''Vauxhall and I'' is the fourth studio album by English

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commerci ...

musician Morrissey. It was released on 14 March 1994, by the record label

Parlophone Parlophone Records Limited (also known as Parlophone Records and Parlophone) is a German–British record label founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch of the label was founded on 8 August 192 ...

in the UK and Sire/

Reprise In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repe ...

in the US.

Background

The album's title may be a reference to the 1987 film ''

Withnail and I ''Withnail and I'' is a 1987 British black comedy film written and directed by Bruce Robinson. Loosely based on Robinson's life in London in the late 1960s, the plot follows two unemployed actors, Withnail and "I" (portrayed by Richard E. Gran ...

''.

Vauxhall Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...

is an area of

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

noted for its

gay club A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT) clientele; the term ''gay'' is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT communities. Gay bars once served ...

s, and there is also a British car manufacturer of the same name. "Spring Heeled Jim" contains bits of dialogue from ''

We Are the Lambeth Boys ''We Are the Lambeth Boys'' is a 1959 British documentary film directed by Karel Reisz. Filmed in the summer of 1958, it was sponsored by the Ford motor company as part of a 'Look at Britain' series. ''Lambeth Boys'' was one of the last films to ...

'', a 1959 documentary that follows the lives of members of a south London youth club. The line "Don't leave us in the dark" at the end of "Billy Budd" is sampled from the 1948 David Lean film adaptation of Dickens' '' Oliver Twist''. This was said by one of

Fagin Fagin is a fictional character and the secondary antagonist in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist''. In the preface to the novel, he is described as a "receiver of stolen goods". He is the leader of a group of children (the Artful Dod ...

's pickpockets to Fagin when the mob was closing in on their hiding place. The song itself shares the title with a novella by

Herman Melville Herman Melville ( born Melvill; August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are ''Moby-Dick'' (1851); ''Typee'' (1846), a rom ...

Release

''Vauxhall and I'' was a success in the United States, making the top 20. It was also Morrissey's second solo album to reach the top of the charts in Britain, the first being ''

Viva Hate ''Viva Hate'' is the debut solo studio album by English singer Morrissey. It was released on 14 March 1988 by HMV, six months after the final studio album by the Smiths, '' Strangeways, Here We Come'' (1987). Vini Reilly, the leader of the E ...

''. The lead single off the album, "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get", became the only song by Morrissey or

the Smiths The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They comprised the singer Morrissey, the guitarist Johnny Marr, the bassist Andy Rourke and the drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to eme ...

to achieve chart success in the United States, where it reached number 46 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number 8 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and was the only single by Morrissey to reach the top ten during the 1990s.

Reception

'' Q'' listed ''Vauxhall and I'' as one of the top ten albums of 1994. In February 2006, the same magazine voted it at number 89 on its list of the best albums ever.

Track listing

Definitive Edition, 20th Anniversary Remaster

The 2014 anniversary remaster includes the previously unavailable 1995 concert from Theatre Royal, London. #"Billy Budd" #"Have-a-Go Merchant" #"Spring-Heeled Jim" #"London" #"You're the One for Me, Fatty" #"Boxers" #"Jack the Ripper" #"We'll Let You Know" #"Whatever Happens I Love You" #"Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself" #"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" #"National Front Disco" #"Moon River" #"Now My Heart Is Full"

Personnel

Musicians * Morrissey – vocals *

Alain Whyte Alain Gordon Whyte (pronounced Alan) (born 3 July 1967) is an English musician, songwriter, composer and singer. He was Morrissey's main songwriting partner and guitarist between 1991 and 2007. Prior to 1991, Whyte previously been in the bands ...

– guitar *

Boz Boorer Martin James "Boz" Boorer (born 19 May 1962 in Edgware, Middlesex, England) is an English guitarist and producer most known for his work founding the new wave rockabilly group the Polecats; and later for his work as a co-writer, guitarist and m ...

– guitar * Jonny Bridgwood – bass * Woodie Taylor – drums Technical * Greg Ross – art direction * Dean Freeman – photography * Chris Dickie – producer, engineer *

Steve Lillywhite Stephen Alan Lillywhite, (born 15 March 1955) is a British record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited on over 500 records, and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including new wave acts XTC, Bi ...

– producer * Danton Supple – assistant engineer

Charts

Certifications

References

External links

* {{Authority control Morrissey albums 1994 albums Albums produced by Steve Lillywhite Sire Records albums