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Three Imaginary Boys




  Type studio
  Artist The Cure
  Cover TheCureThreeImaginaryBoysalbumcoverjpg
  Released June 1979 <small>(UK)</small><br> 29 November 2004 <small>(Deluxe Edition)</small>
  Recorded Autumn , 1978
  Genre Post-punk
  Length 33:44
  Label Fiction
  Producer Chris Parry
  This Album '''''Three Imaginary Boys''''' <br /> (1979)
  Next Album '' Seventeen Seconds '' <br /> (1980)


''Three Imaginary Boys'' is English rock band The Cure 's debut album. It was later re-released in the U.S. with a slightly different song lineup as '' Boys Don't Cry ''.


HISTORY

"Foxy Lady", a soundcheck with vocals sung by Michael Dempsey, was not supposed to be on the album and was removed for the American release. The record company decided which songs were put on the album, as well as the cover artwork, without Robert Smith's consent. For all Cure albums since, Smith has ensured he is given complete creative control over the final product before it goes on sale.


2004 RE-RELEASE

The album was reissued on November 29 , 2004 in the UK ( December 7 in the U.S.), and featured a second disc of unrelased material, including songs recorded under the band name "Easy Cure" with Porl Thompson . Since it features a variety of old songs, it is the only Deluxe Edition by the band which does not feature an alternate version of all the songs on the first disc. Some of the early booklets in the reissue had the lyrics missing, they were made available on The Cure's website in Pdf form. All copies since have the lyrics.

The first single, " Killing An Arab ", because of the controversial nature (see the article) was excluded from the re-issue.

It was originally supposed to be released in early 2004 along with '' Seventeen Seconds '', '' Faith '', and '' Pornography '' but was delayed multiple times and was finally released by itself at the end of 2004.

There also exists a one-CD reissue. It was released on September 5 , 2005 in the UK and March 28 , 2006 in the US. The CD features the original album, but does not contain the bonus disc. It is also released in the standard jewel case, and not a box. In some countries, the "Deluxe Edition" has become a collector's item and the production has phased out, being replaced by the more economic one-CD version.


TRACK LISTING

All songs composed by Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst, except where noted.


Original 1979 release

#"" – 3:42
#"Accuracy" – 2:17
#"Grinding Halt" – 2:49
#"Another Day" – 3:44
#"Object" – 3:03
#"Subway Song" – 2:00
#" Foxy Lady " ( Jimi Hendrix ) – 2:29
#"Meathook" – 2:17
#"So What" – 2:37
#" Fire In Cairo " – 3:23
#"It's Not You" – 2:49
#"Three Imaginary Boys" – 3:17
#Untitled (a.k.a. "The Weedy Burton", hidden track) – 1:04

The album carried an uncredited, final instrumental track informally called "The Weedy Burton". The fact was not acknowledged until the Deluxe Edition re-issue.


2004 Deluxe Edition


Disc one

The first disc contains the original album, with the addition of "The Weedy Burton" as a regular thirteenth track, and slightly different track lengths.

#"" – 3:42
#"Accuracy" – 2:17
#"Grinding Halt" – 2:49
#"Another Day" – 3:44
#"Object" – 3:03
#"Subway Song" – 2:00
#" Foxy Lady " ( Jimi Hendrix ) – 2:29
#"Meathook" – 2:17
#"So What" – 2:39
#"Fire in Cairo" – 3:23
#"It's Not You" – 2:52
#"Three Imaginary Boys" – 3:32
#"The Weedy Burton" – 0:53


Disc two

The second disc contains rarities 1977 to 1979.

# "I Want to Be Old" (SAV studio demo, October 1977, previously unreleased) – 2:36
# "I'm Cold" (SAV studio demo, November 1977) – 3:21
# "Heroin Face" (live in The Rocket, Crawley, December 1977, previously available on ''Curiosity'') – 2:40
# "I Just Need Myself" (PSL studio demo, January 1978, previously unreleased) – 2:14
# "10:15 Saturday Night" (Robert Smith home demo, February 1978) – 4:36
# "The Cocktail Party" (group home demo, March 1978, previously unreleased) – 4:17
# "Grinding Halt" (group home demo, April 1978) – 3:31
# "Boys Don't Cry" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978, previously available on ''Curiosity'') – 2:45
# "It's Not You" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978) – 3:16
# "10:15 Saturday Night" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978) – 3:41
# "Fire in Cairo" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978) – 3:42
# "Winter" ('TIB' studio out-take, October 1978, previously unreleased) – 3:46
# "Faded Smiles" (aka "I Don't Know") ('TIB' studio out-take, October 1978, previously unreleased) – 2:16
# "Play with Me" ('TIB' studio out-take, October 1978, previously unreleased) – 3:30
# "World War" (on early copies of '' Boys Don't Cry '') – 2:38
# "Boys Don't Cry" (also on '' Boys Don't Cry '') – 2:37
# "Jumping Someone Else's Train" (also on '' Boys Don't Cry '') – 2:59
# "Subway Song" (live in Nottingham, October 1979, previously available on ''Curiosity'') – 2:27
# "Accuracy" (live in Nottingham, October 1979) – 2:36
# "10:15 Saturday Night" (live in Nottingham, October 1979) – 4:38


PERSONNEL

  • Michael Dempsey – bass, vocals

  • Robert Smith – guitar, vocals

  • Lol Tolhurst – drums

  • Porl Thompson – guitar

  • David Dragon – illustrations

  • Michael J. Dutton – assistant

  • Martyn Goddard – photography

  • Mike Hedges – engineer

  • Connie Jude – illustrations

  • Chris Parry – producer

  • B. Smith – photography

  • Bill Smith – design


Recorded and mixed at Morgan Studios, London, England.