Description
After making their initial splash, The Smiths quickly retreated to the studio to record their self-titled debut full-length. The album was met with lukewarm reviews (mostly citing the unsatisfactory work of producer John Porter) and failed to produce a worthy successor to their string of successful singles, but the band had a plethora of additional material leftover from a handful of John Peel sessions and b-sides. Dissatisfied with their tepid entry in the album charts, Rough Trade collected these tracks and took another stab at a worthy Smiths full-length, and with the arrival of Hatful Of Hollow, their prior false-start was instantly forgiven by fans and the press alike. Where Morrissey fell flat on The Smiths, he soars on Hatful Of Hollow; his cavorting wit (“Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want”) and catchy hooks (“How Soon Is Now?”) divert the listener from the unassailable truth that he’s just not that great of a singer. Johnny Marr’s consistently immaculate riffs and complete aversion to flashy guitar solos solidify his place as one of rock & roll’s most creative guitarists of all time. Hatful contains definitive versions of some of The Smiths’ best songs: the acoustic version of “Back To The Old House”, culled from a 1983 Peel session, is an uncharacteristically intimate and haunting entry in The Smiths’ catalog; with a very rare use of echo on Morrissey’s voice during the coda particularly hair-raising. The jangle-pop Peel session version of “This Charming Man” is refreshingly mellow compared to the enthusiastic “Manchester” and “London” versions found on the original 12-inch. Hatful Of Hollow is a unanimous favorite of all Smiths enthusiasts, and a terrific point of entry for anyone looking to see what the fuss is all about. Recommended.
- 180 gram black vinyl pressing
- Gatefold sleeve
Tracklist
A1 | William, It Was Really Nothing | 2:09 |
A2 | What Difference Does It Make? | 3:42 |
A3 | These Things Take Time | 2:33 |
A4 | This Charming Man | 2:43 |
A5 | How Soon Is Now? | 6:43 |
A6 | Handsome Devil | 2:46 |
A7 | Hand In Glove | 3:14 |
A8 | Still Ill | 3:54 |
B1 | Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now | 3:34 |
B2 | This Night Has Opened My Eyes | 3:40 |
B3 | You’ve Got Everything Now | 4:18 |
B4 | Accept Yourself | 4:02 |
B5 | Girl Afraid | 2:45 |
B6 | Back To The Old House | 3:02 |
B7 | Reel Around The Fountain | 5:51 |
B8 | Please Please Please, Let Me Get What I Want | 1:50 |
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