Studio Album · No. 5
The Top Songwriting Credits by The Cure
Produced by Robert Smith, Chris Parry, David M. Allen · Engineered by David M. Allen, Howard Gray
Fiction Records
Gothic RockPost-PunkPsychedelic RockNew Wave
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Cure carries a lyricist or composer credit.
10 trackswritten by The Cure
0 tracksoutside writers
The Cure's roles on this album
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
10
Tracks
2
Lyricists
3
Producers
1984
Released
Data Insight
The Top is the most insular record of The Cure's catalog, effectively a Robert Smith solo project recorded while the band was largely dissolved. Smith wrote the material and played the bulk of the instruments himself, including guitar, bass, keyboards, recorder, violin and harmonica, with Lol Tolhurst on keyboards and Andy Anderson on drums. Three songs, the lead single 'The Caterpillar,' 'Bird Mad Girl' and 'Piggy in the Mirror,' are co-credited to Smith and Tolhurst, while the rest are Smith alone. David M. Allen co-produced the album with Smith and Chris Parry.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Shake Dog Shake
|
Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Bird Mad Girl
|
Robert SmithLol Tolhurst | Robert SmithLol Tolhurst | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Wailing Wall
|
Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Give Me It
|
Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Dressing Up
|
Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
The Caterpillar
#14
|
Robert SmithLol Tolhurst | Robert SmithLol Tolhurst | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Piggy in the Mirror
|
Robert SmithLol Tolhurst | Robert SmithLol Tolhurst | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
The Empty World
|
Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Bananafishbones
|
Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
The Top
|
Robert Smith | Robert Smith | Robert SmithChris ParryDavid M. Allen | Robert Smith (Lead Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 4 contributors
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Frequently Asked Questions The Top
Who wrote The Top by The Cure?
Robert Smith wrote almost all of The Top. Three tracks, 'The Caterpillar,' 'Bird Mad Girl' and 'Piggy in the Mirror,' are co-credited to Smith and Lol Tolhurst, while every other song is credited solely to Smith. It is the band's most author-concentrated album.
Did Robert Smith play most of the instruments on The Top?
Yes. With The Cure reduced to a skeleton lineup, Robert Smith performed the majority of the instruments himself, including guitar, bass, keyboards, recorder, violin and harmonica. Lol Tolhurst contributed keyboards and Andy Anderson played drums and percussion.
Who produced The Top?
The Top was produced by Robert Smith with David M. Allen and Chris Parry. David M. Allen would go on to co-produce several of the band's following albums with Smith. The recording was engineered by David M. Allen and Howard Gray.
What was the single from The Top?
'The Caterpillar' was the album's single, released in March 1984. It reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, spending seven weeks on the chart. The song is one of three on the album co-written by Smith and Lol Tolhurst.
How did The Top by The Cure perform on the charts?
The Top reached number 10 on the UK Albums Chart. It was later certified Silver in the UK for sales exceeding 60,000 copies. The record marked a more psychedelic and experimental turn for the band.
What kind of album is The Top?
The Top is a studio album drawing on gothic rock, post-punk, psychedelic rock and new wave. Its eclectic, often disorienting style reflects that Robert Smith assembled most of it himself during a fractured period for the band.