Boys Don’t Cry (1986 mix) (remastered) – Polydor 5732238

‘Boys Don’t Cry’ has a fascinating place in iconic band The Cure’s catalogue, being the song that shows their scrappy post-punk beginnings yet poppy sensibility. Originally released as a single in 1979, this 1986 pressing (now reissued in 2026) coincided with the band’s first singles compilation Staring At The Beach. Over the years, the song has continued to find it’s place in history solidifying the British alternative rock giants as one of their earliest and most recognisable songs.

The 1986 mix of the title track highlights Robert Smith’s youthful urgency, pairing jangling guitar lines with an undercurrent of melancholy that already hints at The Cure’s future emotional depth. ‘Plastic Passion’, recorded in 1979. Is a fan favorite that never made Three Imaginary Boys but later became integral to the American Boys Don’t Cry album, its driving rhythm and wiry energy gave the album its jolt of aggression. The inclusion of ‘Pillbox Tales’ and ‘Do The Hansa’ (from the pre-Cure, Easy Cure era) adds a welcome historical context, revealing a rawer, more playful side of the group. Closing with the extended 12″ mix of ‘Boys Don’t Cry’, the set reinforces just how durable and adaptable that song has proven to be.