Interlude (Morrissey and Siouxsie song)
Encyclopedia
"Interlude" is a single by Morrissey
and Siouxsie Sioux
released in August 1994. It was presented under the banner of "Morrissey & Siouxsie".
This collaboration was rated by Spin
magazine in a list of The top 10 one-off team-ups of all time.
album, and was produced by Morrissey guitarist and musical director Boz Boorer
. The original version of the song was recorded in 1968 by the female singer Timi Yuro
as the title track for the film of the same name.
Morrissey first contacted Siouxsie in the early 90s with a view to recording a duet with her. In 1993 he sent her a tape with some potential songs he had selected. All were numbers initially sung by female singers like Nancy Sinatra
and Dionne Warwick
. Siouxsie picked this ballad and Morrissey agreed. The sessions went well and Boz Boorer later described his collaboration with Siouxsie as "complete joy".
Soon after the recording, however, the two singers fell out with one another regarding the content of the video. Ultimately, the video shoot never took place and the whole project was put on ice for a few months. EMI
then threatened to not promote it without the existence of a video support. What's more, although a winter song, against all expectations EMI finally released "Interlude" in the summer of 1994.
Despite this, the single's chart peak (#25 UK) was consistent with Siouxsie's other UK chart placings of the post-1988 era, whether recording with Siouxsie and the Banshees or The Creatures
, when she never charted higher than #21 UK. "Interlude" also charted considerably higher than Morrissey's previous single, "Hold on to Your Friends
", which had flopped at #47. "Interlude" was also issued in Europe via EMI. In North America, the impossibility of an agreement between Sire (Morrissey's US record company) and Geffen (Siouxsie's), the record was only available on import in very limited quantities.
"Interlude" was later included on a compilation called Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey
. A previously unreleased version of the song, featuring only Morrissey's vocals, is on his 2011 Very Best Of
compilation.
also recorded a version of "Interlude" for her album Guilty, Guilty, Guilty.
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
and Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
released in August 1994. It was presented under the banner of "Morrissey & Siouxsie".
This collaboration was rated by Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
magazine in a list of The top 10 one-off team-ups of all time.
Background
"Interlude" was recorded during the recording sessions for Morrissey's Vauxhall and IVauxhall and I
Vauxhall and I is a 1994 Parlophone album by British musician Morrissey. Q listed it as one of the top ten albums of 1994. The release cemented Morrissey's success in the US, giving him a top 20 album and his first hit single there with the song "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"...
album, and was produced by Morrissey guitarist and musical director Boz Boorer
Boz Boorer
Boz Boorer is a British 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 musical director with Morrissey.-The Polecats:The band "Cult Heroes" was formed in 1977 by Tim Worman , Boz...
. The original version of the song was recorded in 1968 by the female singer Timi Yuro
Timi Yuro
Timi Yuro was an American soul and R&B singer. She is considered to be one of the first blue-eyed soul stylists of the rock era.-Early years:...
as the title track for the film of the same name.
Morrissey first contacted Siouxsie in the early 90s with a view to recording a duet with her. In 1993 he sent her a tape with some potential songs he had selected. All were numbers initially sung by female singers like Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
and Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
. Siouxsie picked this ballad and Morrissey agreed. The sessions went well and Boz Boorer later described his collaboration with Siouxsie as "complete joy".
Soon after the recording, however, the two singers fell out with one another regarding the content of the video. Ultimately, the video shoot never took place and the whole project was put on ice for a few months. EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
then threatened to not promote it without the existence of a video support. What's more, although a winter song, against all expectations EMI finally released "Interlude" in the summer of 1994.
Despite this, the single's chart peak (#25 UK) was consistent with Siouxsie's other UK chart placings of the post-1988 era, whether recording with Siouxsie and the Banshees or The Creatures
The Creatures
The Creatures were a musical act formed in 1981 as a side-project for Siouxsie and the Banshees members Siouxsie Sioux and Budgie. The Times described their music as "adventurous art rock built around Siouxsie's extraordinary voice and drummer Budgie's battery of percussion".With the dissolution of...
, when she never charted higher than #21 UK. "Interlude" also charted considerably higher than Morrissey's previous single, "Hold on to Your Friends
Hold on to Your Friends
"Hold On to Your Friends" is a song by Morrissey, released as a single in May 1994. It was the second single taken from the number 1 album Vauxhall and I....
", which had flopped at #47. "Interlude" was also issued in Europe via EMI. In North America, the impossibility of an agreement between Sire (Morrissey's US record company) and Geffen (Siouxsie's), the record was only available on import in very limited quantities.
"Interlude" was later included on a compilation called Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey
Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey
Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey is a compilation album by Morrissey containing material released during his EMI period. It was released on September 8, 1997.-About the album:...
. A previously unreleased version of the song, featuring only Morrissey's vocals, is on his 2011 Very Best Of
Very Best of Morrissey
Very Best of Morrissey is a compilation album by Morrissey, containing material he released during the 1980s and 90s on EMI. It was released on April 25, 2011.-About The Album:...
compilation.
Cover
In 2008, Diamanda GalásDiamanda Galás
Diamanda Galás is an American avant-garde composer, vocalist, pianist, organist, performance artist and painter.Galás has been described as "capable of the most unnerving vocal terror", with her three and a half octave vocal range. She often screams, hisses and growls...
also recorded a version of "Interlude" for her album Guilty, Guilty, Guilty.
12" vinyl and CD
- "Interlude"
- "Interlude" (extended)
- "Interlude" (instrumental)
| Country | Record label | Format | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Parlophone | 7" vinyl | R6365 |
| UK | Parlophone | 12" vinyl | 12R6365 |
| UK | Parlophone | Compact disc | CDR6365 |
| UK | Parlophone | Cassette | TCR6365 |