Singles (The Smiths album)

Singles
Greatest hits album by The Smiths
Released February 20, 1995 (1995-02-20)
Recorded 1983–1987
Genre Alternative rock, indie pop
Length 62:32
Label Warner Music Group
Producer John Porter, The Smiths, Roger Pusey, Dale "Buffin" Griffin and Stephen Street
The Smiths compilations chronology
...Best II
(1992)		 Singles
(1995)		 The Very Best of The Smiths
(2001)

Singles is a compilation album by The Smiths, pitched as a compilation of previously issued singles. It was released in February, 1995 by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA (Sire Records in the United States). Its highest British chart position was #5; it did not chart in the U.S. Although, Blender magazine lists the album among the 500 CDs You Must Own on their website.[1]

Contents

About the album

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]

WEA (now the Warner Music Group) acquired the entire Smiths back catalogue in early 1992. After re-releasing all of The Smiths' original albums and compilations and issuing a two-volume best of compilation (Best...I and ...Best II) in 1992, in 1995 they decided to celebrate The Smiths' reputation as a 'singles band' by issuing a complete singles collection.

Cover

The cover features a design made earlier by Morrissey but previously unused, and stars singer and actress Diana Dors in a still from the 1956 film Yield to the Night.

Spin-off singles

WEA decided to promote the album in the UK by re-releasing the "Ask" single with its two original B-sides, "Cemetry Gates" and "Golden Lights". The single stalled charted at 62. In the United States, Sire decided to release "Sweet and Tender Hooligan", a single of rarities, to promote the album, with a newly designed sleeve by Morrissey. It failed to chart.

Track listing

All songs written by Morrissey/Marr.

  1. "Hand in Glove" (album version) – 3:25
  2. "This Charming Man" – 2:41
  3. "What Difference Does It Make?" (album version) – 3:51
  4. "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" – 3:35
  5. "William, It Was Really Nothing" – 2:09
  6. "How Soon Is Now?" (album version) – 6:46
  7. "Shakespeare's Sister" – 2:09
  8. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" (album version) – 4:59
  9. "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" (album version) – 3:18
  10. "Bigmouth Strikes Again" – 3:14
  11. "Panic" – 2:20
  12. "Ask" (album version) – 3:14
  13. "Shoplifters of the World Unite" – 2:58
  14. "Sheila Take a Bow" – 2:41
  15. "Girlfriend in a Coma" – 2:02
  16. "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" – 3:46
  17. "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" (album version) – 5:02
  18. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" – 4:02

Personnel

The band

Additional musicians

Notes

  1. ^ Alternative Rock: 500 CDs You Must Own
  2. ^ "Allmusic review". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r209432. 
The Smiths
Studio albums
Extended plays
Live albums
Compilations
Singles
Other songs
Related articles