The Innocents
Studio album by
Erasure
Released10 April 1988 (1988-04-10)
RecordedFall 1987
StudioBlackwing, Swanyard (London)
Genre
Length40:08
LabelMute
Producer
Erasure chronology
The Circus
(1987)		 The Innocents
(1988)		 Wild!
(1989)
Singles from The Innocents
  1. "Ship of Fools"
    Released: 22 February 1988
  2. "Chains of Love"
    Released: 30 May 1988
  3. "A Little Respect"
    Released: 10 September 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
NME7/10[4]
Number One[5]
Record Collector[6]
Record Mirror4+1⁄2/5[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]
Smash Hits7+1⁄2/10[9]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[10]

The Innocents is the third studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 10 April 1988 by Sire and Reprise Records in the United States and on 18 April 1988 by Mute Records in Germany and the United Kingdom. Produced by Stephen Hague, it was the release that made Erasure superstars in their home country of the UK and gave them their breakthrough in the US.

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 US. According to Nielsen SoundScan, 23 years after its release the album has sold a total of 5 million copies worldwide. It is their best selling album to date.

The album was remastered and re-released on 26 October 2009 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 flavours 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 were not released in the UK singles box set.

The album cover image derives from the stained glass window of St. James and Charlemagne, in Chartres Cathedral.[11]

Track listing

All tracks written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, except where noted.

  1. "A Little Respect" – 3:32
  2. "Ship of Fools" – 4:01
  3. "Phantom Bride" – 3:32
  4. "Chains of Love" – 3:38
  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

CD / Cassette bonus tracks

  1. "When I Needed You" (Melancholic Mix) – 4:22
  2. "River Deep, Mountain High" (Private Dance Mix) (Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector) – 7:02

21st anniversary edition

CD one

Same as above

CD two

  1. "Ship of Fools" (Shiver Me Timbers Mix) – 7:53
  2. "When I Needed You" – 4:00
  3. "River Deep Mountain High" (7" Version) – 3:20
  4. "Chains of Love" (The Unfettered Mix) – 8:28
  5. "Don’t Suppose" (Country Joe Mix) – 5:58
  6. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (The Dangerous Remix) (Ennio Morricone) – 4:42
  7. "A Little Respect" (12" House Mix) – 6:44
  8. "Like Zsa Zsa Zsa Gabor" (Mark Freegard Mix) – 4:56
  9. "Love Is Colder Than Death" – 2:13
  10. "Phantom Bride" (Live BBC 'In Concert') – 4:08
  11. "Heart of Stone" (Live BBC 'In Concert') – 3:37
  12. "Hallowed Ground" (Live BBC 'In Concert') – 3:55
  13. "Witch in the Ditch" (Live BBC 'In Concert') – 3:53

DVD

The Innocents Live – NEC Birmingham 15/11/88

  1. "Chains of Love"
  2. "A Little Respect"
  3. "Witch in the Ditch" (previously unreleased)
  4. "The Circus"
  5. "The Hardest Part"
  6. "Push Me Shove Me"
  7. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" (previously unreleased) (Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus)
  8. "Spiralling"
  9. "Hallowed Ground"
  10. "Oh L’Amour"
  11. "Who Needs Love Like That"
  12. "Stop!"
  13. "Victim of Love"
  14. "Ship of Fools"
  15. "Knocking on Your Door"
  16. "Sometimes"

The Innocents at the BBC

  1. "Ship of Fools" – Going Live!
  2. "A Little Respect" – Top of the Pops
  3. "The Innocents Live" (BBC 35-minute TV special – first broadcast 12 December 1988)

The Innocents – Promotional videos

  1. "Ship of Fools"
  2. "Chains of Love"
  3. "A Little Respect"

The Innocents Live – Downloads

  1. MP3 files of The Innocents Live

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.

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for The Innocents
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[32] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Mitchell, Matt (21 July 2023). "The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time". Paste. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Robbins, Ira; Augusto, Troy J. "Erasure". Trouser Press. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "The Innocents – Erasure". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  4. ↑ Stanley, Bob (23 April 1988). "Erasure: The Innocents". NME. p. 30. ISSN 0028-6362.
  5. ↑ Martin, David (7 May 1988). "Erasure: The Innocents". Number One. No. 255. p. 41. ISSN 0266-5328.
  6. ↑ Elliott, Mark (April 2016). "Wonderland, The Circus, The Innocents | Erasure". Record Collector. No. 452. ISSN 0261-250X. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. ↑ Page, Betty (23 April 1988). "Erasure: The Innocents". Record Mirror. p. 31. ISSN 0144-5804.
  8. ↑ Considine, J. D. (1992). "Erasure". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. pp. 230–231. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.
  9. ↑ Heath, Chris (4–17 May 1988). "Erasure: The Innocents". Smash Hits. Vol. 10, no. 9. p. 63. ISSN 0260-3004.
  10. ↑ Walters, Barry (1995). "Erasure". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 131–132. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  11. ↑ "THE INNOCENTS (ALBUM)". Erasure Information Service. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "Top 20 Albumes – Argentina" (PDF). Pelo (in Spanish). No. 353. October 1989. p. 10.
  13. ↑ "Discos- Os Mais Vendidos Da Semana". Folha de Caixas (in Portuguese): 31. 26 August 1989. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8686". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 19. 7 May 1988. p. 24. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – The Innocents" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Charts.nz – Erasure – The Innocents". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  18. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Erasure – The Innocents". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  19. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Erasure – The Innocents". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  20. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Erasure – The Innocents". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  21. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  22. ↑ Lazell, Barry (1997). "Erasure". Indie Hits 1980–1989: The Complete U.K. Independent Charts (Singles & Albums). Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-95172-069-4. Archived from the original on 21 November 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "Erasure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  24. ↑
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  25. ↑ "1988 Year End Eurocharts – Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 31. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  26. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "Top 100 Albums – Year-End Chart 1988" (PDF). Music Week Awards. Music Week. 4 March 1989. p. 8. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  28. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 9. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  29. ↑ "Year End Albums" (PDF). Record Mirror. 20 January 1990. p. 42. ISSN 0144-5804 – via World Radio History.
  30. ↑ "Charts of the Year – The Best-Selling Records of 1989 – Top 30 Independent Albums". Melody Maker. 6 January 1990. p. 2. ISSN 0025-9012 – via Imgur.
  31. ↑ "British album certifications – Erasure – The Innocents". British Phonographic Industry. 20 February 1989. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  32. ↑ "American album certifications – Erasure – The Innocents". Recording Industry Association of America. 9 October 1991. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
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