Robert Smith
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
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About the Album
The Cure’s ninth studio album — a mix of sprawling, shoegaze-tinged atmospherics and bright, hooky pop, that balanced the band’s signature melancholy with some of their most approachable songwriting (including the massive hit “Friday I’m in Love”). It’s their most commercially successful studio album and marked the end of one era of the band lineup while capturing them at a high point of popularity.
The band recorded Wish in late 1991 / early 1992 at The Manor in Oxfordshire; sessions were relatively peaceful and communal compared with some earlier periods — the band lived and worked together during the record, resulting in a dense, band-oriented sound. Coming off the overwhelmingly praised Disintegration (1989), The Cure were at both a critical and commercial peak; Wish retained the atmospheric textures of earlier work while steering into brighter, more pop-oriented territory on several tracks. Line-up notes: Wish was the first studio album to feature Perry Bamonte as a full member and the last studio record to feature drummer Boris Williams (and, for a long while, guitarist Porl Thompson). The period immediately after Wish saw lineup shifts and eventually a slowdown in the band’s mainstream visibility.
The Recording Story
Location
Recorded at Hookend Recording Studios in Checkendon, Oxfordshire, England. The remote countryside location provided the perfect isolation for the band to create their darkest and most atmospheric work.
Production
Produced by David M. (Dave) Allen and the Cure (Robert Smith / band). The recording sessions spanned several months, with the band embracing a more expansive and layered sound.
Band Members
Porl Thompson
Guitar, Keyboards
Simon Gallup
Bass Guitar
Boris Williams
Drums, Percussion
Lol Tolhurst
Keyboards
Roger O'Donnell
Keyboards
Tracklist
12 tracks · 1h 5m
| # | Title | Duration | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open | 6:51 | |
| 2 | High | 2:37 | |
| 3 | Apart | 6:38 | |
| 4 | From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea | 7:44 | |
| 5 | Wendy Time | 5:13 | |
| 6 | Doing the Unstuck | 4:24 | |
| 7 | Friday I'm in Love | 3:38 | |
| 8 | Trust | 5:33 | |
| 9 | A Letter to Elise | 5:14 | |
| 10 | Cut | 5:55 | |
| 11 | To Wish Impossible Things | 4:43 | |
| 12 | End | 6:45 |
12 tracks
Total Duration: 1h 5m 15s
Singles
3 singles released from this album
1
High
March 1992
#8 UK#42 US Hot 100#1 US Modern Rock chart
2
Friday I’m in Love
May 1992
#6 UK#18 US
3
A Letter to Elise
October 1992
Music Videos
Lullaby
1992Directed by Tim Pope
A surreal nightmare featuring giant spiders, this became one of The Cure's most iconic videos.
Lovesong
1992Directed by Tim Pope
Written by Robert Smith for his wife, this tender love song became a major hit.
Pictures of You
1992Directed by Tim Pope
A melancholic masterpiece featuring burning photographs and nostalgic imagery.
Critical Acclaim
A towering achievement in gothic rock, this is The Cure's masterpiece of atmospheric melancholy.
Breathtakingly beautiful and devastatingly sad, this is The Cure at their most expansive and emotionally raw.
An epic exploration of loss, longing, and despair that transformed alternative rock forever.
The Cure's crowning glory, a record of stunning emotional depth and sonic innovation.
Album Era Gallery
Studio session
Recording at Hookend
Live performance
Promotional shoot
Behind the scenes
Album artwork session
Instruments & Gear
Guitar
Fender Jazzmaster
Played by Robert Smith
The signature guitar tone throughout the album
Bass
Fender Bass VI
Played by Simon Gallup
Providing the deep, melodic bass lines
Synthesizer
Roland Juno-60
Played by Roger O'Donnell
Creating the lush atmospheric pads
Synthesizer
Oberheim OB-Xa
Played by Lol Tolhurst
String and pad sounds
Synthesizer
Yamaha DX7
Played by Various
Electric piano and bell tones
Drums
Ludwig Drums
Played by Boris Williams
Powerful yet restrained drumming
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