Morrissey ranks his solo albums and singles
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Morrissey has published personal rankings of his solo albums and songs, placing the long-unreleased *Bonfire Of Teenagers* first among the albums he is most proud of. His lists offer a glimpse of how he views his catalogue and renew attention on a record that has yet to reach listeners.
His album top five continues with *Make-Up Is A Lie*, *You Are The Quarry*, *Vauxhall And I* and *Years Of Refusal*. “Irish Blood, English Heart” leads his song ranking, followed by “First Of The Gang To Die”; the 12 tracks include “Wedding Bell Blues”, his 2018 collaboration with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong. Completed in 2021, *Bonfire Of Teenagers* was planned for release in 2023, but remains unreleased after Morrissey’s split from Capitol Records, despite his saying he bought back its rights in 2024.
- Morrissey ranks *Bonfire Of Teenagers* as his proudest album.
- “Irish Blood, English Heart” tops his song list.
- The album remains unreleased despite him regaining its rights.
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Morrissey is an English singer and songwriter who first became known as the frontman of the Smiths, a band active in the 1980s. After the group split, he built a long solo career, releasing albums and singles that include “Irish Blood, English Heart” and “You Are The Quarry”.
Bonfire Of Teenagers is a solo album completed in 2021. It was intended for release in 2023, but has not been issued; Morrissey later said he had bought back its rights after parting ways with Capitol Records. Its status matters because it leaves a substantial part of his recorded work unavailable to listeners.
Full account
Morrissey has published personal rankings of his solo albums and songs on his website, Morrissey Central. He introduced the album list by saying that he had loved all the records, but named those he was most proud of. The selections put his unreleased work alongside albums and songs that have been available for years.
At number one is Bonfire of Teenagers, completed in 2021 but still unreleased after a dispute with Capitol Records. The album had been slated for release in 2023. Morrissey later said he had withdrawn from his association with the label, and in 2024 said he had bought back the album’s rights. Reports also mention that Miley Cyrus, who recorded backing vocals for ‘I Am Veronica’, asked for them to be removed. Make-Up Is A Lie, his 14th solo album and his first new LP in six years, takes second place. You Are the Quarry (2004), Vauxhall and I (1994) and Years of Refusal (2009) complete the top five.
The remaining albums in his ten-record list are Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006), Your Arsenal (1992), Swords (2009), The Smiths’ Rank (1988) and Southpaw Grammar (1995). His song ranking is led by ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ and ‘First of the Gang to Die’, both from You Are the Quarry. The top five continues with ‘It’s Over’, ‘Alma Matters’ and ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’. The list also includes ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’, ‘Let Me Kiss You’, ‘That’s How People Grow Up’, ‘Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up on the Stage’, ‘Happy New Tears’, ‘Hold on to Your Friends’ and ‘Wedding Bell Blues’, his 2018 collaboration with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong.
The reports say Morrissey is due to play UK arena dates in December, beginning at Brighton Centre on 6 December, followed by Cardiff on 10 December and Liverpool on 12 December. One report also gives Glasgow on 16 December and Leeds on 19 December, and notes that his North American tour is under way before the UK dates.
Where outlets differ
The accounts conflict on the date of ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’: one identifies it as a 2004 song, while the other incorrectly dates it to 2024. The song appears on You Are the Quarry, released in 2004.
One report calls the song list a ranking of solo tracks and supplies twelve entries, although it describes Morrissey as ranking his favourite ten songs. The other report likewise says he shared ten songs but does not reproduce the full list.
The first report says Make-Up Is A Lie marked Morrissey’s first new LP in six years; the second mentions the album’s release and that it was his 14th solo album but omits the six-year interval. The second report also gives Glasgow and Leeds dates and his North American itinerary, which the first excerpt does not include.