The Very Best of The Smiths is a compilation album by The Smiths. It was released in June, 2001 by WEA in Europe. Its highest British chart position was #31; the album was not released in the United States.

About the Album

After Singles (1995), the previous Smiths compilation album that WEA (now the Warner Music Group) had issued, went out of print in Europe, Australia and Taiwan, the record company decided to revamp the package slightly and release it under the name The Very Best of The Smiths. WEA scrambled the running order and added five tracks, and enticed the record buyers with the incentive of digital remastering.

The album was widely criticised by the British music press, who, after stopping to praise the actual music, went on to condemn what they saw as a moneygrabbing exercise. They were quickly joined by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, who distanced themselves from the album, stating they had had no input whatsoever. Both ridiculed the cover design and Marr additionally denounced the sound quality.

In the fine tradition of largely-but-not-quite-overlapping Smiths compilations, this album does contain two versions not available on album elsewhere: the single edits of "Ask" and "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" (Singles used the album versions).

Track Listing

1. Panic
2. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (album version)
3. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
4. Ask (single version)
5. Bigmouth Strikes Again
6. How Soon Is Now?
7. This Charming Man
8. What Difference Does It Make?
9. William, It Was Really Nothing
10. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
11. Girlfriend in a Coma
12. Hand In Glove (album version)
13. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
14. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
15. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore (album version)
16. I Know It's Over
17. Sheila Take a Bow
18. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
19. Still Ill
20. Shakespeare's Sister
21. Shoplifters of the World Unite
22. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (single version)
23. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

People Involved

• Morrissey - voice
• Johnny Marr - guitars, keyboard instruments, harmonica, mandolins, synthesized saxophone, string and flute arrangements
• Andy Rourke - bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister"
• Mike Joyce - drums
• Craig Gannon - rhythm guitar on "Panic" and "Ask"

With Kirsty MacColl - backing vocals on "Ask", John Porter - slide guitar on "Sheila Take a Bow" and Stephen Street - drum machine on "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" and synthesized string arrangements on "Girlfriend in a Coma".

All songs written by Morrissey/Marr. Produced by The Smiths, John Porter, Morrissey/Marr, Johnny Marr, Marr/Morrissey/Street. "Hand in Glove" remixed by John Porter and "Ask" remixed by Steve Lillywhite.

Previous release Singles

The Smiths Albums Chronology

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