Erasure’s 40 Greatest Tracks
30.Breath of Life (Chorus, 1991)
Driven by dueling keyboard riffs and a sparse, heavy beat, “Breath of Life” is exciting electronic pop with brilliant melody and vocal by Andy Bell. The vocal arrangement (especially during the 2nd verse) is chilling.“Breath of Life” was the 4th single from the Chorus album and became yet another Top 10 hit for the duo.
29. Stop! (Crackers International, 1988)
Opening with a whirring burst of synthesizer,“Stop!” goes right into a manic and irresistible dance beat completely with a chorus designed for singing along. “Stop!” is 3:02 of pure energy, a sure bet to fill the dance-floor during any ‘80s night. “Stop!” is a synth-pop classic.
28. Fill Us With Fire (Tomorrow’s World, 2011)
The third stellar single in a row from the 2011 Tomorrow’s World album, “Fill Us With Fire” sounds amazing on the dance floor. It’s Erasure for the modern world, sounding completely contemporary but still possessing that classic, familiar Erasure vibe that makes them so special.
27. Who Needs Love Like That? (Wonderland, 1986)
Erasure’s debut single in 1985, “Who Needs Love Like That” didn’t exactly tear up the charts at the time: it peaked at #55. But it launched a career that is now legendary, and it has since become widely recognized as a synth-pop classic. “Who Needs Love Like That” is a little simple and raw compared to their later work (and the video is hilariously campy), but it has a classic dance groove and keyboard riff that beams the listener back nearly 30 years, and its hard to play without smiling and singing along.
26.Dreamlike State [The 24 Hour Technicolor Mix] (b-side to “Star”, 1989)
This sublime ballad, with one of Bell’s most beguiling vocals, was somehow left off the Wild! album and relegated to b-side status. Such a shame. “Dreamlike State” is loaded with shimmering keyboard and a languid melody that weaves through the electronic bliss. It’s one of the great hidden gems in the Erasure catalog.
25. Crying in the Rain (Loveboat, 2000)
Erasure’s 2000 album Loveboat might have done poorly commercially, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some great moments. “Crying in the Rain” is easily the finest song on the album. Atmospheric and ominous, the production is perfect for the vibe of the song. One of the more somber entries in Erasure’s catalog, “Crying in the Rain” is a powerful track that’s been completely overlooked that deserves to be heard by a wider audience.
24.Home (Chorus, 1991)
The spellbindingly-beautiful closing track to the Chorus album, “Home” is a dramatic, ornate pieces that shows off both Andy Bell’s extraordinary abilities to layer his vocals, but it also shows Vince Clarke’s deft touch on the flourishes of keyboard. One of the duo’s finest lesser-known recordings.
23.Push Me Shove Me(UK version of Wonderland, 1986)
Somehow two of the strongest tracks from Erasure’s debut album Wonderland were omitted from the US release: “Push Me Shove Me” and “Pistol.” Both are excellent, but “Push Me Shove Me” has an irresistible hook and boasts a terrific vocal by Bell. Yet another “shoulda-been-single.”
22.Hallowed Ground (The Innocents, 1988)
“Hallowed Ground” is a soulful ballad that explores the lives of those just barely hanging on. It’s a powerful recording, laden with reverb, and graced by one of Bell’s finest vocals (his harmonies, especially on the 3rd verse, are chill-inducing). “Hallowed Ground” was never a single, but it certainly stands at the heart of the duo’s best album, The Innocents.
21.Be With You (Tomorrow’s World, 2011)
With 2011’s Tomorrow’s World, Vince Clarke and Andy Bell proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are still relevant in the music industry. It’s truly amazing that nearly 3 decades on, Erasure can still come out with a dance anthem as powerful as “Be With You,” and sound as good as ever. Erasure has been around during an ever-evolving dance music scene, and they’ve navigated it perfectly, always fitting in right where they were supposed to.
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