Click for Album description from Plex
There is absolutely no reason to own The Very Best of the Smiths if you already own all the Smiths albums. There is little reason to own this if you own the Singles collection. If you don't have any Smiths in your collection, Singles still makes a better bet because that has a logical theme and chronological sequencing. But, if you're just looking for 23 songs that do represent much of the Smiths' best work, 2001's The Very Best of the Smiths will do, since it does contain all the group's anthems, without a misstep (outside of that doggedly unchronological sequencing). That still doesn't make it a welcome addition to the canon, particularly since it's saddled with an ugly faux-Smiths cover, but it's better than the first two posthumous Best Of collections, and it will give many casual fans what they think they want, even if it doesn't given them what they truly need. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
1. Panic 2. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side 3. Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now 4. Ask 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 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 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 23. Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before