On this day in 1987, Erasure were doing something they’d do a lot in the second-half of the ’80s – sitting at #1 on the British Indie chart. This time it was with “It Doesn’t Have To Be”, which spent eight weeks atop the Indie list, the longest any song had since The Smiths “What Difference Does It Make” in 1984.
Erasure was the creation of one-time Depeche Mode founder Vince Clarke, who had left that band early on, worked with Alison Moyet in Yazoo, had a couple less successful side projects before meeting singer Andy Bell to form this band which is still going strong (they released their 19th album last fall.) Their releases usually are long on synthesizers and danceable melodies, with songs like “A Little Respect” and “Sometimes” hitting North American charts. In their UK, they spun 24 consecutive top 40 singles, largely on the small Mute Record label, which was also home to Depeche Mode there. Despite all those hit songs, they were in a way the Brit equivalent of CCR. Just as CCR had a string of hits in the U.S. without ever having a #1, Erasure scored nine top 5 hits at home but never a #1 overall (excepting a 4-song EP that got listed with singles). That didn’t stop them from winning the 1989 Brit Award for best group however and being nominated the following year. “It Doesn’t Have To Be” was a bit off their norm, with the middle lyrics being sung in Swahili to emphasize the song’s political anti-Apartheid message. It was the lead single from their second album, Circus, which allmusic described as “Clarke’s ever-strengthening pushback of synth-pop’s presumed sound and cliches.”
While Erasure aren’t quite the commercial powerhouse they once were, they seem as busy as ever, putting out seven new albums since 2010.
Not a band I ever listen too, oddly it’s typically the sound I like.
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some of their singles were pretty catchy. I once had a GH by them, I did pull it out to listen to three or four songs occasionally but when it was lost, wasn’t really high on my list to replace. Brits absolutely love them though.
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The first one was a little electronic for me…but “Sometimes” is alright…but wow…the UK does love them.
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amazingly popular and for a long stretch of time
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I couldn’t believe that…and how many albums they have released lately
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It may come a s a bit of a surprise, but I love Erasure (and Pet Shop Boys – I kinda bracket both bands’ music together.) Yup – we Brits do have a soft spot for them. 😉
COLIN
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(Dave – any idea why I can’t post replies using my Loud Horizon details?)
COLIN
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no… I didn’t know that was happening. Let me check the spam just in case…
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I don’t know Colin, I wish I had an answer- I did find one in the ‘pending’ box from your Cee Tee Jackson account, (and of course, I approved it when i saw it) but it was from Christmas time. If you have it happen again, try to let me know via this account of yours and I will search for it to see where it might be going.
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I’m a big fan of PSB too, Erasure I don’t mind but they don’t really get me going except for the one or two big hits here. But, man hat’s off to them for being so big so long in Britain!
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Yep, that ‘Sssssound is typical of the 80s /90s, the vocals too. Very George Michael(?)
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I wasn’t fond of Erasure back in the ’80s, which I’m afraid hasn’t changed. That said, I will admit that objectively speaking (if that’s even truly possible in music), they had some catchy tunes.
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I like ’em but don’t love ’em; surprisingly enough heard ‘Chains of Love’ yesterday in a grocery store and it sounded quite good. I do like the Pet shop Boys better; the two seem to usually end up compared to one another.
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