Erasure
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Erasure is a British synth pop duo and one of the most popular, durable and influential names in the genre. It consists of Vince Clarke (synthesizers), formerly of Depeche Mode and Yazoo (Yaz in the US), and Andy Bell (vocals, lyrics).
Erasure burst onto the music scene in 1986 with their debut single "Who Needs Love (Like That)." Beginning in late 1986 with the release of their single "Sometimes," Erasure established themselves as a virtual hit-making machine on the British charts; indeed, until the release of their eponymous album in 1995, Erasure were the greatest pop phenomenon in Britain since ABBA.
Their status as a singles band par excellence does not indicate a lack of consistency in Erasure's albums, however. Records such as The Circus, Chorus, I Say, I Say, I Say, Erasure, and Nightbird demonstrate the diversity and quality of Erasure's full-length recordings.
From the start, their success was founded upon their remarkable and unique songwriting skills. Clarke's talent for writing melodic, catchy pop songs was evident from his years with Depeche Mode and Yaz. However, Bell's gifts as a lyricist and melodist added depth and character to Clarke's style. As pop craftsmen, their work bears comparison with that of Irving Berlin, Lerner and Loewe, Rodgers and Hart, Gershwin, and other songwriting luminaries.
Though their productivity and record sales have declined in the last decade, Erasure remains an inevitable presence on the British singles charts, scoring at least one Top 30 hit with the release of every new album. Few bands have demonstrated the durability of Erasure. This is further proven by their return to the #1 position on the US Dance Chart in 2005, eighteen years after their first chart-topper.
Clarke and Bell enjoy a large and loyal following throughout the world and continue to tour and release new music.
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Discography
- Wonderland (1986, #71 UK)
- The Circus (1987, #6 UK, #190 US)
- The Two Ring Circus (1987, #186 US)
- The Innocents (1988, #1 UK, #49 US)
- Wild! (1989, #1 UK, #57 US)
- Chorus (1991, #1 UK, #29 US - 368,000 sold)
- Pop! - the First 20 Hits (1992, #1 UK, #112 US - 676,000 sold)
- I Say, I Say, I Say (1994, #1 UK, #18 US - 400,000 sold)
- Erasure (1995, #14 UK, #82 US - 122,000 sold)
- Cowboy (1997, #10 UK, #43 US - 160,000 sold)
- Loveboat (2000, #45 UK)
- Other People's Songs (2003, #17 UK, #138 US - 50,000 sold)
- Hits! (2003, #15 UK)
- Nightbird (2005, #27 UK, #154 US - 26,000 sold as of spring 2005)
Erasure singles (and their respective chart positions in UK & US)
- 1985 "Who Needs Love Like That" #55 UK
- 1985 "Heavenly Action" #100 UK
- 1986 "Oh L'amour" #85 UK
- 1986 "Sometimes" #2 UK
- 1987 "It Doesn't Have To Be" #12 UK
- 1987 "Victim Of Love" #7 UK
- 1987 "The Circus" #6 UK
- 1988 "Ship Of Fools" #6 UK
- 1988 "Chains Of Love" #11 UK, #12 US
- 1988 "A Little Respect" #4 UK, #14 US
- 1988 "Crackers International EP" (Stop! / The Hardest Part / Knocking On Your Door / She Won't Be Home) #2 UK, #73 US (on the album chart)
- 1989 "Drama!" #4 UK
- 1989 "You Surround Me" #15 UK
- 1990 "Blue Savannah" #3 UK
- 1990 "Star" #11 UK
- 1991 "Chorus" #3 UK, #83 US
- 1991 "Love To Hate You" #4 UK
- 1991 "Am I Right? EP" (Am I Right / Let It Flow / Waiting for Sex / Carry on Clangers) #15 UK
- 1992 "Breath of Life" #8 UK
- 1992 "Abba-esque EP" (Lay All Your Love On Me / S.O.S. / Take a Chance On Me / Voulez-Vous) #1 UK, #85 US (on the album chart)
- 1992 "Who Needs Love Like That" #10 UK
- 1994 "Always" #4 UK, #20 US
- 1994 "Run To the Sun" #6 UK, #124 US
- 1994 "I Love Saturday" #20 UK
- 1995 "Stay With Me" #15 UK
- 1995 "Fingers and Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)" #20 UK
- 1996 "Rock Me Gently" (Czech single, not eligible for charts)
- 1997 "In My Arms" #13 UK, #55 US
- 1997 "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" #23 UK
- 1997 "Rain" (not eligible for charts)
- 2000 "Freedom" #27 UK
- 2001 "Moon and the Sky" (not eligible for charts)
- 2003 "Solsbury Hill" #10 UK
- 2003 "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" #14 UK
- 2003 "Oh L'amour" (remix) #13 UK
- 2005 "Breathe" #4 UK
- 2005 "Don't Say You Love Me" #15 UK
- 2005 "Here I Go Impossible Again"/"All This Time Still Falling Out Of Love"
US 12 inch singles and Billboard Dance/Club Play Chart history
- 1986 "Who Needs Love Like That" / "Heavenly Action" #8
- 1986 "Oh L'amour" / "March On Down the Line" #3
- 1987 "Sometimes" / "It Doesn't Have To Be" #4
- 1987 "Victim Of Love" #1
- 1988 "Chains Of Love" #4
- 1988 "A Little Respect" #2
- 1989 "Stop!" / "Knocking On Your Door" #4
- 1989 "Drama!" / "Sweet Sweet Baby" #10
- 1990 "Blue Savannah" #44
- 1990 "Star" #4
- 1991 "Chorus (Fishes In the Sea)" #14
- 1991 "Love To Hate You" #17
- 1992 "Take a Chance On Me" #10
- 1994 "Always" #6
- 1994 "Run To the Sun" #14
- 1995 "I Love Saturday" #20
- 1995 "Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)" #10
- 1997 "In My Arms" #2
- 1997 "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" #5
- 2005 "Breathe" #1
Compare to
- ABBA
- Alphaville
- Pet Shop Boys
- Eurythmics
- Yazoo
- Depeche Mode
- OMD
- Björn Again
- Soft Cell
- Tears For Fears
- Kraftwerk
External links
- Erasure's official site (http://www.erasureinfo.com/)
- German Erasure Tribute Page (http://www.erasure.de/)
- Russian bilingual fan site (http://www.erasure.ru/) - contains the most extensive Erasure discography, frequently updated news and other stuff
- erasure.tk (http://erasure.macbay.de) - news, rumours, pictures, links...
- http://www.erasuregig.com - Gig-ography listing of all Erasure's concert dates - including photos, set lists, souvenirs, reviews, etccs:Erasure
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