Erasure

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Erasure


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Contents

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About

This English duo are a combination of Vince Clarke’s outstanding talent in writing hit pop songs which is their strongest asset, and Andy Bell’s extraordinary vocal expertise giving life to Clarke’s songs. They raided the air waves first with their 1985 debut single Who Needs Love (Like That) and successfully stayed on the charts for the period from the late ‘80s to early ‘90s.


Vince Clarke was former member of Depeche Mode which he himself founded, and where he first showed his songwriting skills. Before forming Erasure and after leaving Depeche Mode in 1981, he was also successful with the duo Yazoo, but later left his partner Alison Moyet and formed The Assembly. His feat with the latter group sold out the UK hit single Never, Never with Feargal Sharkey on vocals. His succeeding work with Paul Quinn was a failure so he decided to look for a new vocalist, and finally it was Andy Bell who was selected.


Andy Bell did not hide his being gay. His tandem with Clarke made them one of the most successful artists in the British charts history during the late ‘80s to early ‘90s. Their single Sometimes was their first of a string of hits.


It was their album The Innocents that charted their way up in 1988. It hit no. 1 in the UK on its initial release then went triple platinum after a year. It also did well in the US with Chains of Love and A Little Request at the Top 20.


Their hit song Stop nestled at no. 2 in the UK singles chart in 1988. In 1992, their EP Abba-esque which covered from ABBA hits became the duo’s no. 1 hit in the UK singles chart. They got a triple platinum in that same year with their no. 1 pop hit Pop – the First 20 Hits.


Erasure tried to delve into a different genre of music – a different kind of sound. The Erasure album released in 1995 contained songs that play over five minutes instead of their signature three-minute materials. It did not do well in terms of sales even if it received favorable reviews. They decided to return to their original style with the 1997 album Cowboy, but it was a not much of a success, making it only to UK Top 40 for only two weeks.


In 2003 however, their popularity was regained. The album Other People’s Songs with songs that are cover versions did well, with the top 10 UK singles chart hit Solsbury Hill, a song by Peter Gabriel.


Another success came with their 2005 album Nightbird which included the singles Breathe and Don’t Say You Love Me that both did well in the UK and US charts. A follow up album Union Street in 2006 contained their previous hits that were given new flavor. In 2007, the duo had a tour entitled Light At the End of the World Tour. They see a brighter future in their career this year 2008.


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Awards

Year Award Category
year... awards category
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Certifications

Year Albums/Compilations Certifications
1988 The Innocents Platinum (RIAA)
1992 Pop! The First 20 Hits Gold (RIAA)
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Chart Toppers

Year Title UK DE U.S. SE U.S. Dance Album
1985 Who Needs Love Like That 55 48 - - 8 Wonderland
1985 Heavenly Action 100 - NR - 8 Wonderland
1986 Oh L'amour 85 16 - 15 3 Wonderland
1986 Sometimes 2 2 - 20 4 Wonderland
1987 It Doesn't Have To Be 12 16 NR - 4 The Circus
1987 Victim of Love 7 26 - - 1 The Circus
1987 The Circus 6 30 NR - NR The Circus
1987 Ship of Fools 6 9 NR - NR The Circus
1987 Chains of Love 11 18 12 - 4 The Innocents
1988 A Little Respect 4 34 14 - 2 The Innocents
1988 Stop! 2 NR 97 - 4 Crackers International
1989 Drama! 4 12 - - 10 Wild!
1989 You Surround Me 15 38 NR - NR Wild!
1990 Blue Savannah 3 13 - - 44 Wild!
1990 Star 11 33 - - 4 Wild!
1991 Chorus 3 17 83 37 14 Chorus
1991 Love to Hate You 4 19 - 4 17 Chorus
1991 Breath of Life 8 44 - - - Chorus
1992 Take a Chance on Me 1 NR NR 1 10 Abba-esque
1992 Who Needs Love Like That (remix) 10 27 - 31 - Pop! The First 20 Hits
1992 Always 4 5 20 2 6 Pop! The First 20 Hits
1994 Run to the Sun 6 49 124 19 14 I Say I Say I Say
1994 I Love Saturday 20 69 - 34 20 I Say I Say I Say
1994 Stay with Me 15 - - 13 - I Say I Say I Say
1995 Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) 20 69 - - 10 Erasure
1996 Rock Me Gently NR - NR NR NR Erasure
1996 In My Arms 13 76 55 12 2 Cowboy
1997 align="center"| 23 89 - 26 5 Cowboy
2000 Freedom 27 80 NR 51 NR Loveboat
2000 Solsbury Hill 10 29 - 39 - Loveboat
2003 Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) 14 58 - - - Other People's Songs
2003 Oh L'amour (remix) 13 59 - - - Hits! The Very Best Of Erasure
2003 Breathe 4 35 - 33 1 Hits! The Very Best Of Erasure
2003 Don't Say You Love Me 15 69 - - - Hits! The Very Best Of Erasure
2005 Here I Go Impossible Again / All This Time Still Falling Out of Love 25 69 - - - Nightbird
2007 I Could Fall in Love with You 21 69 - - 7 Light at the End of the World
2007 Sunday Girl 33 76 - - - Light at the End of the World
  • NR - Not released in that country
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News

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Tours & Concerts

tour title - tour description

mm/dd/yy - city, stateCode (venue)

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Announcements

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Discography

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Albums

Wonderland
1986
The Circus
1987
The Innocents
1988
Wild!
1989
Chorus
1991
Erasure
1995
Cowboy
1997
Loveboat
2000
Other People's Songs
2003
Nightbird
2005
Union Street
2006
Light at the End of the World
2007
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Singles

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Compilations & Live Releases

The Two Ring Circus
1987
Pop! The First 20 Hits
1992
In Fashionland
1994
Hits! The Very Best Of Erasure
2003
The Erasure Show
2005
Acoustic Live
2006
Live at the Royal Albert Hall
2007
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Other artists

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Similar artists

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Influences

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Contemporaries

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Trivia

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External Links

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