Wednesday, November 7, 2001

The Cure: A Retrospective (1976-2001)

The Cure

A Retrospective: 1976-2001

Overview:

Goth-rock group formed in Crawley, West Sussex, England in 1976. Originally called Malice and then The Easy Cure. Only lead singer Robert Smith has remained a constant through every incarnation of the band.


The Players


Links

Awards

Compilations


Spotify Playlist

Here’s my The Cure 1978-2025 playlist at Spotify which includes all songs featured on the above compilations plus other singles and material released after 2001.

Songs featured on any of the above anthologies are detailed below. Click for codes to charts.

Killing an Arab

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, Lol Tolhurst


Recorded: 9/20/1978


Released: 12/22/1978 (single), Boys Don’t Cry (compilation, 1980), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986)


B-Side: “10:15 Saturday Night”


Peak: 22 CL, 9 CO, 7 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.21 video, 1.43 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

10:15 Saturday Night

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 12/22/1978 (B-side of “Killing an Arab”), June 1979 (single – France), Three Imaginary Boys (1979), Boys Don’t Cry (compilation, 1980), Standing on a Beach (compilation – CD version, 1986)


Peak: 35 CL, 30 CO, 22 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.23 video, 30.95 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Boys Don’t Cry

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey


Recorded: 1979


Released: 6/12/1979 (single), Boys Don’t Cry (compilation, 1980), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Plastic Passion”


Peak: 18 CL, 1 CO, 22 UK, 7 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 165.60 video, 1330.34 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Jumping Someone Else’s Train

The Cure

Writer(s): Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst


Recorded: 1979


Released: 11/2/1979 (single), Boys Don’t Cry (compilation, 1980), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986)


B-Side: “I’m Cold”


Peak: 44 CL, 12 CO Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.83 video, 32.73 streaming


About the Song

A

A Forest

The Cure

Writer(s): Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Matthieu Hartley, Lol Tolhurst


Recorded: January 1980


Released: 4/8/1980 (single), Seventeen Seconds (1980), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Another Journey by Train”


Peak: 19 CL, 3 CO, 31 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 42.08 video, 10.39 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Play for Today

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst, Simon Gallup, Matthieu Hartley


Released: Seventeen Seconds (1980), Standing on a Beach (compilation – CD version, 1986)


Peak: -- Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.11 video, 48.44 streaming


About the Song

A

Primary

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 3/28/1981 (single), Faith (1981), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986)


B-Side: “Descent”


Peak: 40 CL, 7 CO, 43 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 7.90 video, 20.61 streaming


About the Song

A

Other Voices

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst, Simon Gallup


Released: Faith (1981), Standing on a Beach (compilation – CD version, 1986)


Peak: -- Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2.25 video, 5.96 streaming


About the Song

A

Charlotte Sometimes

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst


Recorded: July 16-17, 1981 at Playground Studio in England


Released: 10/9/1981 (single), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986)


B-Side: “Splintered in Her Head”


Peak: 41 CL, 14 CO, 44 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 9.70 video, 28.65 streaming


About the Song

A

The Hanging Garden

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 7/12/1982 (single), Pornography (1982), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986)


B-Side: “Killing an Arab” (live), “A Forest” (live)


Peak: 19 CO, 34 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2.50 video, 13.15 streaming


About the Song

A

Let’s Go to Bed

The Cure

Writer(s): Laurence Tolhurst, Robert Smith


Released: 11/15/1982 (single), Japanese Whispers (compilation, 1983), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Just One Kiss”


Peak: 4 CO, 44 UK, 10 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 7.30 video, 60.29 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

The Walk

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst


Released: June 1983 (single), Japanese Whispers (compilation, 1983), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986)


B-Side: “The Dream,” “The Upstairs Room,” “Lament”


Peak: 13 CO, 12 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 4.50 video, 27.79 streaming


About the Song

A

The Love Cats

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith


Recorded: August 1983


Released: 10/21/1983 (single), Japanese Whispers (compilation, 1983), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Speak My Language,” “Mr. Pink Eyes”


Peak: 3 CO, 7 UK, 7 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 23.85 video, 131.76 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

The Caterpillar

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 3/26/1984 (single), The Top (1984), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Happy the Man,” “Throw Your Foot”


Peak: 15 CO, 14 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 9.70 video, 14.96 streaming


About the Song

A

In Between Days

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith


Recorded: 1985


Released: 7/19/1985 (single), The Head on the Door (1985), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “The Exploding Boy,” “A Few Hours After This…”


Peak: 99 BB, 1 CO, 15 UK, 10 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 59.99 video, 277.58 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Close to Me

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith


Released: 9/13/1985 (single), The Head on the Door (1985), Standing on a Beach (compilation, 1986); remix: 10/22/1990 (single), Mixed Up (1990), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “A Man Inside My Mouth,” “Stop Dead” (9/13/1985); “Just Like Heaven” (dizzy mix) (10/22/1990 remix)


Peak: 97 BB, 64 CB, 1 CO, 13 UK, 12 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 69.20 video, 468.78 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

A Night Like This

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith


Released: The Head on the Door (1985), Standing on a Beach (compilation – CD version, 1986)


Peak: 17 CO Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.75 video, 43.33 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Standing on a Beach/Staring at the Sea (compilation)

The Cure


Recorded: 1978-1985


Released: May 15, 1986

Peak: 48 US, 4 UK, 48 CN, 13 AU Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.10 UK, 4.0 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: goth rock


Rating:

4.538 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

(1) Killing an Arab (2) 10:15 Saturday Night * (3) Boys Don’t Cry (4) Jumping Someone Else’s Train (5) A Forest (6) Play for Today * (7) Primary (8) Other Voices * (9) Charlotte Sometimes (10) The Hanging Garden (11) Let’s Go to Bed (12) The Walk (13) The Love Cats (14) The Caterpillar (15) In Between Days (16) Close to Me (17) A Night Like This *

* CD edition


Total Running Time: 60:40


About the Album:

This is an excellent compilation of The Cure’s music in the early part of their career, covering singles and a few album cuts over their first six albums.

Why Can’t I Be You?

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 4/6/1987 (single), Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “A Japanese Dream”


Peak: 54 BB, 47 CB, 2 CO, 21 UK, 6 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 7.27 video, 64.64 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Catch

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith


Released: 6/22/1987 (single), Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987), Galore! (compilation, 1997)


B-Side: “Breathe,” “A Chain of Flowers”


Peak: 17 CO, 27 UK, 37 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 3.48 video, 19.47 streaming


About the Song

A

Just Like Heaven

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams, Lol Tolhurst (see lyrics here)


Recorded: 1987 at Studio Marval in France


Released: 10/5/1987 (single), Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Snow in Summer,” “Sugar Girl,” “Breathe,” “A Chain of Flowers”


Peak: 40 BB, 42 CB, 33 GR, 30 RR, 1 CO, 29 UK, 89 AU, 5 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.4 UK


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 32.74 video, 301.29 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

The Cure formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1978. The goth/new wave band has undergone many changes in personnel throughout the years, but lead singer Robert Smith has always been a constant. His frizzly hair and dark eye makeup has come to symbolize goth rock. They emerged during the punk era of the late ‘70s and became a mainstay of the college rock radio movement of the early 1980s in the United States.

By the end of the decade, they’d become a more mainstream band. Their seventh album, 1987’s Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, was their highest-charting album to-date in the United States, reaching #35 and becoming their first platinum album. Before that album, the Cure’s only Billboard Hot 100 hit was “In Between Days,” reaching #99 in 1985. The Kiss Me album gave the Cure three more Hot 100 hits with “Just Like Heaven” being the highest-charting, reaching #40.

AllMusic.com’s Ned Ragget called the song “an undisputed ‘80s classic” AM-JH that is “instantly memorable, sparkling with rough energy…it’s a perfect showcase for Robert Smith’s ear for wistful, romantic numbers.” AM-JH Smith was inspired by a trip to Beachy Head in southern England with his future wife, Mary Poole. WK-JH The video recreated many of the memories detailed in the lyrics. WK-JH

Musically, the original version bore some similarity to the Only One’s 1979 song “Another Girl, Another Planet.” Drummer Boris Williams increased the tempo of the song to give it a different feel. WK-JH Smith called it “the best pop song the Cure has ever done,” WK-JH telling his bandmates, “I’ll never write something this good again.” SF

Hot Hot Hot!!!

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Boris Williams, Porl Thompson, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 2/8/1988 (single), Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987), Galore! (compilation, 1997)


B-Side: “Hey You!!!” (extended remix)


Peak: 65 BB, 82 CB, 11 CO, 45 UK, 28 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 3.29 video, 3.22 streaming


About the Song

A

Lullaby

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Roger O’Donnell, Boris Williams


Released: 4/10/1989 (single), Disintegration (1989), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Babble,” “Out of Mind”


Peak: 74 BB, 57 CB, 23 MR, 5 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 105.70 video, 285.51 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Fascination Street

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Boris Williams, Porl Thompson, Roger O’Donnell, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 4/18/1989 (single), Disintegration (1989), Galore! (compilation, 1997)


B-Side: “Babble,” “Out of Mind”


Peak: 46 BB, 74 CB, 24 AR, 17 MR, 15 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 22.93 video, 1.77 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Love Song

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Boris Williams, Porl Thompson, Roger O’Donnell, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 8/21/1989 (single), Disintegration (1989), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “2 Late,” “Fear of Ghosts”


Peak: 2 BB, 2 CB, 7 RR, 30 AR, 2 MR, 18 UK, 6 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 100.37 video, 471.33 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

Pictures of You

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Roger O’Donnell, Boris Williams, Lol Tolhurst


Released: 3/19/1990 (single), Disintegration (1989), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Last Dance” (live), “Fascination Street” (live), “Prayers for Rain” (live), “Disintegration” (live)


Peak: 71 BB, 67 CB, 19 MR, 24 UK, 12 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 129.36 video, 19.89 streaming


About the Song

A

Never Enough

The Cure

Writer(s): Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams


Released: 9/17/1990 (single), Mixed Up (1990), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Harold and Joe”


Peak: 72 BB, 72 CB, 33 AR, 13 MR, 13 UK, 21 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2.49 video, 10.27 streaming


About the Song

A

High

The Cure

Writer(s): Boris Williams, Perry Bamonte, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Porl Thomspon


Released: 3/16/1992 (single), Wish (1992), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “This Twilight Garden,” “Play”


Peak: 42 BB, 33 CB, 22 RR, 42 AR, 14 MR, 8 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 4.90 video, 45.27 streaming


About the Song

A

Friday I’m in Love

The Cure

Writer(s): Perry Bamonte, Boris Williams, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson


Released: 5/15/1992 (single), Wish (1992), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Halo,” “Scared As You”


Peak: 18 BB, 18 CB, 12 GR, 4 RR, 21 AR, 14 MR, 6 UK, 8 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 165.05 video, 1107.67 streaming

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Song:

A

A Letter to Elise

The Cure

Writer(s): Perry Bamonte, Boris Williams, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson


Released: 10/5/1992 (single), Wish (1992), Galore! (compilation, 1997)


B-Side: “The Big Hand,” “A Foolish Arrangement”


Peak: 2 MR, 28 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 13.98 video, 70.60 streaming


About the Song

A

The 13th

The Cure

Writer(s): Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Simon Gallup, Roger O’Donnell, Robert Smith


Released: 4/22/1996 (single), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Galore! (compilation, 1997)


B-Side: “It Used to Be Me,” “Ocean,” “Adonais”


Peak: 44 BB, 47 CB, 15 MR, 15 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.19 video, 2.67 streaming


About the Song

A

Mint Car

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Roger O’Donnell


Released: 6/17/1996 (single), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Home,” “Waiting,” “A Pink Dream”


Peak: 14 MR, 31 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 3.99 video, 23.11 streaming


About the Song

A

Strange Attraction

The Cure

Writer(s): Perry Bamonte, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Jason Cooper


Recorded: 1995


Released: 10/9/1996 (single), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Galore! (compilation, 1997)


B-Side: “The 13th” (Feels Good Mix), “This Is a Lie” (Ambient Mix), “Gone!” (Critter Mix), “Strange Attraction” (Strange Mix)


Peak: 23 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.28 video, 2.63 streaming


About the Song

A

Gone!

The Cure

Writer(s): Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Simon Gallup, Roger O’Donnell, Robert Smith


Recorded: 1995


Released: 12/2/1996 (single), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Galore! (compilation, 1997)


B-Side: CD1: “The 13th (Feels Good Mix), “This Is a Lie” (Ambient Mix), “Strange Attraction” (Strange Mix); CD2: four mixes of “Gone!”


Peak: 60 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.80 video, 0.80 streaming


About the Song

A

Wrong Number

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith


Released: 11/17/1997 (single), Galore! (compilation, 1997), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: four additional mixes of “Wrong Number”


Peak: 64 BB, 8 MR, 62 UK, 31 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.06 video, 8.24 streaming


About the Song

A

Galore!: The Singles 1987-1997 (compilation)

The Cure


Recorded: 1985-1996


Released: October 28, 1997

Peak: 32 US, 37 UK, -- CN, 45 AU Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): 0.50 US, 0.06 UK, 0.60 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: goth rock


Rating:

3.980 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

Tracks:

(1) Why Can’t I Be You? (2) Catch (3) Just Like Heaven (4) Hot Hot Hot!!! (5) Lullaby (6) Fascination Street (7) Love Song (8) Pictures of You (9) Never Enough (10) Close to Me (11) High (12) Friday I’m in Love (13) A Letter to Elise (14) The 13th (15) Mint Car (16) Strange Attraction (17) Gone! (18) Wrong Number


Total Running Time: 72:47


About the Album:

This collection picks up where Standing on a Beach left off. The two serve as perfect companions, each covering a distinct era of Cure. The first set captures the band as one of the premiere bands of college rock in the early ‘80s while the second set offers a snapshot of the band achieving mainstream popularity.

Cut Here

The Cure

Writer(s): Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Simon Gallup, Roger O’Donnell, Robert Smith


Released: 10/29/2001 (single), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Signal to Noise”


Peak: 54 UK Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 4.56 video, 14.17 streaming


About the Song

A

Just Say Yes

The Cure

Writer(s): Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Roger O’Donnell


Released: 4/18/2001 (single), Greatest Hits (compilation, 2001)


B-Side: “Just Say Yes” (acoustic version)


Peak: -- Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): --


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.98 video, 5.52 streaming


About the Song

A

Greatest Hits (compilation)

The Cure


Recorded: 1979-2001


Released: November 7, 2001

Peak: 58 US, 19 UK, -- CN, 27 AU, 11 DF Click for codes to charts.


Sales (in millions): -- US, 1.20 UK, 2.20 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: goth rock


Rating:

4.261 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

(1) Boys Don’t Cry (2) A Forest (3) Let’s Go to Bed (4) The Love Cats (5) The Caterpillar (6) In Between Days (7) Close to Me (8) Why Can’t I Be You? (9) Just Like Heaven (10) Lullaby (11) Love Song (12) Pictures of You (13) Never Enough (14) High (15) Friday I’m in Love (16) Mint Car (17) Wrong Number (18) Cut Here (19) Just Say Yes


Total Running Time: 68:08


About the Album:

This set does offer two previously unreleased songs but otherwise everything here is covered on Standing on a Beach and Galore! Those two compilations offer a more complete picture of The Cure than this single-disc anthology.

Resources/References:


Related DMDB Links:


First posted 10/29/2026.

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