In Between Days
Encyclopedia
"In Between Days" is a song by the English new wave
/rock
band The Cure
.
The song was released as the first single from the band's 1985 album The Head on the Door
and was a big international success. In the UK, it was the band's ninth chart single and their fourth consecutive Top 20 hit; while in the US it was their first single to reach the Billboard Hot 100
when it peaked at #99. It was a Top 20 hit in Australia and New Zealand and also charted in several European countries,,, increasing the popularity of the band.
The song is poppy and upbeat, featuring strummed acoustic guitars under a snappy synthesizer riff, although the song's lyrical themes of ageing, loss and fear do not particularly reflect the upbeat tempo of the music. The extended version, only released on the 12" single in North America, features quite a longer introduction to the song.
uses "In Between Days" on the back of the album cover and the record label, and "Inbetween Days" on the inner sleeve. However, the CD release of the album also uses "In Between Days" on the actual disc. The 1986 singles compilation Standing on a Beach
uses both "In Between Days" and "In-Between Days", whereas the 1990 remix album Mixed Up, the 1993 live album Show, the 2001 Greatest Hits
collection and the 2004 b-sides compilation Join the Dots
each use "Inbetween Days". The 2006 re-release of The Head on the Door uses "Inbetween Days" on the back of the box and the track listing in the booklet, but uses "In Between Days" as the title in the lyrical portion of the book. A similar problem is present with the Cure song "Lovesong", as it is listed as a single compound word in some instances and two separate words ("Love Song") in others.
UK 12" single
U.S. 7" single
U.S./Canadian 12" single
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
/rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
.
The song was released as the first single from the band's 1985 album The Head on the Door
The Head on the Door
The Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1985. The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, it also features the return of Simon Gallup and is Porl Thompson's first album as an official member....
and was a big international success. In the UK, it was the band's ninth chart single and their fourth consecutive Top 20 hit; while in the US it was their first single to reach the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
when it peaked at #99. It was a Top 20 hit in Australia and New Zealand and also charted in several European countries,,, increasing the popularity of the band.
The song is poppy and upbeat, featuring strummed acoustic guitars under a snappy synthesizer riff, although the song's lyrical themes of ageing, loss and fear do not particularly reflect the upbeat tempo of the music. The extended version, only released on the 12" single in North America, features quite a longer introduction to the song.
Title
The spacing and punctuation in the title of this song is widely disputed, as it varies between "In Between Days", "Inbetween Days", and "In-Between Days" on many official Cure releases. The single used "In Between Days", whereas the album The Head on the DoorThe Head on the Door
The Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1985. The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, it also features the return of Simon Gallup and is Porl Thompson's first album as an official member....
uses "In Between Days" on the back of the album cover and the record label, and "Inbetween Days" on the inner sleeve. However, the CD release of the album also uses "In Between Days" on the actual disc. The 1986 singles compilation Standing on a Beach
Standing on a Beach
Standing on a Beach is a singles compilation released by the British rock band The Cure in May, 1986, marking a decade since the band's founding in 1976...
uses both "In Between Days" and "In-Between Days", whereas the 1990 remix album Mixed Up, the 1993 live album Show, the 2001 Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (The Cure album)
Greatest Hits is a 2001 compilation album by The Cure. The band's relationship with longtime label Fiction Records came to a close, and The Cure were obliged to release one final album for the label. Robert Smith agreed to release a greatest hits album under the condition that he could choose the...
collection and the 2004 b-sides compilation Join the Dots
Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities, 1978-2001 (The Fiction Years)
Join the Dots: B-sides & Rarities is a box set of The Cure, released on January 27, 2004 by their former record label Fiction. . This box set is a four-disc compilation of B-sides and rarities, digitally remastered from their original tapes...
each use "Inbetween Days". The 2006 re-release of The Head on the Door uses "Inbetween Days" on the back of the box and the track listing in the booklet, but uses "In Between Days" as the title in the lyrical portion of the book. A similar problem is present with the Cure song "Lovesong", as it is listed as a single compound word in some instances and two separate words ("Love Song") in others.
Track listing
UK 7" single- "In Between Days"
- "The Exploding Boy"
UK 12" single
- "In Between Days"
- "The Exploding Boy"
- "A Few Hours After This"
U.S. 7" single
- "In Between Days"
- "Stop Dead"
U.S./Canadian 12" single
- "In Between Days"
- "In Between Days" (Extended version)
- "Stop Dead"
Personnel
- Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
- Voice, Guitar, 6-String Bass, Keyboards - Porl ThompsonPorl ThompsonPorl Thompson is an English musician best known for his work with The Cure.-Life and work:Thompson is the oldest of four children; he has two brothers and one sister...
- Guitar, Keyboard - Simon GallupSimon GallupSimon Jonathon Gallup is an English musician and bassist of the post-punk band The Cure.-Early years:...
- Bass - Boris WilliamsBoris WilliamsBoris Peter Bransby-Williams is an English drummer best known for his extensive work with The Cure . He had previously worked with various artists, including Thompson Twins, Kim Wilde, Strawberry Switchblade and Tomato City...
- Drums - Lol Tolhurst - Keyboard
Chart positions
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
16 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
99 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
39 |
Cover versions
- Ben FoldsBen FoldsBenjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
included a cover version of the song on his 2005 EP Speed GraphicSpeed Graphic (EP)Speed Graphic is the first of a three-EP series released by Ben Folds. It included a cover track, "In Between Days" . It also included a sparse arrangement of "Give Judy My Notice", which would later appear on Songs for Silverman in a rearranged full-band version...
and the 2006 LP Supersunnyspeedgraphic. The song is first in the track listing of both. - La PortuariaLa PortuariaLa Portuaria is an Argentine rock band formed at the beginning of the 1990s. The band developed a fusion sound, constructing Latin rhythms upon a base strongly influenced by jazz and rhythm'n'blues. The line up included Christian Basso on bass and Sebastián Schachtel on keyboards, with Diego...
included a cover version of the song on their 2005 LP Rio. The song is the seventh in the track listing. - This song was performed on Korn'sKornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
MTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged: Korn-B-sides:* "No One's There"* "Thoughtless"* "Dirty" - Additional content :The album's booklet contained a special code which granted owners of the recording an opportunity for an exclusive preview of Korn's then forthcoming studio album Untitled.-Chart positions:AlbumSingles...
album by Robert SmithRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
and Jonathan DavisJonathan DavisJonathan Houseman Davis is the lead vocalist and frontman for the nu metal band Korn. Davis was ranked 16th on Hit Parader 's list of "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists".-Early life:...
along with Korn's "Make Me BadMake Me Bad"Make Me Bad" is a song written and recorded by American nu metal band Korn for their fourth studio album, Issues. Many Korn fans interpret the lyrics to be about frontman Jonathan Davis' getting tired of drinking and drug abuse and his decision to get sober a year prior to Issues coming out...
." - The song was covered by John EddieJohn EddieJohn Eddie is an American folk rock singer. Eddie moved to New Jersey in the 1970s and became a popular club circuit musician there, occasionally performing with Bruce Springsteen. Eddie signed with Columbia Records and released two albums, in 1986 and 1990. The 1986 single, "Jungle Boy" peaked on...
for a planned Elektra album that was never released by the label. Eddie's version was included on a promo CD produced by The Album Network (TUNE UP Rock #59 dated November 26, 1990). - This was covered by Mumm-Ra and placed on the Gatefold 7" version of "Out of the QuestionOut of the Question"Out of the Question" is the first single by the English band Mumm-Ra, released by Columbia Records on October 23, 2006. It reached number 45 in the UK Singles Chart.-Track listings:All songs written by Mumm-Ra, except In Between Days, by Robert Smith.CD...
". - A live version of the song was released on The Rifles'The Rifles (band)The Rifles are an English indie rock band from Chingford, London.Their debut album No Love Lost was released on 17 July 2006 and reached #26 in the UK charts...
single "She's Got Standards". - FightstarFightstarFightstar are an English alternative rock band from London. They formed in 2003 and their lineup comprises lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and vocalist Alex Westaway, bass guitarist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi...
also covered the song on the b-side of their single "We Apologise For NothingWe Apologise for Nothing"We Apologise for Nothing" is the second single to be taken from the second album One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours, by Fightstar. It was released on 17 September 2007 on CD and two 7"s, and was accompanied by a music video....
". This cover was later featured on their b-side album Alternate EndingsAlternate EndingsAlternate Endings is a compilation album by English alternative rock band Fightstar, released August 11, 2008 on Gut Records.It features previously unreleased material, b-sides, covers and live radio recordings from the previous four years....
. - The song was covered by Irish folk singer Luka BloomLuka BloomLuka Bloom is an Irish folk-rock singer-songwriter. He is the younger brother of Irish folk singer Christy Moore.-Early life:...
on his 2000 release Keeper of the Flame which consisted purely of cover versions. - The song was covered by BlackblackBlackblackBlackBlack is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of Diva Dompe , Lola Dompe , and Clark Schädelkopf .-Background:...
for the compilation cure tribute Perfect as CatsPerfect As CatsPerfect as Cats: A Tribute to the Cure is a charity record released by Los Angeles indie label, Manimal Vinyl on October 28, 2008.. , Segodnya . , Les Inrockuptibles It features covers of The Cure favourites by Dandy Warhols, Bat For Lashes, Kaki King, Devastations, ex-Godflesh frontman, Justin K...
in 2008. - The song was covered by the Alternative Punk band "Face to FaceFace to Face (punk band)Face to Face is an American pop punk band from Victorville, California formed in 1991 by frontman Trever Keith. Originally known as "Zero Tolerance", Keith had been the only constant member of the band during their years of touring and recording albums. The group was initially signed by Dr. Strange...
" in the film; "Not Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
". During the scene where Ricky greets the main love interest of the protagonist for the first time. - The song was covered by the American Indie rock band "SuperchunkSuperchunkSuperchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, consisting of singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Jon Wurster. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s...
" as part of the first AV Undercover Series by "The A.V. ClubThe A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
." - In 2011, Kim WildeKim WildeKim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
covered the song for her new album "SnapshotsSnapshots (Kim Wilde album)Snapshots is the twelfth studio album and the first covers album by British singer Kim Wilde. It was released in Germany on 26 August 2011 by Columbia SevenOne and was released in other regions as an import on 13 September 2011...
".