Hits! The Videos [DVD] [2003]

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Product Description ------------------- Disc 1: Who Needs Love Like That? Heavenly Action Oh L’Amour Sometimes It Doesn’t 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 Summer’s Day) Rock Me Gently In My Arms Don’t 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 Summer’s 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 ------------- 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