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"Fascination Street"
Single by the Cure
from the album Disintegration
B-side	"Babble" "Out of Mind"
Released	18 April 1989
Genre	Gothic rock alternative rock
Length	5:16 (album version) 4:20 (single version)
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Boris Williams Simon Gallup Roger O'Donnell Robert Smith Porl Thompson Lol Tolhurst
Producer(s)	Robert Smith Dave Allen
The Cure singles chronology
"Lullaby" (1989) "Fascination Street" (1989) "Lovesong" (1989)
Music video
"Fascination Street" on YouTube

"Fascination Street" is a song by English rock band the Cure from their eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989). It was issued as a single only in North America, as the band's American record company refused to release the band's original choice, "Lullaby", as the first single (it was the lead single in the UK and was released in the US later). The song became the band's first number-one single on the US Billboard then-newly created Modern Rock Tracks chart, staying on top for seven weeks.

An extended mix, notable for its lengthy 4:00 instrumental introduction, was produced by Robert Smith, Chris Parry and Mark Saunders and released as the lead track on the 12-inch vinyl and maxi-CD singles. A shorter radio edit of the remix was used for the 7-inch vinyl and cassette single releases. The extended mix was later included on the Cure's 1990 remix album Mixed Up, and the short remix has since been released worldwide on 1997's Galore (The Singles 1987-1997).

Background

"Fascination Street" was inspired by an alcoholic night in New Orleans.

In the liner notes for the compilation Galore, Robert Smith describes “Fascination Street” as:

A ‘generic’ song about the (often cynical) delights of exploring a new city nightlife; based loosely on one particular ‘band adventure’ in New Orleans 1985 – Bourbon Street, the cliche perhaps.

Track listings

7-inch and cassette: Elektra / 7 69300; 9 469300

1. "Fascination Street" (remix) (4:17)
2. "Babble" (4:16)

12-inch: Elektra / 96 67040 (CDN)

1. "Fascination Street" (extended remix) (8:48)
2. "Babble" (4:16)
3. "Out of Mind" (3:51)

12-inch: Elektra / 0-66704

1. "Fascination Street" (extended remix) (8:48)
2. "Babble" (4:16)
3. "Out of Mind" (3:51)

CD: Elektra / 66702-2

1. "Fascination Street" (remix) (4:17)
2. "Babble" (4:16)
3. "Out of Mind" (3:51)
4. "Fascination Street" (extended remix) (8:48)

Personnel

Band

• Simon Gallup – bass guitar
• Robert Smith – lead guitar, keyboards, vocals, producer, engineer
• Porl Thompson – guitar
• Boris Williams – drums
• Roger O'Donnell – keyboards
• Lol Tolhurst – other instruments

Production

• Mark Saunders – remix
• Robert Smith – remix, producer, engineer
• Chris Parry – remix
• David M. Allen – producer, engineer

Charts

See also

• List of Billboard number-one alternative singles of the 1980s

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Cure – Galore: The Singles 1987–1997". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
2. Molanphy, Chris (31 October 2019). "The Lost and Lonely Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
3. "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit From Worst to Best". 28 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
4. Andy Greene. "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Cure Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
5. "The Cure Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
6. "The Cure Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
7. "The Cure Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
8. "The Cure Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
9. "The Cure Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
10. "1989 The Year in Music: Top Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. YE-58.

• 1989 songs
• 1989 singles
• The Cure songs
• Elektra Records singles
• Song recordings produced by David M. Allen
• Songs written by Boris Williams
• Songs written by Lol Tolhurst
• Songs written by Porl Thompson
• Songs written by Robert Smith (musician)
• Songs written by Roger O'Donnell
• Songs written by Simon Gallup