Unreleased Morrissey
The Mystery of 'Kit'
Co-written with Boz Boorer and produced by Steve Lillywhite, 'Kit' was recorded in January 1997 at Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire, England alongside the other songs that would be released on the Maladjusted studio album in August of the same year.
'Kit' is one of a few completed songs from this recording session that did not appear on Maladjusted nor any of the singles from this album. The reason(s) for not releasing 'Kit', even as a single B-side, is not known, though one can logically deduce that Morrissey was not satisfied with some aspect of the song.
It is of no small surprise for those directly involved in artistic endeavors, regardless of the medium, that one may simply elect to discard a work altogether, whether it is finished or even still in-progress. Ultimately, the finished work is a direct reflection of the artist, and must therefore meet an aesthetic standard known only to him or her. And one must always be mindful of the fickleness of the creative process, which can not be grasped by anyone other than the artist as it resides in the tangle of their mind.
In the instance of 'Kit', we must accept that the artist discerned a fatal flaw in what the song was meant to convey to the listener as opposed to, say, an issue with the song's musical composition or even its vocals, each of which could otherwise have been remedied in the recording and/or post-production process.
With this all said, the lyrics1 of 'Kit' seemingly have the makings of a great song. Only Morrissey knows the full story behind the decision to scrap it. Indeed, on the occasion of a rare performance of the song in public (sans Morrissey) by Boz Boorer, he explains to the audience that he does not know why “we didn’t didn’t end up finishing it, but I rather liked it”. 2
Listen to Boz Boorer providing pre and post song commentary (as well as performing the song with abbreviated lyrics) here:
In 2011 a low-quality transfer of the first 3:26 of 'Kit' was leaked on the internet, which can be heard here:
The full recording of the song in good quality was subsequently released on the internet. Listen to the full studio version of the song here:
The pictures must come down
You are now twenty-eight
For Christ's sake
Kit, Kit, Kit oh please
Risk a smile for us, go on...
We're all here for you
We'll order drinks for you
We'll pick you up, drop you back home
Just to get some changes made
Oh Kit, oh Kit
The cigarette butts must go
But you protest:
"His lonely lips were pressed against them, though!"
Kit, Kit oh please
Risk a smile for us, go on...
Oh Kit, oh we're all here for you
We'll order drinks for you
We'll pick you up, take you back home
Just to get some changes made
Oh Kit, oh Kit
I beseech you, I implore you
I plead, pray, beg and call upon you
Make your mind up soon
Make your mind up soon, oh...
I'm reaching out to you
I'm reaching out to you
This way I live by you, die by you, Kit
But the great and the good
And the best of us can all do with grace
Don't ask me how I know this
Oh Kit
This particular performance of the song may have been from a solo acoustic set that Boz played while opening up for Jimmy Gnecco of the band Ours. It is believed that this gig occurred in New York City sometime in 2002. While no recording of it seems to be available, it is understood that Boz performed ‘Kit’ with Alain Whyte at a gig at the Fais Do Do in Los Angeles, California on March 22, 2002.
