Pure Cult (Greatest Hits)
Encyclopedia
Pure Cult is the first of several greatest hits compilations by the British rock band The Cult
.
The title of the original release was Pure Cult: for Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners while the 2000 reissue was titled Pure Cult: The Singles 1984–1995.
and guitarist Billy Duffy
admitted that they did not have high hopes for this record's release, thinking it would be of interest only to collectors and die hard fans. However, the first week of release it was number one on the British charts and went double platinum
, selling over 200,000 copies, which lead to it being issued later in several other countries in Europe
(where it reportedly reached number one also in Portugal
) and Asia
.
Released in many forms, either as a single cd compilation of all work up to 1993 or as a double cd with a "Live" disc from a recording at the Marquee Club
in November 1991. A four album boxset version included the full greatest hits compilation and live set (but omitting the "amplification breakdown" portion) from the Marquee show, or as a double album containing only the greatest hits compilation. In Poland
it was released as a two-cassette tape set, with slightly different artwork, as "Pure Cult- For Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners, volumes one and two".
Some of the various pressings released were:
and Billy Duffy
. See also Pure Cult: The Singles 1984 - 1995
* (4.18 on cd, 7.03 on vinyl only)
** (single version)
Part 1
Part 2
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
.
The title of the original release was Pure Cult: for Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners while the 2000 reissue was titled Pure Cult: The Singles 1984–1995.
Background
Released on 9 February 1993. Singer Ian AstburyIan Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
and guitarist Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
admitted that they did not have high hopes for this record's release, thinking it would be of interest only to collectors and die hard fans. However, the first week of release it was number one on the British charts and went double platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, selling over 200,000 copies, which lead to it being issued later in several other countries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(where it reportedly reached number one also in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
) and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Released in many forms, either as a single cd compilation of all work up to 1993 or as a double cd with a "Live" disc from a recording at the Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
in November 1991. A four album boxset version included the full greatest hits compilation and live set (but omitting the "amplification breakdown" portion) from the Marquee show, or as a double album containing only the greatest hits compilation. In Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
it was released as a two-cassette tape set, with slightly different artwork, as "Pure Cult- For Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners, volumes one and two".
Some of the various pressings released were:
- In the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe 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...
, a two-LP set, consisting of the greatest hits compilation. - Also in the United Kingdom, a four LP box set, consisting of the greatest hits compilation (with the full seven minute version of 'The Witch') and the two LP version of the Marquee ClubMarquee ClubThe Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
show, minus the amplification breakdown section. - Another UK release was a two-CD set, the first disc is the greatest hits compilation (with the four minute version of 'The Witch') and the second disc is the first half of the Marquee ClubMarquee ClubThe Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
. - In PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, it was released as a two-LP set, consisting of the greatest hits compilation. - In ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, it was released as a single cd greatest hits compilation, and also some copies included the second "Live at the Marquee Club" disc. Both versions in Italy and the Netherlands use the four minute version of "The Witch". - In PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, it was issued as a two-cassette tape set, with the entire greatest hits compilation and the four minute version of "The Witch", but none of the live album. This version was an unauthorised release. - In the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, it was issued as a single cassette tape with the entire greatest hits compilation, with the four minute version of "The Witch". It was also reissued on cassette tape again at a later date in the Philippines. - In CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, two versions were released on cd, one by PolygramPolyGramPolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
and the other by Beggars Banquet RecordsBeggars Banquet RecordsBeggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
. Both versions were nearly identical, except the Polygram version used white lettering on the back cover, whereas and the Beggars Banquet version uses black lettering on the back cover.
Track listing (original release)
All compositions by Ian AstburyIan Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
and Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
. See also Pure Cult: The Singles 1984 - 1995
Pure Cult: The Singles 1984 - 1995
Pure Cult: The Singles 1984–1995 is a singles Compilation by The Cult, authorized by the band to replace the previous unauthorized High Octane Cult...
- She Sells SanctuaryShe Sells Sanctuary"She Sells Sanctuary" is a song by the English rock band The Cult. It is from their 1985 album Love and was released as a single in May of that year, peaking at no.15 in the UK Singles Chart.The band has released various versions of the song...
- Fire WomanFire Woman"Fire Woman" is a rock song by the band The Cult, written by singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album Sonic Temple, and was subsequently featured on all of The Cult's compilation/ greatest hits albums, as well as being a steady...
- Lil' Devil
- Spiritwalker
- The Witch*
- Revolution**
- Wild Hearted Son**
- Love Removal MachineLove Removal Machine"Love Removal Machine" is a rock song recorded by The Cult. It was the first single to be released from the group's 1987 album Electric. First recorded during a radio session, it had a different arrangement, was recorded for the band's third album, Peace. When that album was scrapped, it was...
- Rain
- Edie (Ciao Baby)**
- Heart of Soul**
- Love
- Wild Flower
- Go West (Crazy Spinning Cirlcles)
- Resurrection Joe**
- Sun King
- Sweet Soul SisterSweet Soul Sister"Sweet Soul Sister" is a song by English hard rock band The Cult. It was first released on their 1989 album Sonic Temple, and was later released as a single. It reached number 42 in the UK Singles Chart, while peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the US...
** - Earth Mofo
The Marquee show
See also Live CultLive Cult
Recorded live at the Marquee Club, London on 27 November 1991. This compilation was originally released in 1993 with the purchase of the Pure Cult: For Rockers, Ravers, Lovers and Sinners video which included all of their singles and several of the strongest album tracks from 1984 to 1993...
Part 1
- Nirvana
- Lil' Devil
- Spiritwalker
- Horse Nation
- Zap City
- Brother Wolf Sister Moon
- Revolution
- Love
- Rain
Part 2
- The Phoenix
- Wild Flower
- She Sells Sanctuary
- Full Tilt
- Amplification Breakdown (only on CD version)
- Peace Dog
- Love Removal Machine
- Earth Mofo
- Fire Woman
See also
- The CultThe CultThe Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
- Pure Cult: The Singles 1984 - 1995Pure Cult: The Singles 1984 - 1995Pure Cult: The Singles 1984–1995 is a singles Compilation by The Cult, authorized by the band to replace the previous unauthorized High Octane Cult...
- Live CultLive CultRecorded live at the Marquee Club, London on 27 November 1991. This compilation was originally released in 1993 with the purchase of the Pure Cult: For Rockers, Ravers, Lovers and Sinners video which included all of their singles and several of the strongest album tracks from 1984 to 1993...