Customer Reviews

Hits: The Very Best of Erasure

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Here's a dilemma: one of my favorite bands for the past two decades, one of the most enduring and wonderful electronic pop acts ever, releasing a sub-standard hits compilation. Yes, the music itself deserves 5 stars. But what's up with this release? I don't understand why it has been put together this way.

Since their first singles compilation ("Pop!"), Erasure have released 15 more singles. Why not follow the "Pop!" blueprint and simply release those 15 in chronological order? Why do we need this new "Hits!" disc? Think about it: Erasure's massive popularity has definitely waned in the past 10 years. Who is still buying their releases? Of course, its those of us who are diehard fans. And we should be presented with better product than this.

"Hits!" contains 20 tracks... 12 of which were already included on 1992's "Pop!" Of the past 15 Erasure singles released since "Pop," "Hits" provides six. SIX. How necessary was it to include three of the four "Abba-esque" tracks on this compilation? Some glaring omissions include the remixed "Who Needs Love Like That" (originally available only on the cassette-version of "Pop!"), the radio mix of "Rock Me Gently" (available only on a Czech single), the remixed version of "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" (U.S.-only single mix including an entire verse of the song not included on the "Cowboy" album version). And really, do any of us need another version of "Oh L'amour?" Why mess with an 80's synth classic?

The import version of "Hits!" is available with a second CD containing a "megamix" that is equally as frustrating. It contains 18 tracks and also has some missing gems. Why not replace the ballads and mid-tempo tunes (tracks 1 through 4) and replace them with some better remixes? "In My Arms" was a #2 smash on the Billboard dance chart and is not included, nor is "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me," another Top 5 Billboard Club hit. A real bonus would have been to include the much sought-after, promo-only Out Of the Blue remix of "Blue Savannah." On top of all this, the song-to-song transitions are sloppy and uninspiring.

Erasure is one of my all-time favorite bands. I've been listening to them religiously since their debut in 1985. I'm one of the lucky few who has had the opportunity and funds to be a completist. Most of the missing tracks I mentioned above I have been able to obtain as import singles. It just would have been nice to be given an Erasure product that was a little more comprehensive and representative of their outstanding output in the past decade. Note to Mute: think of the fans next time. Give us rarities, radio remixes, B-sides and rare club re-workings. We'd be most appreciative.

Erasure first released a greatest hits 11 years ago in 1992 titles Pop 20 Hits. Come 2003, their record company releases their second compilation, but fans may be disappointed cos out of the 20 songs, 12 were available already on Pop 20.

The CD covers the hits from 1986 - 1992 comprehensively but misses a great deal of the later work from 1994 - 2003. I Say I Say I Say is represneted by only Always while Run To The Sun and I Love Saturday are glaringly missing. From Erasure, Rock Me Gently is not included. The biggest travesty is the omission of the excellent Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me from Cowboy.

There is a bonus CD of Erasuremegamix of 18 of the songs from Disc 1. Serves good as an icing on the cake but still, could have been better if this second CD is devoted to the 15 singles released after Pop 20. The record honchos should take a cue from Pet Shop Boy's recent anthology. This compilation just doesnt do much justice to the enegetic disposition of the band.
Buy the DVD instaead...it includes all their videos and much more extra footage.

I know no one who loves Erasure more than I do. I am a die-hard fan, and buy everything they release. But I must say I am very disappointed in this . Having been released back in the fall of 2003 , I still found a "limited edition" of HITS! on the shelves of my local music store. That alone should tell you how their fan base has eroded over the years. It's a shame, really, because to my way of thinking they have released some of their best work in the last 10 or so years. It is miles ahead of their early work, in terms of production and musical quality. It is more mature and often more reflective. But to include most all of the songs found on POP! on this latest disc, at the expense of some of their later, better singles ( often singles that were remixed from their album versions - and THAT is what we Erasure fans want, hard to find things like single remixes, video remixes etc ) is just a travesty. The omissions have already been explained thoroughly in earlier posted reviews here so I won't go into specifics. But suffice to say there is SO MUCH MISSING here. And the "bonus" megamix is LAME. I hate to say so, and I am wondering if Andy and Vince heard it before they gave the go-ahead for its release. Otherwise, I see no point in its inclusion. It sounds like something you would have heard 20 years ago in a roller skating rink. It is just that bad. Sloppy edits, remixes that neither enhance nor serve the original versions... I could go on and on about why I dislike it so much. But I won't. As I said earlier, no one I know loves Erasure like I do. But I can't recommend this to fans new or old. They could have done so much better. I can however highly recommend the DVD companion to this set. Presented in it are videos that have never been on DVD, with great sound quality and a few bonus extras that are truly worth the name "bonus." Pity the CD version can not boast the same.

If you are contemplating a choice between Erasure's "Hits" album and the older "POP!" collection, I'd actually give the nod to "POP!" The new set adds more from the Abba EP and removes several of the songs from "Pop!." The dropped songs included some essential (in my opinion, at least) songs like "Drama" and "Who Needs Love Like That." You lose 8 songs from "POP!" here for 7 alternates plus one unnecessary remix of "Oh L'amour," and this collection has, simply put, a less concise menu of Erasure at their best.

Since Vince and Andy were better at the singles than at the albums anyway, the finest of their singles truly sparkle as gold from the eighties. Given that their later output was lackluster at best (save "Always"), this is a bland primer for a fun band. And Erasure is pretty much a fun sugar-candy duo. With two notable exceptions, the best songs were campy or beat heavy hook records. Only with the environmental lyrics of "Chorus" or the call to arms of "A Little Respect" did the duo ever push towards anything really weighty. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mindless fun is better than no fun at all. But it was the early part of their career where Vince was still innovatively exploring the compositional range of the synthesizer. Which meant that, when he was on, he was brilliant, and Andy almost always found the kind of vocal exuberance to overcome any deficiencies (think "Love To Hate You"). It's also that after the album "Chorus" Erasure began to bog down. So unless you feel that "Always" and a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Solisbury Hill" are worth having over the deletion of eight other, superior Erasure songs, I'd recommend "POP!" over "Hits."

But I have "POP!-20 Hits" already and think that was a better representation of why Erasure was so great. Btw, with this new collection having 3 covers of ABBA songs, why doesn't it have their great cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass"?

So anyway, should you buy this or POP!? I have the solution: backtrack and buy all their cd's in order and experience Erasure to its fullest. Most of their cd's have too many wonderful undiscovered/unheard gems in them.

I love Erasure, one of my favorite groups. But no 5 stars here because I could not believe some of the omissions on this album. Only one song from I Say I Say I Say, Cowboy, & Other People's Songs. Where is "Don't Say Your Love is Killing Me"?
I think they should have went all the way and truly included their "hits" on this album. I would have gladly paid the price to have all the songs. The DVD is excellent however....all the songs in video form, plus extras. I was hoping with this album that I would not have to carry around 10 erasure CD's in my car and it would all be on one. That is not the case though. They need to re-release "Hits" with a special 3 disc set (all the songs plus that remix) and let all of us fans have all the songs we truly love and adore by this great group!

The 1980s were blessed with the Synth Pop Holy Trinity: Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, and Erasure. Since their debut "Wonderland," the duo of Vince Clarke (formerly of DM and Yazoo) and Andy Bell have created a long string of tech pop confections that would make Rodgers and Hammerstein jealous. Unfortunately, "Hits!," the first greatest hits collection of the legendary duo since 1992's "Pop!," is a slapdash attempt at covering Erasure's entire history. While Pet Shop Boys compiled all their hits on two discs on "PopArt," Erasure's "Hits!" tries to cram their discography onto just one CD, and it makes too many omissions. The problem with hits collections is that at least one personal favorite is likely to be left out. But the omissions on "Hits!" are not only several, but they are quite glaring. In my opinion, it is absolutely CRIMINAL to do ANY Erasure hits CD without including the duo's debut single, "Who Needs Love Like That." Also on the absentee list are other hits like "Run to the Sun" (1994), "Am I Right?" (1991), "Star" (1990), and "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" (1997). And why do we need THREE cuts from the 4-track EP "Abba-Esque?" Also, the limited edition version of "Hits!" has a bonus 70+ minute megamix CD that's fine for what it is, but it doesn't really make this compilation any more appealing. While casual listeners won't likely find much fault with "Hits!," more diehard fans will be disappointed. Both Erasure and their fans deserve a little better.

where do i start? as an erasure fan from day one i have to say i am extremely dissapointed in this release. all i can say is if you cant do something right, dont do it at all. in the past ten years some of erasures albums have been weak and not as successful as their early albums, but to omit some of their best singles of the past decade is ridiculous.especially since most of us have "pop" the other hits album. I had to look at the list of songs three times to make sure i didnt miss something but to no avail...there is no "dont say your love is killing me", "am i right", "run to the sun", "fingers and thumbs", "knocking on your door"- and i definetly cant beleive that "who needs love like that" is not on here. their freakin debut single is not included on their best of.. go figure. so much could have been done with this compilation.A studio version of "gimme gimme gimme" would have been great.and the remix disc? please.. dont waste your money on this. either get the "pop" greatest hits or the dvd version of this best of.

Alright don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing but pure bliss on this album, however I am going to critque the actual CD set itself not the music.

This has to be one of the most disappointing collection of hits for any band or group out there. The problem with the CD is not the quality of the recordings but the track listing. They have included not 1 track from Abba-esque but 3 which is ENTIRELY unnecessary. It almost makes owning that #1 EP unnecessary. Why was this done? I know other fans have tried to argue that this is a representation of their hits but that is entirely false because this collection includes Freedom which bombed in the charts!

I can't tell whom this collection is geared toward. Not fans surely but I will argue against it being advertised to the casual listener. I showed this collection to a non-Erasure fan and they saw 4 titles that were covers and were not impressed by that at all!

This should have been a POP volume 2, not the presentation it is. Do yourself a favor and pick up the fantastic HITS Dvd. If you are going to buy this make sure to get the limited edition (for the same price btw) featuring the megamix CD. It's really the only version to own..oh and pick up the Oh L'amour single as well!

I admit I am not a diehard fan of Erasure like some, but I have to admit they have churned out an impressive number of catchy songs in their 20+ year career.

This compilation features all the big hits like 'Oh L'Amour', 'Chains of Love', 'A Little Respect' and their popular ABBA covers. There are some recent songs like their cover of Peter Gabriel's 'Solsbury Hill'.

Even better is a cool megamix CD that is perfect for any party. I enjoyed the mixing, and it's not too overdone so you will still recognize your favorite Erasure songs although they are remixed.

Ignore all the negative reviews. No compilation is going to feature everything each fan wants. I think this is a generous and fun collection of some of pop's finest moments.