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The Glove - Blue Sunshine (Rhino)
10 November 2006
An ‘80s cult classic returns in deluxe form. The Glove (a Yellow Submarine reference) was a one-off collaboration by ROBERT SMITH (THE CURE) and STEVE SEVERIN (SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES), plus vocalist JEANETTE LANDRAY (girlfriend of Banshees drummer BUDGIE), who sings the majority of the songs on the original album.
While some tracks do recall The Cure, most are more psychedelic, with koto, sitar, dulcimer, strings, and a drum machine expanding the sound. Blue Sunshine’s been out of print for awhile, so any return would be welcome, but this is quite special. Three bonus tracks (two B-sides and an extended mix) had already been added to the original 1983 LP’s tracks on a previous CD edition; now they are joined by another two.
But it’s the material on disc two, all available for the first time, that will have fans salivating, because when the album was originally released, Smith was only allowed to sing on two tracks. Now we get to hear his vocal demos of all 10 original tracks and an additional four songs, plus two instrumentals.
In all its demented glory, this is bound to be one of the top reissues of the year. I just wish that Smith and Severin’s 1981 collaboration “Lament” (recorded for Flexipop magazine) had also been included. There’s also supposed to be a TV performance of the album’s most memorable song (by far!), “Punish Me With Kisses,” with the core trio plus Cure bandmates; that would’ve been nice too. Still, this is one welcome package.
Steve Holtje’s Top 10
Week of November 9
Favorite Steely Dan songs
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“The Boston Rag”
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“My Old School”
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“King of the World”
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“Night by Night”
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“Pretzel Logic”
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“Charlie Freak”
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“Bad Sneakers”
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“Any World (That I’m Welcome To)”
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“Kid Charlemagne”
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“Home at Last”
Comments
Is “Lament” the same song that later ended up on The Cure’s The Walk and eventually the Japanase Whispers compilation?
— Matt Berlyant 2006-11-10 13:21 #
I always thought “A Blues in Drag” was such an amazing song. Definitely going to get this re-release. Two people dance on the edge. 3 of us push them away. There’s no where to go, we’re all in this.
— Kelly D. Williams 2006-11-10 23:43 #
Yes, both versions are in the box set Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978-2001, wherein Smith describes the flexi-session: “Severin was nominally the producer, but actually spent most of the session gripping the edge of the mixing desk and laughing as I staggered in and out of the control room asking, ‘What was that like?’”
— Steve Holtje 2006-11-11 03:50 #
Yes, ‘Blues in Drag’ is great, and This IS a real gem of a reissue. It is amazing to me that anyone who has enjoyed The Cure hasn’t heard it. I’m glad that they have another opportunity to become acquainted. Oh, and my favorite was always ‘This Green City.’
— Jamie 2006-11-11 20:09 #