#438 - The Cure - Boys Don't Cry (1980)

MUSIC HISTORY WRITTEN BY HEAD WRITER DJ MORTY COYLE:

Released on February 5th of 1980 and produced by Chris Parry this was the first album by the English Post-Punk trio The Cure released in the U.S.

However it was basically a compilation of several tracks from their UK debut album, “Three Imaginary Boys” and other songs they recorded between 1978 and 1979.

The intention was to reach more listeners and expand the band’s exposure outside of the U.K.

The band was originally formed as Malice in West Sussex, England in 1976 by Notre Dame Middle School schoolmates Robert Smith on vocals and guitar, Michael Dempsey on bass and vocals, and Laurence "Lol" Tolhurst on drums although they went through several line up changes before becoming a trio and changing their name to The Easy Cure. The group played dark, angular, minimalist, rock songs with coldly presented, deceptively emotional lyrics including literary references.

In 1977 after winning a talent competition the band got signed to a German label although after hearing their demos including the Albert Camus-inspired song, “Killing An Arab” they declined to release anything by The Easy Cure.

By the time Chris Parry, an A&R representative at Polydor Records heard that song’s demo the band had already shortened their name to The Cure.

Parry liked it and produced it as a single on the independent label Small Wonder in December of 1978.

Early in 1979, Parry left Polydor to form his own record label, Fiction, signed The Cure and re-released “Killing an Arab.”

Then they released their debut, “Three Imaginary Boys”, followed by their second single, “Boys Don’t Cry.”

The band then went on their first big tour, opening for Gothy, Post-Punks Siouxsie and The Banshees.

During the tour a defining musical moment for the band occurred after Robert Smith was also recruited to replace Banshees guitarist John McKay, who abruptly quit.

As Smith recalled, “On stage that first night with the Banshees, I was blown away by how powerful I felt playing that kind of music. It was so different to what we were doing with The Cure. Before that, I'd wanted us to be like the Buzzcocks or Elvis Costello; the punk Beatles. Being a Banshee really changed my attitude to what I was doing."

That inspired their third single, “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” which came out later that year.

The band then prepared demos for their second album, “Seventeen Seconds” while the “Boys Don’t Cry” record was being compiled for release in America.

Although up until then all the songs were written by the three members, Robert Smith’s desire to make more esoteric music like The Banshees bumped up against Michael Dempsey’s vision of being more like pop-punk-new wavers XTC so he was replaced in the band’s ever-changing line up.

“Boys Don’t Cry” was well received in America and the band began a world tour which showcased their new, darker, Goth, style.

It became and remains their trademark despite all the upbeat pop hits they’ve put out as much as frontman Robert Smith’s wild explosion of black hair, smeared red lipstick, and baggy, dark clothes.

And with Smith being the only consistent member during their whole career, as of now The Cure have put out 13 albums, 2 E.P.s, 30 singles, sold millions, won a bunch of awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

They’ve inspired countless artists including Nine Inch Nails, Placebo, Interpol, My Chemical Romance, The Deftones, The Smashing Pumpkins, and even Adele.