Japanese Whispers
Encyclopedia
Japanese Whispers: The Cure Singles Nov 82:Nov 83 is a compilation album
by British
rock
group The Cure
. It was released in late 1983 by their record company, Fiction Records
.
Essentially, this is a collected release of the singles
"Let's Go to Bed", "The Walk" and "The Lovecats". The other tracks are the B-side
s of these singles. One of the songs from the era, "Mr. Pink Eyes" (the second B-side for "The Lovecats") was not included in the album. They were recorded when the band was in a transitional phase after bassist
Simon Gallup
had left following the tour of previous album, Pornography
. Beginning with these singles, Lol Tolhurst switched from drums
to keyboards
, a role he kept until his departure in 1989.
The first two singles' tracks find The Cure essentially a duo, only employing a session drummer
for the "Let's Go to Bed" tracks. Only for the last single's tracks, a full band was assembled with the addition of bassist
/producer
Phil Thornalley
(who had worked with the band on Pornography) and drummer Andy Anderson, a lineup which would continue for the Concert
live album
.
In later times, the singles' lead tracks were compiled onto the Staring at the Sea compilation album
(1986), while all of the B-sides have been included in the 2004 B-sides and rarities box set Join The Dots
. Japanese Whispers will not be re-released with the other Cure albums in the current re-issue programme, since it was not considered a proper album by the band. By listening to Greatest Hits
and Join the Dots, one can listen to all the songs remastered.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
group 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...
. It was released in late 1983 by their record company, Fiction Records
Fiction Records
Fiction Records is a UK label founded by Chris Parry in 1978 that is best known for being the home of The Cure for over 20 years. Formerly independent, the label is now owned by Polydor, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.-History:...
.
Essentially, this is a collected release of the singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Let's Go to Bed", "The Walk" and "The Lovecats". The other tracks are the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
s of these singles. One of the songs from the era, "Mr. Pink Eyes" (the second B-side for "The Lovecats") was not included in the album. They were recorded when the band was in a transitional phase after bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Simon Gallup
Simon Gallup
Simon Jonathon Gallup is an English musician and bassist of the post-punk band The Cure.-Early years:...
had left following the tour of previous album, Pornography
Pornography (album)
NME reviewer Dave Hill wrote, "This record portrays and parades its currency of exposed futility and naked fear with so few distractions or adornments, and so little sense of shame...
. Beginning with these singles, Lol Tolhurst switched from drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
to keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, a role he kept until his departure in 1989.
The first two singles' tracks find The Cure essentially a duo, only employing a session drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the "Let's Go to Bed" tracks. Only for the last single's tracks, a full band was assembled with the addition of bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
/producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Phil Thornalley
Phil Thornalley
Phil Thornalley is a songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing the song "Torn" which Natalie Imbruglia later covered to great success for her 1997 debut album, Left of the Middle...
(who had worked with the band on Pornography) and drummer Andy Anderson, a lineup which would continue for the Concert
Concert (album)
Concert: The Cure Live is the first live album of English rock band The Cure. It was recorded in 1984 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London and in Oxford...
live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
.
In later times, the singles' lead tracks were compiled onto the Staring at the Sea compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
(1986), while all of the B-sides have been included in the 2004 B-sides and rarities box set 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...
. Japanese Whispers will not be re-released with the other Cure albums in the current re-issue programme, since it was not considered a proper album by the band. By listening to 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...
and Join the Dots, one can listen to all the songs remastered.
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 WalkThe Walk (The Cure song)"The Walk" is the name of a 1983 single by The Cure. It later appeared on their album Japanese Whispers"The Walk" was something of a commercial breakthrough for the group with regard to their singles output, peaking at #12 to give them their first entry into the UK top 20...
" – 3:30 - "Speak My Language" – 2:41
- "Lament" (Smith) – 4:20
- "The LovecatsThe Lovecats"The Love Cats" is a 1983 single by The Cure. It was the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number seven, and also hit number six in Australia. It later appeared on the compilation album Japanese Whispers....
" (Smith) – 3:40
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...
- vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Lol Tolhurst - keyboards, drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
- Steve GouldingSteve GouldingSteve Goulding is an English drummer, best known for his memberships with Graham Parker and The Rumour, The Associates, Poi Dog Pondering and The Mekons. With the Associates he had a UK #9 hit single with "Party Fears Two"...
- drums (1, 3) - Phil ThornalleyPhil ThornalleyPhil Thornalley is a songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing the song "Torn" which Natalie Imbruglia later covered to great success for her 1997 debut album, Left of the Middle...
- bass (6, 8) - Andy Anderson - drums (6, 8)