Wonderland | |||
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Studio album by | |||
Released | 1 May 1986(USA) 2 June 1986(UK/Germany) | ||
Recorded | 1985-1986 | ||
Genre | Synthpop | ||
Length | 37:08 | ||
Label | Mute(Germany/UK) Sire(USA) | ||
Producer | Flood | ||
Erasure chronology | |||
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Singles from Wonderland | |||
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I've owned a copy of Erasure's Wonderland in one form or another since it debuted in 1986. The sugary synth-pop of Vince Clarke always appealed to me since he was a member of Depeche Mode and Yazoo so it was a no brainer that I would automatically fall in love with Erasure as well. Wonderland, for all its cheekiness, was a necessary springboard for a band that would grow, mature, refine its sound, and dominate the charts for the next 15 years. Sometimes the perfect storm swells. As far as erasure is concerned, the stars aligned. They were perfect songwriter and vocalist, equally matched, equally talented, equally entertaining. And they turned it into the most successful synthpop duo ever (granted there aren't many, but the blow everyone else out of the water). Mute STUMM 25 LP, Album Scandinavia 1986 A1. Who Needs Love Like That A2. Push Me Shove Me A5. Heavenly Action B1. Love Is A Loser B3. My Heart So Blue B5. Pistol Credits: Credits Media Condition: Mint (M) Sleeve Condition: Mint (M). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Wonderland by Erasure (Vinyl, Feb-2016, Mute) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! ' Who Needs Love Like That ' is the debut single released by British synthpop duo Erasure. The song was released in the UK on Mute Records in 1985 as a prelude to their debut album Wonderland. The video was directed by John Scarlett Davies and produced by Nick Verden for Aldabra.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Wonderland is the debut studio album by Erasure, recorded in 1985 soon after the duo's formation. It was released on 1 May 1986 by Sire Records in the USA and 2 June 1986 by Mute Records in the UK and Germany.[2] Not an immediate success, the three singles released from it failed to crack the Top 40 in the UK, nor did any of them enter the Billboard Hot 100. 'Who Needs Love Like That' would eventually make the British Top 10 in 1992, and 'Oh L'amour' became a 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 was a Top 20 success.
Erasure's initial exposure in the US came via dance clubs, as two singles did hit the top ten on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
![Erasure Erasure](/uploads/1/1/9/5/119523879/548719564.jpg)
At the time of its release, Wonderland was considered a failure, especially when comparing it to Clarke's prior successes with Depeche Mode and Yazoo. Early reviews of the album dubbed Andy Bell as 'an Alison Moyet imitator'.[citation needed]
Wonderland is widely revered as a classic example of mid-80s synthpop, by most critics, and is appreciated now as the beginning stages of one of electronic music's most enduring acts.
Track listing[edit]
All songs were written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, except where noted.
![Erasure Wonderland Erasure Wonderland](/uploads/1/1/9/5/119523879/325618873.jpg)
USA release (Sire)[edit]
Erasure Wonderland Album Tracks
Side one[edit]
- 'Who Needs Love Like That' (Vince Clarke) - 3:19
- 'Reunion' - 3:25
- 'Cry So Easy' (Andy Bell) - 3:35
- 'Senseless' - 5:20
- 'Heavenly Action' - 3:30
Side two[edit]
- 'Say What' - 3:56
- 'Love is a Loser' - 3:02
- 'March on Down the Line' - 3:26
- 'My Heart... So Blue' (Clarke) - 4:31
- 'Oh L'amour' - 3:04
CD bonus tracks[edit]
- 'Who Needs Love Like That (The Love That Mix Version)' - 6:11
- 'Oh L'amour (The Funky Sisters Remix)' - 7:17
UK and Germany releases (Mute)[edit]
Side one[edit]
- 'Who Needs Love Like That' (Clarke)
- 'Reunion'
- 'Cry So Easy' (Bell)
- 'Push Me Shove Me' (Clarke)
- 'Heavenly Action'
Side two[edit]
- 'Say What'
- 'Love is a Loser'
- 'Senseless'
- 'My Heart... So Blue' (Clarke)
- 'Oh L'amour'
- 'Pistol'
CD bonus tracks[edit]
- 'Say What' (remix)
- 'March on Down the Line' (remix)
- 'Senseless' (remix)
The US version drops the tracks 'Push Me Shove Me' and 'Pistol' and adds 'March on Down the Line' which was originally the B-side to 'Oh L'amour' in the UK (and also appeared in remixed form as a CD bonus track on the UK version of the album). The CD versions of both the UK and US versions of the album have different remixes as bonus tracks.
The UK and US album versions of 'Oh L'amour' were slightly different.The Brazilian edition of the album contains the live version of 'Oh L'amour' as track 6.
Chart performance[edit]
Original release[edit]
Erasure Wonderland
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
---|---|
German Albums Chart[3] | 20 |
Swedish Albums Chart[4] | 13 |
UK Albums Chart[5] | 71 |
1988 re-issue[edit]
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Albums Chart[6] | 82 |
1989 re-issue[edit]
Chart (1989) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Albums Chart[7] | 73 |
Release history[edit]
Date | Region | Label | Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
2 June 1986 | United Kingdom | Mute Records | STUMM25 |
United States | Sire Records | 25354 |
2011 remaster and repackage[edit]
On 4 July 2011, EMI re-released Erasure's first two albums in 2CD/DVD format. Both feature the original album remastered, plus another disc of tracks associated with the album, and a DVD containing promo videos and a live concert.
Track listing[edit]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | 'Who Needs Love Like That?' | 3:19 |
2. | 'Reunion' | 3:25 |
3. | 'Cry So Easy' | 3:35 |
4. | 'Push Me, Shove Me' (Remix) | 5:20 |
5. | 'Heavenly Action' | 3:30 |
6. | 'Say What' | 3:56 |
7. | 'Love Is a Loser' | 3:02 |
8. | 'Senseless' | 3:26 |
9. | 'My Heart... So Blue' | 4:31 |
10. | 'Oh L'amour' | 3:04 |
11. | 'Pistol' | 3:30 |
12. | 'Say What' (Remix) | 7:22 |
13. | 'March on Down the Line' (Remix) | 6:07 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | 'Who Needs Love Like That?' (Mexican Mix) | 6:11 |
2. | 'Push Me, Shove Me' (Extended as Far as Possible Mix) | 4:09 |
3. | 'Don't Say No' (Ruby Red Mix) | 6:09 |
4. | 'Heavenly Action' (12' Mix) | 6:11 |
5. | 'March on Down the Line' | 3:46 |
6. | 'Oh L'amour' (PWL Funky Sisters Say 'Ooh La La') | 7:17 |
7. | 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' (Remix) | 4:58 |
8. | 'Cry So Easy' (BBC Radio One Session: Bruno Brookes, 15/11/85) | 3:43 |
9. | 'Who Needs Love Like That?' (BBC Radio One Session: Bruno Brookes, 15/11/85) | 3:33 |
10. | 'Senseless' (BBC Radio One Session 5/12/85) | 3:32 |
11. | 'Heavenly Action' (BBC Radio One Session 5/12/85) | 3:38 |
12. | 'Say What' (BBC Radio One Session 5/12/85) | 3:25 |
13. | 'Push Me, Shove Me' (BBC Radio One Session 5/12/85) | 2:50 |
2016 'Erasure 30' 30th Anniversary BMG Reissue LP[edit]
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.
2016 '30th Anniversary Edition' USA Audiophile Remaster LP[edit]
In December 2016, American boutique record label Intervention Records released an audiophile-quality analogue remaster of the US release sourced from Sire's masters still held by Warner Brothers in the USA. The release was pressed on 180-gram vinyl and in a 60s-style Tip-On jacket.
Intervention also planned and begun work on a similar release of Erasure's second album, The Circus, for the first quarter of 2017, but it was withdrawn in February of that year.
References[edit]
- ^Allmusic review
- ^'Erasure • Albums • Wonderland'. Erasureinfo.com. 2 June 1986. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^'charts.de'. charts.de. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Erasure&titel=Wonderland&cat=a
- ^'The Official Charts Company - Wonderland by Erasure Search'. The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
- ^'The Official Charts Company - Wonderland by Erasure Search'. The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
- ^'The Official Charts Company - Wonderland by Erasure Search'. The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
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