Prior to suiting up, changing their name, and riding shotgun on the mod-revival bandwagon, the Purple Hearts were a punk act from Essex, England called the Sockets whose first gig was supporting the Buzzcocks. But they evolved as musicians, becoming what the NME described as “one of the few mod bands to actually cut it on rock ’n’ roll terms.” Smashing Time is a collection of rarities compiling 24 of their best studio and live outtakes. And though it kicks off with an anthemic title-track, the bookending “Millions Like Us” proved to be the closest thing the band had to a hit, landing at number 57 on the UK Charts. Stylistically, the Purple Hearts had a lot in common with contemporaries like Secret Affair or the Merton Parkas – they took their cues from the Jam’s aggressive, Oi!-tinged power pop and the Who’s sonic guitar tones. “When I See You” sounds like a young Roger Daltrey rewriting The Beatles’ “Rain” while the single version of “Plane Crash” was more indicative of a time when trendier punk was becoming new wave.