Album of the Day

THE HEAD ON THE DOOR was a pivotal album for British alternative rockers The Cure, with some key lineup changes (the return of bassist Simon Gallup, the addition of guitarist/keyboardist Porl Thompson) and a crystallization of the band's signature sound. It was on this 1985 collection that Robert Smith and company perfected the mix of emotional desolation and pop accessibility that would make The Cure international stars. With such catchy singles as “In Between Days” and “Close to Me” and some of their most imaginative arrangements, the album debuted in the U.K. Top 10, was a hit across Europe and broke into the Top 100 in the U.S., a first for the group. Named Album of the Year by Melody Maker, the gold-certified THE HEAD ON THE DOOR celebrates its 36th anniversary today.