Singles (The Smiths album)

Singles is the seventh compilation album by English rock band 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 United States. Blender magazine listed the album among the "500 CDs You Must Own" on their website.[1]

Singles
Greatest hits album by
The Smiths
ReleasedFebruary 20, 1995 (1995-02-20)
Recorded1983–1987
GenreAlternative rock, indie pop
Length62:32
LabelWarner Music Group
ProducerJohn Porter, The Smiths, Roger Pusey, Dale "Buffin" Griffin and Stephen Street
The Smiths chronology
...Best II
(1992)		 Singles
(1995)		 The Very Best of The Smiths
(2001)

Background
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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, they decided to celebrate The Smiths' reputation as a "singles band" by issuing a collection of the band's singles in 1995. Only the singles released in the UK were included.

Despite the album's title, the Singles versions of "Hand in Glove", "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" and "Ask" were not the original single mixes. Similarly, "What Difference Does It Make?", "How Soon Is Now?", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" and "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" were the full-length album versions, that are on the original 12´ singles, as opposed to the original single edits.

Cover

The cover features previously unused artwork designed by Morrissey, featuring 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 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 tracks are written by Morrissey/Marr.

No.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."Hand in Glove" (Album version)The Smiths (1984)3:25
2."This Charming Man"The Smiths2:41
3."What Difference Does It Make?" (Album version)The Smiths3:51
4."Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"Hatful of Hollow (1984)3:35
5."William, It Was Really Nothing"Hatful of Hollow2:09
6."How Soon Is Now?" (Album version)Hatful of Hollow6:46
7."Shakespeare's Sister"The World Won't Listen (1987)2:09
8."That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" (Album version)Meat Is Murder (1985)4:59
9."The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" (Album version)The Queen Is Dead (1986)3:18
10."Bigmouth Strikes Again"The Queen Is Dead3:14
11."Panic"The World Won't Listen2:20
12."Ask" (Album version)The World Won't Listen3:14
13."Shoplifters of the World Unite"The World Won't Listen2:58
14."Sheila Take a Bow"Louder Than Bombs (1987)2:41
15."Girlfriend in a Coma"Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)2:02
16."I Started Something I Couldn't Finish"Strangeways, Here We Come3:46
17."Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" (Album version)Strangeways, Here We Come5:02
18."There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"The Queen Is Dead4:02

Personnel

The Smiths

Additional musicians

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[3] Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[4] Platinum 300,000^
United States — 395,150[5]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes
  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20101221073108/http://www.blender.com/guide/67144/500-cds-you-must-own-alternative-rock.html
  2. "Allmusic review".
  3. "Brazilian album certifications – The Smiths – Queen Is Dad" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  4. "British album certifications – The Smiths – Queen Is Dad". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 May 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Queen Is Dad in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  5. https://www.morrissey-solo.com/article.pl?sid=08/03/05/1811210
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