Chorus (Erasure album)
Encyclopedia
Chorus, Erasure
's fifth proper studio album, was released by Mute Records
in the UK and Sire Records
in the U.S. in 1991 (see 1991 in music
). This album was the last to end Erasure
's classic period.
at the time, entering at number twenty-nine. It gave Erasure their first Billboard Hot 100
entry since "Stop!" with the title track, which also charted well on the Modern Rock Tracks
chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Chorus also charted well in Germany
, where it peaked at number thirteen.
" single cover), a business meeting group, three businessmen at a construction site, and a woman and child bicycling. The next four are the portraits from the album cover, one each of Clarke and Bell from the front and side. The backs of these have patient data from Clarke and Bell's MRI scans.
Another special edition was released as a promotional item for the music industry: a hardcover book entitled Chorus Software User Manual with hidden compartments inside which hold a copy of the CD and cassette as well as the same 8 cards as the other special edition.
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
's fifth proper studio album, was released by Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
in the UK and Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
in the U.S. in 1991 (see 1991 in music
1991 in music
See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
). This album was the last to end Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
's classic period.
History
Upon its release, Chorus became Erasure's third consecutive number-one album in the UK and gave them four more top twenty hits. In the U.S., it was Erasure's highest-debuting and highest-peaking album on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at the time, entering at number twenty-nine. It gave Erasure their first Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
entry since "Stop!" with the title track, which also charted well on the Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Chorus also charted well in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where it peaked at number thirteen.
Special editions
Chorus was also released as a limited-edition CD in special packaging (cat number LCD STUMM 95). Instead of a jewel case, it came in a folding cardboard box. The cover was also different, with the two portraits taken from the side instead of the front, as on the cassette releases. It included the standard lyrics booklet, as well as 8 picture cards with various artwork. The first four are the stock photography from the booklet and have "e" logo backs: family on the beach (later used for the "Love to Hate YouLove to Hate You
"Love to Hate You" is a song by Erasure which was released in 1991 as the second single from the duo's fifth studio album Chorus.-History:...
" single cover), a business meeting group, three businessmen at a construction site, and a woman and child bicycling. The next four are the portraits from the album cover, one each of Clarke and Bell from the front and side. The backs of these have patient data from Clarke and Bell's MRI scans.
Another special edition was released as a promotional item for the music industry: a hardcover book entitled Chorus Software User Manual with hidden compartments inside which hold a copy of the CD and cassette as well as the same 8 cards as the other special edition.
Track listing
All tracks by Clarke/Bell.- "ChorusChorus (Erasure song)"Chorus" is a song by Erasure which is the first single and title track to the duo's fifth studio album Chorus. It was released in 1991 by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S...
" – 4:26 - "Waiting For the Day" – 3:50
- "Joan" – 3:50
- "Breath of Life" – 4:07
- "Am I Right?Am I Right?"Am I Right?" is a song by Erasure that was released in Europe and Canada as the third single from their album Chorus. The song was not released as a single in the United States.-History:...
" – 4:18 - "Love to Hate YouLove to Hate You"Love to Hate You" is a song by Erasure which was released in 1991 as the second single from the duo's fifth studio album Chorus.-History:...
" – 3:56 - "Turns the Love to Anger" – 3:56
- "Siren Song" – 4:44
- "Perfect Stranger" – 4:05
- "Home" – 4:14
Chart performance
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | 5 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 21 |
| German Albums Chart | 15 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 14 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 21 |
| UK Albums Chart | 1 |
| US Billboard 200 | 29 |
Personnel
- Andy BellAndy Bell (singer)Andrew Ivan "Andy" Bell is the lead singer of the English synthpop duo Erasure. He also has a solo career, with the albums Non-Stop and Electric Blue.-Early life:Andy Bell originates from the Dogsthorpe area in Peterborough...
– vocals - Vince ClarkeVince ClarkeVince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
– synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, programming - Dave Bascombe – mixing
- Me Company – design
- Martyn Phillips – producer