The Head on the Door

Template:Use dmy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: 30 August 1985<ref name=UKrelease>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other Template:Category handler Template:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Concert: The Cure Live1984Standing on a Beach1986Studio albumThe Head on the DoorThe Cure - The Head on the Door.jpgthe Cure30 August 1985<ref name=UKrelease>Template:Cite magazine</ref>1985Angel Recording, LondonTemplate:Hlist37:46Fiction* Robert Smith

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The Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Cure. It was released on 30 August 1985 by Fiction Records. Preceded by the single "In Between Days" which had reached No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Head on the Door was described by Melody Maker as "a collection of pop songs".<ref name="mm"/> With its variety of styles, it allowed the group to reach a wider audience in both Europe and North America. In the United Kingdom it became their most successful album to date, entering the albums chart at No. 7 on 7 September.<ref name="uk"/>

The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, while bassist Simon Gallup and guitarist Porl Thompson both returned to the band after several years' absence. The Head on the Door is the first Cure album where all the songs were composed solely by singer and guitarist Robert Smith.

History and music

This album marks the return of Simon Gallup in the group; he had performed and composed with Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst on the dark trilogy Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography. Guitarist Porl Thompson, who had played guitar during the very early days of the band, and also played keyboards and saxophone during The Top tour, became an official member. Drummer Boris Williams, who had previously worked with Thompson Twins, finally joined the ensemble after playing with the band during the US leg of the 1984 tour.

During promotion for the record, Smith stated that The Head on the Door was inspired by the albums Kaleidoscope by Siouxsie and the Banshees and Dare by the Human League. He wanted the album to be eclectic with different styles and moods: "It reminds me of the Kaleidoscope album, the idea of having lots of different sounding things, different colours".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> "Kyoto Song" contains an oriental hook, while "The Blood" is played in a flamenco style.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The piano tune of "Six Different Ways" had been previously used by Smith during his tenure with Siouxsie and the Banshees, for the single "Swimming Horses".<ref name="rm">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The last song of the album, "Sinking", was reminiscent of the band's Faith era, while "Close to Me" (released as the album's second and final single) was described as a "disco thing" by critics.<ref name="mm">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The opening track and first single, "In Between Days", was compared to New Order's material.<ref name="sounds">Template:Cite magazine</ref> "A Night Like This" contains a saxophone solo by Ron Howe from Fools Dance. The title of the album comes from a line in the chorus of "Close to Me".

When he was interviewed that year, Smith said that his five favourite albums were at that time Mirror Moves by the Psychedelic Furs, This Year's Model by Elvis Costello, Low by David Bowie, Kaleidoscope by Siouxsie and the Banshees and Rattus Norvegicus by the Stranglers.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Release, reception and legacy

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Released on 30 August 1985 in the UK and on 4 September in the US,<ref name="UKrelease" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Head on the Door was the first big international success for the band, notably entering the top 75 in the US and reaching the top 20 in numerous other countries.<ref name="swi"/> The album is certified gold in the US, UK and France.

Upon its release, The Head on the Door was well received by the British press. In a very favourable review, Melody MakerTemplate:'s Steve Sutherland hailed the "liberty" that Smith took to conceive a multifaceted record.<ref name="mm"/> Chris Roberts of Sounds said that it "makes you wish more pop stars were hip enough to stay in bed all day".<ref name="sounds"/> Record Mirror reviewer Andy Strickland wrote that The Head on the Door "may lack the swirls of chorused guitar that many adore, but there's a wider more mature musical approach".<ref name="rm"/> Mat Snow of NME found that the album "is really quite pop", and that "tunes abound".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In December 1985 it was named the best album of the year by Melody Maker.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 2000 it was voted number 833 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.<ref name="Larkin">Template:Cite book</ref>

In a retrospective review, AllMusic critic Tim Sendra noted that The Head on the Door marked a new musical direction for the Cure in that Smith had managed to make the band's trademark "gloom and doom" style both "danceable and popular"; Sendra also found that the album's "inventive" arrangements provide "a musical depth previous efforts lacked".<ref name="allmusic"/> Writing for Q, Tom Doyle said that songs such as "In Between Days" and "Close to Me" showed Smith "bridging the brooding of yore with their recent pop highs".<ref name="q"/> Nitsuh Abebe of Pitchfork deemed it the band's "most focused pop album" and "a tight, terrific package".<ref name="pitchfork"/> PopMatters included The Head on the Door on its list of 12 essential alternative rock albums from the 1980s, calling the record "an outstanding example of Smith's ability to use pop music as a means to express angst while applying just a hint of the polish".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listing

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Personnel

Robert Smith – vocals, guitars, keyboards, production
Lol Tolhurst – keyboards
Porl Thompson – guitars, keyboards
Simon Gallup – bass guitar
Boris Williams – drums, percussion
Ron Howe – saxophone on "A Night Like This"
David M. Allen – production
Howard Gray – production on "Kyoto Song", "Push" and "A Night Like This"
Frank Barretta – Engineer

Charts

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Weekly charts

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1985–1986 weekly chart performance for *The Head on the Door*
Chart (1985–1986)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)Template:Sfn	6
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	7
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)<ref>Template:Cite magazine Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "The head on the door" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".</ref>	18