The Cure - A Site Just Like Heaven
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The Top information

 

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Professional reviews

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Pitchfork Media (6.9/10)

 
 
OVERVIEW
 
The Top is The Cure's fifth studio album, released in 1984.
 
Released: 1 May 1984
 
Recorded: Genetic, Garden studios,
           Trident, 1983-1984
 
Genre: Alternative Rock
 
Length: 40:55
 
Label: Fiction Records
 
Producer(s): David M. Allen,
              Chris Parry
              Robert Smith
 
2006 RE-RELEASE
 
The album was re-released August 8, 2006 in the U.S. and August 14 in the UK. The first CD had the original album with remastered sound. The second disk had four unreleased tracks, live performances and studio outtakes of all ten songs on the original album (and it's two B-sides "Happy the Man" and "Throw Your Foot", from "The Caterpillar").
 
TRACK LISTING
 
All songs by Robert Smith, except where noted.
 
Original 1984 release
  1. "Shake Dog Shake" - 4:55
  2. "Birdmad Girl" (Smith, Tolhurst) - 4:05
  3. "Wailing Wall" - 5:17
  4. "Give Me It" - 3:42
  5. "Dressing Up" - 2:51
  6. "The Caterpillar" (Smith, Tolhurst) - 3:40
  7. "Piggy in the Mirror" (Smith, Tolhurst) - 3:40
  8. "The Empty World" - 2:36
  9. "Bananafishbones" - 3:12
  10. "The Top" - 6:50

2006 Deluxe Edition

Disc one

Original album, as above, but with the intro drum roll of "Shake Dog Shake" shortened.

Disc two

  1. "You Stayed..." (Robert Smith Home demo)
  2. "Ariel" (Robert Smith Home demo)
  3. "A Man Inside My Mouth" (Studio demo)
  4. "Sadadic" (Robert Smith Studio demo)
  5. "Shake Dog Shake" (Studio demo)
  6. "Piggy in the Mirror" (Studio demo)
  7. "Birdmad Girl" (Studio demo)
  8. "Give Me It" (Studio demo)
  9. "Throw Your Foot" (Studio demo)
  10. "Happy the Man" (Studio demo)
  11. "The Caterpillar" (Studio demo)
  12. "Dressing Up" (Studio alt mix)
  13. "Wailing Wall" (Studio alt mix)
  14. "The Empty World" (Live bootleg)
  15. "Bananafish Bones" (Live bootleg)
  16. "The Top" (Live bootleg)
  17. "Forever (version)" (Live bootleg)

PERSONNEL

PRODUCTION

  • Producers: Dave Allen, Chris Parry, Robert Smith
  • Engineers: Dave Allen, Howard Grey
  • Instrumentation: Robert Smith, Laurence Tolhurst

MISCELLANEA

  • "Give Me It" is the first officially released song by The Cure with an obscenity.
  • In an interview with Rolling Stone, Robert Smith stated that "Dressing Up" was originally written for The Glove's Blue Sunshine, but he kept it for The Top because he thought, "I like this one too much."
  • Due to a mastering problem, "Bananafishbones" was released at a slower speed than it was recorded, which lowered its pitch by a semitone. The 2006 "Deluxe Edition" remaster has restored the track to its original speed and pitch, making it nearly 15 seconds shorter.

CHARTS

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year
Chart
Position
1984
The Billboard 200
180

               
 
                The Cure chronology
 
Concert               The Top             The Head On The
                                                Door
 
 (1984)                (1984)                   (1985)