Released 8 October 1990 Length 3:26 | Format 7", 12", CD, cassette Label HMV (UK) | |
Writer(s) Morrissey/Kevin Armstrong Producer(s) Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley | ||
"Piccadilly Palare" was a single released by Morrissey in October 1990.
Contents
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 predilections 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 voice featured in the background of the song belongs to Suggs, the lead singer of the band Madness.
Morrissey has more recently stated his dislike for the song, calling it "...a student work of novelty that wears off before noon".
7" vinyl and cassette
- "Piccadilly Palare"
- "Get Off the Stage"
12" vinyl
- "Piccadilly Palare"
- "At Amber" (Morrissey/Street) Produced By Stephen Street
- "Get Off the Stage" (Morrissey/Rourke)
CD
- "Piccadilly Palare"
- "At Amber" (Morrissey/Street) Produced By Stephen Street
- "Get Off the Stage" (Morrissey/Rourke)
Etchings on vinyl
British 7" and 12": GEORGE ELIOT KNEW/none
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." Ned Raggett of Allmusic called the song "another glam-touched chugger, its emotional heft provided by the wounded, bitter lyrics."