Erasure’s 40 Greatest Tracks
20.When a Lover Leaves You (Light at the End of the World, 2007)
The Oscar Salguero Remix on the Storm Chaser EP is stellar, but the album version is the definitive recording of “When a Lover Leaves You.” It’s one of those classic Erasure melodies that they seem to be able to churn out by the dozen. It’s a sublime piece of electronic pop that is arguably the finest moment on Light at the End of the World.
19. Reach Out (Cowboy, 1987)
The great lost Erasure single that never was. Erasure boasts numerous album tracks that would have made great singles, but none more so than “Reach Out.” It has Top 10 written all over it. A soulful, melodic number with some great background vocals, a strong hook, a great beat and a joyous vibe. It’s a classic song and one that should have been a Top 10.
18.Stay With Me (Erasure, 1995)
If anybody ever doubts that Andy Bell is a first-rate vocalist, play them “Stay With Me” immediately. The layers of sound that he develops, along with Clarke’s simple keyboard line, are simply magical. The first single from the duo’s 1995 self-titled album, it peaked at #15 in the UK. It should have hit the top. They also recorded an outstanding, faster acoustic version for their 2006 album Union Street.
17. Ship of Fools (The Innocents, 1988)
“Ship of Fools” was a risk when it was issued as the lead single for the band’s all-important 3rd album, The Innocents, but the duo believed in the song and the risk paid off. The dramatic ballad showed a completely different side of Erasure, and audiences responded by sending it straight into the Top 10. It was also Andy Bell’s finest vocal yet, and showed significant artistic growth for the duo.
16.Drama! (Wild!, 1989)
Opening with bell tones and pulsing synthesizers, “Drama!” starts rather calm and then builds in energy and excitement as it goes. It’s a killer dance track with some great keyboard riffs, Bell’s vocal is outstanding, and melodically and lyrically it’s unforgettable. A worthy first single for the band’s brilliant 1989 album Wild!, “Drama” reached #4 in the UK. In the US, the duo was marketed almost exclusively for the dance floors, and despite the crossover success of prior singles “Chains of Love” and “A Little Respect,” none of the singles from Wild! made a dent on the U.S. pop chart (although they were fixtures on the dance chart).
15.When I Start to (Break it All Down) (Tomorrow’s World, 2011)
The lead single from Erasure’s 2011 album “Tomorrow’s World” is their finest single in years. “When I Start To (Break It All Down)” is an atmospheric track that sounds modern but still has the instantly recognizable Erasure sound – Frankmusic, a British electronic musician and producer who worked with the duo on “Tomorrow’s World,” really brought the best out in Erasure. Sadly, “When I Start to (Break it All Down)” didn’t perform well on the singles chart, but it deserved to be a Top 10 without question.
14.A Long Goodbye (Erasure, 1995)
The epic finale to the duo’s Erasure album, “A Long Goodbye” is easily one of the greatest studio creations the duo ever concocted. It’s a dramatic and powerful epilogue to Erasure’s most ambitious album. One could argue that it’s Bell’s finest vocal performance on an Erasure record. It builds in power as it goes until it ends with a stunning climax. Although it was never a single, “A Long Goodbye” is essential Erasure.
13.I Love Saturday (I Say, I Say, I Say,1994)
The duo’s 1994 album I Say, I Say, I Say has a distinctly buoyant vibe to it. It’s loaded with great songs, one of which was the infectious third single “I Love Saturday,” which features Bell showing off his falsetto in the verses. It was the 3rd straight hit from I Say, I Say, I Say, reaching #20. Pick up the single for two of Erasure’s finest b-sides: “Ghost” and “Truly, Madly, Deeply.”
12.Love to Hate You (Chorus, 1991)
“Love to Hate You” is an old-school disco, with echoes of “I Will Survive” in the verse and hints of ABBA as well. It’s a killer dance tune, but it’s just as good as a pop single. The vocal arrangement is clever, and the crowd noise during the big synth solos add to the excitement. The second straight smash from the Chorus album, “Love to Hate You” went all the way to #4 on the UK pop chart. The CD-single is worth tracking down for the stellar b-side, “La, La, La.”
11.Rock Me Gently (Erasure, 1995)
The ethereal album version is over 10 minutes long, and it’s worth checking out… but the single mix is really magic. It’s a perfect ballad, performed with incredible sweetness by Bell over Vince Clarke’s gorgeous keyboard lines. It’s one of the duo’s most sublime recordings, and it also features an exceptionally beautiful video.
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