Morrissey is gearing up to release a new record, announcing the release of a new covers album, California Son.
It’s barely been a year since the release of Morrissey’s last record, Low In High School, but that hasn’t stopped the famed vocalist from hitting up the studio, it seems.
First rumoured a few months ago, Morrissey has today taken to his official website to formally announce the new record, which is set to be produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Joe Chiccarelli.
“Joe brought in a lot of new musicians and we experimented with a lot of sounds,” Morrissey was quoted as saying in a press release from October. “Everything went fantastically well and we are proud.”
Consisting of twelve tracks, the record will see the famed vocalist take on tunes by the likes of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Roy Orbison, Carly Simon, and much more. Interestingly, the record also contains a cover of Buffy Sainte Marie’s ‘Suffer The Little Children’, whose title was adopted for a track on The Smiths’ debut album in 1984.
Notably, Morrissey’s cover of the Pretenders’ ‘Back On The Chain Gang’ – which was released last month – doesn’t appear on the tracklist. However, it seems that the track will instead appear on the deluxe edition of Low In High School, which is due out on Friday.
Check out Morrissey’s cover of ‘Back On The Chain Gang’:
In recent Morrissey news though, the former frontman of The Smiths was at the centre of an odd controversy last month, with his San Diego concert being cut short after a fan supposedly tried to attack him onstage.
Morrissey later came to the defence of the fan, explaining that he was simply trying to express his adoration for the singer, which was sadly misconstrued by security at the venue.
“The only trouble at San Diego were the fictitious reports by TMZ that I had been attacked,” Morrissey explained on his website. “This is absolute crap. The concert and the crowd were a dream night for me.”
“I was honored and grateful for such an excited and loving response. It concluded an outstanding set of U.S dates and I am absolutely thrilled. TMZ, alas, live exclusively in a world of their own, and certain sections of the press seem enraged that there is nothing negative to report.”
At this stage, there’s no word as to when California Son is set to be released, though Stereogum have noted that it’s rumoured to be dropping in March.
Check out Morrissey’s ‘Suedehead’:
Morrissey – California Son tracklist:
- Morning Starship (Jobriath)
- Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow (Joni Mitchell)
- Only A Pawn In Their Game (Bob Dylan)
- Suffer The Little Children (Buffy Sainte Marie)
- Days Of Decision (Phil Ochs)
- It’s Over (Roy Orbison)
- Wedding Bell Blues (Laura Nyro)
- Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets (Dionne Warwick)
- Lady Willpower (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap)
- When You Close Your Eyes (Carly Simon)
- Lenny’s Tune (Tim Hardin)
- Some Say I Got Devil (Melanie)
