Few artists spend as much time publicly cataloguing their own legacy as Morrissey. Writing on his website, Morrissey Central, the singer has laid out a definitive survey of the albums and singles he treasures most from across his career. He introduced the list with the remark that he loved all of his creations throughout his life, framing these specific selections as the material that brings him the greatest pride. The survey provides a rare, direct look at how the vocalist weighs his past work, placing an unavailable, contested project ahead of his best known commercial triumphs.
Occupying the very top of his album list is Bonfire Of Teenagers, a record that the public has still never heard. Morrissey finished tracking the album in 2021, but long running disagreements with Capitol Records prevented it from reaching shops. Capitol had scheduled the release for 2023, but Morrissey later stated that he had walked away from any ties with the label on his own terms. The discord also touched the album guests, as Miley Cyrus, who sang backing vocals on the track I Am Veronica in 2020, asked for her voice to be removed from the recording. Morrissey revealed in 2024 that he had bought back the rights to the project, yet the album remains unreleased.
Second place belongs to Make-Up Is A Lie, which appeared in March as his fourteenth solo full length release, closing a six year wait between new studio records. The rest of the top five focuses on familiar milestones. His 2004 comeback You Are The Quarry sits at number three, followed by his 1994 release Vauxhall And I in fourth, and 2009 title Years Of Refusal in fifth. Further down the list, Morrissey selected 2006 record Ringleader Of The Tormentors at six, 1992 collection Your Arsenal at seven, and the 2009 compilation Swords at eight. In a curious departure from his solo canon, the ninth spot went to Rank, the live album from The Smiths issued in 1988, before 1995 release Southpaw Grammar rounded out the ten.
Alongside the full length projects, Morrissey assembled twelve tracks that represent his finest standalone moments. You Are The Quarry clearly retains an immense personal resonance, securing the top two positions with Irish Blood, English Heart followed by First of the Gang to Die. Third position went to his 2018 recording of It's Over, while 1997 single Alma Matters took fourth, and 2009 cut I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris arrived in fifth. The rest of his chosen singles includes 1988 track Everyday Is Like Sunday, Let Me Kiss You, That's How People Grow Up, Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage, 2026 entry Happy New Tears, and Vauxhall And I ballad Hold on to Your Friends. At number twelve, he selected his 2018 team up with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong on Wedding Bell Blues.
The retrospective comes as Morrissey prepares to play five UK arena concerts this December. A February appearance at The O2 in London was initially framed as his only live appearance on British soil this year, but additional dates were soon confirmed. The upcoming run begins on December 6 at the Brighton Centre, moving on to the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on December 10 and Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena on December 12. He visits the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on December 16, then concludes the tour on December 19 at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds.
Those shows arrive after a difficult year of stage cancellations. American concerts were called off earlier in the year due to artist illness and an adverse reaction to prescription medication, while an appearance in Valencia was later abandoned because of sleep deprivation. More recently, in August, Morrissey withdrew from a Las Vegas residency just one week before the opening night. Even as his touring diary faces routine hurdles, this recent inventory confirms that his appreciation for his recorded catalogue remains entirely steady.
