Standing on a Beach
Standing on a Beach Staring at the Sea | ||||
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Greatest hits album by the Cure | ||||
Released | 15 May 1986 | |||
Recorded | 1978–1985 | |||
Length | 45:44 (vinyl edition) 60:40 (CD edition) 85:37 (cassette edition) | |||
Label | Fiction | |||
Producer | The Cure | |||
the Cure chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blender | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | B+[3] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Standing on a Beach (titled Staring at the Sea in CD format in some countries) is a greatest hits album by English rock band the Cure, released in the United States on 15 May 1986 by Elektra Records and in the United Kingdom on 19 May 1986 by Fiction Records,[5][6] marking a decade since the band's founding in 1976. The album's titles are both taken from the opening lyrics of the Cure's debut single, "Killing an Arab".
The "New Voice – New Mix" of "Boys Don't Cry" (released as a single little over a fortnight before Standing on a Beach) was not included on the album; thus the album's singles span only from 1978 to 1985.
"A Forest" on this compilation is the album version (which was also on the 12-inch single) but with the first 59 seconds removed. It is not the 7-inch single edit (which removes a few bars between verses and fades out part way through the guitar solo ending).
The album was critically acclaimed. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it "one of the finest albums of the '80s".[7]
Release formats
The album was released on vinyl record, compact disc, audio cassette.
The vinyl edition is a collection of all 13 of the Cure's commercially released singles up to that point in chronological order. "10:15 Saturday Night" was dropped though, possibly because it was only released in France.
The CD edition features the same tracks as the vinyl edition, but also includes an extra track from four of the band's albums. The four songs, although not released as singles, all had music videos made for them.
The cassette edition features the same tracks as the vinyl edition, but also contains all of the band's B-sides that had not, to that point, received a long-play release. This excludes "10:15 Saturday Night" from the "Killing an Arab" single, which was released on the Three Imaginary Boys album, "Plastic Passion" from the "Boys Don't Cry" single, which was released on the Boys Don't Cry album, and the five B-sides from the "Let's Go to Bed", "The Walk" and "The Love Cats" singles, which were released on the Japanese Whispers compilation album. However, the B-side "Mr. Pink Eyes" from the 12-inch version of "The Lovecats" was omitted from Japanese Whispers, and so was included on this release.
These releases were accompanied by a video release, a music video collection titled Staring at the Sea: The Images with the same setlist as the CD version of the album. This was released on Betamax and VHS videocassettes, laser disc (US and Japan only), Video CD (China only) and VHD (Japan only).
All the B-sides on the cassette edition were also later released on the first disc of the Join the Dots compilation in 2004.
The album has been certified 2× platinum in the US.
Album art
The man featured on the album cover was not a member of the Cure; he was chosen because his appearance fit the desired aesthetic of the album. His name is John Button, and was at the time a retired fisherman. He also appeared in the music video for "Killing an Arab". According to the band's 2005 biography by Jeff Apter, when asked why he agreed to lend his face to the band's media, Button's answer was, "If I can help these youngsters break through, after all, why not?"[8] He also reportedly said that he would buy a record player and listen to one of the band's songs "out of curiosity, just to see".[9]
Track listing
Vinyl edition
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Origin | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Killing an Arab" | Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey | Non-album single (1978) | 2:22 |
2. | "Boys Don't Cry" | Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey | Non-album single (1979) | 2:35 |
3. | "Jumping Someone Else's Train" | Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey | Non-album single (1979) | 2:54 |
4. | "A Forest" | Smith, Tolhurst, Simon Gallup, Matthieu Hartley | Seventeen Seconds (1980) | 4:53 |
5. | "Primary" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup | Faith (1981) | 3:33 |
6. | "Charlotte Sometimes" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup | Non-album single (1981) | 4:13 |
7. | "The Hanging Garden" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup | Pornography (1982) | 4:21 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Origin | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Let's Go to Bed" | Smith, Tolhurst | Non-album single (1982) | 3:33 |
2. | "The Walk" | Smith, Tolhurst | Non-album single (1983) | 3:28 |
3. | "The Love Cats" | Smith | Non-album single (1983) | 3:38 |
4. | "The Caterpillar" | Smith, Tolhurst | The Top (1984) | 3:38 |
5. | "In Between Days" | Smith | The Head on the Door (1985) | 2:56 |
6. | "Close to Me" | Smith | The Head on the Door (1985) | 3:39 |
CD/video editions
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Origin | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Killing an Arab" | Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey | Non-album single (1978) | 2:22 |
2. | "10:15 Saturday Night" | Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey | Three Imaginary Boys (1979) | 3:37 |
3. | "Boys Don't Cry" | Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey | Non-album single (1979) | 2:35 |
4. | "Jumping Someone Else's Train" | Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey | Non-album single (1979) | 2:54 |
5. | "A Forest" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup, Hartley | Seventeen Seconds (1980) | 4:53 |
6. | "Play for Today" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup, Hartley | Seventeen Seconds (1980) | 3:41 |
7. | "Primary" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup | Faith (1981) | 3:33 |
8. | "Other Voices" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup | Faith (1981) | 4:27 |
9. | "Charlotte Sometimes" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup | Non-album single (1981) | 4:13 |
10. | "The Hanging Garden" | Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup | Pornography (1982) | 4:21 |
11. | "Let's Go to Bed" | Smith, Tolhurst | Non-album single (1982) | 3:33 |
12. | "The Walk" | Smith, Tolhurst | Non-album single (1983) | 3:28 |
13. | "The Love Cats" | Smith | Non-album single (1983) | 3:38 |
14. | "The Caterpillar" | Smith, Tolhurst | The Top (1984) | 3:38 |
15. | "In Between Days" | Smith | The Head on the Door (1985) | 2:56 |
16. | "Close to Me" | Smith | The Head on the Door (1985) | 3:39 |
17. | "A Night Like This" | Smith | The Head on the Door (1985) | 4:11 |
Total length: | 1:01:39 |
Cassette edition
Side 1: Standing on a Beach – The Singles
- "Killing an Arab" (Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey) – 2:22
- "Boys Don't Cry" (Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey) – 2:35
- "Jumping Someone Else's Train" (Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey) – 2:54
- "A Forest" (Smith) – 4:53
- "Primary" (Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup) – 3:33
- "Charlotte Sometimes" (Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup) – 4:13
- "The Hanging Garden" (Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup) – 4:21
- "Let's Go to Bed" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 3:33
- "The Walk" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 3:28
- "The Lovecats" (Smith) – 3:38
- "The Caterpillar" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 3:38
- "In Between Days" (Smith) – 2:56
- "Close to Me" (Smith) – 3:39
Side 2: Standing on a Beach – The B-Sides
- "I'm Cold" (Smith, Tolhurst, Dempsey) – 2:47 (from "Jumping Someone Else's Train")
- "Another Journey by Train" (Smith, Gallup, Tolhurst, Hartley) – 3:04 (from "A Forest")
- "Descent" (Smith, Gallup, Tolhurst) – 3:07 (from "Primary")
- "Splintered in Her Head" (Smith, Gallup, Tolhurst) – 5:16 (from "Charlotte Sometimes")
- "Mr Pink Eyes" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 2:42 (from "The Love Cats")
- "Happy the Man" (Smith) – 2:45 (from "The Caterpillar")
- "Throw Your Foot" (Smith) – 3:33 (from "The Caterpillar")
- "The Exploding Boy" (Smith) – 2:52 (from "In Between Days")
- "A Few Hours After This" (Smith) – 2:26 (from "In Between Days")
- "A Man Inside My Mouth" (Smith) – 3:05 (from "Close to Me"/Half an Octopuss)
- "Stop Dead" (Smith) – 4:02 (from "In Between Days"/"Close to Me"/Half an Octopuss)
- "New Day" (Smith, Tolhurst) – 4:08 (from Half an Octopuss)
Comparison
Presented here is a comparison showing in what format each of the 29 songs on the album can be found, with the position number of that song on that particular format.
Song | Vinyl LP | CD and VHS | Cassette |
---|---|---|---|
"10:15 Saturday Night" | 2 | ||
"A Few Hours After This" | 22 | ||
"A Forest" | 4 | 5 | 4 |
"A Man Inside My Mouth" | 23 | ||
"A Night Like This" | 17 | ||
"Another Journey By Train" | 15 | ||
"Boys Don't Cry" | 2 | 3 | 2 |
"The Caterpillar" | 11 | 14 | 11 |
"Charlotte Sometimes" | 6 | 9 | 6 |
"Close to Me" | 13 | 16 | 13 |
"Descent" | 16 | ||
"The Exploding Boy" | 21 | ||
"The Hanging Garden" | 7 | 10 | 7 |
"Happy the Man" | 19 | ||
"I'm Cold" | 14 | ||
"In Between Days" | 12 | 15 | 12 |
"Jumping Someone Else's Train" | 3 | 4 | 3 |
"Killing an Arab" | 1 | 1 | 1 |
"Let's Go to Bed" | 8 | 11 | 8 |
"The Love Cats" | 10 | 13 | 10 |
"Mr Pink Eyes" | 18 | ||
"New Day" | 25 | ||
"Other Voices" | 8 | ||
"Play for Today" | 6 | ||
"Primary" | 5 | 7 | 5 |
"Splintered in Her Head" | 17 | ||
"Stop Dead" | 24 | ||
"Throw Your Foot" | 20 | ||
"The Walk" | 9 | 12 | 9 |
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[27] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
France (SNEP)[28] | 2× Gold | 200,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[29] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[30] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[32] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[34] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 4,000,000[35] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Staring at the Sea: The Singles - The Cure". AllMusic.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "CG: The Cure". Robert Christgau.
- ^ "The Cure: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ^ "New Releases". The Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report. 9 May 1986. p. 34. OCLC 857904873.
- ^ "New Albums (Mon 19–Fri 23 May)". Music Week. 17 May 1986. p. 19. ISSN 0265-1548.
- ^ Staring at the Sea: The Singles – The Cure | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic
- ^ Apter, Jeff (2005). Never Enough: The Story of the Cure. London: Omnibus Press. p. 217. ISBN 978-0-85712-024-3.
- ^ Blanchet, Philippe (July–August 1986). "Cote Cure". Rock & Folk (in French). No. 232. p. 80.
- ^ Kent 1993, pp. 79–80.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0709". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cure – Standing on a Beach - The Singles" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "European Top 100 Albums". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 27. 12 July 1986. p. 19. OCLC 29800226.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cure – Standing on a Beach - The Singles" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Charts.nz – The Cure – Standing on a Beach - The Singles". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Cure – Standing on a Beach - The Singles". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Cure – Standing on a Beach - The Singles". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "The Cure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – The Cure – Standing On A Beach - The Singles". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ Kent 1993, p. 438.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 35. OCLC 29800226.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)". Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "French album certifications – The Cure – Standing on a beach" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 July 2023. Select THE CURE and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Cure; 'Standing on a Beach')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – The Cure – Standing on a Beach" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 5 August 2018. Enter Standing on a Beach in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1988 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – The Cure – Standing on a Beach". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Standing on a Beach')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – The Cure – Standing on a Beach". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – The Cure – Standing on a Beach". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (21 May 1989). "RECORDINGS; The Cure Provides Company for Misery". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
Bibliography
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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- Three Imaginary Boys
- Seventeen Seconds
- Faith
- Pornography
- The Top
- The Head on the Door
- Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
- Disintegration
- Wish
- Wild Mood Swings
- Bloodflowers
- The Cure
- 4:13 Dream
- Concert: The Cure Live
- Entreat
- Show
- Paris
- Bestival Live 2011
- Boys Don't Cry
- Japanese Whispers
- Standing on a Beach/Staring at the Sea
- Galore
- Greatest Hits
- Join the Dots
- Mixed Up
- Torn Down
- The Peel Sessions
- Festival 2005
- Hypnagogic States EP
- "Killing an Arab"
- "Boys Don't Cry"
- "Jumping Someone Else's Train"
- "A Forest"
- "Primary"
- "Charlotte Sometimes"
- "The Hanging Garden"
- "Let's Go to Bed"
- "The Walk"
- "The Love Cats"
- "The Caterpillar"
- "In Between Days"
- "Close to Me"
- "Why Can't I Be You?"
- "Catch"
- "Just Like Heaven"
- "Hot Hot Hot!!!"
- "Lullaby"
- "Fascination Street"
- "Lovesong"
- "Pictures of You"
- "Never Enough"
- "High"
- "Friday I'm in Love"
- "A Letter to Elise"
- "The 13th"
- "Mint Car"
- "Strange Attraction"
- "Gone!"
- "Wrong Number"
- "Cut Here"
- "The End of the World"
- "The Only One"
- "Freakshow"
- "Sleep When I'm Dead"
- "The Perfect Boy"
- "10:15 Saturday Night"
- The Cure in Orange
- Trilogy
- Festival 2005
- The Cure: 'Reflections'
- Shows of a Lost World
- Discography
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- "I'm a Cult Hero"
- Perfect as Cats: A Tribute to The Cure
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- The Magazine Spies
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