Although members had been playing together in an assortment of local bands since 1973, it wasn't until late 1978 that The Cure settled upon their now famous handle and official lineup, releasing their debut single that December. This Saturday, the band will mark the fortieth anniversary of their existence with a massive concert at London's Hyde Park which will also feature stellar support acts like Ride, Slowdive, Goldfrapp, Interpol, and more.
Initially emerging as a three-piece, The Cure's roster has since undergone several shake-ups, with lead guitarist and singer-songwriter Robert Smith remaining the only constant amid the arrivals, departures, and occasional re-arrivals of the others.
The band's earliest releases quickly established them as front-runners of England's then-burgeoning post-punk and new wave scenes. The moody feel of albums like 1980's Seventeen Seconds and1981's Faith attracted a fan base who would come to be labeled by many as the "goth" set, often mimicking Smith's signature look of teased-out hair and creatively applied make-up.
By 1983, Smith had started to grow weary of the consistently dark direction the group's music was moving in, and The Cure nearly came to an end, with the singer focussing on other projects like The Glove and Siouxsie and the Banshees. But, regrouping with bandmate Lol Tolhurst late in the year, The Cure was reborn as a duo, newly inspired to explore a more pop-oriented sound.
Singles like "Let's Go To Bed" and "The Lovecats" proved to be the band's most commercially successful yet, and paved the way for a string of albums that would see the band breakout internationally, namely 1985's The Head On The Door, and 1987's Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me. During this timeframe, the group again grew to a full five- and then six-piece band, while enjoying some of their biggest radio hits with "Close To Me" and "Just Like Heaven."
It was 1989's Disintegration album, though, that cemented forever The Cure's reputation as one of the best bands on the planet. Almost universally renowned as a classic, the record masterfully hovers the line between the dark, artistic statements of their early work and the more radio-friendly sensibilities of their mid-period. The set churned out no less than four 'alternative' radio staples, in the form of "Lullaby", "Fascination Street", "Lovesong", and "Pictures Of You."
Successful tours and albums continued through the early nineties, before 1996's Wild Mood Swings became the group's first album to fail in achieving sales comparable to previous efforts. Admittedly, the second twenty years of The Cure's lifespan has seen the band become less prolific (though the eight studio albums and handful of EPs released in their first decade together surely entitles them to that), and the hits have been fewer and farther between, but there are still undeniable gems to be found on later records like 2000's Bloodflowers and 2004's self-titled The Cure.
At present, it's been a full decade since The Cure's last album, 2008's 4:13 Dream, but upon announcing this weekend's concert, rumours once again began to swirl about the possibility of new music from the band. Long time fans know to be cautious with their optimism though, as Smith in particular has developed a reputation in recent years for promising new or reissued Cure releases that don't always materialize. But again, with a back catalogue as rich as theirs, surely they're entitled to as much down time as they like.
In the meantime, if you're like Wet Thud and live on the wrong continent and won't be able to attend the big show this Saturday, we present a trawl through a list of our 40 favourite songs from those lovely, creepy boys from Crawley, The Cure. Find a Spotify playlist of the entire Top 40 countdown following number one below.
040. "M" (album cut from Seventeen Seconds, 1980)
039. "Shake Dog Shake" (promotional single from The Top, 1984)
038. "The End Of The World" (single from The Cure, 2004)
037. "Disintegration" (album cut from Disintegration, 1989)
036. "A Strange Day" (album cut from Pornography, 1982)
035. "Bananafishbones" (album cut from The Top, 1984)
034. "The Hanging Garden" (single from Pornography, 1982)
033. "Play For Today" (album cut from Seventeen Seconds, 1980)
032. "Primary" (single from Faith, 1981)
031. "Jupiter Crash" (album cut from Wild Mood Swings, 1996)
030. "Jumping Someone Else's Train" (single, 1979)
029. "The Perfect Girl" (album cut from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
028. "Friday I'm In Love" (single from Wish, 1992)
027. "The Lovecats" (single, 1983)
026. "Catch" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
025. "Maybe Someday" (promotional single from Bloodflowers, 2000)
024. "High" (single from Wish, 1992)
023. "10:15 Saturday Night" (France-only single from Three Imaginary Boys, 1979)
022. "The Caterpillar" (single from The Top, 1984)
021. "Six Different Ways" (album cut from The Head On The Door, 1985)
020. "Why Can't I Be You?" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
019. "Let's Go To Bed" (single, 1983)
018. "Burn" (album cut from 'The Crow' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1994)
017. "From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea" (album cut from Wish, 1992)
016. "Hot Hot Hot!!!" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
015. "Plainsong" (album cut from Disintegration, 1989)
014. "Trust" (album cut from Wish, 1992)
013. "A Forest" (single from Seventeen Seconds, 1980)
012. "Close To Me" (single from The Head On The Door, 1985)
011. "Lullaby" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
010. "The Walk" (single, 1983)
009. "Fascination Street" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
008. "A Night Like This" (album cut from The Head On The Door, 1985)
007. "Boys Don't Cry" (single, 1979)
006. "Lovesong" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
005. "Never Enough" (single from Mixed Up, 1990)
004. "A Letter To Elise" (single from Wish, 1992)
003. "In Between Days" (single from The Head On The Door, 1985)
002. "Just Like Heaven" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
001. "Pictures Of You" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
***** text-only version of the list *****
###. "Song Title" (format, Album Title, release date)
040. "M" (album cut from Seventeen Seconds, 1980)
039. "Shake Dog Shake" (promotional single from The Top, 1984)
038. "The End Of The World" (single from The Cure, 2004)
037. "Disintegration" (album cut from Disintegration, 1989)
036. "A Strange Day" (album cut from Pornography, 1982)
035. "Bananafishbones" (album cut from The Top, 1984)
034. "The Hanging Garden" (single from Pornography, 1982)
033. "Play For Today" (album cut from Seventeen Seconds, 1980)
032. "Primary" (single from Faith, 1981)
031. "Jupiter Crash" (album cut from Wild Mood Swings, 1996)
030. "Jumping Someone Else's Train" (single, 1979)
029. "The Perfect Girl" (album cut from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
028. "Friday I'm In Love" (single from Wish, 1992)
027. "The Lovecats" (single, 1983)
026. "Catch" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
025. "Maybe Someday" (promotional single from Bloodflowers, 2000)
024. "High" (single from Wish, 1992)
023. "10:15 Saturday Night" (France-only single from Three Imaginary Boys, 1979)
022. "The Caterpillar" (single from The Top, 1984)
021. "Six Different Ways" (album cut from The Head On The Door, 1985)
020. "Why Can't I Be You?" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
019. "Let's Go To Bed" (single, 1983)
018. "Burn" (album cut from 'The Crow' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1994)
017. "From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea" (album cut from Wish, 1992)
016. "Hot Hot Hot!!!" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
015. "Plainsong" (album cut from Disintegration, 1989)
014. "Trust" (album cut from Wish, 1992)
013. "A Forest" (single from Seventeen Seconds, 1980)
012. "Close To Me" (single from The Head On The Door, 1985)
011. "Lullaby" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
010. "The Walk" (single, 1983)
009. "Fascination Street" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
008. "A Night Like This" (album cut from The Head On The Door, 1985)
007. "Boys Don't Cry" (single, 1979)
006. "Lovesong" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
005. "Never Enough" (single from Mixed Up, 1990)
004. "A Letter To Elise" (single from Wish, 1992)
003. "In Between Days" (single from The Head On The Door, 1985)
002. "Just Like Heaven" (single from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, 1987)
001. "Pictures Of You" (single from Disintegration, 1989)
All songs Fiction Records
Except #38 Geffen Records, and #18 Atlantic Records
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