As with any "classic" band from the past, the Smiths' legacy has been enshrined in countless greatest hits collections in the twenty years since their demise. To keep things simple, there exist three main hits collections available to potential fans of the Smiths. The Best Of... is overlong and unfocused; Greatest Hits is redundant and a shameless cash-in. That leaves Singles, and while its singles-only tracklist omits some fantastic album cuts and b-sides, the chronological album tracks the progress of the group pretty accurately. As long as you avoid thinking the Smiths were purely a singles band, and keep in mind that the Smiths have equal or even better material available within their catalogue, then Singles should be an inviting introduction to a truly "classic" band.
A great compilation for people who are getting into one of the greatest bands of the 80's. Singles contains the essencial tracks for the listener to know The Smiths' trademark sound.
