Product Description
-------------------
Disc 1:
Who Needs Love Like That?
Heavenly Action
Oh LAmour
Sometimes
It Doesnt Have To Be
Victim Of Love
The Circus
Ship Of Fools
Chains Of Love
A Little Respect
Stop!
Drama
You Surround Me
Blue Savannah
Star
Chorus
Love To Hate You
Am I Right?
Breath Of Life
Take A Chance On Me
Lay All Your Love
SOS
Voulez Vous
Always
Run To The Sun
I Love Saturday
Stay With Me
Fingers And Thumbs (Cold Summers Day)
Rock Me Gently
In My Arms
Dont Say Your Love Is Killing Me
Rain
Freedom
Solsbury Hill
Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)
Disc 2:
Sometimes (Top of the Pops Debut November 1996)
Sono Luminus (Acoustic Version 1995)
In My Arms (U.S. Version 1997)
Too Darn Hot (Take from Red Hot and Blue 1990)
Live!
Leave Me To Bleed (The Circus Tour - 1987)
A Little Respect (The Innocents Tour - 1988)
Supernature (Wild! Tour 1989)
Waiting for The Day (Phantasmagorical Entertainment 1992)
Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summers Day) (The Tiny Tour 1996)
Six Promotional Documentaries: 1991 Chorus
1992 Pop!
1994 I Say I Say I Say
1995 Erasure
1997 Cowboy
2003 Hits!
Hidden extras
.co.uk Review
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Featuring 35 videos and an additional disc full of bonus
material, Hits: The Videos is the definitive Erasure collection.
Disliked by many for their formulaic synth-pop tunes, Clarke and
Bell are nevertheless adored by loyal fans across the globe and
are still viewed as "alternative" in the US. These conflicting
feelings towards the duo have existed since day one, with many
put off by their initial high-energy sound and flamboyant image.
It was only through adopting a more "macho" white T-shirt and
blue jean look in the video for "Sometimes" that the guys
eventually managed to obtain UK chart success. However, the
videos (all included on Disc 1) for debut singles "Who Needs Love
(Like That)" and "Heavenly Action" shouldn't be ignored, as the
former features Bell dragged up as a damsel in distress and the
later is a kitsch Barbarella spoof, complete with toddlers
dressed as cherubs. Ever since their promos have alternated
between the more light-hearted, ostentatious videos ("Love To
Hate You", "Take a Chance On Me", and "Make Me Smile (Come Up and
See Me)") and the serious melodramatic epics ("The Circus", "Am I
Right", "S.O.S." and "Stay with Me").
Other highlights of this collection include "Chains of Love",
which features Andy and Vince flying around the studio holstered
on chains. Taking its inspiration from the video of the Pet Shop
Boys' "Go West" from the previous year, Erasure's 1994 single
"Run to the Sun" is an ambitious -erotic, computer-generated
affair seemingly located somewhere in Eastern Europe. In fact,
all of the I Say, I Say, I Say videos are in foreign
locales--the Far East for "Always" and the Mediterranean for "I
Love Saturday"). Another classic is the later video "Don't Say
Your Love is Killing Me", which features Bell being hauled
through various locations on his lounge rug. Despite being
renowned for their glitzy live shows, only three of the videos
feature material on tour ("Oh L'Amour", "In My Arms" and
"Rain"). All in all this is an excellent value-for-money
compilation for those not too tired by the tried-and-tested
Erasure formula.
On the DVD: Erasure--Hits: The Videos plays in Dolby stereo, with
some of the later videos being 16:9 format. Disc 2 includes
exclusive performance footage, rare videos and tracks performed
live on all of Erasure's major tours. Six lengthy promotional
documentaries from 2001 to 2003 are included, which feature
interviews with the pair. Hidden bonus footage has also been
crammed on to the disc. The only downside is the clumsy menus,
which are difficult to navigate and are not all that pleasing to
the eye. --John Galilee