(RockAndMetal.com) (02/06/04)

By Michael Bennett

LONDON, UK - As THE CURE nears its third decade at the forefront of pop culture, Universal, Rhino and Fiction/Elektra are celebrating the band's remarkable career with the release of "The Cure: Join The Dots: B-Sides & Rarities, 1978-2001 (The Fiction Years)," a four-disc box set of hard-to-find gems, never-before-seen photos, track-by track-breakdowns and extensive liner notes.

"The first thing I ever did when I got a new single," remembers Cure vocalist Robert Smith, "was flip it over and play the other side.

"I always hoped the B-side would give me another version of the artist - something as good as the A-side, but somehow different."

"I expected great B-sides from the artists I loved..."

Come 1978, when THE CURE released their debut single, 'Killing An Arab,' Smith expected no less from himself than he had from his heroes.

It's evident from the very first cut in this box set, '10:15 Saturday Night,' that he intended THE CURE's B-sides to be every bit as captivating as their better-known A-sides.

Among the 70 original and digitally re-mastered recordings included on "Join The Dots" are 'Another Journey By Train' (B-side of 'A Forest'), 'Sugar Girl' (B-side of 'Just Like Heaven'), 'Halo' (B-side of 'Friday I'm In Love'), a cover of David Bowie's 'Young Americans' and many, many more.

Smith also single-handedly produced "Join The Dots," which also includes a 76-page book filled with rare photos from Smith's own archives, and original commentary written by noted UK scribe Johnny Black.

"Alternative" before Alternative was "the norm," THE CURE formed in 1976 when Smith, a 17-year-old attending school in Sussex, formed The Easy Cure with schoolmates Michael Dempsey (bass), Lol Tolhurst (drums) and local guitar hero Porl Thompson.

The quartet began writing their own songs almost immediately, and quickly compiled an impressive repertoire of original material that included the seminal classics 'Boys Don't Cry' and '10:15 Saturday Night.'

Over the course of the 27 years that hace followed, THE CURE have weathered lineup changes and forged an extraordinary career, highlighted by an astonishing run of artistic and commercial achievement, including chart-topping hit singles, Gold and Platinum records, countless awards, critical acclaim, and an international fan base that follows the band with near-religious fervor.

Simply put, THE CURE have secured their place in music history by shaping modern rock as we know it today.

In January of 2003, THE CURE signed worldwide to Ross Robinson's IAM Records, heralding the start of another chapter in the history of one of the few bands in the world able to continually combine innovation, integrity and intelligence with mass global success.

"Join The Dots: B-Sides & Rarities, 1978-2001" CD Track Listings:

CD1 (1978 - 1987):

1. 10:15 SATURDAY NIGHT
2. PLASTIC PASSION
3. PILLBOX TALES
4. DO THE HANSA
5. I'M COLD
6. ANOTHER JOURNEY BY TRAIN
7. DESCENT
8. SPLINTERED IN HER HEAD
9. LAMENT (Flexipop Version)
10. JUST ONE KISS
11. THE DREAM
12. THE UPSTAIRS ROOM
13. LAMENT
14. SPEAK MY LANGUAGE
15. MR PINK EYES
16. HAPPY THE MAN
17. THROW YOUR FOOT
18. NEW DAY
19. THE EXPLODING BOY
20. A FEW HOURS AFTER THIS...
21. A MAN INSIDE MY MOUTH
22. STOP DEAD

CD2 (1987 - 1992):

1. A JAPANESE DREAM
2. BREATHE
3. A CHAIN OF FLOWERS
4. SNOW IN SUMMER
5. SUGAR GIRL
6. ICING SUGAR (Weird Remix)
7. HEY YOU!!! (Kevorkian 12" Remix)
8. HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE (Clearmountain 7" Remix)
09. TO THE SKY
10. BABBLE
11. OUT OF MIND
12. 2 LATE
13. FEAR OF GHOSTS
14. HELLO I LOVE YOU (Psychedelic Version)
15. HELLO I LOVE YOU
16. HELLO I LOVE YOU (10 Second Version)
17. HAROLD AND JOE
18. JUST LIKE HEAVEN ('Chuck' Remix)

CD3 (1992 - 1996):

1. THIS TWILIGHT GARDEN
2. PLAY
3. HALO
4. SCARED AS YOU
5. THE BIG HAND
6. A FOOLISH ARRANGEMENT
7. DOING THE UNSTUCK (Saunders 12" Remix)
8. PURPLE HAZE (Virgin Radio Version)
9. PURPLE HAZE
10. BURN
11. YOUNG AMERICANS
12. DREDD SONG
13. IT USED TO BE ME
14. OCEAN
15. ADONAIS

CD4 (1996 - 2001):

1. HOME
2. WAITING
3. A PINK DREAM
4. THIS IS A LIE (Palmer remix)
5. WRONG NUMBER (Smith remix)
6. MORE THAN THIS
7. WORLD IN MY EYES
8. POSSESSION
9. OUT OF THIS WORLD (Oakenfold remix)
10. MAYBE SOMEDAY (Hedges remix)
11. COMING UP
12. SIGNAL TO NOISE (Acoustic Version)
13. SIGNAL TO NOISE
14. JUST SAY YES (Curve Remix)
15. A FOREST (Plati/Slick Version)

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