release date: Feb. 23, 1987
format: vinyl (ROUGH 101) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: England, UK
2nd compilation alum by The Smiths. The album was the next "real" compilation after Hatful of Hollows (1984). It's a compilation of A and B-sides of 1985-86 single releases and it includes just one track from Meat Is Murder and 3 from The Queen Is Dead, which makes it a good buy if you don't have any of their singles as it contains a total of 17 tracks. Of course best of compilation albums have been released almost in a flood later on, and it's difficult to pin out one as the best if you don't have anything by the band and are only interested in a comprising good one. Anyway, I wouldn't go for this one, as Louder Than Bombs is almost identical but has more tracks on it. That said, it's still a pretty good compilation. Compared with Louder Than Bombs they have 10 tracks in common. This release contains the track "Stretch Out and Wait" with a alternate vocal take, whereas the original take is on Louder.... Also, this contains four single hit tracks and two from The Queen Is Dead that do not figure on Louder..., so.. they are very much alike but also has unique tracks on them.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]
