RE-ISSUE! RE-PACKAGE! RE-PACKAGE!

In 1986, The Cure enjoyed huge sales thanks to the release of Standing On A Beach, a 13-track compilation of all the band's singles up to that point. Reaching #4 in the album charts, it was up until that point the biggest selling and highest placed of any of their records and there's no doubt it not increased their profile but increased their fan base.

Just four years later, the band and record label tried a similar trick with the release of Mixed Up, this time an 11-track compilation comprising different mixes of 10 old singles and one brand new song. Released towards the end of November 1990, it was a great bit of marketing as it was sure to find its way onto many a Xmas list....

The album was a big success hitting #8 in the UK charts but more importantly climbing to #14 in the US album charts and thus maintaining the momentum from the success of the previous year's Disintegration.

Mixed Up was supported by the release of two singles - the aforementioned new song which was Never Enough as well as the re-issue, re-package and remix of a single from 1985:-

mp3 : The Cure - Close To Me (Remix)

The information on the CD single says

Produced by Robert Smith and David M Allen (Horns by Real Party) (1985)
Remixed by Paul Oakenfold and Engineered by Steve Osborne, June 1990

The remix proved more popular than the original reacting #13 in the charts as opposed to #24 back in 1985 - proof if any was needed that The Cure were now a band with more followers and admirers than ever before.

The two other tracks were also remixes of earlier singles, but which didn't make the final cut for the Mixed Up album:-

mp3 : The Cure - Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix)

Produced by Robert Smith and David M Allen (1997)
Remixed by Bryan 'Chuck' New, September 1990

mp3 : The Cure - Primary (Red Mix)

Produced by Robert Smith and Mike Hedges (1981)
Remixed by Keith Le Blanc, September 1990

Personally, I'm not convinced by either remix, but then again I was, and remain, a big fan of the original versions.

Happy Listening.