A Century Removed : The Cure (2nd Peel Session)

Nearly ten months later, I'm back with my 2nd installment (first here) of the "A Century Removed" series, this time featuring The Cure's 2nd Peel Session. And, "why bother?", you might ask? Great question.

First of all, The Cure are playing Austin TX tomorrow night. Seeing as it's a Sunday, I'm not going. Yeah, I'm religious. It's a good thing. Besides, it's my niece's graduation weekend, so family trumps.

Second, last week I stumbled upon a version of an early Cure song that I've never heard (and let it be known that if I were forced to sit down and decide upon my all-time favorite band, I'd answer with 'The Cure' after about four seconds).

So, some history. The story goes that, apparently after the distribution to the press of their debut album "Three Imaginary Boys" (plus the white label of "Grinding Halt", reviewed by Ian Penman), music journalist Paul Morley (who actually did write a great book called "Nothing" that oddly compared/contrasted Ian Curtis's suicide with Morley's own father's) wrote one of his typically wordy and pedantic reviews (which thanks to the infinite coolness of the internet, you can actually read here). Using such phrases as "most of the time it's a voice catching its breath, a cautiously primitive guitar riff, toy drumming and a sprightly bass", Morley was less than impressed by the new band's first long player (which, while not their best, was still really good and showed massive promise for Smith as a songwriter).

Some time later, The Cure delivered their musical/lyrical response to Morley (and Penman) via a John Peel session track. Suitably titled "Desperate Journalist In Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation" and set to the music of "Grinding Halt", The Cure lashed back with some keen wordplay themselves including the sarcastic refrain of "I use such long words". Needless to say, I'm thrilled by this historic find and hope you enjoy it as well (lyrics here). For a band that people often consider overly maudlin and downright goth even (obviously missing the point entirely), this goes a long way in revealing the humor that has always been part of The Cure package. Enjoy.

The Cure - 2nd Peel Session.
Recorded 09-May-1979. Broadcast 16-May-1979.

The Cure - 01 - Desperate Journalist In Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation.
The Cure - 02 - Grinding Halt.
The Cure - 03 - Subway Song.
The Cure - 04 - Plastic Passion.
The Cure - 05 - Accuracy.

P.S. - Look at this insane set list from the Austin show! 4 songs from "Seventeen Seconds" and 7 from "Three Imaginary Boys"?!?!? Much have been nice.