Reel Around the Fountain" has duller-sounding drums and acoustic guitars than the version on The Smiths. The bass is more prominent, but the piano and organ parts are not included. It is also in a higher key than the version on The Smiths. More harmonica begins the song, which utilizes a fast tempo full of energetic instrumentation, and yet Marr's guitar lines are soothing and calming. The song ends with another short harmonica solo.

Hatful of Hollow also features the band's debut single, " Hand in Glove", and their two most recent singles prior to the album's release, " Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and " William, It Was Really Nothing", along with their respective B-sides, "Girl Afraid", " How Soon Is Now?" and " Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want". What Difference Does It Make?" has heavier and more natural-sounding guitars than the version on The Smiths. It is also in a higher key than the version on The Smiths. Wolk, Douglas (18 November 2011). "The Smiths: The Smiths Complete". Pitchfork . Retrieved 25 September 2015.What Difference Does It Make?’ was recorded during a BBC Peel Session, and it has a natural, darker edge to the single version. You can hear Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke dovetailing beautifully. Transposed to a higher key, it provides an exciting alternative to the single version. These Things Take Time" features bass that is more prominent and drums that are less controlled than in the version from the "What Difference Does It Make?" 12" single. Sliding guitar figures accompany the chorus.

The radio session versions of songs are different from other studio recordings. Some of the major differences are: For John Peel on 18 May 1983 (broadcast 31 May): " Handsome Devil", " Reel Around the Fountain", "Miserable Lie", " What Difference Does It Make?" (all four songs were later released as the Peel Sessions EP) Cavanagh, D, 1993. Irreproachable: The Smiths: the very best of British?. Q Magazine, 1 December 1993.I have a love-hate relationship with this album. I absolutely love the great majority of songs on this, but I hate the fact that it is a compilation album with songs from their self-titled record. I hate that there is no structure or concept to it. No identity. Such a wasted opportunity. It irritates me like an uneven carpet does. Beginning with a jangle style guitar break by Marr, the narrative of the song moves between the two perspectives of a boy and a girl each dealing with their insecurities. Absolutely brilliant music. William, It Was Really Nothing’, ‘What Difference Does It Make?’, ‘This Charming Man’, ‘How Soon Is Now?’, ‘Hand In Glove’ and even ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’, you could argue that all of The Smiths’ most important early songs comprise the album. This is not what makes it so brilliant, though. It is the way that songs on the record are alternative versions that makes it so essential. It is singles, B-sides and rarities all meshed into just over 56 minutes of The Smiths at some of their finest points. Take the David Jensen version of ‘These Things Take Time’, for instance. It was an augmented version of The Smiths that you got on Hatful of Hollow, and as an adult, I now see what the stranger meant.

But looking past that, I love these songs. Morrissey’s vocals are just as great as Marr’s guitar. I like to think sometimes that they are competing for the listener’s attention. Goddard, S, 2013. Songs That Saved Your Life - The Art of The Smiths 1982–87. 2nd ed. U.K.: Titan Books. P. 121 Hatful of Hollow reached No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart, remaining on the chart for 46 weeks. [12] In 2000, Q magazine placed the album at No. 44 on its list of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever".From the contemporary perspective, it sometimes seems as if The Smiths are one of the most consistently talked up bands of all time. However, on Hatful of Hollow, you get a very organic account of the band, and it confirms every common understanding of the group. For David Jensen on 26 June 1983 (broadcast 4 July): " These Things Take Time", " You've Got Everything Now", "Wonderful Woman" I don't want a lover, I just want to be seen. These damn songs, this collection will never fade away. It has been a constant in my life ever since I heard it. It's been about 4 years of and Jangle Twang. Is it possible to make an album flow as well as this one?(it's not).