Smash: The Singles 1985–2020

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said in a statement that "As we start work on a new album, and later this year continue our 'Dreamworld' Greatest Hits Tour, it seems like a good time to take stock and bring together every single we've released."[2]

Every track included on the compilation was officially released as a single by the duo, and nearly every version is either the 7-inch or CD version that was serviced to British radio. The exception to this rule is "New York City Boy", which instead has its US radio edit included. Alongside the album announcement, they explained:

"In recent years the idea of a "single" has become slightly vague with tracks services to radio and online but not physically released. The singles compiled on Smash (from “Suburbia” onwards) were all officially released on CD in the UK. Where there is a double-a side single or an EP, only the lead track which got radio plays has been included."

The notable singles not included on Smash are:

• The original version of "West End Girls", the group's debut single, produced by Bobby 'O' Orlando. Released in 1984.
• "One More Chance", the group's second single, again produced by Bobby 'O'. Released in 1984.
• "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?", which was part of a double A-side in 1991 alongside "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)". Pitchfork claims that, when asked about the song, Lowe noted that it "doesn't sound like a single".[5]
• "Absolutely Fabulous", a 1994 Comic Relief single in collaboration with the titular television show which was released under the artist name Absolutely Fabulous.
• "London", the 2002 third single from the album Release, which was not released in the UK.
• "Beautiful People", the 2009 third single from the album Yes, which was not released in the UK.
• "Burning the Heather", which was released on 7-inch vinyl only in 2020.[3]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	95/100[6]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Pitchfork	8.4/10[5]
Record Collector	[8]

Smash: The Singles 1985–2020 received a score of 95 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[6] Uncut felt that the album "demonstrates that PSB are without peer as exponents of the pop single", while Mojo stated that it "re-contextualises them as an act who wrecked glorious havoc on their unchanging musical parameters for decades".[6] Owen Myers of Pitchfork called the compilation "as definitive as it gets, pearl after pearl of fabulous singles from one of the best to ever do it", and although he felt that it "weakens a little in the last of its three discs, [...] there are remarkably few true duds".[5] Timothy Monger of AllMusic wrote that the "wonderfully eclectic body of work they've created as Pet Shop Boys speaks for itself" and "unpacking its 55-song sequence, the first thing one notices is the uniform quality of their songs: elegantly constructed, dense with pop nutrients, undeniably catchy, yet ever so smart". Monger concluded that while "work ethic and quality don't always go hand in hand, [...] Pet Shop Boys have both in spades".[7] Record Collector's Daryl Easlea wrote that it "is with little doubt that the first half of Smash contains some of the greatest pop singles ever released in this country" and "this collection is called Smash for a very good reason".[8]