Galore: The Singles 1987-1997

by The Cure

Overview

It's ironic that the Cure, a band whose albums have always seemed like definitive artistic statements, were at their best as a singles band. On the group's singles, Robert Smith's ideas reached their full potential, since they captured not only the group's off-kilter pop sense, but also the haunting melancholy and wacky humor that interlaced Smith's songs. Galore rounds up the singles from the second part of the Cure's career, beginning with "Why Can't I Be You?" from 1987's Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me and ending with "Gone!" from 1996's Wild Mood Swings. Between those two are 15 more songs, nearly every one of which is a gem. The Cure were never a repetitive singles band, and there's a dizzying array of styles here, from infectious jangle pop ("Friday I'm in Love," "Mint Car") and monolithic, chilly goth rock ("Fascination Street," "Pictures of You," "Just Like Heaven") to jaunty, clever dance-club pop (the remix of "Close to Me"), eerie crawls ("Lullaby"), neo-mariachi madness ("The 13th"), and even love songs ("Catch," "Lovesong"). There are a couple of missteps along the way -- the pounding dance and pseudo-rap of "Hot Hot Hot!!!" sounds dated, as does the ill-conceived Madchester diversion "Never Enough" -- but Galore emphatically confirms the Cure's status as one of the best and most adventurous alternative bands of the '80s. And the new song, "Wrong Number," is pretty good, too. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/19/2001
Label:	Fiction
UPC:	0731453965225

Tracks

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

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Cure   Primary Artist
Boris Williams   Drums,Percussion
Lol Tolhurst   Keyboards,Percussion
Jason Cooper   Drums,Percussion
Roger O'Donnell   Keyboards
Porl Thompson   Guitar,Keyboards,Saxophone
Perry Bamonte   Guitar,Keyboards
Simon Gallup   Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Robert Smith   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)

Technical Credits

Dave Allen   Producer,Mixing
Laurence Tolhurst   Composer
Francis Milano   Musician
Steve Osborne   Engineer
Steve Whitfield   Engineer
Bob Clearmountain   Remixing
Boris Williams   Composer
Chris Parry   Mixing,Remixing
Lol Tolhurst   Composer
Jimmy Thackery   Composer
The Cure   Composer,Producer
David M. Allen   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer
Jason Cooper   Composer
Mark Saunders   Mixing,Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer
Roger O'Donnell   Composer
Porl Thompson   Composer
Perry Bamonte   Composer
Mike Williams   Composer
Adrian Sherwood   Mixing
Paul Corkett   Mixing
Paul Oakenfold   Mixing,Remix Engineer
Steve Lyon   Engineer,Producer
Simon Gallup   Composer
Rupert Wates   Composer
Mike Drake   Mixing
Mark Plati   Mixing,Producer
Ron Saint Germain   Mixing,Remixing
Robert Smith   Mixing,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Remixing
Stuart Hawkes   Digital Remastering
George Reisz   Musician
Francois Kevorkian   Remixing