The Cure - A Site Just Like Heaven
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The Head On The Door information

 

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Professional reviews

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Pitchfork Media (8.7/10)

Robert Christgau (B)

Prefix Magazine (7.5/10)

 
 
OVERVIEW
 
The Head On The Door is The Cure's sixth studio album, released in 1985.
 
Released: 13 August 1985
 
Recorded: Angel Studios, London, 1985
 
Genre: Gothic Rock, Alternative
        Rock, New Wave
 
Length: 37:46
 
Label: Fiction Records (UK)
        Elektra Records (U.S.)
 
Producers: Robert Smith and David Allen
 
HISTORY
 
This album follows the return of Simon Gallup and the official re-induction of Porl Thompson as a band member (he made a small contribution to The Top but wasn't an official band member until the album's tour). This is also the first Cure album with drummer Boris Williams, who has done work with the Thompson Twins. Special guest Ron Howe from Fools Dance plays a saxophone solo on the track "A Night Like This."
 
2006 RE-RELEASE
 
In 2006, the album was re-released by Universal on their Fiction Records/Warner Bros./Rhino Records labels, digitally remastered with various demos and live tracks from the era. Included are demos of the four b-sides from the era ("The Exploding Boy", "A Few Hours After This", "A Man Inside My Mouth", and "Stop Dead") and four songs that were never released. The remaining tracks are demos or live versions of all 10 songs from the first disc. It was released August 8 in the U.S. and August 14 in the UK.
 
TRACK LISTING
 
All songs written by Robert Smith.
 
Original 1985 release
  1. "In Between Days" - 2:57
  2. "Kyoto Song" - 4:16 produced by Smith, Allen and Howard Gray
  3. "The Blood" - 3:43
  4. "Six Different Ways" - 3:18
  5. "Push" - 4:31 produced by Smith, Allen and Gray
  6. "The Baby Screams" - 3:44
  7. "Close to Me" - 3:23
  8. "A Night Like This" - 4:16
  9. "Screw" - 2:38
  10. "Sinking" - 4:57

2005 Deluxe Edition

Disc one

Original album, as above

Disc two

  1. "Inbetween Days" (Instrumental Demo) - 1:25
  2. "Inwood" (Instrumental Demo) - 2:18
  3. "Push" (Instrumental Demo) - 2:31
  4. "Innsbruck" (Instrumental Demo) - 2:37
  5. "Stop Dead" (Demo) - 3:21
  6. "Mansolidgone" (Demo) - 4:06
  7. "Screw" (Demo) - 3:09
  8. "Lime Time" (Demo) - 2:56
  9. "Kyoto Song" (Demo) - 4:28
  10. "A Few Hours After This..." (Demo) - 4:36
  11. "Six Different Ways" (Demo) - 3:00
  12. "A Man Inside My Mouth" (Demo) - 3:00
  13. "A Night Like This" (Demo) - 4:08
  14. "The Exploding Boy" (Demo) - 3:06
  15. "Close to Me" (Demo) - 4:03
  16. "The Baby Screams" (Live) - 3:46
  17. "The Blood" (Live) - 3:34
  18. "Sinking" (Live) - 5:06

PERSONNEL

Band personnel

Additional personnel

  • Ron Howe - saxophone on "A Night Like This"

CHARTS

Album

Year
Chart
Position
1985
The Billboard 200 (U.S.)
59
1985
UK Albums Chart
7
1986
France Top 50
6
1985
Germany Top 40
15
1985
Switzerland Top 40
14
1985
Sweden Top 40
24

Singles

Year
Single
Chart
Position
1985
"In Between Days"
Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play (U.S.)
39
1985
"In Between Days"
The Billboard Hot 100 (U.S.)
99
1985
"In Between Days"
UK Top 40
15
1986
"In Between Days"
France Top 50
23
1985
"Close To Me"
UK Top 40
24
1986
"Close To Me"
France Top 50
17
1986
"Close To Me"
Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play (U.S.)
32
1991
"Close To Me (remix)"
The Billboard Hot 100 (U.S.)
97

CERTIFICATIONS

Organization
Level
Date
BPI - UK
Gold
9 December 1985
RIAA - U.S.
Gold
18 March 1991
SNEP - France
2x Gold
1986

 
 
                The Cure chronology
 
The Top              The Head On           Staring At The
                      The Door                Sea: the
                                                Singles
 
 (1984)                 (1985)                   (1986)