After having a bit of a discussion about runout etchings on my last post, I thought that this one was worth highlighting!
It's on the a-side of the UK 7" single, and on the b-side is IT’S JUST IT, IT’S JUST A QUES, A QUESTION OF COPYING. This is of course a couple of years before A Question Of Time or Lust, perhaps the line stuck with Martin and he altered it later on!?
Only the second find so far this year, which was probably the reason I went for it even though it isn't in the best condition. The weird illustration on the artwork (with a little terrapin on the back) is very eyecatching and helped me spot it in the box of very mixed vinyl. It's a bit poppy and crackly for the first few minutes but improves from then on. The remixed extended version is just so good, I like the d-d-d-d-d-dd's without the "understand me" but the strange zooming sound going across instead!
Flexible is a strange b-side, a cautionary tale about fame but set to an almost jovial rolling beat. Kind of has a more light Behind The Wheel/Route 66 feel in that respect.
Edit - Just seen the runout etchings! On the a-side is a little waving hand symbol and HE DOESN'T REALLY GET IT DOES HE, and on the b-side is GP STIKES AGAIN!
The Cure are a band that I only got into during the last couple of years after becoming obsessed with Pictures Of You. For some reason their brilliance always remained hidden behind a few poppier hits that didn't resonate or just not being at the right time to click with them. Still, I got there eventually and quickly found many songs in a similarly beautiful, atmospheric and heart aching style. These instantly appealed and are my favourite amongst the catalogue, although obviously I now appreciate and enjoy Friday etc. too.
Anyway, where is this leading? Well as you all know, one of the most gorgeously emotional tracks is Untitled from Disintegration. I read that Robert thought it was sad and emotional enough to speak for itself and he did not even try to think of a name. Whilst this is obviously how he intended it, and who's to argue with that, I wonder what could have been a suitable name? To me the opening words would be absolutely perfect - Hopelessly Drift. It also seems like the right title for a closing track. What about Time Undone? Or just Never? Or something not actually in the lyrics?