Sometimes it's environment and exposure. The Beatles were masters of the 3 minute pop song, then Dylan got them stoned and they teased us with 'Revolver' then hit us with 'Sgt. Pepper'.
For years Rod Stewart was the lad, even when he threw a ballad in the mix, he was always going to come back with a punchy raw gut-rocker to let you know he was still there, still doing it. In the other column of the ledger there are 5 albums of The Great American Songbook.
All of that is great and all of that is exactly how things should have happened.
Then there's this. In culinary terms, this is deep fried Mars Bars, it's a slice of cheese on Christmas cake, it's balsamic vinegar on strawberries. It shouldn't work - but it does.
There's no denying that Morrissey has a good voice. It's distinctive, there's a quality and he can carry a tune. That's just as well, because there's a wide variety of tunes he's picked to carry. It pleases me to say that he does a very commendable version of Dylan's 'Only a Pawn in Their Game'. He doesn't try to be clever or too "Morrissey", he just delivers. Sticking with the protesty controvertial stuff he does Phil Ochs 'Days of Decision', Buffy Saint-Marie's 'Suffer the Little Children' and Joni Mitchell's 'Don't Interrupt the Sorrow'.
There's the plaintive lyrics of 'Lenny's Tune' by Tim Hardin, originally titled and recorded by Nico as 'Eulogy For Lenny Bruce'. It's a hard song to hear, harder to sing, but plays well here. Likewise, unexpectedly Melanie Safka's music makes an appearance. Taken from her album 'Gather Me'. Morrissey picked the dark, brooding 'Some Say I Got Devil'. Knowing Morrissey perhaps it was the obvious choice, on the same album Melanie recorded 'Brand New Key' so he was hardly likely to pick that.
Or was he ???
Back to this 'California Son' album, all of a sudden we're listening to Morrissey singing the Gary Puckett & The Union Gap staple 'Lady Willpower' ! Where did that come from? Almost as quirky as the Laura Nyro penned 'Wedding Bell Blues'. But wait, there's more. If you're in any doubt as to the coverage Morrissey gives to nostalgia just listen to his version of the Roy Orbison classic 'It's Over'. Who'da thunk it !!
Morrissey is too controversial to just sit back and think about why he chose these songs. Whatever reasons you come up with can be argued and built up or destroyed. Don't think of the politics, the protests or the appeal to baby boomers. If you can, just let the music wash over you and try to reconcile the sounds with the same guy who brought you 'Girlfriend in a Coma'.
Has he changed? No, it's still Morrissey, but which version - the hypocrite, the enigma, the miserable cold hearted older guy looking to gain some favour? It doesn't matter, sit back, enjoy and take the whole thing at face value.
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