Search - Erasure :: Total Pop! The First 40 Hits (2 CD Set)

41 Sonically Superior Erasure Hits -- 1985 to 2009!

Jason W. Bellenger | Byron Center, Michigan, USA | 03/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Erasure. Total Pop! - The First 40 Hits.

© 2009 Mute Records Limited. Printed in the E.U. LC05834. CDMUTEL16. 5 099924 294720.

Released 23 February 2009 (U.K.)



Total Pop! is also available as Deluxe Box (3 CD/1 DVD).



First of all, I must admit that I'm not really a big Erasure fan. I would call myself a casual fan who has enjoyed a number of the duo's singles over the years, starting really with 1994's "Always", which has become my favorite Erasure song. Nonetheless, I must admit that I was extremely excited when I first viewed the press release for this 2009 double-disc hits compilation. Does it get any better than this?



Glancing over the tracklisting it is really an amazing overview of this synth-pop duo of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, an act which I think has been overlooked many times despite continuously churning out numerous high quality singles year after year, album after album. I don't think that many people realize just how many hits that these guys have had since hitting the music scene in 1985. Add them up! Yep, 40! (... and counting!) Astonishing! Not many bands or artists have that kind of track record!



A whopping 33 of these hits made the U.K. Top 40 while 28 of them made the U.K. Top 20. Quite an impressive feat! Take a look at the hits. While most of these singles did not chart in the U.S. they were successful overseas. If you are a U.S. music lover and unfamiliar with their hits outside the U.S. charts now is your chance to catch up!



As I listen to this 2-CD collection starting with 1985's "Who Needs Love (Like That)" on disc 1 and ending with "Always [Jeremy Wheatley 2009 Mix]" on disc 2 I'm reminded of the numerous gems that I may have overlooked initially -- for example, hits such as "Blue Savannah" (1990) and "In My Arms" (1997). The latter track I vaguely recall hearing for a brief time on the radio the summer of '97 and had completely forgotten how amazing it sounds! Even recent singles such as "Here I Go Impossible Again" (2005) and "I Could Fall In Love With You" (2007) are as good as the early cuts, in my opinion.



The 2009 mix of "Always", which has been used to promote this release, is not radically different from the original 1994 album version. Perhaps that's why I like it? Coming roughly 15 years after the original release "Always" still sounds as amazing as the first time that I heard it.



One may note the big push to emphasize the digitally remastered sound with this collection. Notice the "2009 digital remaster" tag on nearly every track in the above listing. A little overboard, eh? I'm glad that the audio is getting recognition when it often does not! All tracks have been newly remastered for this 2-CD set by Simon Heyworth at Super Audio Mastering, Devon. And what a difference it makes! Many of these tracks have never sounded better, with the exception of the excellent mastering on Hits: The Very Best of Erasure from 2003.



The liner notes are rather thin but informative, nonetheless. Erasure's hits are broken down across a few pages in terms of writers, production, mixes, EP/single information, release dates, and U.K. peak chart positions. Many casual fans may find this information very useful if discovering the duo for the first time. Additionally, the packaging is very nicely done, in my opinion, with the two lovebirds on the back of the album sleeve topping it off. Beautiful!



Note that while the collection is titled as having the first 40 hits of Erasure it is actually 41 tracks (with the new mix of "Always") in chronological order. Disc One fills in at roughly 78 minutes, and Disc Two covers roughly 77 minutes. No space is wasted, cramming this package full of excellent, timeless pop music. Here's to the next 40!"

Who knew????????

C. Crabtree | New York, New York | 05/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Considering what a terrific band they are, I've never understood why Erasure is not more popular in the US. I was also perplexed about the title "40 Hits" for this compilation, since I thought I knew all their biggies and it certainly didn't add up to 40. So I was very happy to discover that just because Americans didn't fully appreciate Andy and Vince's output, clearly the rest of the world did and this CD is an outstanding validation of how fabulous their music is. I'm playing it constantly - at home, in the car, at work. The music is highly infectious and you simply cannot maintain a bad/sad attitude with their bouncy, totally feel-good, party-ready sing alongs.



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