Piccadilly Palare: Difference between revisions

"Piccadilly Palare"
"Piccadilly Palare"
Single by Morrissey
from the album Bona Drag
B-side	"Get Off the Stage"; "At Amber";
Released	8 October 1990
Length	3:26
Label	HMV
Songwriter(s)	Morrissey; Kevin Armstrong;
Producer(s)	Clive Langer; Alan Winstanley;
Morrissey singles chronology

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Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

"Piccadilly Palare" is a song by the English singer Morrissey, released as a single in October 1990 by HMV. The song features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from the Smiths, Andy Rourke on bass guitar, marking the last time any former member of the Smiths would collaborate with Morrissey. Backing vocals were provided by Suggs, lead vocalist of the ska and pop band Madness. "Piccadilly Palare" reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and number five in Ireland.

Song information

As with "November Spawned a Monster", Morrissey chose to write about a subject unusual in pop music, namely male prostitution around the Piccadilly area of London. The title of the song refers to the cant slang language Polari, first used by male prostitutes in the 19th century and then taken up by homosexuals in the 1960s to disguise sexual activities which were illegal in the UK until 1967. Morrissey explained, "There was something oddly romantic about the whole thing. It spelt 'freedom'. Catching a coach and spending a day in Piccadilly was extraordinary".^[2]

Morrissey wrote in his 2013 autobiography that he disliked the song. He called it "...a student work of novelty that wears off before noon".^[3] In 1990, he said of the song:

It's not a particularly strong record. It's not overwhelming, the subject is even slightly dated. "Piccadilly Palare", which will receive blanket horrendous reviews, is a song about male prostitution. But I'm not running around in the street saying 'Look at me singing about male prostitution, isn't that incredibly unique!' I don't want plaudits for examining a new subject, but I will say that even coming across a pop record with a reasonably unique situation is in itself interesting.^[4]

Critical reception

NME gave "Piccadilly Palare" a positive review, saying "It's amazing what a slap across the wrist can do for the creative juices."^[5] Ned Raggett of AllMusic called the song "another glam-touched chugger, its emotional heft provided by the wounded, bitter lyrics."^[1]

Track listings

7-inch vinyl and cassette

"Piccadilly Palare"
"Get Off the Stage"

12-inch vinyl and CD

"Piccadilly Palare"
"At Amber" (Morrissey/Street) Produced By Stephen Street
"Get Off the Stage" (Morrissey/Rourke)

Musicians

Morrissey – vocals
Kevin Armstrong – guitar
Andy Rourke – bass guitar
Andrew Paresi – drums

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[6]	51
Ireland (IRMA)^[7]	5
UK Singles (OCC)^[8]	13
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[9]	2

Release details

Country	Record label	Format	Catalogue number
UK	HMV	7-inch vinyl	POP1624
UK	HMV	12-inch vinyl	12POP1624
UK	HMV	Compact disc	CDPOP1624
UK	HMV	Cassette	TCPOP1624

References

^ ^a ^b Raggett, Ned. "Piccadilly Palare Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
^ Kent, Nick (March 1990). "Morrissey Interviewed by Nick Kent". The Face.
^ Rollingstone
^ "Bona Contention". Vox. November 1990.
^ Brown, James (3 October 1990). "Piccadilly Palare". NME. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 43. 27 October 1990. p. IV–V. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Picadilly Place". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
^ "Morrissey: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
^ "Morrissey Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.

External links

"Piccadilly Palare" at Discogs (list of releases)

[Allmusic-1] Raggett, Ned. "Piccadilly Palare Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2012.

[face_90-2] Kent, Nick (March 1990). "Morrissey Interviewed by Nick Kent". The Face.

[3] Rollingstone

[vox-4] "Bona Contention". Vox. November 1990.

[Reviews-5] Brown, James (3 October 1990). "Piccadilly Palare". NME. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[6] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 43. 27 October 1990. p. IV–V. Retrieved 20 June 2021.

[sc_Ireland2_-7] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Picadilly Place". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 March 2022.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Morrissey-8] "Morrissey: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_Morrissey-9] "Morrissey Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.

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@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 | type       = single
 | artist     = [[Morrissey]]
-| album      = [[Bona Drag]] (compilation)
+| album      = [[Bona Drag]]
-| released   = 8 October 1990
+| B-side     = * "Get Off the Stage"
+* "At Amber"
+| released   = {{Start date|1990|10|8|df=y}}
 | recorded   =
 | studio     =
-| venue      =
 | genre      =
 | length     = 3:26
-| label      = HMV (UK)
+| label      = [[His Master's Voice|HMV]]
-| writer     = Morrissey/Kevin Armstrong
+| writer     = * Morrissey
+* [[Kevin Armstrong (guitarist)|Kevin Armstrong]]
-| producer   = Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
+| producer   = * [[Clive Langer]]
+* [[Alan Winstanley]]
 | prev_title = [[November Spawned a Monster]]
 | prev_year  = 1990
@@ Line 21: / Line 24: @@
 }}
 {{Album ratings
-|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
+| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
-|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{Cite web | last = Raggett | first = Ned | title = Piccadilly Palare Review | publisher = [[Allmusic]] | access-date = October 18, 2012 | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000888157|pure_url=yes}}}}</ref>
+| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{Cite web | last = Raggett | first = Ned | title = Piccadilly Palare Review | publisher = [[AllMusic]] | access-date = October 18, 2012 | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000888157|pure_url=yes}}}}</ref>
 }}
+"'''Piccadilly Palare'''" is a song by the English singer [[Morrissey]], released as a [[Single (music)|single]] in October 1990 by [[His Master's Voice|HMV]]. The song features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from [[the Smiths]], [[Andy Rourke]] on bass guitar, marking the last time any former member of the Smiths would collaborate with Morrissey. Backing vocals were provided by [[Suggs]], lead vocalist of the [[ska]] and [[Pop music|pop]] band [[Madness (band)|Madness]]. "Piccadilly Palare" reached number 18 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and number five in Ireland.
+==Song information==
-"'''Piccadilly Palare'''" is song by British singer [[Morrissey]], released as a [[Single (music)|single]] in October [[1990 in music|1990]].
+As with "[[November Spawned a Monster]]", Morrissey chose to write about a subject unusual in pop music, namely [[male prostitution]] around the [[Piccadilly]] area of [[London]]. The title of the song refers to the [[thieves' cant|cant]] [[slang]] language [[Polari]], first used by male prostitutes in the 19th century and then taken up by [[Homosexuality|homosexuals]] in the 1960s to disguise sexual activities which were illegal in the UK until 1967. Morrissey explained, "There was something oddly romantic about the whole thing. It spelt 'freedom'. Catching a coach and spending a day in Piccadilly was extraordinary".<ref name="face 90">{{cite journal |last1=Kent |first1=Nick |title=Morrissey Interviewed by Nick Kent |journal=The Face |date=March 1990}}</ref>
+Morrissey wrote in his 2013 [[Autobiography (Morrissey book)|autobiography]] that he disliked the song. He called it "...a student work of novelty that wears off before noon".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131027005930/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/blogs/pop-life/morrisseys-autobiography-the-dream-is-gone-but-the-book-is-real-20131025 Rollingstone]</ref> In 1990, he said of the song:
-The song features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from [[The Smiths]], [[Andy Rourke]], marking the last time any former member of The Smiths would collaborate with Morrissey.
+{{quote|It's not a particularly strong record. It's not overwhelming, the subject is even slightly dated. "Piccadilly Palare", which will receive blanket horrendous reviews, is a song about male prostitution. But I'm not running around in the street saying 'Look at me singing about male prostitution, isn't that incredibly unique!' I don't want plaudits for examining a new subject, but I will say that even coming across a pop record with a reasonably unique situation is in itself interesting.<ref name="vox">{{cite journal |title=Bona Contention |journal=Vox |date=November 1990}}</ref>}}
-As with "[[November Spawned a Monster]]", Morrissey chose to write about a subject unusual in pop music, namely [[male prostitution]] around the [[Piccadilly]] area of [[London]]. The title of the song refers to the [[thieves' cant|cant]] [[slang]] language [[polari]], first used by male prostitutes in the 19th century and then taken up by homosexuals in the 1960s to disguise sexual activities which were illegal in the UK until 1967. It was also used in the BBC radio comedy ''[[Round the Horne]]'' by the characters [[Julian and Sandy]].
+==Critical reception==
-The vocals in the background were contributed by [[Suggs (singer)|Suggs]], the lead singer of the band [[Madness (band)|Madness]].
+''[[NME]]'' gave "Piccadilly Palare" a positive review, saying "It's amazing what a slap across the wrist can do for the creative juices."<ref name="Reviews">{{cite web |last=Brown |first=James |url=http://motorcycleaupairboy.com/mozdisc1/palare.htm |title=Piccadilly Palare |publisher=NME |date=3 October 1990 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714121050/http://motorcycleaupairboy.com/mozdisc1/palare.htm |archive-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> Ned Raggett of [[AllMusic]] called the song "another [[Glam rock|glam]]-touched chugger, its emotional heft provided by the wounded, bitter lyrics."<ref name="Allmusic"/>
-There also exists an early take/alternate version of the song that contains an additional verse along with a vocal outro, singing: “No, dad, I won’t be home tomorrow”.
-Morrissey said in his autobiography that he disliked the song. He called it "...a student work of novelty that wears off before noon".<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/blogs/pop-life/morrisseys-autobiography-the-dream-is-gone-but-the-book-is-real-20131025</ref>
 ==Track listings==
-=== 7" vinyl and cassette===
+'''7-inch vinyl and cassette'''
 # "Piccadilly Palare"
 # "Get Off the Stage"
-===12" vinyl & CD===
+'''12-inch vinyl and CD'''
 # "Piccadilly Palare"
 # "At Amber" <small>(Morrissey/Street) Produced By Stephen Street</small>
 # "Get Off the Stage" <small>(Morrissey/Rourke)</small>
+==Musicians==
-==Etchings on vinyl==
+* Morrissey – vocals
+* [[Kevin Armstrong (guitarist)|Kevin Armstrong]] – guitar
+* [[Andy Rourke]] – bass guitar
+* [[Andrew McGibbon|Andrew Paresi]] – drums
+==Charts==
-British 7" and 12": [[George Eliot|GEORGE ELIOT]] KNEW/none
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
+! Chart (1990)
+! Peak<br />position
+|-
+! scope="row"|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-10-27.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=7|issue=43|page=IV–V|date=27 October 1990|access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref>
+| 51
+|-
+{{single chart|Ireland2|5|song=Picadilly Place|access-date=15 March 2022|rowheader=true}}
+|-
+{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|13|artist=Morrissey|artistid=13740|access-date=7 August 2017|rowheader=true}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|2|artist=Morrissey|access-date=7 August 2017|rowheader=true}}
+|}
 ==Release details==
@@ Line 60: / Line 79: @@
 ! Notes
 |-
-| UK || HMV || 7" vinyl || POP1624 ||
+| UK || HMV || 7-inch vinyl || POP1624 ||
 |-
-| UK || HMV || 12" vinyl || 12POP1624 ||
+| UK || HMV || 12-inch vinyl || 12POP1624 ||
 |-
 | UK || HMV || Compact disc || CDPOP1624 ||
@@ Line 68: / Line 87: @@
 | UK || HMV || Cassette || TCPOP1624 ||
 |}
-==Reviews==
-Unlike Morrissey's previous two singles, ''NME'' gave "Piccadilly Palare" a positive review, saying "It's amazing what a slap across the wrist can do for the creative juices."<ref name="Reviews">[http://motorcycleaupairboy.com/mozdisc1/palare.htm NME Piccadilly Palare Review]</ref> Ned Raggett of ''[[Allmusic]]'' called the song "another glam-touched chugger, its emotional heft provided by the wounded, bitter lyrics."<ref name="Allmusic"/>
-==Musicians==
-* Morrissey – vocals
-* [[Kevin Armstrong (guitarist)|Kevin Armstrong]] – guitar
-* [[Andy Rourke]] – bass guitar
-* [[Andrew McGibbon|Andrew Paresi]] – drums
-==Charts==
-{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
-!Chart (1990)
-!Peak<br />position
-|-
-!scope="row"|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-10-27.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|date=27 October 1990|page=|accessdate=20 June 2021|magazine=[[Music & Media]]}}</ref>
-|align="center"|51
-|-
-{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|13|artist=Morrissey|accessdate=7 August 2017|rowheader=true}}
-|-
-{{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|2|artist=Morrissey|accessdate=7 August 2017|rowheader=true}}
-|}
-==See also==
-* [[Morrissey discography]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 98: / Line 92: @@
 ==External links==
+* {{discogs master|type=single|5010}}
-* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070124231507/http://www.passionsjustlikemine.com/disc/moz-d08pp.htm Piccadilly Palare]" at [http://www.passionsjustlikemine.com/ Passions Just Like Mine]
-* {{MetroLyrics song|morrissey|piccadilly-palare}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
-{{Morrissey}}
+{{Morrissey singles}}
 {{Authority control}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Piccadilly Palare}}
 [[Category:Morrissey songs]]
 [[Category:1990 singles]]
-[[Category:Songs written by Morrissey]]
 [[Category:1990 songs]]
-[[Category:Song recordings produced by Clive Langer]]
+[[Category:His Master's Voice singles]]
-[[Category:Song recordings produced by Alan Winstanley]]
+[[Category:LGBTQ-related songs]]
 [[Category:Songs about prostitutes]]
-[[Category:LGBT-related songs]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Alan Winstanley]]
-[[Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Clive Langer]]
+[[Category:Songs written by Morrissey]]
+[[Category:Songs about language]]
+[[Category:Songs about London]]

v t e Morrissey singles
Viva Hate	"Suedehead" / "Hairdresser on Fire" "Everyday Is Like Sunday" / "Sister I'm a Poet"
Bona Drag	"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" "Interesting Drug" "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" "November Spawned a Monster" "Piccadilly Palare"
Kill Uncle	"Our Frank" "Sing Your Life"
Your Arsenal	"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" "You're the One for Me, Fatty" "Tomorrow" "Certain People I Know" "Glamorous Glue"
Vauxhall and I	"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" "Hold On to Your Friends" "Now My Heart Is Full"
World of Morrissey	"Boxers"
Southpaw Grammar	"Dagenham Dave" "The Boy Racer"
Maladjusted	"Alma Matters" "Roy's Keen" "Satan Rejected My Soul"
You Are the Quarry	"Irish Blood, English Heart" "First of the Gang to Die" "Let Me Kiss You" "I Have Forgiven Jesus"
Live at Earls Court	"Redondo Beach" / "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"
Ringleader of the Tormentors	"You Have Killed Me" "The Youngest Was the Most Loved" "In the Future When All's Well" "I Just Want to See the Boy Happy"
Years of Refusal	"That's How People Grow Up" "All You Need Is Me" "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" "Something Is Squeezing My Skull"
World Peace Is None of Your Business	"World Peace Is None of Your Business" "Istanbul" "Earth Is the Loneliest Planet" "The Bullfighter Dies" "Kiss Me a Lot"
Low in High School	"Spent the Day in Bed" "Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage"
Standalone	"Pregnant for the Last Time" "My Love Life" "Interlude" "Sunny" "Satellite of Love"