The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1 [Import]

The Smiths | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: WARNER BROS UK
• ASIN: B000025SIE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,995 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. This Charming Man

2. William, It Was Really Nothing

3. What Difference Does It Make?

4. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

5. Girlfriend In A Coma

6. Half A Person

7. Rubber Ring

8. How Soon Is Now?

9. Hand In Glove

10. Shoplifters Of The World Unite

11. Sheila Take A Bow

12. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

13. Panic

14. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Massive stars in England and top-tier alternative rockers in the U.S., the Smiths combined a '60s pop sensibility with '80s ennui. Though singer Morrissey is most notorious--his lyrics read like jottings from an overly sensitive teenager's diary while his narcissistic poses are pure Oscar Wilde--the band was rooted firmly in the crystalline, shimmering guitar work of Johnny Marr. For the most part, the Smiths were a singles band, often leaving key tracks off their studio albums. In which case, a number of collections serve to capture the errant wonder of "Panic" and "William, It Was Really Nothing." The two-LPs-condensed-onto-one-disc Louder than Bombs is more comprehensive, but the two-volume best-of collections--lead by this 14-song set--have much to commend. Either way, this is as definitive as '80s Brit pop gets. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

UK pressing of 1992 compilation features the same 14 tracks as the US but includes completely different artwork. Warner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Music, Bad Collection(s)., December 19, 2005

By 

Anima Rising "Anthony" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of 1 (Audio CD)

I gave this five stars completely based on the music within it, not the actual product itself. I adore The Smiths, so obviously I love these songs, but like many people have pointed out, this is a very weak collection. I took it upon myself to construct an actual Smiths "Best of" collection, because none of the ones actually released are satisfactory in my opinion. The "Singles" collection was okay, but there are more classic Smiths songs that weren't necessarily singles. The "Very Best Of Collection" was an import, and although was kinda more thorough than any other Smiths collection still left out songs and had sloppy song sequencing. And the two part "Best of Vol. 1 And 2" collection is basically a joke if you ask me (Sloppy song sequencing, Obvious exclusions, And many songs that shouldn't be on there.) The split two part collection feels very distant and random. If anything, it should have been released as a double album instead of two seperate albums, because neither of them seem very relevant to eachother, and not even just because of the uneven/flawed tracklists. It just doesn't work.

A definative Smiths collection would look like this:

[Disc 1]
01. This Charming Man
02. Panic
03. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
04. How Soon Is Now?
05. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
06. Hand In Glove
07. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
08. Ask
09. Shelia Take A Bow
10. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
11. William, It Was Really Nothing
12. Cemetry Gates
13. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
14. Asleep
15. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

[Disc 2]
01. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
02. I Know It's Over
03. Still Ill
04. Shoplifters Of The World Unite
05. Bigmouth Strikes Again
06. Nowhere Fast
07. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
08. Girlfriend In A Coma
09. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
10. What Difference Does It Make?
11. Rusholme Ruffians
12. The Queen Is Dead
13. Shakespeare's Sister
14. Rubber Ring
15. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars very flawed collection, try "Singles", June 17, 2003

By 

J. Sloan "mrhappyprezelboy" (Phila., PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of 1 (Audio CD)

The "Best Of The Smiths" volumes 1 & 2 are disappointing and should not be bought. They are not a good introduction to the music of the Smiths or a good overview of their career; the 'Best Of' albums leave out many of their seminal songs and contain bizarre choices. The CD entitled "Singles", which simply has all 18 of the Smiths' singles, is far better than the 'Best Of' CDs as far as showing what the Smiths were all about, or giving you much of their best material in one source. "Singles" works very well as an album- it doesn't have the disjointed feel of many "greatest hits" collections, probably because the Smiths released all of their material in a period of only a couple years. That "Singles" is superior to "Best Of The Smiths" is not only my opinion, but the opinion of the majority of Smiths fans.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mere sampling of a great band., August 30, 2000

By 

Kevin Hurley (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of 1 (Audio CD)

As one person pointed out, this compilation is an incoherent hodgepodge of Smiths tunes. But since every tune on the cd is good, there is no reason to pan the album, especially since it includes the greatest Smiths tune of all time... Panic. For hardcore Smiths fan this cd is a waste of money since every REAL Smiths fan has every album/cd already. But for those looking to see what the Smiths are all about, this cd is a great introduction.