey fan site is printed below:
“Morrissey would like it to be known that he has not been consulted by EMI/HMV/Parlophone with regards to two forthcoming boxed sets of Morrissey singles. Morrissey does not approve such releases and would ask people not to bother buying them. Morrissey receives no royalty payments from EMI for any back catalogue, and has not received a royalty from EMI since 1992. Morrissey also does not approve of, and was not consulted on, the Rhino box of Smiths CDs, or the Warner releases of Smiths LPs on 180 gramme vinyl. Morrissey last received a royalty payment from Warners ten years ago, and, once again, he would ask people not to bother buying the reissued LPs or CDs.”
Ouch. Morrissey fans are now faced with a dilemma — do they follow the King of Pain himself as he distances himself from these now-tainted releases, or do they go ahead and buy it because it will help complete their Morrissey collection?
Who said record collecting is easy?
