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 set debuted in the U.K. Top 10 and was named Album of the Year by Melody Maker. The Head on the Door was also a hit across Europe and became the group’s first to break into the Top 100 in the U.S., where it was certified Gold.