Erasure

Categories: British musical groups | New Wave groups | Electronic music groups | Mute Records artists

Image:Erasuresticker1.jpg
Clarke (L) and Bell

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)". 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 and Nightbird demonstrated a further diversity of sound.

Image:Erasflower.jpg
Bell, Clarke

Contents

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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.

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Discography

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Albums

sources: Billboard 200, UK Album Chart. Germany chart positions provided within official Erasure webite.

Year Album US UK Ger- many
1985 Wonderland - 71 16
1987 The Circus 190 6 20
1987 The Two Ring Circus 186 - 26
1988 The Innocents 49 1 10
1989 Wild! 57 1 16
1991 Chorus 29 1 13
1992 Pop! The First 20 Hits 112 1 12
1994 I Say, I Say, I Say 18 1 6
1995 Erasure 82 14 87
1997 Cowboy 43 10 34
2000 Loveboat - 45 48
2003 Other People's Songs 138 17 17
2003 Hits! The Very Best Of Erasure - 15 54
2005 Nightbird 154 27 22
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EPs

sources: Billboard 200, UK singles chart.

Year Album US UK
1988 Crackers International 4 73 2
1991 Am I Right? 6 - 15
1992 Abba-esque 7 85 1
1997 Rain: Plus 10 - -
2001 Moon & the Sky: Plus 11 - -
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Box sets

Year Album US UK
2000 Singles - EBX 1 - -
2000 Singles - EBX 2 - -
2001 Singles - EBX 3 - -
2001 Singles - EBX 4 - -
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Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
UK Singles Chart US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Dance
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 #22 #4 The Innocents
1988 "A Little Respect" #4 #14 #15 #2 The Innocents
1989 "Stop!" - #97 #19 #4 Crackers International [EP]
1989 "Drama" #4 - #11 #10 Wild!
1989 "You Surround Me" #15 - - - Wild!
1990 "Blue Savannah" #3 - - #44 Wild!
1990 "Star" #11 - - #4 Wild!
1991 "Chorus" #3 #83 #4 #14 Chorus
1991 "Love to Hate You" #4 - - #17 Chorus
1992 "Breath of Life" #8 - - - Chorus
1992 "Take a Chance on Me" (feat. MC Kinky) - - - #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 - - #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 & 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
2000 "Freedom" #27 - - - Loveboat
2000 "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


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DVD

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Compare to

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See also

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External links

da:Erasure de:Erasure et:Erasure es:Erasure fr:Erasure it:Erasure hu:Erasure nl:Erasure pl:Erasure pt:Erasure ru:Erasure sk:Erasure fi:Erasure sv:Erasure tr:Erasure