Roy's Keen
Encyclopedia
"Roy's Keen" is a song by Morrissey
, released as a single in October 1997. It was the second single to be taken from the Maladjusted
album and was the third Morrissey single not to feature himself on the cover, instead a photograph of two boys taken by Roger Mayne
on London Southam Street in the 1950s.
The single flopped, reaching number 47 in the UK Singles Chart
. The failure to reach the top 40 meant that a recorded performance of the song of Top of the Pops
didn't air until it was shown on Top of the Pops 2 many years later.
The title is an obvious pun of the name of former Nottingham Forest
and Manchester United
footballer Roy Keane
— a fact Morrissey acknowledged during live performances of the song by changing the lyrics to "never seen a keener midfielder". The song was played over the closing credits of Keane's 2002 documentary As I See It.
Despite being released as a single, the song was omitted from Maladjusted
s remastered CD reissue in 2009.
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 as a single in October 1997. It was the second single to be taken from the Maladjusted
Maladjusted
Maladjusted is an album by Morrissey, released on 11 August 1997. The album was praised at the time as a return to form for Morrissey, albeit one without the broad appeal of some of his earlier work....
album and was the third Morrissey single not to feature himself on the cover, instead a photograph of two boys taken by Roger Mayne
Roger Mayne
Roger Mayne is an English photographer, most famous for his documentation of the children of Southam Street, London.-Life and work:...
on London Southam Street in the 1950s.
The single flopped, reaching number 47 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 failure to reach the top 40 meant that a recorded performance of the song of Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
didn't air until it was shown on Top of the Pops 2 many years later.
The title is an obvious pun of the name of former Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
footballer Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
— a fact Morrissey acknowledged during live performances of the song by changing the lyrics to "never seen a keener midfielder". The song was played over the closing credits of Keane's 2002 documentary As I See It.
Despite being released as a single, the song was omitted from Maladjusted
Maladjusted
Maladjusted is an album by Morrissey, released on 11 August 1997. The album was praised at the time as a return to form for Morrissey, albeit one without the broad appeal of some of his earlier work....
s remastered CD reissue in 2009.
12" vinyl and CD (UK)
- "Roy's Keen"
- "Lost"
- "The Edges Are No Longer Parallel"
| Country | Record label | Format | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Island | 7" vinyl | IS671 |
| UK | Island | 12" vinyl | 12IS671 |
| UK | Island | Compact disc | CID671 |
| UK | Island | Cassette | CIS671 |
Musicians
- Morrissey: vocals
- Martin Boorer: guitar
- Alain Whyte: guitar
- Jonny Bridgwood: bass
- Spencer James Cobrin: drums