We thought since The Cure was just announced to headline (again) the final day of Coachella 2009, we should take you back to a time when Robert Smith still had asexual appeal.

The Cure have been making music videos for their singles since the video for “A Forest” in 1980. The band’s early videos are loathed by the band, quoted as being “dreadful affairs” because of their often poor quality, and “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” fits that description.

The song was on their debut LP Three Imaginary Boys, but not that version. It was on the American release of the record, which the title was changed to reflect their most popular single at the time, Boys Don’t Cry. Ironically, “Boys Don’t Cry” wasn’t even on the original and was also later added to the U.S. version, along with “Killing an Arab” (sung as “Killing Another”). Interesting side note; a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” with vocals sung by Michael Dempsey appears on the original version of The Imaginary Boys, but was removed for the American release. Smith has stated that “songs like ‘Object’ and ‘World War’ and our cover of ‘Foxy Lady’ were [Chris Parry's] choice, even though they were diabolical and I hated them.” The record company decided which songs were put on the album, as well as the cover artwork, without Robert Smith’s consent. For all Cure albums since, Smith has ensured he is given complete creative control over the final product before it goes on sale.

The Cure “Jumping Someone Else’s Train”

1. Flashback Friday Video – Echo & The Bunnymen “The Killing Moon”
2. Flashback Friday Video – Michael Jackson “Thriller”
3. Flashback Friday Video(s) – Tegan And Sara & The White Stripes “Walking With A Ghost”
4. Flashback Friday Video – The Specials “Ghost Town”
5. The Cure To Re-release 1979 Debut, Three Imaginary Boys