Album of the Day

The Smiths' self-titled debut had been in shops for less than a year when this odds-and-ends collection of single sides and radio recordings was released. Yet HATFUL OF HOLLOW is hardly a cash-in or stop-gap release; its 16 tracks underline the remarkable burst of creativity with which the Manchester quartet launched its career. Though not included on the band's proper studio sets, “William, It Was Really Nothing,” “Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now” and “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” are nothing short of essential, and the BBC takes of songs like “What Difference Does It Make” or “This Charming Man” equal, if not surpass, the LP versions. HATFUL OF HOLLOW showed The Smiths to be a great singles as well as a great album band, and the 1984 collection has recently been reissued on 180-gram vinyl.