The Circus (Erasure album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Q | [2] |
The Circus is the second studio album by Erasure, released on 30 March 1987 by Mute Records in Germany and the UK and 7 July 1987 by Sire Records in the USA. It was Erasure's second consecutive album to be produced by Flood.
The Circus became the duo's breakthrough in the UK, spawning four hit singles and reaching number six. It was an immediate success thanks to the number two UK placing of the first single "Sometimes", six months earlier. The album remains Erasure's longest-running on the UK charts.
Although mainstream success in the U.S. did not occur with this album, it did generate two hits (including a number-one) on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. It also became their first record to enter into the Billboard 200.
The Two Ring Circus, also released in 1987, is a double 12" remix album that served as a companion piece to The Circus. It includes remixes and re-recordings along with live bonus tracks on the cassette and CD versions.
Track listing
All tracks written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, unless otherwise noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It Doesn't Have to Be" | 3:53 |
| 2. | "Hideaway" | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Don't Dance" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "If I Could" | 3:52 |
| 5. | "Sexuality" | 3:55 |
| 6. | "Victim of Love" | 3:40 |
| 7. | "Leave Me to Bleed" | 3:21 |
| 8. | "Sometimes" | 3:38 |
| 9. | "The Circus" | 5:30 |
| 10. | "Spiralling" | 3:10 |
CD bonus tracks
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "In the Hall of the Mountain King (New version)" | |
| 12. | "Sometimes (12" remix)" | |
| 13. | "It Doesn't Have to Be (Boop Oppa Doo mix)" |
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Germany | 30 March 1987 |
| United Kingdom | 30 March 1987 |
| United States | 7 July 1987 |
Chart performance
Original release
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart[3][4] | 91 |
| German Albums Chart[5] | 16 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart[6] | 40 |
| Swedish Albums Chart[7] | 12 |
| Swiss Albums Chart[8] | 9 |
| UK Albums Chart[9] | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Chart[10] | 190 |
1997 re-issue
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart[11] | 144 |
2011 Remaster and Repackage
On 4 July 2011, EMI re-released Erasure's first two albums in 2CD/DVD format. Both feature the original album remastered, plus another disc of tracks associated with the album, and a DVD containing promo videos and a live concert.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It Doesn't Have to Be" | 3:56 |
| 2. | "Hideaway" | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Don't Dance" | 3:39 |
| 4. | "If I Could" | 3:52 |
| 5. | "Sexuality" | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Victim of Love" | 3:42 |
| 7. | "Leave Me to Bleed" | 3:22 |
| 8. | "Sometimes" | 3:39 |
| 9. | "The Circus" | 5:31 |
| 10. | "Spiralling" | 3:10 |
| 11. | "In the Hall of the Mountain King" | 2:58 |
| 12. | "Sometimes" (12" Mix) | 5:24 |
| 13. | "It Doesn't Have to Be" (Boop Oopa Doo Mix) | 7:17 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sexuality" (12" Mix) | 6:48 |
| 2. | "Sometimes" (Shiver Mix) | 5:53 |
| 3. | "The Circus" (Bareback Rider Mix) | 6:24 |
| 4. | "Who Needs Love Like That?" (Betty Boop Mix) | 7:34 |
| 5. | "It Doesn't Have to Be" (Cement Mix) | 5:35 |
| 6. | "The Soldier's Return" (The Return of the Radical Radcliffe Mix) | 5:06 |
| 7. | "Victim of Love" (Vixen Vitesse Mix) | 5:50 |
| 8. | "If I Could" (Japanese Mix) | 3:45 |
| 9. | "The Circus" (Radio 1 Session, 10 March 1987) | 4:42 |
| 10. | "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" (Radio 1 Session, 10 March 1987) | 3:46 |
| 11. | "Spiralling" (Radio 1 Session, 10 March 1987) | 2:25 |
| 12. | "Phantom Bride" (Radio 1 Session, 10 March 1987) | 3:21 |
2016 "Erasure 30" 30th Anniversary BMG Reissue LP
Subsequent to their acquisition of Erasure's back catalog, and in anticipation of the band's 30th anniversary, BMG commissioned reissues of all previously released UK editions of Erasure albums up to and including 2007's Light at the End of the World. All titles were pressed and distributed by Play It Again Sam on 180-gram vinyl and shrinkwrapped with a custom anniversary sticker.
2016 "30th Anniversary Edition" USA Remaster LP
In 2016, American boutique record label Intervention Records acquired access to Sire Records' US analogue masters of Erasure's Wonderland, and The Circus as well as the rights to remaster and reissue them. Wonderland was released in December of that year, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and in a 60s-style Tip-On jacket. However, despite finalized art copy, and announcing that production had completed, The Circus, which was touted for a Q1 2017 release, was withdrawn in February of that year.
References
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Q review
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "charts.de". charts.de. 30 March 1987. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - The Circus". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - The Circus". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - The Circus". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company - The Circus by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
- ^ Erasure. "Erasure - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "Chart Log UK: E-40 - E-Z Rollers". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 24 June 2012.