Certain People I Know


"Certain People I Know" is a single by Morrissey released in December 1992. It is the third single to be taken from the Your Arsenal album and is the third and final Morrissey single to be produced by glam rock musician 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 Calumet Park, Chicago.

Track listings

7" vinyl and cassette

  1. "Certain People I Know"
  2. "Jack the Ripper"

    12" vinyl and CD

  3. "Certain People I Know"
  4. "You've Had Her"
  5. "Jack the Ripper"
CountryRecord labelFormatCatalogue number
UKHMV7" vinylPOP1631
UKHMV12" vinyl12POP1631
UKHMVCompact discCDPOP1631
UKHMVCassetteTCPOP1631

Etchings on vinyl

British 7" and 12": WHY BOTHER TO KEEP CLEAN?/WHY BOTHER TO KEEP CLEAN?

Reviews

Ned Raggett of AllMusic called the lead track "a bit of an odd choice" for a single but added its b-sides "are among Morrissey's best".

Musicians

The song was performed live by Morrissey on his 1992 tour.