The Circus (Erasure album)

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The Circus
ErasureTheCircus.jpg
Studio album by
Erasure
Released30 March 1987 (1987-03-30) (Germany/UK)
7 July 1987 (1987-07-07) (USA)
Recorded1986-1987
GenreSynthpop
Length38:23
LabelMute (Germany/UK)
Sire (USA)
ProducerFlood, Vince Clarke
Erasure chronology
Wonderland
(1986) 		The Circus
(1987) 		The Innocents
(1988)
Singles from The Circus
  1. "Sometimes"
    Released: 6 October 1986
  2. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
    Released: 16 February 1987
  3. "Victim of Love"
    Released: 18 May 1987
  4. "The Circus"
    Released: 21 September 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic3/5 stars[1]
Q4/5 stars[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide3/5 stars[3]

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.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
11."In the Hall of the Mountain King (New Version)" (Edvard Grieg)"2:58
12."Sometimes (12" Mix)"5:22
13."It Doesn't Have to Be (Boop Oopa Doo Mix)"7:12

Release history[]

Country Date
Germany 30 March 1987 (1987-03-30)
United Kingdom 30 March 1987 (1987-03-30)
United States 7 July 1987 (1987-07-07)

Chart performance[]

Original release[]

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Canadian Albums Chart[4][5] 91
German Albums Chart[6] 16
New Zealand Albums Chart[7] 40
Swedish Albums Chart[8] 12
Swiss Albums Chart[9] 9
UK Albums Chart[10] 6
U.S. Billboard 200 Chart[11] 190

1997 re-issue[]

Chart (1997) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[12] 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[]

Disc one: Original album
No.TitleLength
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
Disc two: Bonus CD
No.TitleLength
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 for its Q1 2017 release, The Circus was withdrawn in February of that year.

References[]

  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Q review
  3. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 230.
  4. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  6. ^ "charts.de". charts.de. 30 March 1987. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  7. ^ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - The Circus". charts.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  8. ^ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - The Circus". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  9. ^ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - The Circus". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  10. ^ "The Official Charts Company - The Circus by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  11. ^ Erasure. "Erasure - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Chart Log UK: E-40 - E-Z Rollers". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
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