Hatful of Hollow is a compilation album by the English rock band the Smiths, released on 2 November 1984 in the United Kingdom, by Rough Trade Records. The album features tracks from BBC Radio 1 sessions, their first single "Hand in Glove" (a different mix of which had been included on the band's debut album released earlier in the year) and two new singles and their B-sides. It was eventually released in the United States on 9 November 1993 by Sire Records, which had initially declined to release the album in the country. Sire instead released Louder Than Bombs in the US in 1987, which is effectively a hybrid of Hatful of Hollow and a subsequent UK compilation album The World Won't Listen, along with additional songs that do not appear on either.

Hatful of Hollow reached No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart, remaining on the chart for 46 weeks. In 2000, Q placed the album at No. 44 on its list of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever".

Composition

The album consists mainly of songs recorded over several BBC Radio 1 sessions in 1983. Tracks shown in bold were included on the album.

  1. For John Peel on 18 May 1983 (broadcast 1 June): "What Difference Does It Make?", "Miserable Lie", "Reel Around the Fountain", "Handsome Devil" (all four songs were later released as the Peel Sessions EP)
  2. For David Jensen on 26 June 1983 (broadcast 4 July): "These Things Take Time", "You've Got Everything Now", "Wonderful Woman"
  3. For Jensen on 25 August 1983 (broadcast 5 September): "Accept Yourself", "I Don't Owe You Anything", "Pretty Girls Make Graves", "Reel Around the Fountain"
  4. For Peel on 14 September 1983 (broadcast 21 September): "This Charming Man", "Back to the Old House", "This Night Has Opened My Eyes", "Still Ill" All were subsequently re-recorded for singles or for the band's debut album the following year. "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" was recorded in the studio in June 1984, but the only version ever released was the September Peel session. The photograph was taken from a July 1983 special edition of the French newspaper Libération. In 1987, the album cover was redesigned and the photograph was cropped, which removed the tattoo. except where otherwise noted.

The Smiths

  • Morrissey – voice
  • Johnny Marr – guitars, harmonica, mandolins; slide guitar on "How Soon Is Now?"
  • Andy Rourke – the bass guitar
  • Mike Joyce – the drums; tambourine

Additional musicians

  • John Porter – electronic percussion on "How Soon Is Now?"

Production

  • Roger Pusey – producer (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 15)
  • Dale Griffin – producer (3, 11)
  • John Porter – producer (1, 5, 9, 12, 13, 16)
  • The Smiths – producers (7)
  • Martin Colley – engineer (3, 11)
  • Mike Robinson – engineer (12)

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Certifications and sales

See also

  • List of 1980s albums considered the best

References