On this day, February 5, 1980, The Cure released Boys Don’t Cry, a compilation album that helped introduce the band to international audiences. While their debut album Three Imaginary Boys had been released in the UK in 1979, Boys Don’t Cry was specifically designed for the North American market, featuring a restructured tracklist and some different song selections.
The album included early Cure classics such as Boys Don’t Cry, Jumping Someone Else’s Train, and Killing an Arab. These songs showcased Robert Smith’s signature melancholic lyrics and the band's early post-punk sound, which would later evolve into the gothic rock style they became known for.
Fun fact: Due to controversy, Killing an Arab was later rebranded as Killing Another and was not included on some reissues of Boys Don’t Cry. The song was inspired by Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger, but some critics misinterpreted its meaning.
Trivia question: Which Cure album featured their breakthrough hit Just Like Heaven?
The album included early Cure classics such as Boys Don’t Cry, Jumping Someone Else’s Train, and Killing an Arab. These songs showcased Robert Smith’s signature melancholic lyrics and the band's early post-punk sound, which would later evolve into the gothic rock style they became known for.
Fun fact: Due to controversy, Killing an Arab was later rebranded as Killing Another and was not included on some reissues of Boys Don’t Cry. The song was inspired by Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger, but some critics misinterpreted its meaning.
Trivia question: Which Cure album featured their breakthrough hit Just Like Heaven?
