The Smiths: Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce.
Producers: John Porter, The Smiths, Johnny Marr, Morrissey, Stephen Street.
Composer: Morrissey.
Audio Mixer: Steve Lillywhite.
Photographer: Stephen Wright.
The Best of the Smiths collections didn't work because they didn't have a sense of history and distorted the underlying sense of urgency that helped make the Smiths important. Singles simply collects all of the singles from one of the greatest singles bands since the Beatles. It's essential and influential guitar pop, presented in a way that makes sense and is endlessly listenable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Released nearly a decade after the band's demise, SINGLES goes some way in demonstrating why The Smiths continue to be the most important band in British pop since the Beatles. The Smiths performed that rare feat of creating something new in pop music. The chemistry between Johnny Marr and Morrissey was as inexplicable as it was irresistible.
Marr's amazing guitar playing influenced an entire generation of musicians, making him one of the most desirable players on the scene. Everyone wanted him, and his playing graced albums by The Pretenders (who he actually joined for a while), Bryan Ferry, The The, Talking Heads, and others. Morrissey took the words of the angst ridden and gave them voice. Together they made music far greater than the sum of its parts. This compilation provides a fine entry to their catalogue for the uninitiated. Longtime fans will be reminded of the STRANGEWAYS track "Paint a Vulgar Picture". minimize