''Japanese Whispers'' is the second compilation album by British group

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 ...

. It was released in late 1983 by

Fiction Records Fiction Records is a British record label founded by Chris Parry in 1978, owned by Universal Music Group and based in the United Kingdom. It is best known for being the home of The Cure for over 20 years. It was originally a part of Polydor, ...

. It includes the singles "Let's Go to Bed", "The Walk" and "The Lovecats". The other tracks are the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

s of these singles, although "Mr. Pink Eyes" (the second B-side for "The Lovecats") was not included. The songs were recorded when the band was in a transitional phase after bassist

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 ...

left following a tour to promote the previous album, ''

Pornography Pornography (often shortened to porn or porno) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Primarily intended for adults,

''. Beginning with these singles,

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 ...

switched from drums to keyboards, a role he kept until his departure in 1989. For the tracks from the "Let's Go to Bed" and "The Walk" singles, the Cure was a duo consisting of Tolhurst and Robert Smith, with the addition of session drummer

Steve Goulding Steve Goulding (born 1954) is an English drummer, who has played as a member of Graham Parker and The Rumour, The Associates, Poi Dog Pondering, The Waco Brothers, Sally Timms and the Drifting Cowgirls and The Mekons. He also played the drums ...

(a member of

Graham Parker Graham Thomas Parker (born 18 November 1950) is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the British band Graham Parker & the Rumour. Life and career Early career (1960s–1976) Parker was born in Hackney, East L ...

and

the Rumour The Rumour was an English rock band in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are best known as the backup band for Graham Parker, whose early records (from 1976 to 1980) were credited to Graham Parker & The Rumour. However, The Rumour also ...

) for the tracks from "Let's Go to Bed". For "The Lovecats" single, a full band was assembled with the addition of bassist/producer

Phil Thornalley Philip Thornalley (born 5 January 1960) is an English songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing (with Scott Cutler and Anne Preven) the song " Torn" (made famous by Natalie Imbr ...

, who had worked with the band on ''Pornography'', and drummer Andy Anderson, a lineup which would continue for the ''

Concert A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variety a ...

'' live album. In 1986, the singles' lead tracks were included in the ''

Standing on a Beach ''Standing on a Beach'' (titled ''Staring at the Sea'' in CD format in some countries) is a singles compilation album released by English rock band The Cure in May 1986, marking a decade since the band's founding in 1976. The album's titles are ...

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

, while all of the B-sides were included in the 2004 B-sides and rarities

box set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...

'' Join the Dots''. ''Japanese Whispers'' was the first Cure album to enter the ''Billboard'' 200 in the US, in early 1984.

Track listing

All tracks written by Robert Smith and Laurence Tolhurst except as noted. # " Let's Go to Bed" – 3:34 # "The Dream" (Smith) – 3:13 # "Just One Kiss" – 4:09 # "The Upstairs Room" – 3:31 # " The Walk" – 3:30 # "Speak My Language" – 2:41 # "Lament" (Smith) – 4:20 # " The Love Cats" (Smith) – 3:40

Personnel

* Robert Smith – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar *

– keyboards, drum machine,

vibraphone The vibraphone is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a ''vibraphonist,'' ''vibraharpist,' ...

(6, 8) *

– drums (1, 3) *

– double bass (6, 8) * Andy Anderson – drums (6, 8)

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 1983 compilation albums The Cure compilation albums Albums produced by Steve Nye Fiction Records compilation albums Sire Records compilation albums