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Erasure Information
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'Erasure' is a British synth pop duo band consisting of keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell.
Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (see 1985 in music). Beginning in late 1986 with the release of their single "Sometimes", Erasure established themselves on the British charts; through 1995, Erasure were the greatest pop phenomenon in Britain since ABBA. Albums such as The Circus, Wild!, Chorus, I Say, I Say, I Say, Erasure, Loveboat and Nightbird demonstrated a further diversity of sound.
Formation of Erasure
Clarke formerly was a member of Depeche Mode and later had a successful career with the duo Yazoo (known as Yaz in the US). Later he split with Yazoo partner Alison Moyet and briefly formed The Assembly with vocalist Feargal Sharkey. After a successful Assembly single ("Never Never"), Clarke placed a blind advertisement in Melody Maker looking for a vocalist for a new musical project. He selected Andy Bell, who was the 41st to audition.
From the start, their success was founded upon their songwriting skills. Clarke's talent for writing melodic, catchy pop songs was evident from his years with Depeche Mode and Yazoo. 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 Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Eurythmics, OMD, Alphaville, A-Ha, Roxette and other pop songwriters.
Though their productivity and record sales declined beginning in the second half of the 1990s, Erasure scored at least one Top 30 hit with the release of every new album. Few electronic bands have demonstrated the durability of Erasure. In 2005 Erasure made a comeback with their #1 position on the US Dance Chart, eighteen years after their first chart-topper. This success was mirrored in the UK with the debut single from Nightbird reaching #4 in the charts.
Future Releases
2006 will see the release of the album , which features a collection of previously released Erasure songs which the band have reinterpreted with an acoustic / country & western style. The album is named after the recording studio in Boston where it was recorded.
Comments made by Vince Clarke on their indicate that they are planning on producing a dance orientated album sometime in the future.
Discography
Albums
sources: Billboard 200, UK Album Chart. Germany chart positions provided within .
| Year | Album | UK | US | Ger- many | Additional information |
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| 1985 | Wonderland | 71 | - | 16 | debut album | | 1987 | The Circus | 6 | 190 | 20 | - | | 1987 | The Two Ring Circus | - | 186 | 26 | double album of remixes and live recordings | | 1988 | The Innocents | 1 | 49 | 10 | - | | 1989 | Wild | 1 | 57 | 16 | - | | 1991 | Chorus | 1 | 29 | 13 | - | | 1992 | Pop The First 20 Hits | 1 | 112 | 12 | singles compilation album | | 1994 | I Say, I Say, I Say | 1 | 18 | 6 | - | | 1995 | Erasure | 14 | 82 | 87 | - | | 1997 | Cowboy | 10 | 43 | 34 | - | | 2000 | Loveboat | 45 | - | 48 | - | | 2003 | Other People's Songs | 17 | 138 | 17 | - | | 2003 | Hits The Very Best Of Erasure | 15 | - | 54 | singles compilation, limited edition version contained a second disc of remixes | | 2005 | Nightbird | 27 | 154 | 22 | - | | 2006 | Union Street | TBD | TBD | TBD | past Erasure songs presented in an acoustic/country & western style.
expected UK release date April 2006. | |
Box sets
| Year | Album | UK | US |
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| 2000 | Singles - EBX 1 | - | - | | 2000 | Singles - EBX 2 | - | - | | 2001 | Singles - EBX 3 | - | - | | 2001 | Singles - EBX 4 | - | - | |
Singles and EPs
sources: UK singles chart, Billboard Hot 100, Hot Dance Music/Club Play, Modern Rock Tracks.
| Year | Song | UK | US | US Dance | US Modern Rock | Album |
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| 1985 | "Who Needs Love Like That" | 55 | - | 8 | - | Wonderland | | 1985 | "Heavenly Action" | 100 | - | 8 | - | Wonderland | | 1986 | "Oh L'amour" | 85 | - | 3 | - | Wonderland | | 1986 | "Sometimes" | 2 | - | 4 | - | The Circus | | 1986 | "It Doesn't Have To Be" | 12 | - | 4 | - | The Circus | | 1987 | "Victim Of Love" | 7 | - | 1 | - | The Circus | | 1987 | "The Circus" | 6 | - | - | - | The Circus | | 1988 | "Ship Of Fools" | 6 | - | - | - | The Innocents | | 1988 | "Chains Of Love" | 11 | 12 | 4 | 22 | The Innocents | | 1988 | "A Little Respect" | 4 | 14 | 2 | 15 | The Innocents | | 1988 | Crackers International (EP) | 2 | 73 | - | - | Crackers International | | 1989 | "Stop" | - | 97 | 4 | 19 | Crackers International EP | | 1989 | "Drama" | 4 | - | 10 | 11 | Wild | |
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| 1989 | "You Surround Me" | 15 | - | - | - | Wild | |
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| 1990 | "Blue Savannah" | 3 | - | 44 | - | Wild | |
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| 1990 | "Star" | 11 | - | 4 | - | Wild | |
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| 1991 | "Chorus (Fishes In the Sea)" | 3 | 83 | 14 | - | Chorus | | 1991 | "Love To Hate You" | 4 | - | 17 | - | Chorus | | 1991 | Am I Right? (EP) | 15 | - | - | - | Chorus | | 1992 | "Breath Of Life" | 8 | - | - | - | Chorus | | 1992 | Abba-esque (EP) | 1 | 85 | - | - | Abba-esque | | 1992 | "Take A Chance On Me" | - | - | 10 | - | Abba-esque EP | | 1992 | "Who Needs Love Like That" (remix) | 10 | - | - | - | Pop The First 20 Hits | | 1994 | "Always" | 4 | 20 | 6 | - | I Say I Say I Say | | 1994 | "Run To the Sun" | 6 | 124 | 14 | - | I Say I Say I Say | | 1994 | "I Love Saturday" | 20 | - | 20 | - | I Say I Say I Say | | 1995 | "Stay With Me" | 15 | - | - | - | Erasure | | 1995 | "Fingers and Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)" | 20 | - | 10 | - | Erasure | | 1996 | "Rock Me Gently" | - | - | - | - | Erasure | | 1997 | "In My Arms" | 13 | 55 | 2 | - | Cowboy | | 1997 | "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" | 23 | - | 5 | - | Cowboy | | 1997 | Rain: Plus (EP) | - | - | - | - | Cowboy | | 2000 | "Freedom" | 27 | - | - | - | Loveboat | | 2001 | Moon & the Sky: Plus (EP) | - | - | - | - | Loveboat | | 2003 | "Solsbury Hill" | 10 | - | - | - | Other People's Songs | | 2003 | "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" | 14 | - | - | - | Other People's Songs | | 2003 | "Oh L'amour" (remix) | 13 | - | - | - | Hits The Very Best Of Erasure | | 2005 | "Breathe" | 4 | - | 1 | - | Nightbird | | 2005 | "Don't Say You Love Me" | 15 | - | - | - | Nightbird | | 2005 | "Here I Go Impossible Again" | 25 | - | - | - | Nightbird | | 2005 | "All This Time Still Falling Out Of Love" | 25 | - | - | - | Nightbird | |
DVD
* 2003 Sanctuary - The EIS 2002 Christmas Concert
* 2003 Hits! The Videos
* 2004 The Tank, The Swan & The Balloon
* 2005 Greats Hits Live - Live At Great Woods (Australia)
* 2005 The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne
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