Customer Reviews

The Innocents - 21st Anniversary Edition [2CD/DVD]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to believe, but it has been 21 years since Erasure released their venerable album, The Innocents. It charted in the top 50 in the US, finally bringing the duo of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke into the consciousness of American radio waves. It also happened to be my first Erasure album. I immediately fell in love with Andy's voice and Vince's one-man synth explosion. I rushed out to buy their first two albums, Wonderland and Circus, soon afterwards, as well as every Erasure album since. However, no other album brings me back to those happy days as a young Erasure listener than The Innocents.

CD1 - The Innocents (Remastered)
The 13 tracks on this disc are exactly the same as the original that was released worldwide in the spring of 1988. It only sounds SO much better. They did an excellent job remastering the LP and wow--Andy's voice is so much more vibrant while the music and synthesizers sound more crisp and colorful.

CD2 - B-sides, Remixes, and Rarities (Remastered)
A good selection of b-sides and remixes, along with 4 live tracks, all remastered for our enjoyment. I own most of the mixes and b-sides in one form or another, but I am so happy to get them in a quality remastered version, especially The Unfettered Mix of Chains of Love and the 12" House Mix of A Little Respect. The live tracks are from BBC 'In Concert' from London's Hammersmith Odeon.

DVD - The Innocents Live / The Videos / BBC Performances / MP3 Edition
The *PRIZE* of the Deluxe Edition is the The Innocents Live concert video. OMG. This concert video was not released in North America and was only released as a PAL VHS version overseas. I obtained an NTSC VHS transferred copy as a bootleg a long time ago. I then transferred it myself to DVD but realized that after so many years in storage, there were parts of the VHS that were damaged. Now it's available for us in full digital, audio remixed and remastered glory, along with two songs not available on the original VHS! They've even provided us with the MP3's from the show. Gasp! Finally, there are various TV appearances and the three original promo videos for the album, Ship Of Fools, Chains Of Love and A Little Respect.

I don't imagine anyone but the die-hards will purchase the Deluxe Edition and if you do, you will be richly rewarded. Congratulations to the boys for their success and longevity! I am eagerly awaiting their next studio album, due out in late 2010.

It's hard to believe, but it has been 21 years since Erasure released their venerable album, The Innocents. It charted in the top 50 in the US, finally bringing the duo of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke into the consciousness of American radio waves. It also happened to be my first Erasure album. I immediately fell in love with Andy's voice and Vince's one-man synth explosion. I rushed out to buy their first two albums, Wonderland and Circus, soon afterwards, as well as every Erasure album since. However, no other album brings me back to those happy days as a young Erasure listener than The Innocents.

CD1 - The Innocents (Remastered)
The 13 tracks on this disc are exactly the same as the original that was released worldwide in the spring of 1988. It only sounds SO much better. They did an excellent job remastering the LP and wow--Andy's voice is so much more vibrant while the music and synthesizers sound more crisp and colorful.

CD2 - B-sides, Remixes, and Rarities (Remastered)
A good selection of b-sides and remixes, along with 4 live tracks, all remastered for our enjoyment. I own most of the mixes and b-sides in one form or another, but I am so happy to get them in a quality remastered version, especially The Unfettered Mix of Chains of Love and the 12" House Mix of A Little Respect. The live tracks are from BBC 'In Concert' from London's Hammersmith Odeon.

DVD - The Innocents Live / The Videos / BBC Performances / MP3 Edition
The *PRIZE* of the Deluxe Edition is the The Innocents Live concert video. OMG. This concert video was not released in North America and was only released as a PAL VHS version overseas. I obtained an NTSC VHS transferred copy as a bootleg a long time ago. I then transferred it myself to DVD but realized that after so many years in storage, there were parts of the VHS that were damaged. Now it's available for us in full digital, audio remixed and remastered glory, along with two songs not available on the original VHS! They've even provided us with the MP3's from the show. Gasp! Finally, there are various TV appearances and the three original promo videos for the album, Ship Of Fools, Chains Of Love and A Little Respect.

I don't imagine anyone but the die-hards will purchase the Deluxe Edition and if you do, you will be richly rewarded. Casual fans would do well to purchase the regular edition of the 21st Anniversary Innocents. Congratulations to the boys for their success and longevity! I am eagerly awaiting their next studio album, due out in late 2010.

I fully agree with the previous reviewer that "The Innocents" is a wonderful album and the deluxe version is well worth the purchases. In addition to the great tracks on disc one: "Phantom Bride", "Ship of Fools", "A Little Respect", "Chains of Love", disc two has great nugets such as "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." The packaging is also first rate and the liner notes include a new interview with Vince and Andy. Bu this one! One note - "The Innocents" was released late Summer / early Fall, 1988, not Summer, 1986 as the previous reviewer stated. Note two - in addtion to "Wonderland" and "The Circus", "The Innocents" was also preceeded by the Erasure album. "Two for the Circus."

This is a great collection of Erasure's work. The second CD that has the live versions and rare B sides replaced some of my old vinyl from the 80s, These songs are just as great as you remember them. 5 Stars.

great album, remastering is beautifully done but mostly it's great toget copies of the remixes and b-sides, especially the 7" version of "River deep, mountain high"