# Three Imaginary Boys

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1979 studio album by the Cure

Three Imaginary Boys Studio album by the Cure Released 8 May 1979 Recorded 1978–79 Studio Morgan, London Genre Post-punk new wave pop-punk power pop Length 35:31 Label Fiction Producer Chris Parry The Cure chronology Three Imaginary Boys (1979) Boys Don't Cry (1980) Singles from Three Imaginary Boys "Grinding Halt/Meat Hook (Promo)[1]" Released: May 1979 (UK) "10:15 Saturday Night" Released: 1980 (France)[2]

***Three Imaginary Boys*** is the debut studio album by the English [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [the Cure](/source/The_Cure), released on 8 May 1979 by [Fiction Records](/source/Fiction_Records),[3] and reached number 44 on the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart).[4] It was later released in the United States, Canada, and Australia with a different track listing as a compilation album titled *[Boys Don't Cry](/source/Boys_Don't_Cry_(The_Cure_album))*.[5]

## Production and content

The record company decided which songs were put on the album and running order,[6] as well as the cover artwork, without [Robert Smith](/source/Robert_Smith_(musician))'s consent. For all Cure albums since, Smith has ensured that he is given complete creative control over the final product before it goes on sale.[7] The "[Foxy Lady](/source/Foxy_Lady)" [soundcheck](/source/Soundcheck), with vocals sung by [Michael Dempsey](/source/Michael_Dempsey), was not supposed to be on the album, and was removed for the American release. Smith has stated that "songs like 'Object' and 'World War' and our cover of 'Foxy Lady' were [producer] [Chris Parry](/source/Chris_Parry_(producer))'s choice".[8]

In a *[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))* interview from 1987, Smith said he was never happy with the album. He said he "was very angst-ridden, very dislocated", at the time of its creation, and said he did not think there was "any sense of emotion on that first album at all. A lot of it was very superficial—I didn't even like it at the time. There were criticisms made that it was very lightweight, and I thought they were justified. Even when we'd make it, I wanted to do something I thought had more substance to it."[9] He also said the album's production was rushed, with him writing lyrics to songs while he was singing them.[10]

## Release

*Three Imaginary Boys* was originally released on 8 May 1979 by record label Fiction.

The album was reissued on 29 November 2004 and featured a second disc of unreleased material, including songs recorded under the band name Easy Cure with [Porl Thompson](/source/Porl_Thompson). It was originally supposed to be released in early 2004 along with the band's next three studio albums (*[Seventeen Seconds](/source/Seventeen_Seconds)*, *[Faith](/source/Faith_(The_Cure_album))* and *[Pornography](/source/Pornography_(album))*), but was delayed multiple times before being released by itself at the end of 2004. As it featured a variety of old songs, it was the only deluxe edition by the band that did not include an alternate version of each song on the first disc. Some of the early booklets in the reissue had missing lyrics, which were made available on the Cure's website in [PDF](/source/Portable_Document_Format) form.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] All copies since contain the lyrics.

A one-disc reissue was released on 5 September 2005, containing only the original album. It was also released in the standard jewel case rather than in a box. In some countries, the deluxe edition has become a collector's item as production was phased out, being replaced by the more economic single-disc version.

## Reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [11] Blender [12] The Guardian [13] The Irish Times [14] Pitchfork 8.7/10[15] Record Mirror [16] The Rolling Stone Album Guide [17] Smash Hits 8/10[18] Sounds [19] Uncut [20]

Despite Smith's displeasure with the record, *Three Imaginary Boys* was well received critically at the time of its release.[7] *[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine))*' Dave McCullough praised it in a 5-star review and noted: "The Cure are going somewhere different on each track, the ideas are startling and disarming." McCullough noted the variety of the material and qualified "Grinding Halt" as a "pop song that reminds you of [the Isley Brothers](/source/The_Isley_Brothers) or the [Buzzcocks](/source/Buzzcocks)."[19] Red Starr, writing in *[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)*, described the album as a "brilliant, compelling debut."[18] However, *[NME](/source/NME)*'s [Paul Morley](/source/Paul_Morley) did not share the same point of view and wrote: "Most of the time, it's a voice catching its breath, a cautiously primitive riff guitar, toy drumming and a sprightly bass."[21]

Chris True of [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) retrospectively called the album "a very strong debut" and a "semi-detached bit of late-'70s English [pop-punk](/source/Pop-punk)".[11] Nitsuh Abebe of *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* likened the album to a "[new wave](/source/New_wave_music) [Wire](/source/Wire_(band))... [or] [Joy Division](/source/Joy_Division)" and called it "as original a record as anything else to spin off from the tail end of punk."[15] He also called the album "spiky [post-punk](/source/Post-punk)."[22] [BBC Music](/source/BBC_Music) critic Simon Morgan said "Smith was forging his own take on the post-punk zeitgeist,"[23] while author [Martin C. Strong](/source/Martin_C._Strong) said it "remains among the Cure's finest work," adding that "their strangely accessible post-punk snippets lent an air of suppressed melancholy."[24] The album was also described as "a collection of melodic but slightly kooky [power-pop](/source/Power-pop)" by Chris Gerard of *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*.[25]

## 50th anniversary plans

On 14 October 2024, Robert Smith announced plans for retiring in 2029 following the 50th anniversary of *Three Imaginary Boys*. "I'm 70 in 2029, and that's the 50th anniversary of the first Cure album [*Three Imaginary Boys*]. If I make it that far, that's it. In the intervening time, I'd like to include playing concerts as part of the overall plan of what we’re going to do. I've loved it; the last 10 years of playing shows have been the best 10 years of being in the band. It pisses all over the other 30-odd years! It’s been great."[26]

## Track listing

All tracks are written by the Cure ([Robert Smith](/source/Robert_Smith_(musician)), [Michael Dempsey](/source/Michael_Dempsey) and [Lol Tolhurst](/source/Lol_Tolhurst)), except "Foxy Lady" written by [Jimi Hendrix](/source/Jimi_Hendrix).

Side A No. Title Length 1. "10:15 Saturday Night" 3:42 2. "Accuracy" 2:17 3. "Grinding Halt" 2:49 4. "Another Day" 3:44 5. "Object" 3:03 6. "Subway Song" 2:00

Side B No. Title Length 1. "Foxy Lady" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover) 2:29 2. "Meat Hook" 2:17 3. "So What" 2:37 4. "Fire in Cairo" 3:23 5. "It's Not You" 2:49 6. "Three Imaginary Boys" 3:17 7. "The Weedy Burton" 1:04

Deluxe Edition bonus disc No. Title Length 1. "I Want to Be Old" (SAV studio demo, October 1977; previously unreleased) 2:36 2. "I'm Cold" (SAV studio demo, November 1977) 3:21 3. "Heroin Face" (live in The Rocket, Crawley, December 1977; previously available on Curiosity) 2:40 4. "I Just Need Myself" (PSL studio demo, January 1978; previously unreleased) 2:14 5. "10:15 Saturday Night" (Robert Smith home demo, February 1978) 4:36 6. "The Cocktail Party" (group home demo, March 1978; previously unreleased) 4:17 7. "Grinding Halt" (group home demo, April 1978) 3:31 8. "Boys Don't Cry" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978; previously available on Curiosity) 2:45 9. "It's Not You" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978) 3:16 10. "10:15 Saturday Night" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978) 3:41 11. "Fire in Cairo" (Chestnut studio demo, May 1978) 3:42 12. "Winter" (Three Imaginary Boys studio outtake, October 1978; previously unreleased) 3:46 13. "Faded Smiles" (also known as "I Don't Know"; Three Imaginary Boys studio outtake, October 1978; previously unreleased) 2:16 14. "Play with Me" (Three Imaginary Boys studio outtake, October 1978; previously unreleased) 3:30 15. "World War" (on early copies of Boys Don't Cry) 2:38 16. "Boys Don't Cry" (also on Boys Don't Cry) 2:37 17. "Jumping Someone Else's Train" (also on Boys Don't Cry) 2:59 18. "Subway Song" (live in Nottingham, October 1979; previously available on Curiosity) 2:27 19. "Accuracy" (live in Nottingham, October 1979) 2:36 20. "10:15 Saturday Night" (live in Nottingham, October 1979) 4:38

## Personnel

**The Cure**

- [Robert Smith](/source/Robert_Smith_(musician)) – guitar, lead vocals (all but "Foxy Lady"), harmonica ("Subway Song")

- [Michael Dempsey](/source/Michael_Dempsey) – bass, backing and lead ("Foxy Lady") vocals

- [Lol Tolhurst](/source/Lol_Tolhurst) – drums

**Additional personnel**

- [Porl Thompson](/source/Porl_Thompson) – lead guitar, backing vocals (1–4, 6, 7 of bonus disc)

**Technical**

- David Dragon – sleeve illustrations

- Michael J. Dutton – "assistant"

- Martyn Goddard – sleeve photography

- [Mike Hedges](/source/Mike_Hedges) – [engineering](/source/Audio_engineering)

- Connie Jude – sleeve illustrations

- [Chris Parry](/source/Chris_Parry_(producer)) – [production](/source/Record_producer)

- Bill Smith – art direction, sleeve design, additional photography

## Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia — 30,000[27] United Kingdom (BPI)[28] 2005 release Silver 60,000‡ ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The Cure; Grinding Halt/Meat Hook (Promo)"](https://www.discogs.com/ru/release/1603400-The-Cure-Grinding-Halt-Meat-Hook?srsltid=AfmBOop-AMhS9rhVIY7Mfq6oXaNZ9wLP_nIb6wc1oz2Co-5e_DkHZzzO). 1979.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Cure; 10:15 Saturday Night (Promo)"](https://www.discogs.com/ru/master/2923411-The-Cure-1015-Saturday-Night). 1979.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The Cure | Three Imaginary Boys"](https://www.thecure.com/release/three-imaginary-boys/). 8 May 1979.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-guinness_4-0)** Roberts, David (ed.) (2006). *[British Hit Singles & Albums](/source/British_Hit_Singles_%26_Albums)*, 19th edition, London: [HiT Entertainment](/source/HiT_Entertainment). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-904994-10-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-904994-10-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Cure | Boys Don't Cry"](https://www.post-punk.com/the-cure-boys-dont-cry/). 5 February 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Gallucci, Michael (11 May 2013). ["34 Years Ago: The Cure's 'Three Imaginary Boys' Album Released"](https://diffuser.fm/cure-three-imaginary-boys-album-released/). *Diffuser.fm*. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Apter_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Apter_7-1) Apter, Jeff (2009). *Never Enough: The Story of The Cure*. [Omnibus Press](/source/Omnibus_Press).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Oldham, James (August 2004). "The Gothfather". *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))*. No. 87. pp. 50–66.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Staff, SPIN (19 July 2019). ["The Cure: Our 1987 Interview"](https://www.spin.com/2019/07/the-cure-robert-smith-kiss-me-kiss-me-kiss-me-july-1987-interview/). *SPIN*. Retrieved 18 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Rabid, Jack (1 January 1996). ["A Foolish Arrangement:Interview:1/1/1996The Big Takeover#40"](http://www.afoolisharrangement.com/Cure/interview.asp?InterviewID=74). *A Foolish Arrangement*. Retrieved 20 April 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-True_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-True_11-1) True, Chris. ["*Three Imaginary Boys* – The Cure"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/three-imaginary-boys-mw0000143449). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 28 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Wolk, Douglas](/source/Douglas_Wolk) (October 2005). ["The Cure: *Three Imaginary Boys*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051127000110/http://blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3478). *[Blender](/source/Blender_(magazine))*. No. 41. Archived from [the original](http://blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3478) on 27 November 2005. Retrieved 2 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Sweeting, Adam](/source/Adam_Sweeting) (17 December 2004). ["The Cure, *Three Imaginary Boys* Deluxe Edition"](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/dec/17/popandrock.shopping2). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 20 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Courtney, Kevin (17 December 2004). ["The Cure: *Three Imaginary Boys* – Deluxe Edition (Fiction/Polydor)"](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/reissues-1.1170454). *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)*. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Abebe_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Abebe_15-1) Abebe, Nitsuh (14 December 2004). ["The Cure: *Three Imaginary Boys* \[Deluxe Edition\]"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1694-three-imaginary-boys-deluxe-edition/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Retrieved 28 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Westwood, Chris](/source/Chris_Westwood_(author)) (19 May 1979). "Physician Rock 'n' Roll Thyself!". *[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)*. p. 16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Sheffield, Rob](/source/Rob_Sheffield) (2004). "The Cure". In [Brackett, Nathan](/source/Nathan_Brackett); [Hoard, Christian](/source/Christian_Hoard) (eds.). [*The New Rolling Stone Album Guide*](/source/The_Rolling_Stone_Album_Guide) (4th ed.). [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). pp. [205–06](https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA205). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7432-0169-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7432-0169-8).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Starr_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Starr_18-1) Starr, Red (28 June – 11 July 1979). "Albums". *[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)*. Vol. 1, no. 15. p. 25.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McCullough_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McCullough_19-1) McCullough, Dave (12 December 1979). "Cure Pop for Now People". *[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine))*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Martin, Piers (January 2005). "The Cure: Three Imaginary Boys". *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))*. No. 92. p. 146.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Morley_21-0)** [Morley, Paul](/source/Paul_Morley) (12 May 1979). "A Cure for Cancer?". *[NME](/source/NME)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Abebe, Nitsuh (25 August 2006). ["The Cure / Robert Smith: *The Top* / *The Head on the Door* / *Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me* / *Blue Sunshine*"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11887-the-top-the-head-on-the-door-kiss-me-kiss-me-kiss-me-blue-sunshine/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Retrieved 14 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Morgan, Simon (2 December 2004). ["The Cure *Three Imaginary Boys* (Deluxe Edition) Review"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jf25/). *[BBC Music](/source/BBC_Music)*. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** [Strong, Martin C.](/source/Martin_C._Strong) *The Essential Rock Discography*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gerard_3_25-0)** Gerard, Chris (1 October 2015). ["The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 5: 20 – 1"](https://www.popmatters.com/100-best-singles-80s-part5/3). *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Fu, Eddie (14 October 2024). ["The Cure Will Retire After 50th Anniversary of Debut Album in 2029"](https://consequence.net/2024/10/the-cure-retire-50th-anniversary/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR26mSJpfB9eMjZKTYZew_NjONt5WOvLlsm1fhc9_DwN9k9-QX7rq1BZYsk_aem_oR82u4DJyX0SlF_x-rX7iA). *Consequence*. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Baker, Glenn (8 August 1981). ["Frontier Booms Via Divere Acts"](https://books.google.com/books?id=dyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT59). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_magazine)*. p. 60. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0006-2510](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510). Retrieved 27 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_KingdomThe_CureThree_Imaginary_BoysalbumCertRef_28-0)** ["British album certifications – The Cure – Three Imaginary Boys"](https://www.bpi.co.uk/page/certified-awards). [British Phonographic Industry](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry). Retrieved 27 January 2024. *Select*albums*in the Formats field.* *Type*Three Imaginary Boys The Cure*in the "Search:" field.*

## External links

- *[Three Imaginary Boys](https://www.discogs.com/master/20319)* at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) (list of releases)

v t e The Cure Robert Smith Simon Gallup Roger O'Donnell Jason Cooper Reeves Gabrels Andy Anderson Perry Bamonte Michael Dempsey Matthieu Hartley Pearl Thompson Phil Thornalley Lol Tolhurst Boris Williams Studio albums 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 Songs of a Lost World Live albums Concert: The Cure Live Entreat Show Paris Bestival Live 2011 Compilations Boys Don't Cry Japanese Whispers Standing on a Beach/Staring at the Sea Galore Greatest Hits Join the Dots Remix albums Mixed Up Torn Down Mixes of a Lost World Extended plays The Peel Sessions Festival 2005 Hypnagogic States EP Video releases The Cure in Orange Trilogy Festival 2005 Tours The Cure: 'Reflections' Shows of a Lost World Related articles Discography Songs Band members Perfect as Cats: A Tribute to the Cure Babacar COGASM Fools Dance The Glove Levinhurst The Magazine Spies Presence Shelleyan Orphan Siouxsie and the Banshees Nocturne Hyæna Category

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Three Imaginary Boys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Imaginary_Boys) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Imaginary_Boys?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.