The Cure kicked off the 1990s with the release of Mixed Up, an album collecting the band's rarer 12-inch mixes. It wasn't just a straightforward anthology, however, as two songs ("A Forest" and "The Walk") weren't just remixed, but re-recorded, and a wholly new track ("Never Enough") was also recorded. As Robert Smith comments, Brian "Chuck" New's dub style remix of "Pictures Of You" inspired him: "That mix turned the music on its head, but at the same time left the essential heart of the song intact. As soon as I heard it, I updated the entire Mixed Up plan. My revised ambition was to compile an album that was contemporary without being dated, immediate without being obvious, musically inspiring, rhythmically exciting and sonically great!" The album was successful, earning a Gold certification in the United Kingdom and a Platinum certification in the United States. Now, the band is revisiting Mixed Up as a Deluxe Edition due from Rhino on June 15.
The first disc of the new set contains the original Mixed Up album, as newly remastered by Smith. The second disc, Remixes 1982-1990: Mixed Up Extras 2018, has eleven remastered period remixes, and the third disc, Torn Down: Mixed Up Extras 2018, has sixteen new remixes by Smith. This disc was previously available on vinyl for Record Store Day 2018. "I wanted a 3-disc package," Smith notes in the press release, "but we didn't have enough 'historic' remixes - for a while I thought the 'extra-extras' CD would be Cure songs re-mixed by choice artists, rather than by choice re-mixers... that then got me thinking maybe I should have a go at one... so in early August 2017, I decided to experiment with 'Three Imaginary Boys.' It is a pretty sparse multi-track; I pulled it apart at home and finished the initial re-mix in one session - and I really enjoyed the whole process."
Mixed Up: Deluxe Edition arrives from Rhino on June 15 as a 3-CD set and as a single-disc release with only the first CD (the remastered Mixed Up). The same day, 2-LP vinyl sets of Mixed Up and Torn Down: Mixed Up Extras will be released to general retail. Both albums have been Half Speed Mastered by Robert Smith and Tim Young at Metropolis Studios, London and are pressed on 180-gram vinyl and are housed in gatefold sleeves. You'll find the Deluxe Edition track listing and pre-order links below!
Mixed Up: Deluxe Edition (Universal (U.K.)/Elektra/Rhino (U.S.), 2018)
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Mixed Up 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Torn Down 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Disc 1: remastered original album (released as Fiction FIX 18 (U.K.)/Elektra 60978 (U.S.), 1990)
- Lullaby (Extended Mix)
- Close To Me (Closer Mix)
- Fascination Street (Extended Mix)
- The Walk (Everything Mix)
- Lovesong (Extended Mix)
- A Forest (Tree Mix)
- Pictures Of You (Extended Dub Mix)
- Hot Hot Hot!!! (Extended Mix)
- The Caterpillar (Flicker Mix)
- Inbetween Days (Shiver Mix)
- Never Enough (Big Mix)
Disc 2: Mixed Up Extras: Remixes 1982-1990
- Let's Go To Bed (Extended Mix)
- Just One Kiss (Extended Mix)
- Close To Me (Extended Remix)
- Boys Don't Cry (New Voice Club Mix)
- Why Can't I Be You? (Extended Mix)
- A Japanese Dream (12" Remix)
- Pictures Of You (Extended Version)
- Let's Go To Bed (Milk Mix)
- Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix)
- Primary (Redmix)
- The Lovecats (TC & Benny Mix)
Disc 1, Track 1 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 29, 1989
Disc 1, Track 2 and Disc 2, Tracks 9-10 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 36, 1990
Disc 1, Track 3 from Elektra 12" single 0-66704 (U.S.), 1989
Disc 1, Track 5 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 30, 1989
Disc 1, Track 7 from Fiction 12" single FICXA 34, 1990
Disc 1, Track 8 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 28, 1988
Disc 1, Track 11 and Disc 2, Track 8 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 35, 1990
Disc 2, Tracks 1-2 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 17, 1982
Disc 2, Track 3 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 23, 1985
Disc 2, Track 4 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 24, 1986
Disc 2, Tracks 5-6 from Fiction 12" single FICSX 25, 1987
Disc 2, Track 7 from Fiction 12" single FICXB 34, 1990
Disc 2, Track 11 remixed 1990 and available as free download from The Cure's Greatest Hits micro site, 2001
Disc 3: Torn Down: MIxed Up Extras (new, previously unreleased mixes by Robert Smith)
- Three Imaginary Boys (Help Me Mix)
- M (Attack Mix)
- The Drowning Man (Bright Birds Mix)
- A Strange Day (Drowning Waves Mix)
- Just One Kiss (Remember Mix)
- Shake Dog Shake (New Blood Mix)
- A Night Like This (Hello Goodbye Mix)
- Like Cockatoos (Lonely In The Rain Mix)
- Plainsong (Edge Of The World Mix)
- Never Enough (Time To Kill Mix)
- From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea (Love In Vain Mix)
- Want (Time Mix)
- The Last Day Of Summer (31st August Mix)
- Cut Here (If Only Mix)
- Lost (Found Mix)
- It's Over (Whisper Mix)
elektrolad says
Originally I was looking for the RSD vinyl, but actually wanted to play it and pic discs don't always have the best sound. Then I saw the various versions and ordered them all. Disc 2 is especially attractive as many have never appeared on cd.
Robert says
Already pre-ordered, can't wait! Fond memories of this playing in my room or in the car, definitely evokes that time period for me.