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Entreat
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| Entreat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 25 March 1991 | |||
| Recorded | July 1989 | |||
| Venue | Wembley Arena (London) | |||
| Genre | Gothic rock | |||
| Length | 47:09 (1991) 69:26 (2010) | |||
| Label | Fiction | |||
| Producer | The Cure | |||
| The Cure chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Record Mirror | 7/10[2] |
| Sounds | |
Entreat is a live album by the English rock band the Cure, recorded at London's Wembley Arena in July 1989. It consists entirely of songs performed from the band's 1989 record Disintegration; while they were on their international Prayer tour. Initially, Entreat was distributed exclusively in France as a promotional tool in 1989 and then was given away free by HMV stores in the UK and Ireland to customers who purchased two CDs from the band's back catalogue in May 1990. It was then given a full commercial release in March 1991.
The last two tracks were released in 1989 as B-sides to the US version of "Lullaby". "Fascination Street", "Last Dance", "Prayers for Rain", and "Disintegration" were also included as B-sides on the "Pictures of You" CD single.
The re-release of Disintegration in 2010 featured a remastered version of Entreat remixed by Cure frontman Robert Smith, entitled Entreat Plus because it featured all twelve songs from the album, including the four excluded from the original. It was the first time the album was released worldwide, though it had already been released on CD before.
Track listing
[edit]- "Pictures of You" – 7:08
- "Closedown" – 4:23
- "Last Dance" – 4:41
- "Fascination Street" – 5:20
- "Prayers for Rain" – 4:49
- "Disintegration" – 7:41
- "Homesick" – 6:49
- "Untitled" – 6:33
Entreat Plus
[edit]Personnel
[edit]- Robert Smith – vocals, guitar, six-string bass
- Simon Gallup – bass guitar
- Porl Thompson – guitar
- Boris Williams – drums
- Roger O'Donnell – keyboards
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[4] | 25 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[5] | 19 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] | 88 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] | 29 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[8] | 15 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[9] | 8 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] | 31 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[11] | 10 |
References
[edit]- ^ Entreat at AllMusic
- ^ Crook, Darren (6 April 1991). "The Cure: Entreat". Record Mirror. p. 16.
- ^ Peacock, Tim (30 March 1991). "Time to Kill". Sounds. p. 40.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – The Cure – Entreat". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – The Cure – Entreat" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cure – Entreat" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "The Cure". Sisältää hitin – Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish) (2nd ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 55. ISBN 978-952-7460-01-6.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cure – Entreat" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Charts.nz – The Cure – Entreat". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Cure – Entreat". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
Entreat
View on GrokipediaBackground
Disintegration Era
The Cure's transition to the Disintegration era marked a deliberate shift from the pop sensibilities of their 1987 album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which had embraced brighter, more commercial sounds, toward a darker, introspective aesthetic driven by frontman Robert Smith's pursuit of greater artistic authenticity. Amid rising band tensions, including the escalating alcoholism of co-founder Lol Tolhurst that ultimately led to his dismissal in 1989, Smith grappled with personal pressures such as his impending 30th birthday and a relapse into hallucinogenic drug use, fueled by discomfort with the band's growing mainstream popularity. These internal conflicts peaked in late 1988 when Smith announced his intention to disband The Cure and pursue a solo career, viewing the group as creatively stifled; however, after persuasion from remaining members and co-producer David M. Allen, he reconciled with the band, channeling the turmoil into the album's creation as a collective effort to reaffirm their gothic roots.[5][6][6] Recording for Disintegration took place from late 1988 to early 1989 at Hookend Recording Studios in Checkendon, Oxfordshire, where the band—comprising Robert Smith on vocals and guitar, Simon Gallup on bass, Porl Thompson on guitar, Boris Williams on drums, and Roger O'Donnell on keyboards—worked under the guidance of co-producer David M. Allen to craft an expansive sound blending atmospheric keyboards, layered guitars, and Smith's emotive lyrics exploring themes of decay, love, and existential dread. The sessions were intense and isolated, with Smith often handling overdubs alone alongside Allen to refine the album's dense, melancholic textures, reflecting the band's resolve to produce what Smith described as a potential "masterpiece" before his self-imposed creative deadline. This period of reconciliation and focused collaboration solidified the lineup's chemistry, transforming personal and professional fractures into the album's emotional core.[7][6][5] Upon its release on May 2, 1989, Disintegration achieved significant commercial success, peaking at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 12 on the US Billboard 200, while selling over three million copies worldwide and becoming the band's highest-charting album to date. Critically, it was hailed as a pinnacle of gothic rock, praised for its ambitious scope and emotional depth, with outlets like NME and Rolling Stone lauding it as a masterful return to the band's post-punk origins that transcended their earlier pop experiments. This acclaim not only revitalized The Cure's artistic reputation but also paved the way for extensive live performances, including the Prayer Tour, which extended the album's immersive sound to audiences.[8][9][5]The Prayer Tour
The Prayer Tour was The Cure's 1989 world tour undertaken to promote their album Disintegration, commencing on May 1 at the Roskilde Festival site in Denmark and concluding on September 23 at the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts in Mansfield, Massachusetts.[10][11] The tour encompassed 76 performances divided into a European leg of 52 shows from May to July and a North American leg of 24 shows from August to September, with the name derived from the Disintegration track "Prayers for Rain."[12][13] Setlists during the tour centered heavily on Disintegration material, which formed the core of the main set with tracks like "Plainsong," "Pictures of You," "Fascination Street," and "Prayers for Rain," typically accounting for about 12 of the 30 to 35 songs performed per show.[14] Encores incorporated selections from earlier albums such as The Head on the Door ("A Night Like This," "Just Like Heaven") and Pornography ("A Forest"), allowing for a blend of the band's atmospheric goth rock evolution.[15] Performances averaged 2.5 to 3 hours in length, reflecting the band's commitment to extended, immersive live experiences.[16] Despite the tour's success in delivering high-energy renditions that captivated audiences, frontman Robert Smith endured significant physical and emotional exhaustion from the grueling schedule of large-scale venues and frequent travel, which played a key role in the band's subsequent decision to compile live recordings into an album.[17] Attendance was substantial across major legs, exemplified by the UK dates where the band sold out multiple nights at arenas like Wembley (capacity 12,500 per show) and the NEC Arena in Birmingham (capacity approximately 11,000), drawing tens of thousands of fans and underscoring the group's rising stadium-level draw.[18][19] Production elements enhanced the tour's brooding intensity, featuring dynamic atmospheric lighting with cold blue-to-metallic palettes and spotlights that shifted to match the music's mood, complemented by fog effects to evoke the ethereal quality of Disintegration.[20][21] The crew's meticulous setup contributed to a sense of ritualistic immersion, further cementing The Cure's live reputation as innovators in gothic and alternative rock performance traditions established during their 1982 Pornography tour and subsequent outings.[22]Recording
Wembley Arena Performance
The Wembley Arena performances took place over three consecutive nights on July 22, 23, and 24, 1989, during the European leg of The Cure's Prayer Tour, drawing a total of approximately 37,500 attendees to the London venue.[1][23] Each show filled the arena's capacity of 12,500, reflecting the band's surging popularity following the release of their album Disintegration earlier that year.[23] The sold-out crowds created an electric atmosphere, with fans rushing the stage barriers during the opening "Plainsong" and sustaining high energy throughout the marathon sets.[20] The band delivered their full Prayer Tour setlist, emphasizing tracks from Disintegration alongside earlier material, often extending intros and incorporating improvisations that heightened the emotional depth of songs like "Pictures of You" and "Disintegration."[24] Robert Smith's vocal delivery was marked by raw intensity, complemented by the band's dynamic interplay—Simon Gallup's driving bass, Porl Thompson's atmospheric guitars, and Boris Williams' propulsive drums—amid a production featuring manic strobe lighting, dry ice, and wind chimes that amplified the gothic immersion.[20] Audience interaction was fervent, including collective chants and sing-alongs during "Pictures of You," where fans echoed lyrics in unison, contributing to the communal fervor.[20] The shows were captured via multi-track recording using on-site mobile studio equipment, capturing the unfiltered live energy for potential archival use.[1] In the immediate aftermath, Robert Smith described the Wembley residency as a tour pinnacle, noting the overpowering lights during "Disintegration" that even prompted some audience members to retreat due to their intensity, likening it to inducing epileptic reactions.[20] These performances stood out for their peak execution amid the tour's exhaustive schedule, ultimately swaying the band's initial reluctance toward live releases by providing compelling, high-fidelity documentation of their live prowess.[25]Track Selection
The track selection for Entreat was curated from the multi-night recordings at Wembley Arena in July 1989, focusing exclusively on performances of songs from The Cure's 1989 studio album Disintegration to preserve the record's atmospheric cohesion and thematic purity.[25] Eight tracks were chosen out of the full 12-song Disintegration setlist, resulting in a runtime of approximately 47 minutes suitable for a concise live album format that emphasized high-energy renditions faithful to the original material's emotional intensity.[25] This decision excluded non-Disintegration songs from the Wembley performances, such as older hits like "A Forest" or "In Between Days," to maintain a focused snapshot of the tour's support for the recent release.[24] Key inclusions highlighted accessible hits to broaden appeal, such as the chart-topping "Lovesong" and the epic "Pictures of You," which captured the crowd's responsive energy during their live delivery.[25] Other selections like "Plainsong," "Closedown," "Last Dance," "Lullaby," "Fascination Street," and "Prayers for Rain" were prioritized for their dynamic transitions and fidelity to the album's brooding soundscape, forming a sequential arc that mirrored much of Disintegration's structure.[25] The omitted tracks—"Plainsong," "Lullaby," "Lovesong," and "The Same Deep Water as You"—were not included initially.[1] The editing process for the original 1990 release involved minimal intervention to retain the raw live essence, including natural crowd noise and seamless song transitions that enhanced the immersive feel of the Wembley shows.[25] This approach avoided extensive cuts or overdubs, prioritizing authenticity over polished production, though it drew criticism from fans for the incomplete Disintegration representation.[25] The full 12-track live set was not realized until the 2010 deluxe reissue of Disintegration, which incorporated the previously omitted recordings to complete the Wembley performance archive.[26]Release
Initial Releases
Entreat was initially distributed as a promotional release exclusively in France in 1989, with 4,000 copies of the CD and LP versions provided to FNAC stores for giveaway to radio stations and fans.[27] This limited edition, housed in a distinctive pink card sleeve, served as a tool to build anticipation for the band's live performances during the Prayer Tour.[25] In May 1990, an eight-track version of the album was offered as a free giveaway at HMV stores in the UK and Ireland to customers who purchased two or more CDs from The Cure's catalog, such as Disintegration.[28] This promotion, advertised in British music press by Polydor, aimed to boost sales of the band's existing releases while introducing fans to the live recordings.[29] The album received its full commercial launch on March 25, 1991, issued by Fiction Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US across CD, cassette, and vinyl formats.[3] These editions featured the core track listing of live renditions from Disintegration, capturing the band's performances at Wembley Arena.[1] Promotion for the 1991 release focused on tying it to the band's recent singles and catalog incentives rather than new touring, as The Cure entered a hiatus after concluding the Prayer Tour in 1989.[25]Entreat Plus Reissue
The Entreat Plus reissue was released as part of The Cure's 2010 deluxe edition campaign celebrating the 21st anniversary of their 1989 album Disintegration, with frontman Robert Smith personally overseeing the remixing and remastering of the live recordings to enhance audio clarity and balance.[30][31] This expanded version builds on the original 1991 Entreat live album by incorporating all 12 tracks from Disintegration in sequence, drawn from the band's July 1989 performance at Wembley Arena during the Prayer Tour, resulting in a total runtime of approximately 69 minutes and presenting a more comprehensive document of the era's live set.[30][32] Smith specifically adjusted the mix by dampening the drum levels and raising the vocals to better capture the performance's dynamics.[30] Issued on May 24, 2010, in Europe and June 8, 2010, in North America by Universal Music Group, the reissue appeared as the third disc in the 3CD Disintegration deluxe set, alongside a remastered original album and a rarities disc featuring demos and B-sides from 1988–1989; it was also made available digitally and later as a standalone limited-edition 180-gram double vinyl in 2011 (exclusive to the band's official store) and a wider U.S. vinyl pressing on Record Store Day 2012, all featuring updated artwork with previously unseen photos and liner notes.[30][31][33] Smith described the effort as completing the live album to reflect the full Disintegration setlist as performed on tour.[30]Content
Track Listing
The 1991 edition of Entreat features eight tracks, all written by The Cure, sequenced to reflect the live performance order from their Wembley Arena shows during the Prayer Tour.[1]| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pictures of You | 7:08 |
| 2 | Closedown | 4:23 |
| 3 | Last Dance | 4:41 |
| 4 | Fascination Street | 5:19 |
| 5 | Prayers for Rain | 4:49 |
| 6 | Disintegration | 7:42 |
| 7 | Homesick | 6:49 |
| 8 | Untitled | 6:33 |
| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plainsong | 5:19 |
| 2 | Pictures of You | 7:04 |
| 3 | Closedown | 4:22 |
| 4 | Lovesong | 3:24 |
| 5 | Last Dance | 4:37 |
| 6 | Lullaby | 4:14 |
| 7 | Fascination Street | 5:18 |
| 8 | Prayers for Rain | 4:47 |
| 9 | The Same Deep Water as You | 5:04 |
| 10 | Disintegration | 7:21 |
| 11 | Homesick | 6:46 |
| 12 | Untitled | 6:31 |
Musical Style
Entreat captures The Cure's signature gothic rock sound blended with post-punk sensibilities, marked by expansive atmospheric constructions driven by layered keyboards and guitars drenched in reverb.[35][2] These elements create a brooding, immersive texture that amplifies the album's emotional weight, drawing from the moody introspection of their Disintegration era.[25] In contrast to the studio recordings, the live renditions on Entreat feature elongated instrumental sections and heightened dynamics, such as the extended build-up in tracks that invite audience interaction through cheers and sing-alongs, deepening the songs' romantic and melancholic resonance.[36][25] Robert Smith's vocals emerge rawer and more strained, conveying the tour's cumulative intensity amid the Prayer Tour's demanding schedule.[25] The 2010 Entreat Plus reissue, remixed and remastered by Robert Smith, provides an updated version of the original mixes.[32][33]Credits
Personnel
The personnel for the Wembley Arena recordings featured in Entreat consisted of The Cure's core quintet during the 1989 Prayer Tour: Robert Smith on lead vocals and guitar, Simon Gallup on bass, Porl Thompson on guitar, Boris Williams on drums, and Roger O'Donnell on keyboards.[37] Smith's multi-instrumental contributions, including occasional six-string bass elements integrated into his guitar work, anchored the live arrangements drawn from the Disintegration era. Gallup's bass lines were prominently mixed to emphasize the rhythmic foundation of the performances. The lineup remained stable throughout the Prayer Tour, reflecting no changes from the touring configuration established for the Disintegration promotional cycle.[37] O'Donnell, who had joined The Cure as a touring keyboardist in 1987, became a full member following Lol Tolhurst's departure in early 1989. He debuted his full integration into the live ensemble during this tour.[37]Production Details
The original production of Entreat was handled by The Cure themselves, with engineering credited to Smudger and mixing by Robert Smith and Bryan "Chuck" New.[38] The recordings were captured live at Wembley Arena in London on July 22, 23, and 24, 1989, during the band's Prayer Tour supporting their album Disintegration.[1] No external producers were involved, emphasizing the band's direct control over the post-production process to preserve the raw energy of the performances.[38] Mixing took place in 1990, focusing on maintaining the clarity and intensity of the live sound without excessive studio polish, under Smith's supervision.[38] The sleeve design for the original release featured artwork by Parched Art, a collaborative effort involving band member Porl Thompson and designer Andy Vella, known for their contributions to several Cure album covers.[39] Photography was provided by Paul Cox, capturing the band's aesthetic in line with their gothic rock imagery.[39] For the 2010 reissue as part of the Disintegration deluxe edition, titled Entreat Plus, Robert Smith personally remixed the tracks in July 2009, expanding the original eight songs to twelve to reflect a full live set from the Wembley shows.[32] This version included newly remastered audio, with additional tracks like "Lovesong," "Lullaby," and "The Same Deep Water as You" to provide a more complete representation of the 1989 performances.[4] The reissue retained the no-external-producer approach, with Smith overseeing the entire process.[32]Commercial Performance
Chart Positions
Entreat entered the UK Albums Chart on 6 April 1991 and peaked at number 10, spending a total of 5 weeks on the chart.[40] The album's performance was bolstered by the enduring popularity of The Cure following their 1989 studio release Disintegration, which had reached number 3 on the same chart.[8] This marked an improvement over the band's prior live album, Concert: The Cure Live, which peaked at number 26 in the UK in 1984.[41] Internationally, Entreat achieved moderate placements on several album charts in 1991, reflecting the band's strong European and Oceanic following at the time.| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 25 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 19 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 15 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 8 |

