Union Street

Erasure | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B000ERU5OA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,253 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Boy (from the album Cowboy)

2. Piano Song (from the album Wild!)

3. Stay With Me (from the album Erasure)

4. Spiralling (from the album Circus)

5. Home (from the album Chorus)

6. Tenderest Moments (Run to the Sun b-side)

7. Alien (from the album Loveboat)

8. Blues Away (from the album I Say I Say I Say)

9. How Many Times (from the album Wild!)

10. Love Affair (from the album Cowboy)

11. Rock Me Gently (from the album Erasure)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Erasure with dobro, mandolin, and steel guitar? Believe it. Union Street is the sound of the British synth-pop duo--Andy Bell and Vince Clarke--unplugged. The title comes from the Brooklyn studio in which they re-recorded 11 lesser-known tracks from throughout their career. Ten come from seven albums, while "Tenderest Moments" was a B-side. Designed more for slow dancing than disco dancing, this acoustic set puts the focus on the lyrics and Bell's ardent, yearning voice. Highlights include "Stay With Me," which is graced by a lovely flute solo, and the gospel-tinged "Rock Me Gently," with Jill Walsh providing heavenly counterpoint (both from 1995's Erasure). "Blues Away" (1994's I Say I Say I Say), however, would've worked better without the falsetto, while "How Many Times" (1989's Wild!), ironically, would've worked better in a higher register (Bell is at his best in his natural range). Overall, though, Erasure make this unexpected departure work. If the songs weren't strong enough to begin with, it wouldn't have been worth the effort, but they withstand the changes Bell and Clarke have have put them through quite nicely. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

Union Street, Erasure's new acoustic CD was recorded in a small studio in Brooklyn, NY. Andy Bell says that they "show the songs in a different light, and show that they could work on whatever instrument, synthesisers or guitars". "We just felt there were songs on our albums that had been missed as songs," says Vince Clarke.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Erasure - Unplugged., May 2, 2006

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Union Street (Audio CD)

You can do yourself a big favor by ignoring many of the negative reviews of Erasure's acoustic LP. Everyone, from Nirvana to Jay-Z, has given their back catalogue of songs the "unplugged" treatment, so why not Erasure? On "Union Street" (named after the Brooklyn location of the recording studio), Vince Clarke and Andy Bell give a handful of tracks an acoustic/country & western feel, but instead of opting for their hits, they dig deep into lesser-known album cuts and b-sides. The results are convincing and effective, as shown on "Boy," "Siren Song," the b-side "Tenderest Moments," and "Blues Away." "Union Street" proves that Erasure's songwriting and craft for melody stand tall even when you strip their songs of their synth-heavy production.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just How Far is Union Street From the 59th Street Bridge??, June 19, 2006

By 

ELECTROSAUR (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Union Street (Audio CD)

Pieces of this really did evoke a "Simon and Garfunkel" feeling in me.
Almost all of the songs took the 'treatment" well, the total standout for me was "Tenderest Moments"; simply beautiful,perfect, and touching.

Overall this was beautifully executed, I feel sorry for the naysayers who just can't get it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's More Than Fundamental To Be In The Union Street On 2.006! (Please, Forget About The Critics!), May 7, 2006

By 

F. Santos "Chabacano" (Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Union Street (Audio CD)

On reading all those negative reviews specially dedicated to this album, I was sincerely shocked, after all it represents to me the definitive slap on all Erasure's knockers... Anyway I'm not so surprised with those commments, since Erasure have been target for jokes since the beginning of their career... But what makes me feel really bothered is to read critics that accuse Erasure of recording the same album every time. What a lie! A pop duo who dared to record such a different albums just like the self-titled or Loveboat or even this last one cannot be accused of repeating themselves. In addition Clarke & Bell aren't worried in following musical trends for conquering new fans indeed. Actually, Erasure's fans know that what makes a good *pop* song is basically good lyrics + good melody and not its position in musical charts, which are basically occupied by artificial and disposable ones. And Erasure own many, many songs that own those two qualities! Well, but let's talk about what really matters here: Union Street is an extremely BEAUTIFUL album and I'm not exaggerating at all! Besides it really owns just gorgeous (and practically ignored) ballads from Clarke & Bell, exception for "How Many Times?", which is just good at my opinion. All the other 10 songs present in this (AMAZING) compilation were very well-chosen. But Erasure own many other underrated ballads that could be perfectly put on this (SUPERB) work, such as: "Witch In The Ditch" & "Hallowed Ground" from Innocents, or "Turns The Love To Anger" and "Siren Song" from Chorus, or "Take Me Back" & "All Through The Years" from I Say (x3), or "Grace" & "A Long Goodbye" from the self-titled, or yet "Surreal" & "Where In The World", both ones from the largely disliked Loveboat, but nothing prevents Erasure from performing all these other ones on The (SENSATIONAL) Acoustic Tour. Regarding the fact this one is totally acoustic, I must confess that I was really worried about how Union Street would sound, but this fear has disappeared as soon as I heard it at the first time! And I almost cried when I did it since all the songs are so well-sung and well-played here. It's really amazing to discover again how great all those songs are. I mean they are all the same ones, but the acoustic instruments gave to them a new chance for being properly enjoyed. In short, Erasure have proved one more time they are far from being a disposable dance-pop band, since Andy's voice has never sounded so beautiful as on this one and Vince could get here a great opportunity for showing he is a brilliant musician (not only a brilliant keyboarder) on creating wonderful acoustic arrangements for all the songs (of course together with the rest of the great team responsible for this REMARKABLE album). By the way, hey, Erasure's haters, don't worry, Erasure will continue to make great records despite all yours bad vibes, after all V&A have flown so high with their talents that your hate will never get them! So if you are looking for some good music to listen to on this year (and on the next years too), it's more than fundamental to go to this Union Street to enjoy great moments of the most perfect musical pleasure.