"Fascination Street" is a 1989 North-American-only single by the English rock band

The Cure The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith (musician), Robert Smith has re ...

from their album '' Disintegration''. Their American record company refused the band's original choice "

Lullaby A lullaby (), or cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of music that is usually played for (or sung to) children (for adults see music and sleep). The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies they are used to pass down cultural knowled ...

" as the first single (it was the lead single in the UK and was released in the U.S. later) and used "Fascination Street" instead. The song is notable for its extended bass introduction. The song became the band's first number-one single on ''Billboard'''s then-newly created

Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks (1988–2009) and Alternative Songs (2009–2020)) is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in ''Billboard'' magazine since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played ...

chart, where it stayed on top for seven weeks. An extended mix, notable for its lengthy 4:00 instrumental introduction, was produced by Robert Smith, Chris Parry and Mark Saunders and released as the lead track on the 12" vinyl and CD maxi-singles. A shorter, radio-friendly edit of the remix was used for the 7" vinyl and cassette single releases. (The extended mix was also later included on The Cure's 1990 remix album '' Mixed Up'' and the short remix has since been released worldwide on 1997's '' Galore (The Singles 1987-1997)''). The song was featured in the 2010 video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Background

"Fascination Street" was inspired by an alcoholic night in New Orleans.

Track listing

7": Elektra / 7 69300 (US)

# "Fascination Street" emix(4:17) # "Babble" (4:16) * also available on cassette 9 469300

12": Elektra / 96 67040 (CDN)

# "Fascination Street" xtended Remix(8:48) # "Babble" (4:16) # "Out of Mind" (3:51)

12": Elektra / 0-66704 (US)

# "Fascination Street" xtended Remix(8:48) # "Babble" (4:16) # "Out of Mind" (3:51)

CD: Elektra / 66702-2 (US)

# "Fascination Street" emix(4:17) # "Babble" (4:16) # "Out of Mind" (3:51) # "Fascination Street" xtended Remix(8:48)

Personnel

Band

Simon Gallup Simon Jonathon Gallup (born 1 June 1960) is an English musician and bassist with the alternative rock band The Cure. He is the second longest-serving member of the band after lead vocalist/guitarist Robert Smith. Early years Born in Duxhurst ...

– bass guitar * Robert Smith – lead guitar, keyboards, vocals, producer, engineer *

Porl Thompson Pearl Thompson (born 8 November 1957 as Paul Stephen ThompsonChris Gerrard (2021)The Cure FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the Most Heartbreakingly Excellent Rock Band the World Has Ever Known. Backbeat, ISBN 9781493053988, p. 155) is an E ...

– guitar *

Boris Williams Boris Peter Bransby Williams (born 24 April 1957) is a French-born English drummer best known for his extensive work with the Cure (1984–1994). Biography Born in Versailles, France, he had previously worked with various artists, including T ...

– drums *

Roger O'Donnell Roger O'Donnell (born 29 October 1955) is an English keyboardist best known for his work with The Cure. O'Donnell has also performed in The Psychedelic Furs, Thompson Twins and Berlin, as well as having an active solo career. Background O'Do ...

– keyboards *

Lol Tolhurst Laurence Andrew "Lol" Tolhurst (born 3 February 1959) is a founding member and the former drummer and keyboardist of English band The Cure - he left the Cure in 1989 and was later involved in the band Presence and his current project, Levinhurs ...

– other instruments

Production

* Mark Saunders – remix *Robert Smith – remix, producer, engineer * Chris Parry – remix * David M. Allen – producer, engineer

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1989 singles The Cure songs Songs written by Robert Smith (musician) 1988 songs Elektra Records singles Songs written by Simon Gallup Songs written by Porl Thompson Songs written by Boris Williams Songs written by Roger O'Donnell Songs written by Lol Tolhurst Song recordings produced by David M. Allen