The Cure

Item: Three Imaginary Boys
Author: Julia Zulia

Three Imaginary Boys

(1979)

Reviewed by Julia Zulia

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Label Fiction RecordsDecapolisJanuary 2005

gothic rock new wave post-punk power pop

I was 4 years old when The Cure originally released Three Imaginary Boys. However it wouldn't be until over a decade later that I would discover the band that would mean more to me than any other.

Last December 7th, the deluxe edition of The Cure's 1979 release Three Imaginary Boys was released here in North America.

The original release of Three Imaginary Boys was never actually issued in North America. However, a version with several singles replacing certain album tracks became "Boys Don't Cry" in 1980, put out by Fiction/PVC, and then later reissued in 1998 via Elektra.

Just as I thought I had my fill of Cure rarities from the release of Connect the Dots last year, out came the 'Deluxe Edition' of Three Imaginary Boys; re-mastered, reissued, and packaged along with a little booklet including unseen photos, and also a second cd of rarities from 1977-1979.

Those tracks include:

"I Want To Be Old" (studio demo, previously unreleased)
"I'm Cold" (studio demo, previously unreleased)
"Heroin Face" (live)
"I Just Need Myself" (studio demo, previously unreleased)
"10:15 Saturday Night" (home demo, previously unreleased)
"The Cocktail Party" (home demo, previously unreleased)
"Grinding Halt" (home demo, previously unreleased)
"Boys Don't Cry" (studio demo)
"It's Not You" (studio demo, previously unreleased)
"10:15 Saturday Night" (studio demo, previously unreleased)
"Fire in Cairo" (studio demo, previously unreleased)
"Winter" (studio outtake, previously unreleased)
"Faded Smiles (aka I Don't Know)" (studio outtake, previously unreleased)
"Play With Me" (studio out-take, previously unreleased)
"World War" (only available on early copies of "Boys Don't Cry")
"Boys Don't Cry" (single version)
"Jumping Someone Else's Train" (single version)
"Subway Song" (live)
"Accuracy" (live, previously unreleased)
"10:15 Saturday Night" (live, previously unreleased)

I remember spending many nights of my high school life lying in bed with Three Imaginary Boys playing on my record player as I'd fall asleep. Looking back, I really can't figure out why I'd pick that album to fall asleep to. I knew that screech in 'Subway Song' was coming, yet it always made me jump--and it still does. I can't tell you how many nights 'F.I.R.E. I.N. C.A.I.R.O' would be running constantly through my head. Looking back some more, I guess it falls into place with the fact I made many unwise decisions as a teenager... And speaking of unwise decisions, the decision to put the cover of 'foxy lady' on this album was pretty foolish as well. Robert Smith himself is right on when he called it 'a crap adaptation'.

As I've been listening (quite often) to this re-release, I can't help but feel guilty. Three Imaginary Boys is like my favorite, now neglected childhood toy (fee-fee-foo-foo) I have sitting way in the back of my closet with some dust bunnies. It just seemed to get shoved aside over the last few years. I forgot how brilliant and original this album is.

Right from the start of the rarity cd we are introduced to the endearing weirdness of Robert Smith in 'I want to be old'. The home and studio demos, as well as the energetic live tracks give you that infrequent look into a band's early beginnings. You get the chance to hear 3 different versions of '10:15 Saturday Night'. You get the chance to hear previously unreleased Cure material which will make you a better person in life overall. But best of all, you actually get the chance to hear The Cure become The Cure.

4/4