BEST OF 2 |

The Smiths: Morrissey (vocals); Johnny Marr (guitar); Andy Rourke (bass); Mike Joyce (drums).

Producers: John Porter, The Smiths, Johnny Marr, Morrissey, Stephen Street.
Released concurrently with the BEST OF...I, this set contains 14 songs spanning the career of this influential British band. Beginning with a later single, "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side," the collection see-saws back and forth in non-chronological order. Fortunately the Smiths' songs are strong enough to be able to withstand the proximity of old material to new.
Album highlights include the pop gem "Ask," which features Kirsty MacColl, the humorous "Bigmouth Strikes Again," the rollicking "Shakespeare's Sister," and album closer "There's a Light that Never Goes Out." Two of the most perfectly formed and affecting songs the Smiths ever wrote are contained on this disc: the pain-filled, stunned "That Joke isn't Funny Anymore," and one of their first compositions, the intense, beautiful "Reel Around the Fountain." These two tracks alone make this compilation worth the price of admission.

• Genre: Rock
• Format: CD
• Released: 1992-12-08