On this day May 6, 1986, The Cure released their compilation album Standing on a Beach, a collection of singles that spanned the band’s output from 1978 through 1985. The album served as both a celebration of their rise through the post punk and new wave scenes and an accessible entry point for new fans discovering their music during the height of the alternative movement.
The compilation was released in multiple formats, with cassette and CD versions including additional B sides and rare tracks. It became one of the best selling albums in the band’s catalog and played a major role in expanding their audience worldwide.
Fun fact: The title comes from the first line of their 1980 single Killing an Arab, though the compilation was later rebranded in some markets to avoid controversy over the song’s misunderstood lyrics.
The compilation was released in multiple formats, with cassette and CD versions including additional B sides and rare tracks. It became one of the best selling albums in the band’s catalog and played a major role in expanding their audience worldwide.
Fun fact: The title comes from the first line of their 1980 single Killing an Arab, though the compilation was later rebranded in some markets to avoid controversy over the song’s misunderstood lyrics.
