EP-iphanies: The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” U.K. 12″

As you probably know by now, The Analog Kid lives for b-sides and non-album cuts. In this continuing series, I will share some of my favorite EPs and 12″ singles from over the years in their entirety. And since it’s digital, you don’t have to worry about correctly setting the turntable speed to  or 33⅓ or 45!

The Cure always have great b-sides on all of their single releases. Quite often, the songs left off of The Cure’s albums are every bit as good as the ones that make the released record. Sometimes, they are even better– take “Snow In Summer,” for example. It was recorded for Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, but Robert Smith apparently didn’t think it was good enough to make the 18-track (!!!) double album. It was finally released as one of the b-sides on the Just Like Heaven 12″, and to me it’s as gorgeous as any song on Kiss Me.

Smith had this to say about “Snow In Summer” in the liner notes of the 2004 box set Join The Dots:

“A slightly awkward song. The words didn’t quite fit together with the music. There is a tension in the song that isn’t altogether good…the words were written at a time when the music had a different vibe, and I never really adapted them properly.”

I guess one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as “Snow In Summer” is one of my favorite Cure songs period– b-side or album cut. At least Smith and I agree on the a-side, as Robert calls “Just Like Heaven” “the best pop song The Cure has ever done.”

In 1992, history seemed to repeat itself when “Halo” and “The Big Hand” were left off of Wish and relegated to the b-sides of “Friday I’m In Love” and “A Letter To Elise.” I still can’t understand those decisions, but I suppose having too many great songs for one record is one hell of a nice problem to have…

The Cure: Just Like Heaven [U.K. 12″ Single]

Fiction Records, 1987

1. “Just Like Heaven [Remix]” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Tolhurst)

Just Like Heaven [Remix]

2. “Snow In Summer” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Tolhurst)

Snow In Summer

3. “Sugar Girl” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Tolhurst)

Sugar Girl

_________________________________________________________

Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

The Cure: “Friday I’m In Love [Strangelove Mix]” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Bamonte)

Friday I’m In Love [Strangelove Mix]

The Cure: “Halo” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Bamonte)

Halo

Both taken from the U.K. 12″ single Friday I’m In Love

Fiction Records, 1992

The Cure: “A Letter To Elise [7″ Remix]” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Bamonte)

A Letter To Elise [7″ Remix]

The Cure: “The Big Hand” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Bamonte)

The Big Hand

Both taken from the U.K. 7″ single A Letter To Elise

Fiction Records, 1992