Examine individual changes

'{{Infobox single | | Name = The Lovecats | Cover = Thelovecats.jpg | | Artist = [[The Cure]] | Album = [[Japanese Whispers]] | Released = 18 October 1983 | Format = [[Vinyl record|7"]], [[Vinyl record|12"]] | Recorded = June 1983 | Genre = [[New wave music|New wave]], [[jazz]] | Length = 3:33 | Label = [[Fiction Records|Fiction]] | Writer = [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]] | Producer = [[Phil Thornalley,]] Chris Parry, [[The Cure]] | Last single = "[[The Walk (The Cure song)|The Walk]]" <br />(1983) | This single = "'''The Love Cats'''" <br />(1983) | Next single = "[[The Caterpillar (song)|The Caterpillar]]" <br />(1984) }} "'''The Love Cats'''" is a 1983 single by [[The Cure]]. It was the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 7,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/20492/cure/ |title=Cure <nowiki>| Full Official Chart History |</nowiki> Official Charts Company |website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] |accessdate=May 15, 2016}}</ref> and also hit number six in Australia. It later appeared on the [[compilation album]] ''[[Japanese Whispers]]''. The original UK-only single appears to list the title as "The Lovecats", as do various compilations. ==Inspiration== At the time the song was written, Robert Smith was very interested in the work of Australian author [[Patrick White]].<ref>The Stud Brothers: "Pictures of Youth (Pt. 1)", ''Melody Maker'', March 7, 1992: 25-26.</ref> According to a number of his fans, Smith was inspired to write "The Love Cats" after reading White's novel ''[[The Vivisector]]'' (1970), although this claim is difficult to verify.<ref>{{cite web| work=fortunecity.com | url = http://members.fortunecity.com/jpineres/FAQ.htm | title =Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file for The Cure | accessdate = 2010-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| work=victoriavirtual.iespana.es| url = http://victoriavirtual.iespana.es/Inspiraciones.html | title =The Cure-Inspiraciones | accessdate = 2010-06-09}}</ref> In the novel, the protagonist, Hurtle, is appalled when his lover's husband drowns a sack of stray cats. White draws a parallel between the way in which the cats are discarded, and the treatment of certain characters in the book; by extension, the cats symbolize the most innocent and vulnerable members of society, and the casual cruelty with which they sometimes meet their fate.<ref>White, Patrick. ''The Vivisector''. New York: Viking Press, 1970.</ref> ==Music video== The music video features a number of cats and a large lampshade falling on the head of bassist [[Phil Thornalley]]. ==Track listing== ;UK 7" #"The Love Cats" (3:33) #"Speak My Language" (2:39) ;UK 12" / US 12" #"The Love Cats" (Extended Version) (4:37) #"Speak My Language" (2:39) #"Mr. Pink Eyes" (2:45) ==Personnel== *[[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]] - vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica on "Mr. Pink Eyes" *[[Lol Tolhurst]] - vibraphone *[[Phil Thornalley]] - double bass *[[Andy Anderson (drummer)|Andy Anderson]] - drums ==Covers== * [[Luke Doucet]] covered the song on his album ''[[Blood's Too Rich]]''. * [[OK Go]] released a cover on the [[Do What You Want (EP)]]. * [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky]] covers the song on the album ''[[Vulnerable (Tricky album)|Vulnerable]]''. * [[Paul Anka]] covers the song on his 2005 album of covers, ''[[Rock Swings]]''. * [[The Hot Rats]] covered the song on their 2010 debut album ''Turn Ons''. * [[The Sharp]] cover the song on their EP [[Yeah I Want You]]. ==References== {{reflist|2}} {{The Cure}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lovecats, The}} [[Category:The Cure songs]] [[Category:1983 singles]] [[Category:Songs written by Robert Smith (musician)]] [[Category:1983 songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Phil Thornalley]] [[Category:Fiction Records singles]]'