"Best II" is a compilation album by the Smiths, released on November 2, 1992, by WEA, which had acquired the band's back catalogue. It peaked at #29 on the British charts but did not chart in the U.S. WEA obtained the Smiths' entire back catalogue in early 1992, and along with re-releasing the original albums, they compiled this 'best of' collection. This marked the first time a regular best of compilation had been made for the Smiths, with the first volume achieving significant success by reaching the top of the British charts. However, the second volume did not perform as well, facing criticism from the British press regarding its track selection and coherence.
The tracks on Best II were selected and sequenced in a somewhat random manner, featuring both singles and album cuts. Similar to the first volume, a spin-off single, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," was released ahead of the compilation. This song had originally been considered for release in 1986 but was ultimately set aside in favor of "Bigmouth Strikes Again." The single reached No. 25 on the charts.
The album cover for the UK and European release features the right half of a 1960s biker couple photograph by Dennis Hopper, while the U.S. cover, designed by Morrissey, showcases Richard Davalos, who also appeared on the covers of other Smiths releases.
