Absolute Radio: Discover real music

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - ERASURE

Greetings my friends. I wanted to let you all know that I will be going away on holiday 11 July through the 24th (or so). Before you panic...I will have a laptop with me and will do my best to continue daily postings of the Obscure Song of the Day. I might miss a day here or there, depending on what I'm doing that day and/or how knackered I am at day's end. I think you will enjoy what I have planned for you during that period - travel songs!! *lol* I have a few in mind already that will let you know where I am, what I'm doing, etc. You'll see what I mean in a couple weeks.

On to today's Obscure Song of the Day... 

Following the disbandment of the short-lived synth pop group Yazoo, former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke formed Erasure in 1985 with singer Andy Bell. Like Yaz and Depeche Mode, Erasure were a synth-based group, but they had stronger dance inclinations, as well as a sharper, more accessible sense of pop songcraft, than either of Clarke's previous bands. Furthermore, Erasure had the flamboyantly eccentric Andy Bell — one of the first openly gay performers in pop music — as their focal point. Bell's keening, high voice and exaggerated sense of theatrically became the band's defining image. In their native Britain, Erasure were successful from their inception. After a few years, the duo achieved commercial success in America with 1988's "Chains of Love," but they remained, in essence, a cult band on both sides of the Atlantic, cultivating a dedicated fan base over the course of their career.

Before forming Erasure, Clarke was one of the founding members of the groundbreaking synth pop outfit Depeche Mode. He left after recording only one album with the group, choosing to form Yaz with Alison Moyet instead. After Yaz released two albums, Moyet left to pursue a solo career. Clarke participated in a short-lived alliance with vocalist Feargal Sharkey and producer Eric Radcliffe called the Assembly in 1984. Following a single with vocalist Paul Quinn, he decided to form Erasure. Clarke placed an advertisement for vocalists within a British music newspaper and received over 40 demo tapes, from which Bell was selected as his partner.

Released in 1986, Erasure's first album, "Wonderland," received poor reviews and weak sales upon its release. The duo quickly followed the album with "Sometimes," a preview from their forthcoming second album. "Sometimes" reached #2 on the U.K. charts, beginning a string of successful singles that would run into the '90s. "The Circus," the group's second album, was released in the spring of 1987 and peaked at #6 on the U.K. charts. "The Innocents," Erasure's third album, became their first #1 album in Britain upon its release in 1988. The album featured the group's first American hit, "Chains of Love," which reached #12 in the U.S. Its follow-up, "A Little Respect," peaked at #14 in America. At the end of 1988, Erasure released the "Crackers International" EP, which reached #2 in Britain.

Erasure's fourth album, "Wild!," appeared in 1989, and like its predecessor, it reached #1 in the U.K., as did its successor, 1991's "Chorus." Erasure released the "Abba-esque" EP, a tribute to the Swedish pop group ABBA, in 1992. It became their first #1 single in the U.K. Later that year, Erasure released a compilation of their British singles, "Pop! The First 20 Hits." Two years later, the duo released its fifth album, "I Say I Say I Say," which featured the hit single "Always," their first American hit since 1988. Erasure's eponymous sixth album was released in the fall of 1995. It was followed in the spring of 1997 by "Cowboy. Loveboat" surfaced three years later. The all covers "Other People's Songs" appeared in 2003, the same year as the oddly chosen compilation "Hits!." Before the release of 2005's "return to form" album "Nightbird," Bell revealed he was HIV positive and had been since June of 1998. The 2006 album "Union Street" found the duo unplugging and re-recording old album tracks and B-sides with acoustic instruments. A tour with a full band supported the album and was documented on the 2007 live release "On the Road to Nashville." Later in the year the return-to-form album "Light at the End of the World" arrived.

From their 1999 album, "The Innocents," here is Erasure with "Chains of Love"....

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv79hFjPEiI

Tags: Erasure Vince Clarke

My Brother-in-law has an album out!!!

I even get a mention in the thanks bit on the album inlay!

He is one half of a group called Marlow.

The other half of his group is Robert Allen who was involved with Depeche Mode in the very early days, Rob has also been in a band with Alison Moyet. Rob's best friend is Vince Clarke from Erasure and Yazoo.

The Album is called Inside/Outside and is available through the Erasure web site next month but they are taking pre-orders.

There are samples of the album on the Marlow web site www.marlow-online.com and also a video that Vince Clarke made for the title track.

My personal favourite track has to be 'Stars' it has a slightly different sound to the rest of the album. I hope anyone reading this blog has a look because, Marlow really deserve it, especially if you like any of the artists i've mentioned.

I really hope Mr Absolute Playlist takes a look too....

Tags: Alison Moyet Depeche Mode Yazoo Yazoo Erasure Vince Clarke

Saturday 24th May

1. Visage – Fade To Grey
2. Prince – Kiss
3. Gary Numan – Music For Chameleons
4. Scritti Politti – Absolute
5. Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
6. Queen – Flash
7. Holly Johnson – Love Train
8. Erasure – A Little Respect
9. New Order – True Faith
10. A-Ha – Living Daylights
11. Blancmange – Don’t Tell Me
12. Texas – I Don’t Want A Lover
13. ABC – All Of My Heart
14. Echo & The Bunnymen – The Cutter
15. The Cure – Inbetween Days

Produced By Jon Hitchen & Richard Lee for mastermixdj.com

Tags: Texas ABC A-Ha The Cure Queen Depeche Mode Prince New Order Visage Blancmange Gary Numan Erasure Holly Johnson

Saturday 3rd May

1. Pointer Sisters – Automatic
2. Erasure - Stop
3. Level 42 – Lessons In Love
4. Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
5. STONE ROSES – FOOLS GOLD
6. David Bowie – Let’s Dance
7. TOM PETTY – I WONT BACK DOWN
8. Duran Duran – Union Of The Snake
9. Kool & The Gang – Fresh
10. Bruce Springsteen – Born In The USA
11. Eurythmics – Sex Crime (1984)
12. Owen Paul – My Favourite Waste Of Time
13. Prince – Raspberry Beret
14. Guns & Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
15. Texas – I Don’t Want A Lover

Tags: Texas Eurythmics David Bowie Queen Bruce Springsteen Prince Duran Duran Level 42 Tom Petty Erasure Pointer Sisters Owen Paul Guns n Roses

Saturday 23rd February

1. Madonna - Dear Jessie
2. Traveling Wilburys - Handly with care
3. Ryan Paris - Dolce vita
4. Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishin well
5. Level 42 - Running in the family
6. Strawberry Switchblade - Since yesterday
7. Erasure - Chains of love
8. Paul Young - Come back and stay
9. Joan Armatrading - Drop the pilot
10. Pet Shop Boys - Suburbia
11. Duran Duran - Save a prayer
12. Jason Donovan - Every day (I love you more)
13. Jim Diamond - Hi ho silver
14. Simply Red - A new flame
15. Eric Clapton - Behind the mask

Tags: Simply Red Pet Shop Boys Eric Clapton Joan Armatrading Duran Duran Level 42 Paul Young Erasure Jim Diamond Strawberry Switchblade Madoona Jason Donovan

Saturday 19th January

So how many did you spot..?

1. Mel and Kim - 'Respectable'
2. Living in a Box - 'Living in a Box'
3. Climie Fisher - 'Love Changes Everything'
4. Talking Heads - 'Road to Nowhere'
5. Erasure - 'A Little Respect'
6. Heaven 17 - 'Temptation'
7. The Rock Steady Crew - 'Hey You'
8. Soul II Soul - 'Back to Life'
9. Huey Lewis and the News - 'The Power of Love'
10. Danny Wilson - 'Mary's Prayer'
11. Spandau Ballet - 'True'
12. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - 'Relax'
13. Queen and David Bowie - 'Under Pressure'
14. Human League - 'Don't You Want Me'
15. Fun Boy Three - 'Our Lips Are Sealed'
16. Madonna - 'Holiday'
17. Christians - 'Harvest For The World'
18. Terence Trent D'Arby - 'Dance Little Sister'
19. Chicago - 'If You Leave Me Now'*
20. 10CC - 'Dreadlock holiday'*
21. Steve Winwood - 'Valerie'

* okay, OKAY! We know they're from the '70s!!

Tags: David Bowie Madonna Queen Chicago Spandau Ballet Talking Heads Frankie Goes To Hollywood Huey Lewis And The News Heaven 17 Fun Boy Three Erasure Soul II Soul Danny Wilson Mel and Kim 10cc Climie Fisher Living In A Box

Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot is back!

The front man from "Curiosity Killed The Cat", Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, is back with a new single called Element Vs Ben VP ‘Name and Number’. Check out the video here…… www.benvp.com

Tags: Simply Red Eurythmics Pet Shop Boys Simple Minds Seal George Michael Culture Club Spandau Ballet Duran Duran Tears For Fears Frankie Goes To Hollywood Stevie Wonder Marillion Deacon Blue Terence Trent D'Arby Paul Young Erasure Wet Wet Wet Kool and the Gang Billy Ocean Swing Out Sister T'Pau Curiosity Killed The Cat Living In A Box Rick Astley Eighties Ladies UB40 and Chrissy Hynde

New album

Erasure release a fantastic new album on monday 21st may 2007

The brand new Erasure album "Light At The End Of The World" will be available as two different editions:

The track listing of each version is as follows:

"Light At The End Of The World" CD Album (CDSTUMM285)

"Light At The End Of The World" Ltd Ed CD Album (LCDSTUMM285)

Tags: Erasure

Erasure Are Touring In September

Here are the September UK tour dates:

September 2007

03 Sept) Oxford - New Theatre

04 Sept) Nottingham - Royal Concert Hall

05 Sept) York - Opera House

07 Sept) Grimsby - Auditorium

08 Sept) Glasgow - Carling Academy

09 Sept) Edinburgh - Corn Exchange

11 Sept) Newcastle - Carling Academy

12 Sept) Preston - Guildhall

13 Sept) Manchester - Apollo

15 Sept) Norwich - UEA

16 Sept) Wolverhampton - Civic Hall

17 Sept) Leicester - De Montfort Hall

19 Sept) Bristol - Colston Hall

20 Sept) Sheffield - City Hall

22 Sept) Cardiff - St. Davids

23 Sept) Cambridge - Corn Exchange

25 Sept) London - Royal Albert Hall

A ticket pre-sale begins at: Wed 11 April at 9:00am (UK time) via the following webpage:

www: http://www.LiveNation.co.uk/Erasure

There are no telephone booking options for the pre-sale, it is online only.

You will need to register with the LiveNation.co.uk website which you can do in advance of the pre-sale. Registration is free with no obligation to receive any marketing emails etc.

Register at:

www: http://www.livenation.co.uk/MyGetLIVE/

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 14th April at 9:00am.

Hope you enjoy the show if you get to go. Maybe see you there for a bevvie or 2 xx

Tags: Erasure

ERASURE

Erasure have a new single out, "I Could Fall In Love With You" which is released in the UK on the 2nd April. A clip can be heard via their myspace site.

They will also be touring in June with Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, The Dresen Dolls and The Gossip (amongst others) on the True Colors festival in North American and Canada to support the Human Rights Campaign.

There will be a standalone tour in UK and Europe that will follow!

A New Album "Light at the end of the world" is released 21 may 2007

More info on Erasure:
http://www.myspace.com/erasureofficial
http://www.erasureinfo.com
http://www.erasureforum.com
http://www.erasure-interactive.co.uk
http://www.marchondowntheline.co.uk/forum/

Tags: Erasure