On the turntable this Sunday...The Innocents

After releasing The Two Ring Circus, a remix album in 1987, The Innocents was the third proper studio release from Erasure, released in 1988. This album, produced by Stephen Hague and released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S., was the release that catapulted Erasure to super-stardom in their home country and gave them their long-awaited breakthrough in the U.S.

The Innocents became the first in a string of number one albums by Erasure in the UK, turning double platinum, with sales over 600,000. Thanks to heavy exposure on MTV, it also spawned two major Billboard Hot 100 hits, a Top 50 placing on the Billboard 200 and Platinum album certification in the U.S. According To Nielsen Sound scan 23 years after its release the Album Sales Total worldwide selling 5 million copies.  It remains their best-selling album to date.

The album was remastered and re-released on 26 October 2009 (2009-10-26) to celebrate its 21st anniversary. Prefaced by an EP of remixes led by album track "Phantom Bride," the 21st Anniversary Edition came in a couple of editions including a limited edition two CD/DVD set, packed inside a CD-sized 20-page hardback book that includes interviews with Vince Clarke and Andy Bell about the making of the record and their thoughts on all the tracks.

The second CD includes various rarities, including the 7″ version of the duo’s take on "River Deep, Mountain High" and US-specific remixes of "Chains of Love" and "A Little Respect" that weren’t released on the UK singles box set.

Track listing

All tracks by Clarke/Bell unless otherwise noted

1."A Little Respect" - 3:32

2."Ship of Fools" - 4:01

3."Phantom Bride" - 3:32

4."Chains of Love" - 3:45

5."Hallowed Ground" - 4:05

6."Sixty-Five Thousand" - 3:23

7."Heart of Stone" - 3:20

8."Yahoo!" - 3:48

9."Imagination" - 3:28

10."Witch in the Ditch" - 3:45

11."Weight of the World" - 3:40

12."When I Needed You" (Melancholic Mix) - 4:22

13."River Deep, Mountain High" (Private Dance Mix) (Barry, Greenwich, Spector) - 7:00

 21st Anniversary Edition

CD One (same as above)

CD Two

1."Ship Of Fools" (Shiver Me Timbers Mix)

2."When I Needed You"

3."River Deep Mountain High" (7" Version)

4."Chains Of Love" (The Unfettered Mix)

5."Don’t Suppose" (Country Joe Mix)

6."The Good The Bad and the Ugly" (The Dangerous Remix)

7."A Little Respect" (12" House Mix)

8."Like Zsa Zsa Zsa Gabor" (Mark Freegard Mix))

9."Love Is Colder Than Death"

10."Phantom Bride" (BBC 'In Concert' live recording)

11."Heart Of Stone" (BBC 'In Concert' live recording)

12."Hallowed Ground" (BBC 'In Concert' live recording)

13."Witch In The Ditch" (BBC 'In Concert' live recording)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Innocents_(album)