Erasure Pop!: The First 20 Hits CD

A handy 20-track singles compilation covering Erasure's first five albums plus the EPs CRACKERS INTERNATIONAL and ABBA-ESQUE and the remix album THE TWO RING CIRCUS, this is a near-perfect way to get acquainted with the duo of Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. Running in basically chronological order from 1986's "Who Needs Love Like That?" to 1992's "Take a Chance on Me," the collection includes such classic Erasure hits as "Stop!" "Chains of Love," and "Oh L'Amour," in their original single mixes, which are occasionally somewhat different from the album or extended club versions.

While this collection is essential for neophytes, it contains no new songs or mixes, and hardcore Erasure fans may find it most useful as a failsafe party album or mix-tape substitute. Later Erasure albums are more melancholy in tone; in retrospect, POP! feels like the closing of a chapter.

Producers includes: Stephen Hague, Erasure, Gareth Jones, Mark Saunders, Martyn Phillips.

Engineers include: Dave Bascombe, Bob Kraushaar, Dave Jacob.

Erasure: Andy Bell (vocals); Vince Clarke (various instruments).

Additional personnel: M.C. Kinky (rap vocals); Maurice Michael (guitar); Guy Barker (trumpet).

Entertainment Weekly (1/8/93, p.54) - "...a tuneful, exuberant show of force..." - Rating: B+
Q (12/92, p.146) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...A more straightforward and foolproof package would be hard to imagine....great stuff..."
Alternative Press (4/93, p.88) - "...nobody does rinky-dink better [than Erasure]....that there's no escape from the synthi-dink works to [Andy Bell's] favor or detriment--depending on your favorite childhood toys..."