Song of the Day: 'When You Close Your Eyes' by Morrissey

This one is a most-unexpected number that was included on Morrissey's 2019 covers album, "California Son" -- the Smiths singer's rendition of "When You Close Your Eyes," a beloved album track Carly Simon wrote with Billy Mernit for "No Secrets" (1972). Carly is a prolific and autonomous songwriter, so I've always been intrigued by the rare songs on which she collaborated. ("You Belong to Me" was another, with Michael McDonald.) The Doobie Brother wasn't available, but lucky for me Mr. Mernit had some time to talk about today's SOTD:

KIT212: In 2019, Morrissey recorded an album of covers that included "When You Close Your Eyes," a song you wrote with Carly that appeared on her biggest studio album, "No Secrets." What do you remember about writing that song?

Billy Mernit: Carly and I used to like to sit at the piano and play four-handed, especially when we were writing together; you can hear us doing this on the track “Love Out in the Street” on the “Playing Possum” album. She had an entire first verse and chorus of “When You Close Your Eyes” written and we were working on additional lyrics for it. Really what the song lacked was a bridge. We played the chorus, and Carly said, “What we need here is a big surprise,” so I just banged my hands down on a different chord, and sang “Big surprise!...” and we both cracked up -- but it worked! That is exactly how the bridge begins on the record, and you can imagine how tickled I was to hear Richard Perry’s big string section come in there.

KIT212: When did you first learn of the Smiths singer's version and what did you think of it? 

Billy Mernit: As for Morrissey’s cover, I was completely blindsided. I only found out about it when someone who’d done an “unofficial video” for the track sent it to me. I think it’s great; the tune really fits the crooner side of his voice, and the production’s sweet. What makes me laugh is that back in the day, some punk and New Wave musicians derided me for working with Carly, so the idea that “the Smiths’ lead singer” would cover our song is pretty hysterical. I guess if you live long enough

EDITOR'S NOTE: I had so many other questions for Billy -- who is also a teacher, novelist and has ties to the 1980 cult classic "Times Square" -- that the interview wound up being about more than this song. Read the full thing HERE.

I quite like Morrissey's take on the Carly classic, but not everyone agreed.

In his 2019 review of "California Son," Mark Kennedy wrote in the Boston Globs: Simon sings in service of ["When You Close Your Eyes"]; Morrissey is posing in front of it.

Ben Hewitt wrote for Pitchfork: Morrissey adds a dark surrealism to Carly Simon’s “When You Close Your Eyes,” too, crooning over its twinkling electronics and lush harps like an eerie figure from a children’s fairytale.

Jordan Bassett for NME: "When You Close Your Eyes" is merely forgettable.

Nobody does it better

Song of the Day: 'Lover-to-Be' by Morrissey

Leave it to a big queen like Morrissey to use a photo of dreamy Donnelly Rhodes -- aka criminal-on-the-run Dutch on TV's "Soap" -- on the cover of his "Lover-to-Be" single! Bonus points for finding a mustachioed photo of the hunky Canadian actor who died last year at 80.

Song of the Day: 'First of the Gang to Die' by Morrissey

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to fault Morrissey for being a narcissist if he drove to the store in this car to buy cat litter.

Song of the Day: 'It's Over' by Morrissey

Guess who's going to see Morrissey on Broadway?! The sullen singer/songwriter also has a new guest-filled covers album, "California Son," from which this Roy Orbison song is taken.

Vegan Fast Food Doesn't Have to Be Murder to Get

How did I miss that Morrissey had opened his own cruelty-free restaurant? Reminds me of when Stevie Nicks opened her own fajita joint in Sedona.

Song of the Day: 'Panic' by the Smiths

I probably shouldn't like this song now that it's become even more apparent just how horrible Morrissey is. But I for one am able to separate the man from the beliefs, as difficult as it can be sometimes.

Page 1 Roundup (11/20)

The Daily News: Charles Manson is dead at 83

The New York Post: Make room, Satan

The Daily Beast: After Al Franken and Roy Moore, we are dangerously close to botching the #MeToo moment

Deadline: Jeffrey Tambor exits 'Transparent' after sexual-harassment allegations

Vulture: Someone named Amber Tamblyn thinks there shouldn't be a 'sliding scale' for punishing harassers

The New York Post: At this point, Morrissey is a caricature of himself

The New York Times: Behind Mugabe’s rapid fall -- a firing, a feud and a first lady

The Wall Street Journal: Honk if you can explain Turkey’s position on tinted car windows

This Charming (Gay) Man

Where does Morrissey fit into the puzzle of our pop divas? Read HERE.

Morrissey Is Considering London Mayoral Bid

#MeatIsMurder

Good Lord. I've heard of single-issue voters, but never single-issue candidates! (Well, not counting Bernie Sanders.)

BBC reports:

The singer Morrissey is said to be "considering very seriously" an invitation to enter the London mayoral race. An entry on his semi-official website revealed he had been asked to stand by the Animal Welfare Party. A statement by the singer on the website said he wanted to speak out "against the hellish and archaic social injustice allotted to animals."  

The Animal Welfare Party confirmed it had approached him to represent them. Animal rights Vanessa Hudson, the party leader, told BBC London: "We'd like to see the mayoral contest include the views of a candidate who would seek to champion London, not only as a world leading city for people but for animal welfare, too." Morrissey, who has been vocal on the subject of animal rights and vegetarianism for many years, said in his statement: "What animal protectionists need to say is very well worth saying and well worth hearing. "But we cannot just sit around waiting for establishment enlightenment. The sanctimonious disaster of animal agriculture cannot be allowed to go on forever, because its widespread impact is hellish."  

Morrissey is from Manchester and has lived in London, Los Angeles and Rome. To be eligible to stand, he would need to be registered to vote in London, or show that he had lived, worked, or owned property there for 12 months. A candidate also needs the signatures of 10 registered electors from each London borough and a deposit of £10,000. Nominations for London mayoral candidates close at the end of March.

I suppose if Trump and Morrissey win, we can all move to London ...

The Story Behind All 27 of the Smiths' Album and Single Sleeves

Fascinating read. I knew who was on the cover of the band's final studio album, "Strangeways, Here We Come" -- actor Richard Davalos is the father of Dominque Davalos, singer/bassist of my pal Kathy Valentine's band The Bluebonnets and the subject of today's Song of the Day -- but the rest was all new(s) to me. Read HERE.

Morrissey Says TSA Grabbed His C**k at SF Airport

 This meme popped up just days after Morrissey alleged the TSA grabbed his junk -- aka sexually assaulted him -- at San Francisco International Airport. At the risk of sounding like Donald Trump, I'm sure some agents are good people.

But when you have a job that attracts a certain type of power-hungry personality and combine it with the fact that some abuse their power and apparently most do not even do their job sufficiently, isn't it time to rethink the whole process?

Blondie Roars, Morrissey Bores at MSG

Had a fun time at Madison Square Garden Saturday night, while still high from Friday's Supreme Court decision. Blondie kicked off the night as Morrissey's special guest and Debbie Harry was in a festive mood -- repeatedly mentioning the history-making ruling and telling the crowd that if you didn't know how to find the Gay Pride Parade to "Call Me." 

The tight 10-song set included a raucous cover of "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)" and a better-than-usual "Rapture." But the highlight was definitely when a (high school?) marching band came out -- a la "Tusk"! -- to accompany the band on "The Tide Is High," culminating in Deb's donning a Gay Pride flag as a shawl that Stevie Nicks would have been proud of. I've seen Blondie more than a dozen times but even at 70 (next week), Debbie always manages to make it fun.

Mr. Fun himself, on the other hand, caught me off-guard when he too came out in a very upbeat mood, declaring it a "privilege to return to the center of the world," then sent the crowd into a tizzy with a "Queen Is Dead"/"Suedehead" one-two opener. This, sadly, would not be a precursor of things to come. After seven songs I didn't know, he then did "Everyday Is Like Sunday" (a favorite), followed by eight more obscure songs then -- as our "treat" -- a Smiths song: "Meat Is Murder," complete with EXTREMELY DISTURBING video of animals being tortured. (That he got the Garden to go vegetarian for the night seemed to enough on the topic, but no.) He then did "What She Said" -- kind of a odd choice for a Smiths oldie, but OK -- and then just when you were sure he was going to do at least one more fan favorite, he did "Now My Heart Is Full," ripped his shirt off and left. While I admit I don't know Morrissey's solo material well, I definitely got the impression the crowd was filled with super-fans -- and going by their reactions to the selections, they definitely didn't seem to be feeling it any more than I was. A quick look online shows he tends to do a lot more well-known songs live -- and some readers had assured me he would -- but even allowing for the fact that he was promoting a new(ish) album, it did seem especially cruel to not throw the crowd a few more bones, especially since he looked and sounded great otherwise. 

Set list HERE.

"It's an historic night in New York City, just as it's an historic week in the U.S.A. and ... good times for a change."

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want

Enter to win two tickets to see Morrissey and special guests Blondie at Madison Square Garden HERE!

Buy HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Suedehead' by Morrissey

Enter to win two tickets to see Morrissey -- with special guests Blondie -- at Madison Square Garden HERE.

Buy tickets HERE.

Win 2 Tickets to See Morrissey and Blondie at Madison Square Garden!

Tickets on sale now HERE.

All week I have been yammering about the upcoming Morrissey show -- with special guests Blondie -- June 27 at Madison Square Garden. Now I am pleased to announce I have two tickets to give away. (Travel and accommodations not included.)

To enter, just answer one of the following questions:

On which tour did I see the Smiths live in concert?

Or

What's your favorite Moz song?

Email your answer HERE by 5 p.m. on May 15, with the subject Morrissey, and I will draw a winner from the pool of correct answers to be announced Monday 18.

Good luck -- heaven knows you'll need it now!

Song of the Day: 'The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get' by Morrissey

Former Smiths frontman Morrissey has announced an 18-city summer tour in support of his latest album -- "World Peace Is None of Your Business"-- and tickets are on sale now, including a June 27 gig at Madison Square Garden with some opening band (chick?) called Blondie. 

Tickets HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Call Me' by Blondie

Fun little piece about the history of "Call Me" HERE, which would go on to be the biggest U.S. single of 1980. 

Still find it hard to believe Blondie is opening for Morrissey, but I'll be there just the same!

Tickets on sale now HERE.

All Things Music:

"Call Me" by Blondie

In an unexpected twist of musical destiny, one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s emerged from a rejected collaboration. When legendary disco producer Giorgio Moroder needed a vocalist for his American Gigolo soundtrack, his first choice, Stevie Nicks, had to decline due to contractual obligations. This fortuitous rejection led to a partnership with Blondie's Debbie Harry that would create music history.

The resulting masterpiece, "Call Me," dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks in 1980, becoming Blondie's biggest hit and the year's top single. Written from the perspective of a male prostitute, Harry crafted the provocative lyrics in mere hours after receiving Moroder's instrumental track, originally titled "Man Machine." The collaboration merged Harry's punk-infused new wave sensibilities with Moroder's pulsating Euro-disco production, creating a sound that defined an era.

The song's success transcended borders, reaching number one in multiple countries and establishing Harry as the first female songwriter in British chart history to pen three chart-topping hits. The track's infectious energy, driven by its 143 beats per minute tempo and Harry's commanding vocal range, transformed what could have been a simple film soundtrack into a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate decades later.

This groundbreaking collaboration between an Italian disco pioneer and an American new wave band perfectly captured the transitional period between the disco era and the emerging new wave movement, creating a timeless classic that embodied the glamour and edge of 1980s pop culture.

Song of the Day: 'Hairdresser on Fire' by Morrissey

  After skipping Debbie Harry at the Carlyle Cafe, I'm suddenly very excited about seeing Blondie -- the group -- with Morrissey at Madison Square Garden. You in? Tickets available now HERE!

Song of the Day: 'Hold On to Your Friends' by Morrissey

The idea of Blondie opening for Morrissey in NYC seems a bit sacrilegious, but it would be quite a show had I not already seen the Smiths in '86 and Blondie a dozen-plus times. (Tickets went on sale today!) 

I, for one, opted to spend my 300 bucks on two tickets to see Joan Armatrading at the Concert Hall at the New York Society for Ethical Culture -- a favorite I've never had the pleasure of seeing live. Ironically, it was Blondie producer Richard Gottehrer who produced Armatrading's 1980 crossover album -- "Me Myself I" -- that introduced me to her. I guess you'd say I'm lucky, I'm lucky,

This Charming City?

This charming Manchester: Is Morrissey's city still recognisable? 

Thirty years on from The Smiths’ only UK No 1 studio album, how do the band’s legendary evocations of 1980s Manchester compare with life in the city today? There’s only one place to start …

I thought it peaked at No. 2 over there, but nonetheless, a fun article HERE.

My claim to fame is that I actually saw the Smiths live in 1986 on the "Queen Is Dead" tour, at Mesa Amphitheatre. This girl named Melissa where I worked in Tempe -- a place that did phone surveys called Walker Research -- had a crush on me and essentially bullied me into taking her. My best friend Greg came too, but I was totally uncomfortable as she forced me to put my arms around her the whole time and pretend like I liked her!