Inspired by Albumism, I’m doing my own version of Flying Solo with individual tracks. Band breakups and hiatuses are never fun, but these solo jams were defining moments in my life’s soundtrack.

“November Spawned a Monster” will never be viewed as the quintessential Morrissey track, but it’s one of the artist’s personal favorites and it’s definitely one of mine. When I first heard it air on WDRE, it struck me as potentially the closest thing we’ll hear to The Smiths ever again.

In an uncharacteristic move, Morrissey invited former bandmate Andy Rourke to play bass on “November”. But the most striking resemblance to The Smiths sound wasn’t the rhythm, but the heavy use of not one, not two, but multiple power guitar riffs. And while the style wasn’t emblematic of Johnny Marr’s guitar playing, it wasn’t totally unlike it either. “November” gave us a glimpse of what could’ve been if only one of rock’s most influential acts had stayed together.

“But Jesus made me, so Jesus save me from pity, sympathy and people discussing me.”