The Sound of the Smiths: The Very Best of the Smiths [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

The Smiths

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 2008)
• Original Release Date: November 11, 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B001EX6DNK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,675 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Deluxe 2 CD version, with disc 2 containing choice B sides, live cuts, and rarities. The Smiths formed in Manchester in 1982 and quickly rose to become the quintessential British indie rock band of their day. Powered by the collaboration between lead singer and lyricist Morrissey and lead guitarist and co-songwriter Johnny Marr, their sound had a literary and musical depth that was complex, emotional and often controversial-at the same time, it rang with The Smiths' unique twist on timeless melodic pop sensibilities. On Rhino's new compilation, the group's biggest hits and most important tracks are represented.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 45 tracks including some rarities, November 13, 2008

By	G. Gallagher (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a Smiths addict in the 80's, I bought their first few albums and all their import 12" singles on vinyl, then bought the CD versions of their albums, including "Louder Than Bombs" which includes many of the songs on this release. I stayed away from the Smiths-Best of collections because what was the point when I had all the proper releases anyway.

The biggest difference I noticed is that the mix has been recorded MUCH louder with a fuller sound, a recent trend for pop/rock recorded music. I compared What Difference Does It Make? version from Hatful of Hallow to this release -- and it is MUCH louder with the vocals/guitars pumped up in the mix. Personally, I like the Hatful of Hollow version better as Morrissey's voice sounded somewhat distant (and cavalier) and not competing head to head with the guitars. Then I compared "Big Mouth Strikes Again" version from Queen is Dead, and heard the vocals/guitars pumped up. But I couldn't hear any difference in drums/cymbals (not any crisper) which is what I would have expected in a remixed track.

This 45-track CD probably makes sense for those who do not have the proper releases or prior collections. Or completists. There are a couple of live tracks on here, which were previously available only as B-sides to singles. But still, some B-sides left off "Louder Than Bombs" are still not on this release so it is not comprehensive. So here is a quick summary of the less common tracks on this release which aren't found on many other Smiths compilations:

How Soon Is Now? (12" version)- this is the same version as found on "Hatful of Hollow" and "Meat Is Murder", not anything new.

Barbarism Begins at Home (7" version) - this edited version is 3 minutes shorter than the album version found on "Meat Is Murder".

This Charming Man (New York 12" version) - this was once rare to find, but since been released as CD single with 7 versions of the song.

Jeane - originally issued as B-side to "This Charming Man" single.

Wonderful Woman - originally appeared as B-side to "This Charming Man" single.

Handsome Devil (Live) - originally issued as B-side to "Hand In Glove" single.

Meat Is Murder (live) - originally issued as B-side to "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" single.

Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Demo) - originally issued as B-side to "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" single.

What's The World?(Live) - originally issued on cassette single "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" single. I actually had not heard this before.

London (Live) - this was included on the posthumous live album, "Rank".

The 2-CD package also comes with 4-color glossy insert of pics of the Smiths in their prime plus a listing showing each song's release date, UK chart position and what release it originally appeared on. But alas, there is no tacky badge.

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the Love of God...., November 22, 2008

By	Steven C. "Steven C." (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

To SMITHS fans: PLEASE STOP with the "Best of, most of, satiate the need, re-issue, re-package..." references! Enough!

We've all heard "Paint a Vulgar Picture". It's not rare. It's not obscure. It doesn't make you more of a fan for knowing it. We've all heard what Morrissey said more than 21 years ago... Get over it now... Let it Go!

With that being said, what true Smiths fan doesn't want "Wonderful Woman" remastered??? And what about "Jeane"?? Seriously?! The Troy Tate sessions version of "Pretty Girls Make Graves"?? Superb! I know it was available on the "Stop Me" EP (Japan and Germany), but this sounds MUCH better.

By the way, Johnny Marr himself worked on the remastering with Frank Arkwright (who Marr hand-picked to remaster it with him). "They just made it louder", right? Wrong. They remastered it. They removed the lame equalizers, they removed the tape hiss, they restored it as closely to the original studio sound as Marr could get. If it just sounds louder, then stop listening to it on your computer and try a Real stereo.

This collection finally gives us rarities and things a bit tougher to find. I think it has a few obvious omissions (UNLOVEABLE, RUBBER RING, etc), but overall it's fantastic!

People whine about "Yet another Smiths collection", but let's understand that just because something has come first, it doesn't mean that it's better. This collection SHOULD have been made. What SHOULDN'T HAVE been made was "Best 1" and "Best 2" - which featured songs chosen by some old Warner Brothers record company exec, and "The Very Best of" (with the shockingly bad cover art) was a bit weak as well. THIS collection should have been the one made! Not the others. Somehow, this gets a bad wrap because the other discs were released first. Tell me, is your girlfriend's Ex better than you are? Well, he was first, so...??

Smiths fans: Grab this, you'll love it! People dismissing this as a money-making scheme are exhausting. EVERYTHING on the planet is a money-making scheme. Food is a money-making scheme. Clothing is a money-making scheme. Healthcare is a money-making scheme. If it's that tough to buy a 2CD set of one of the best, most influential bands of all time, perhaps you should get a new job, or change your work ethic so you can make more money. Perhaps trade in your "Best 1" and "Best 2" at your favorite used record shop to get this collection instead.

Don't miss out on the first proper Smiths collection for a true Smiths fan, or someone who already owns all of the albums. You know you'll love it. How could you not?

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ....But how does it SOUND!?, November 11, 2008

By	J. Thompson (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most likely if youre looking at this product page, you know exactly who The Smiths are, and what they sound like. So what you really want to know is how to the "remastered" disc sound? Much like you I was eager to own this CD only for the fact to hear The Smiths in all the aural goodness that modern technology can bring. I have to admit, I spend far too much money on music. Music CDs, music equipment, musical instruments, etc. so with my ridiculously overpriced headphones and a nice brand name CD player I plopped this disc in expecting magic. I have to say that the expectations vs. the reality let me down a bit, but that could be my own fault for having too many expectations. Honestly, how much magic could the studio create with 25+ year old masters? On the first through fifth tracks, I really didn't notice any difference in the sound over my "Hatful of Hollow" compilation. Actually most of the tracks sound exactly the same to me. The first track that I really noticed a difference on was "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" because of the guitar intro.
About 10 years ago I used to DJ, and I had this piece of equipment called the "Aural Exciter", and it really enhanced the tracks in some clubs. It gave the music a wider and brighter feel. I think some modern stereos have a 3D effect, and thats what this track sounded like it had going on. On all of the tracks that I could tell had some enhancements, thats what they sounded like - wider and brighter - but not artificially so. There really isnt much going on in the low end. Andy Rourkes bass lines sound the same as they did on all previous issues, as do the vocals.

The one exception to all of the above is found on disc 2. I have a bootleg CD called "The Troy Tate Sessions", and it sounds terrible. One song from these sessions makes this compilation, "Pretty Girls Make Pretty Graves", and this track sounds FANTASTIC compared to my old version... Its difficult to comment on this however, because Im not sure if I have the best copy of the TTS as it was never an official release as far as I know.

I suppose in closing that this is a must-have for the uninitiated..

..However for the rest of us, if youre like me, we already have these tracks from various other collections, and the remastering just isnt that amazing enough to recommend on that point alone. If youre a completionist, pick this up used, or at least when it goes on sale as you'll save a few dollars. Honestly, keep listening to your old CD/records.