Chorus (Erasure album)

Last updated

Chorus
Erasure-Chorus.jpg
CD cover art
Studio album by
Erasure
Released14 October 1991
RecordedSeptember 1990 – March 1991
Studio
Genre Synth-pop
Length41:29
Label
Producer Martyn Phillips [1]
Erasure chronology
Wild!
(1989)		Chorus
(1991)		 I Say I Say I Say
(1994)
Singles from Chorus
  1. "Chorus"
    Released: 17 June 1991
  2. "Love to Hate You"
    Released: 9 September 1991
  3. "Am I Right?"
    Released: 25 November 1991
  4. "Breath of Life"
    Released: 16 March 1992

Chorus is the fifth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 14 October 1991 by Mute Records in Germany and the UK and on 15 October 1991 by Sire/Reprise Records in the United States. In 1999, Ned Raggett ranked the album at number 45 in his list of "The Top 136 or So Albums of the Nineties". [2]

Contents

Background

Upon its release, Chorus became Erasure's third consecutive number-one album in the UK and gave them four more top twenty hits. In the US, it was Erasure's highest-debuting and highest-peaking album on the Billboard 200 at the time, entering at number 29. It gave Erasure their first Billboard Hot 100 entry since "Stop!" with the title track, which also charted well on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Chorus also charted well in Germany, where it peaked at number thirteen.

Production

Prior to the album's production, programmer Vince Clarke had noticed technical limitations of the by-then-predominant MIDI sequencing standard. Specifically, triggering multiple notes at once queues them and sends them one at a time, resulting in "MIDI slop". In an effort to eliminate this and give the album a "tighter" feel, he avoided MIDI completely, using primarily analog synthesizers and the Roland MC-4 CV/gate sequencer. Avoiding MIDI had other side effects on the sound of the album, such as the lack of chorded voices (the MC4 can only trigger four notes at a time, lending itself well to playing four monophonic parts) and the absence of digital synthesizers and samplers, due to lack of CV/gate control on available models. [3] Clarke would continue with this production technique for later recordings through the 90s. [4]

Special editions

Chorus was also released as a limited-edition CD in special packaging. Instead of a jewel case, it came in a folding cardboard box. The cover was also different, with the two portraits taken from the side instead of the front, as on the cassette releases. It included the standard lyrics booklet, as well as 8 picture cards with various artwork. The first four are the stock photography from the booklet and have "e" logo backs: family on the beach (later used for the "Love to Hate You" single cover), a business meeting group, three businessmen at a construction site, and a woman and child bicycling. The next four are the portraits from the album cover, one each of Clarke and Bell from the front and side. The backs of these have patient data from Clarke and Bell's MRI scans.

Another special edition was released as a promotional item for the music industry: a hardcover book entitled Chorus Software User Manual with hidden compartments inside which hold a copy of the CD and cassette as well as the same 8 cards as the other special edition.

2016 "Erasure 30" 30th anniversary BMG reissue LP

Subsequent to their acquisition of Erasure's back catalog, and in anticipation of the band's 30th anniversary, BMG commissioned reissues of all previously released UK editions of Erasure albums up to and including 2007's Light at the End of the World . All titles were pressed and distributed by Play It Again Sam on 180-gram vinyl and shrinkwrapped with a custom anniversary sticker.

2020 deluxe edition

A three-disc deluxe edition of the album was released by BMG on 14 February 2020. This consisted of a remastered version of the original 1991 album (disc 1); a collection of seventeen B-sides, remixes, and rare tracks (disc 2); and live recordings of tracks from Chorus performed at the Manchester Apollo in 1992 as part of their Phantasmagorical Entertainment tour. [5] It was packaged as the "hardcover casebound book edition" and branded as one of BMG’s Art of the Album series. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Calgary Herald C [8]
Entertainment Weekly C [9]
Melody Maker (favorable) [10]
NME 8/10 [11]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Smash Hits Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]

Upon its release, Andrew Smith of Melody Maker praised Erasure as a duo who produce "the purest, most perfect pop imaginable" and have "often suffered from their stunning simplicity being mistaken for naivety". He described Chorus as an album of "sparkling three-minute wonders" and added that "often the [lyrical] imagery is awkward or clumsy, but allied to those famously transcendent melodies, this is all the more charming". He believed it to be an improvement over Wild! (which "contained so much dead wood") and noted it is "timeless as timeless comes", adding that the songs "could be played on balalaikas and they'd still sound bloody marvellous". [14] Barbara Ellen of NME considered Chorus to "further underline" Erasure as "composers par excellence of exquisitely vivid pop tunes". She noted that on the album Clarke has "pruned down their enormous sound", describing it as "at times basic and workmanlike until Bell's filthy, fruity vocals come in and take us off to fantasy land again". She concluded, "Chorus is, in effect, hyper-emotional, subtly camp, dizzyingly-layered quality disco." [11]

Track listing

All tracks written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke.

1991 original edition

  1. "Chorus" – 4:26
  2. "Waiting for the Day" – 3:50
  3. "Joan" – 3:50
  4. "Breath of Life" – 4:07
  5. "Am I Right?" – 4:18
  6. "Love to Hate You" – 3:56
  7. "Turns the Love to Anger" – 3:56
  8. "Siren Song" – 4:44
  9. "Perfect Stranger" – 4:05
  10. "Home" – 4:14

2020 deluxe edition

CD 1: Original album (remastered)

  1. "Chorus" – 4:26
  2. "Waiting for the Day" – 3:50
  3. "Joan" – 3:50
  4. "Breath of Life" – 4:07
  5. "Am I Right?" – 4:18
  6. "Love to Hate You" – 3:56
  7. "Turns the Love to Anger" – 3:56
  8. "Siren Song" – 4:44
  9. "Perfect Stranger" – 4:05
  10. "Home" – 4:14

CD 2: B-Sides, Remixes, and Rarities

  1. "Over the Rainbow" – 3:30
  2. "Turns the Love to Anger" (Vince Clarke Remix) – 5:40
  3. "Perfect Stranger" (KROQ Mellow Version) – 2:25
  4. "Waiting for Sex" (Full Length) – 4:07
  5. "Love to Hate You" (Robbie Rivera's Juicy Mix) – 5:57
  6. "Twilight" – 4:23
  7. "Let It Flow" – 4:22
  8. "Chorus (Fishes in the Sea)" (Ben Grosse Remix) – 4:37
  9. "Siren Song" (Alternative Lyrics) – 4:05
  10. "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration Mix) – 6:41
  11. "Love to Hate You" (KROQ Blunder Version) – 4:14
  12. "La La La" – 4:12
  13. "Mirror to Your Soul" – 3:56
  14. "Waiting for the Day" (Demo Version) – 3:41
  15. "Perfect Stranger" (Acoustic) – 2:12
  16. "Am I Right?" (Glen Nicholls Extended 12" Mix) – 6:48
  17. "Home" (Minute Taker Remix) – 6:22

CD 3: Chorus Live at Manchester Apollo, 1992

  1. "Chorus" (Live) – 4:39
  2. "Waiting for the Day" (Live) – 3:37
  3. "Joan" (Live) – 4:02
  4. "Breath of Life" (Live) – 4:30
  5. "Am I Right?" (Live) – 5:11
  6. "Love to Hate You" (Live) – 4:07
  7. "Turns the Love to Anger" (Live) – 5:29
  8. "Siren Song" (Live) – 6:17
  9. "Perfect Stranger" (Live) – 3:20
  10. "Home" (Live) – 5:00

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Chorus
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [30] Platinum300,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erasure (duo)</span> English synth-pop duo

Erasure are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1984, consisting of lead vocalist and songwriter Andy Bell with songwriter, producer and keyboardist Vince Clarke, previously co-founder of the band Depeche Mode and a member of synth-pop duo Yazoo. From their fourth single, "Sometimes" (1986), Erasure established themselves on the UK Singles Chart, becoming one of the most successful acts of the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. From 1986 to 2007, the pair achieved 24 consecutive top-40 entries in the UK singles chart. By 2009, 34 of their 37 chart-eligible singles and EPs had made the UK top 40, including 17 climbing into the top 10. At the 1989 Brit Awards, Erasure won the Brit Award for Best British Group.

<i>Wonderland</i> (Erasure album) 1986 studio album by Erasure

Wonderland is the debut studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 1 May 1986 by Sire Records in the United States and on 2 June 1986 by Mute Records in the United Kingdom and Germany. Not an immediate success, the three singles released from it failed to crack the top 40 in the UK. "Who Needs Love Like That" would eventually make the UK top 10 in 1992, and "Oh L'amour" reached the UK top 20 in 2003, both in remixed form promoting their Pop! The First 20 Hits and Hits! compilations respectively. However, the album fared better in both Germany and Sweden, where it charted within the top 20.

<i>I Say I Say I Say</i> 1994 studio album by Erasure

I Say I Say I Say is the sixth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in 1994 by Mute Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US. The album was produced by Martyn Ware, who was a founding member of veteran synthpop groups the Human League and Heaven 17.

<i>The Two Ring Circus</i> 1987 compilation album (remixes and live recordings) by Erasure

The Two Ring Circus is a remix album by English synth-pop duo Erasure that served as a companion piece to their second album The Circus. It was released in 1987 on Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the US.

<i>The Innocents</i> (Erasure album) 1988 studio album by Erasure

The Innocents is the third studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 10 April 1988 by Sire and Reprise Records in the United States and on 18 April 1988 by Mute Records in Germany and the United Kingdom. Produced by Stephen Hague, it was the release that made Erasure superstars in their home country of the UK and gave them their breakthrough in the US.

<i>Wild!</i> 1989 studio album by Erasure

Wild! is the fourth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure. Released in 1989, it was the follow-up album to their 1988 breakthrough The Innocents. The album was produced by Erasure, along with Gareth Jones and Mark Saunders and released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the US.

<i>Erasure</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Erasure

Erasure is the seventh studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 23 October 1995 by Mute Records. It was produced by Thomas Fehlmann and Gareth Jones.

<i>Cowboy</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Erasure

Cowboy is the eighth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 31 March 1997 by Mute Records. In the United States, it was released by Madonna's former label Maverick Records. Cowboy was produced by Gareth Jones and Neil McLellan and marked the band's return to more simplistic three-minute synth-pop music.

<i>Hits! The Very Best of Erasure</i> Compilation album by Erasure

Hits! The Very Best of Erasure is the second greatest hits album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 20 October 2003 by Mute Records. Capitalising on a resurgence of Erasure's music after their successful covers album Other People's Songs, Mute released Hits! in order to reintroduce people to the duo's music and to give an update to their 1992 singles compilation Pop! The First 20 Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chains of Love (Erasure song)</span> 1988 single by Erasure

"Chains of Love" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in May 1988 as their ninth single overall. It was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, and released by Mute Records as the second single from Erasure's third studio album, The Innocents (1988). In the United States, Sire Records released it as the first single. The chorus is memorable for Bell's use of falsetto. The album version was produced by Stephen Hague and was slightly remixed for its single release. The accompanying music video featured Clarke and Bell performing the song while being hoisted through the air by thick, metal chains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Little Respect</span> 1988 single by Erasure

"A Little Respect" is a song written and recorded by British synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1988 by Mute. It was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The lyrics are a plea to a lover to show compassion and respect. The heavily synthesized instrumentation is accentuated by acoustic guitar and Bell's vocal falsetto in the chorus. It was their tenth single and was taken from their third studio album, The Innocents (1988). Known as one of their signature songs, the single reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and was Erasure's second consecutive top-20 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it made number 14, and reached number two on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chorus (Erasure song)</span> 1991 single by Erasure

"Chorus" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in June 1991 as the first single from their fifth studio album of the same name (1991). Produced by Martyn Phillips and written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song features Clarke's electronic soundscapes and Phillips' computerised production. The single was released by Mute Records in the United Kingdom and Sire Records in the United States. It peaked at number three in both Denmark and the UK while reaching number four in Ireland. In the US, it peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love to Hate You</span> 1991 single by Erasure

"Love to Hate You" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1991 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991). Written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it is an electronic dance track inspired by disco music. The synthesizer melody in the chorus is an interpolation of the string break from American singer Gloria Gaynor's disco-era classic "I Will Survive". The duo also recorded a Spanish version of the song, called "Amor y Odio", and one in Italian called "Amo Odiarti". The single was released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the US. It peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-10 hit in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, and Sweden. Its music video was directed by David Mallet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Am I Right?</span> 1991 single by Erasure

"Am I Right?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in November 1991 in Europe and Canada as the third single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991). Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the ballad peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breath of Life (Erasure song)</span> 1992 single by Erasure

"Breath of Life" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released as the fourth and final single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991), in March 1992. It was written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell with additional input from Pat O'Brien. An uptempo synth-pop song, its dance music elements were strongly accentuated for the club remixes. For the single release, it was remixed slightly, including a shortened intro. In the United States, it was the third single released from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me</span> 1997 single by Erasure

"Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released as the second single from their eighth studio album, Cowboy (1997). It is an uptempo dance music song written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. Mute Records issued the single in the UK. For the song's release in the United States, Maverick Records requested a remix for radio. The US single version of "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" is different from what is on the Cowboy album; the song's intro was changed, as well as the middle eight section. An entire verse, edited out of the album version, is restored on the American single release.

<i>Light at the End of the World</i> 2007 studio album by Erasure

Light at the End of the World is the thirteenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 14 May 2007 by Mute Records. The album's release was announced on the band's website on 26 January 2007 in a video message from members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. It reached the UK top 30 upon its release.

<i>Live at the Royal Albert Hall</i> (Erasure album) 2007 live album by Erasure

Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a live album released by English synth-pop duo Erasure in 2007. It is a double-CD set that is a recording of a concert appearance performed on 25 September 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This concert was a performance to promote the band's 2007 album Light at the End of the World. It was recorded and distributed in conjunction with Live Here Now and was available only through direct order and as a digital download via Live Here Now. Because of this limited availability, the album was ineligible for the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Total Pop! The First 40 Hits</i> 2009 greatest hits album by Erasure

Total Pop! The First 40 Hits is a greatest hits collection from Erasure, released on 23 February 2009 by Mute Records. The album utilizes a straightforward format: all of Erasure's singles up to that point, sequenced in chronological order. This is a continuation of the format used in Erasure's 1992 hits collection Pop! The First 20 Hits.

<i>Always: The Very Best of Erasure</i> 2015 greatest hits album by Erasure

Always: The Very Best of Erasure is a compilation album released by English synth-pop duo Erasure. It was released on 30 October 2015 to commemorate their 30th anniversary since the formation of the band. The album contains all of the band's highest charting songs, as well as their more popular recordings. The deluxe edition contains two additional CDs with corresponding remixes, including some of their singles that did not make the compilation. It is available through Lexer Music, Amazon and iTunes. The band's members, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, announced that this will kick off a campaign to celebrate their thirty years in the music industry together. The compilation followed the release of the first and only single from the album, entitled "Sometimes 2015", a re-vamped version of the original single mixed by David Wrench. The single was released on 23 October 2015, and contains a mixture of previously released remixes of Sometimes as well as a new remix by Love to Infinity.

References

  1. ↑ "Martyn Phillips". Martyn Phillips. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "The Top 136 or So Albums of the 90s". Archived from the original on 20 January 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Ireson, Paul (December 1991). "Vince Clarke". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. pp. 52–56. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. ↑ Vince Clarke article on answers.com
  5. ↑ "Erasure - Chorus (Deluxe Edition) - 3CD Bookpack Mute Bank; Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "Erasure/Chorus 3CD deluxe edition" Super Deluxe Edition; Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. ↑ AllMusic review
  8. ↑ Muretich, James (20 October 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald .
  9. ↑ Wyman, Bill (22 November 1991). "Chorus". Entertainment Weekly .
  10. ↑ Smith, Andrew (12 October 1991). "Albums". Melody Maker . p. 34. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  11. 1 2 Ellen, Barbara (19 October 1991). "Long Play: Wanna Tack U Higher". New Musical Express . p. 39.
  12. ↑ Sutcliffe, Phil (November 1991). "Review". Q .
  13. ↑ Dee, Johnny (16 October 1991). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits .
  14. ↑ Smith, Andrew (12 October 1991). "Albums: Aye, There's the Rub". Melody Maker . p. 34.
  15. ↑ "Rankings Top 10 – Argentina" (PDF). Pelo (in Spanish). No. 403. October 1991. p. 17.
  16. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 95.
  17. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – Chorus" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  18. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1683". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 45. 9 November 1991. p. 33. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  20. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  21. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – Chorus" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 45. 9 November 1991. p. 36. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Erasure – Chorus". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Erasure – Chorus". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  25. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Erasure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  27. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1702". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  28. ↑ "1991 Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music Week . 11 January 1992. p. 21. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  29. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1992" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  30. ↑ "British album certifications – Erasure – Chorus". British Phonographic Industry. 1 October 1991. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.