Certain People I Know
Encyclopedia
"Certain People I Know" was a single by Morrissey
released in December 1992. It was the third single to be taken from the Your Arsenal
album and was the third and final Morrissey single to be produced by glam rock
legend Mick Ronson
.
Reaching number 35 in the UK Singles Chart
, the song had the distinction of being Morrissey's lowest charting solo single up to that point.
The track is in many ways a tribute to the influence of Marc Bolan
on both Morrissey and his guitarist Boz Boorer
, featuring a guitar line played by producer Mick Ronson that recalls Ride A White Swan by T. Rex
.
This was also the first Morrissey single to be released following the singer's bottling off stage at the Madstock festival when he supported Madness and the subsequent NME
story regarding his alleged racism. This led to the single cover being changed from featuring the singer's name spelt out in the colours of the Union Jack to plain black writing.
The video to the track was shot in Chicago.
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,...
released in December 1992. It was the third single to be taken from the Your Arsenal
Your Arsenal
Your Arsenal is a 1992 album by British singer Morrissey, which was released through HMV Records. The album was regarded by many fans and critics as his strongest and heaviest effort yet upon its release...
album and was the third and final Morrissey single to be produced by glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
legend Mick Ronson
Mick Ronson
Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
.
Reaching number 35 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, the song had the distinction of being Morrissey's lowest charting solo single up to that point.
The track is in many ways a tribute to the influence of Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
on both Morrissey and his guitarist 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...
, featuring a guitar line played by producer Mick Ronson that recalls Ride A White Swan by T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
.
This was also the first Morrissey single to be released following the singer's bottling off stage at the Madstock festival when he supported Madness and the subsequent NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
story regarding his alleged racism. This led to the single cover being changed from featuring the singer's name spelt out in the colours of the Union Jack to plain black writing.
The video to the track was shot in Chicago.
12" vinyl and CD
- "Certain People I Know"
- "You've Had Her"
- "Jack the Ripper"
| Country | Record label | Format | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | HMV | 7" vinyl | POP1631 |
| UK | HMV | 12" vinyl | 12POP1631 |
| UK | HMV | Compact disc | CDPOP1631 |
| UK | HMV | Cassette | TCPOP1631 |
Musicians
- Morrissey: voice
- Alain Whyte: guitar
- Boz Boorer: guitar
- Gary Day: bass guitar
- Spencer Cobrin: drums