Piccadilly Palare

"Piccadilly Palare" is song by British singer Morrissey, released as a single in October 1990.

"Piccadilly Palare"
Single by Morrissey
from the album Bona Drag (compilation)
Released8 October 1990
Length3:26
LabelHMV (UK)
Songwriter(s)Morrissey/Kevin Armstrong
Producer(s)Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
Morrissey singles chronology
"November Spawned a Monster"
(1990)		 "Piccadilly Palare"
(1990)		 "Our Frank"
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

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.

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. It was also used in the BBC radio comedy Round the Horne by the characters Julian and Sandy.

The vocals in the background were contributed by Suggs, the lead singer of the band Madness.

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".[2]

Track listings

7" vinyl and cassette
  1. "Piccadilly Palare"
  2. "Get Off the Stage"

12" vinyl & CD
  1. "Piccadilly Palare"
  2. "At Amber" (Morrissey/Street) Produced By Stephen Street
  3. "Get Off the Stage" (Morrissey/Rourke)

Etchings on vinyl

British 7" and 12": GEORGE ELIOT KNEW/none

Release details
Country Record label Format Catalogue number Notes
UKHMV7" vinylPOP1624
UKHMV12" vinyl12POP1624
UKHMVCompact discCDPOP1624
UKHMVCassetteTCPOP1624

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."[3] Ned Raggett of Allmusic called the song "another glam-touched chugger, its emotional heft provided by the wounded, bitter lyrics."[1]

Musicians

Charts
Chart (1990) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] 51
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 13
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[6] 2

See also

References
  1. Raggett, Ned. "Piccadilly Palare Review". Allmusic. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  2. Rollingstone
  3. NME Piccadilly Palare Review
  4. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 October 1990. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. "Morrissey: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  6. "Morrissey Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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