UK pressing of 1992 compilation features the same 14 tracks as the US but includes completely different artwork. Warner.

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. Consisting of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce, critics consider the band one of the most important to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s.

这早已是一张公认的经典之作，如果说《the queen is dead》是有史以来最伟大的摇滚专辑还略微有点勉强的话，那它也一定是上世纪80年代最出色的音乐专辑。第一首专辑同名歌曲结尾的近三分钟的吉他独奏，紧张快速却又极富旋律感，Johnny Marr的吉他天赋在这展现的淋漓尽致。第二首《Frankly, Mr. Shankly》虽然旋律简单，却百听不厌，Morrissey的嗓音温暖亲切，似乎是一位大哥在向你绘声绘色的讲他的经历。《There is a light that never goes out》无疑是乐队最有名的单曲，歌曲的亮点依然是结尾那略带欢快的节奏旋律和悲伤的唱调，似乎史密斯早已看透了世俗，一番无奈的感慨和宣泄。
这张专辑在滚石杂志选出的500张历代最强专辑中排名第216位