Morrissey – Viva Hate

Morrissey – Viva Hate

Released on 14th March 1988, Viva Hate is Morrissey's debut solo studio album, arriving just six months after the final Smiths record, Strangeways, Here We Come. Produced by Stephen Street, who also played bass and co-wrote much of the music, the album marked a bold new chapter for one of British music's most distinctive voices.

Featuring The Durutti Column's Vini Reilly on guitar, Viva Hate blends jangling melodies with Morrissey's razor-sharp wit and melancholic charm. The album spawned two enduring singles: the jaunty Suedehead, which became his highest-charting UK solo single, and the darkly comic Everyday Is Like Sunday, now regarded as one of his signature songs. Elsewhere, the sprawling Late Night, Maudlin Street showcases Morrissey's flair for the theatrical and confessional, while the provocative closer Margaret On The Guillotine caused controversy on release.

A landmark debut that proved Morrissey's talent extended well beyond The Smiths, Viva Hate remains essential listening for fans of British alternative rock, indie pop, and razor-witted songwriting.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Alsatian Cousin – 3:12
2. Little Man, What Now? – 1:48
3. Everyday Is Like Sunday – 3:34
4. Bengali In Platforms – 3:53
5. Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together – 1:38
6. Late Night, Maudlin Street – 7:40

Side B

1. Suedehead – 3:56
2. Break Up The Family – 3:53
3. The Ordinary Boys – 3:09
4. I Don't Mind If You Forget Me – 3:16
5. Dial-A-Cliché – 2:15
6. Margaret On The Guillotine – 3:53