Best... I

The UK and European sleeve for Best...I, featuring the left half of a Dennis Hopper photograph.

Best…I is a compilation album by The Smiths. It was released in August, 1992 by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA (Sire Records in the United States). Its highest British chart position was #1; it reached #139 on the U.S. charts.

About the Album

After WEA (now the Warner Music Group) had acquired the entire Smiths back catalogue, along with the re-release of all original albums and compilations, they immediately set to work compiling a Best Of 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 groaned 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 the next year by its sibling, ...Best II (which fared considerably worse, chart-wise). The first spin-off single, the re-release of "This Charming Man", reached #8 in the singles chart. A second single to promote Best...I, an edited re-release of "How Soon Is Now?", got to #16 (the uncut version is featured on the compilation).

The US sleeve for Best...I, designed by Morrissey and starring, once again, Richard Davalos.

The UK and European release of the record featured the left half of a Sixties biker couple photograph by Dennis Hopper 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

Side A

1. This Charming Man
2. William, It Was Really Nothing
3. What Difference Does It Make? (album version)
4. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
5. Girlfriend in a Coma
6. Half a Person
7. Rubber Ring

Side B

1. How Soon Is Now? (full version)
2. Hand in Glove (album version)
3. Shoplifters of the World Unite
4. Sheila Take a Bow
5. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
6. Panic
7. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

People Involved

• Morrissey - voice
• Johnny Marr - guitars, harmonica, mandolins
• Andy Rourke - bass guitar
• Mike Joyce - drums
• Craig Gannon - rhythm guitar on "Half a Person" and "Panic"

With John Porter - slide guitar on "Sheila Take a Bow".

All tracks written by Morrissey/Marr. Produced by John Porter, The Smiths, Marr/Morrissey/Street, Morissey/Marr, Johnny Marr.