THE CURE – JAPANESE WHISPERS LP – Nr MINT A2/B2 UK 1983  INDIE PUNK GOTH

The Cure – Japanese Whispers: The Cure Singles Nov 82: Nov 83
(Fiction Records  1983  FIXM8)
Matrix No’s: A2/B2 – UK Pressing

Sleeve in Nr MINT condition
Insert in Nr MINT condition

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition

The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1976 in Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band’s formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member, though bassist Simon Gallup has been present for all but about three years of the band’s history. Their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys (1979), along with several early singles, placed the band at the forefront of the emerging post-punk and new wavemovements that were gaining prominence in the United Kingdom. Beginning with their second album, Seventeen Seconds (1980), the band adopted a new, increasingly dark and tormented style, which, together with Smith’s stage look, had a strong influence on the emerging genre of gothic rock as well as the goth subculture that eventually formed around the genre.

After the release of the band’s fourth album, Pornography (1982), Smith introduced a greater pop sensibility into the band’s music, and they subsequently garnered worldwide mainstream success. Their singles compilation Standing on a Beach (1986) sold four million copies worldwide by 1989, and they reached their commercial peak with the albums Disintegration (1989) and Wish (1992). The Cure have released 13 studio albums, two EPs, and over 30 singles, and have sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Their most recent album, Songs of a Lost World, will be released on November 1, 2024. The Cure were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Japanese Whispers: The Cure Singles Nov 82: Nov 83 is a compilation album by British rock group The Cure. It was released in late 1983 by their record company, Fiction Records.

It compiles the singles “Let’s Go to Bed”, “The Walk” and “The Lovecats”. The other tracks are the B-sides of these singles, although “Mr. Pink Eyes” (the second B-side for “The Lovecats”) was not included. The songs were recorded when the band was in a transitional phase after bassist Simon Gallup left following a tour to promote the previous album, Pornography. Beginning with these singles, Lol Tolhurst switched from drums to keyboards, a role he kept until his departure in 1989.

For first two singles’ tracks The Cure is a duo consisting of Tolhurst and Robert Smith, with the addition of a session drummer for the tracks from “Let’s Go to Bed”. For the last single, a full band was assembled with the addition of bassist/producer Phil Thornalley, who had worked with the band on Pornography, and drummer Andy Anderson, a lineup which would continue for the Concert live album.

In 1986, the singles’ lead tracks were included in the Staring at the Sea compilation album, while all of the B-sides have been included in the 2004 B-sides and rarities box set Join The Dots.

Track listing

All tracks written by Robert Smith and Laurence Tolhurst except as noted.

1. “Let’s Go to Bed” – 3:34
2. “The Dream” (Smith) – 3:13
3. “Just One Kiss” – 4:09
4. “The Upstairs Room” – 3:31
5. “The Walk” – 3:30
6. “Speak My Language” – 2:41
7. “Lament” (Smith) – 4:20
8. “The Love Cats” (Smith) – 3:40

Personnel

• Robert Smith- vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar
• Lol Tolhurst – keyboards, drum machine
• Steve Goulding – drums (1, 3)
• Phil Thornalley – bass (6, 8)
• Andy Anderson – drums (6, 8)