On this day, 25 September 1979 rock band The Cure played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens, supporting Siouxie and the Banshees on their Join Hands tour. The band had earlier in the year released their debut album Three Imaginary Boys on Friction Records.
The record company decided which songs were put on the album and running order, as well as the cover artwork, without Robert Smith's consent. For all Cure albums since, Smith has ensured that he is given complete creative control over the final product before it goes on sale.
The "Foxy Lady" soundcheck, with vocals sung by Michael Dempsey, was not supposed to be on the album, and was removed for the American release. Smith has stated that "songs like 'Object' and 'World War' and our cover of 'Foxy Lady' were [producer] Chris Parry's choice".
Despite Smith's displeasure with the record, Three Imaginary Boys was well received critically at the time of its release. Sounds' Dave McCullough praised it in a 5-star review and noted: "The Cure are going somewhere different on each track, the ideas are startling and disarming." McCullough noted the variety of the material and qualified "Grinding Halt" as a "pop song that reminds you of the Isley Brothers or the Buzzcocks." Red Starr, writing in Smash Hits, described the album as a "brilliant, compelling debut."
Setlist
10.15 Saturday Night
Accuracy
Jumping Someone Else's Train
Play For Today
Plastic Passion
Subway Song
Three Imaginary Boys
Boys Don't Cry
Fire In Cairo
Killing An Arab
Encore
Grinding Halt
