Best... I


Best... I is a compilation album by the Smiths. It was released in August 1992 by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart; it reached No. 139 on the US Billboard 200. Warner UK used a photograph taken by actor Dennis Hopper titled "Biker Couple, 1961" for the artwork of the two 1992 "best of" compilations by The Smiths.

Background

WEA had acquired the entire Smiths back catalogue in early 1992. Along with the re-release of the eight original albums, they immediately set to work compiling a 'best of' collection in two volumes. It was the first time a regular best of compilation had ever been made of The Smiths' material and the album effortlessly reached the top of the British charts. The British press had doubts about sell-out and low track selection coherence.
The material is more or less picked and sequenced at random, and consists of both singles and album cuts. It was followed later the same year by its sibling, ...Best II. The first spin-off single, a re-release of "This Charming Man", reached No. 8 in the singles chart, the highest position a Smiths single had ever reached. A second single promoting Best... I, an edited re-release of "How Soon Is Now?", got to No. 16.

Cover

The UK and European release of the record featured the left half of a biker couple photograph by Dennis Hopper from 1961 entitled 'Biker Couple' on its sleeve, with ...Best II completing the picture; the U.S. sleeve was designed by singer Morrissey and features Richard Davalos, co-star of East of Eden.

Track listing

All tracks written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr.
  1. "This Charming Man" – 2:43
  2. "William, It Was Really Nothing" – 2:09
  3. "What Difference Does It Make?" ' – 3:51
  4. "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" – 3:34
  5. "Girlfriend in a Coma" – 2:02
  6. "Half a Person" – 3:36
  7. "Rubber Ring" – 3:48
  8. "How Soon Is Now?" ' – 6:46
  9. "Hand in Glove" – 3:25
  10. "Shoplifters of the World Unite" – 2:58
  11. "Sheila Take a Bow" – 2:42
  12. "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" – 3:18
  13. "Panic" – 2:20
  14. "Please, [Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want]" – 1:54

Personnel

Additional musicians

Production

  • John Porter – producer
  • Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Street – producers
  • Morrissey and Marr – producers
  • The Smiths – producers
  • Johnny Marr – producer

Charts

Chart Peak
position