The Top (album)
Encyclopedia
The Top is the fifth studio album
by British
band The Cure
, released in 1984.
. After Pornography, Robert Smith found himself without his friend Simon Gallup
, who departed the band due to a fight.
Smith then took a radical shift in his music. Just months after the bleak Pornography, the band released the single "Let's Go to Bed" which just featured Smith, Lol Tolhurst and session drummer Steve Goulding. Following this was "The Walk
", and then "The Lovecats
". These three singles and their b-sides were compiled and became Japanese Whispers
(1983). The Top is the first conventional studio album to follow this new side of The Cure. It marks a change from the upbeat synthpop of Japanese Whispers to a psychedelic, experimental sound.
Due to the conflicts and band lineup troubles, Smith wrote almost all of the music himself, and played almost all the instruments (except the drums). As such, this is closer to a Robert Smith solo album than any other album in the band's history, seen as experimental and transitional.
The second disc has four previously unreleased tracks ("You Stayed", "Ariel", "A Hand Inside My Mouth" – lyrics from which were eventually used in "Inbetween Days" and "Six Different Ways" – and "Sadicic", which was repurposed as "New Day"), three live performances, and studio outtakes/demos of nine of the ten songs on the original album (and of "Happy the Man" and "Throw Your Foot", final versions of which were released as B-sides on the single "The Caterpillar
").
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
band The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, released in 1984.
Overview
The Top was the studio album to follow PornographyPornography (album)
NME reviewer Dave Hill wrote, "This record portrays and parades its currency of exposed futility and naked fear with so few distractions or adornments, and so little sense of shame...
. After Pornography, Robert Smith found himself without his friend Simon Gallup
Simon Gallup
Simon Jonathon Gallup is an English musician and bassist of the post-punk band The Cure.-Early years:...
, who departed the band due to a fight.
Smith then took a radical shift in his music. Just months after the bleak Pornography, the band released the single "Let's Go to Bed" which just featured Smith, Lol Tolhurst and session drummer Steve Goulding. Following this was "The Walk
The Walk (The Cure song)
"The Walk" is the name of a 1983 single by The Cure. It later appeared on their album Japanese Whispers"The Walk" was something of a commercial breakthrough for the group with regard to their singles output, peaking at #12 to give them their first entry into the UK top 20...
", and then "The Lovecats
The Lovecats
"The Love Cats" is a 1983 single by The Cure. It was the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number seven, and also hit number six in Australia. It later appeared on the compilation album Japanese Whispers....
". These three singles and their b-sides were compiled and became Japanese Whispers
Japanese Whispers
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....
(1983). The Top is the first conventional studio album to follow this new side of The Cure. It marks a change from the upbeat synthpop of Japanese Whispers to a psychedelic, experimental sound.
Due to the conflicts and band lineup troubles, Smith wrote almost all of the music himself, and played almost all the instruments (except the drums). As such, this is closer to a Robert Smith solo album than any other album in the band's history, seen as experimental and transitional.
2006 re-release
The album was re-released August 8, 2006 in the U.S. and August 14 in the UK.The second disc has four previously unreleased tracks ("You Stayed", "Ariel", "A Hand Inside My Mouth" – lyrics from which were eventually used in "Inbetween Days" and "Six Different Ways" – and "Sadicic", which was repurposed as "New Day"), three live performances, and studio outtakes/demos of nine of the ten songs on the original album (and of "Happy the Man" and "Throw Your Foot", final versions of which were released as B-sides on the single "The Caterpillar
The Caterpillar (song)
"The Caterpillar" is the name of a 1984 single and song written by Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst. The song is performed by The Cure and is from their album The Top...
").
Original 1984 release
- "Shake Dog Shake" – 4:55
- "Bird Mad Girl" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 4:05
- "Wailing Wall" – 5:17
- "Give Me It" – 3:42
- "Dressing Up" – 2:51
- "The CaterpillarThe Caterpillar (song)"The Caterpillar" is the name of a 1984 single and song written by Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst. The song is performed by The Cure and is from their album The Top...
" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 3:40 - "Piggy in the Mirror" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 3:40
- "The Empty World" – 2:36
- "Bananafishbones" – 3:12
- "The Top" – 6:50
Disc one
- "Shake Dog Shake"
- "Birdmad Girl"
- "Wailing Wall"
- "Give Me It"
- "Dressing Up"
- "The Caterpillar"
- "Piggy In The Mirror"
- "The Empty World"
- "Bananafishbones"
- "The Top"
Disc two
- "You Stayed..." (Robert Smith home demo) – 2:21
- "Ariel" (Robert Smith home demo) – 2:58
- "A Hand Inside My Mouth" (Studio demo) – 3:40
- "Sadacic" (Robert Smith Studio demo) – 4:17
- "Shake Dog Shake" (Studio demo) – 4:56
- "Piggy in the Mirror" (Studio demo) – 3:40
- "Birdmad Girl" (Studio demo) – 3:36
- "Give Me It" (Studio demo) – 3:43
- "Throw Your Foot" (Studio demo) – 3:31
- "Happy the Man" (Studio demo) – 2:46
- "The Caterpillar" (Studio demo) – 4:17
- "Dressing Up" (Studio alt mix) – 2:14
- "Wailing Wall" (Studio alt mix) – 4:59
- "The Empty World" (live bootleg Hammersmith Odeon 5/84) – 2:47
- "Bananafishbones" (live bootleg Hammersmith Odeon 5/84) – 2:57
- "The Top" (live bootleg Hammersmith Odeon 5/84) – 7:13
- "Forever (version)" (live bootleg Zenith Paris 5/84) – 4:58
Personnel
- Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, Multi Instruments - Andy Anderson - percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Lol Tolhurst - Other Instruments
- Porl ThompsonPorl ThompsonPorl Thompson is an English musician best known for his work with The Cure.-Life and work:Thompson is the oldest of four children; he has two brothers and one sister...
- saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
on Disc 1 and Disc 2, keyboards and guitar on live tracks on Disc 2 - Phil ThornalleyPhil ThornalleyPhil Thornalley is a songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing the song "Torn" which Natalie Imbruglia later covered to great success for her 1997 debut album, Left of the Middle...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on live tracks on Disc 2
Production
- Producers: Dave AllenDavid M. AllenDavid M. Allen is a British record producer, engineer and mixer. He is mostly known for his work with new wave, synth pop and goth rock bands including The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, The Chameleons, Depeche Mode, The Associates, The Human League, Clan of Xymox, Gianna Nannini, Shelleyan Orphan and...
, Chris Parry, Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976... - Engineers: Dave AllenDavid M. AllenDavid M. Allen is a British record producer, engineer and mixer. He is mostly known for his work with new wave, synth pop and goth rock bands including The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, The Chameleons, Depeche Mode, The Associates, The Human League, Clan of Xymox, Gianna Nannini, Shelleyan Orphan and...
, Howard Grey - Instrumentation: Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
, Lol Tolhurst
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Billboard 200 | 180 |