This time we think that Other People's Songs requires a follow up release. The idea being this could be recorded in a very short time,Abba-Esque was done in a weekend,the songs are already written and have been proved as worthy additions to any 2nd volume.
The idea being that if this could be recorded in the next few months previous to the new album release and kept in the vaults until the end of the Robbie support tour,then when Erasure come back to promote the new album a gap of half a year has passed,so how about release OPS2 and have a joint tour promoting both albums.
Sadly since this project has been in development Vince has dismissed the idea in the Erasure Christmas message 2016,but we think the idea still has legs whether its before the new album or if its kept back as a 'maybe'.
We have curated four different versions of 'More Other People's Songs' versions 1 & 4 are by Erasure4rum members,version 2 is by Team Tortsen-Barney Ashton-Bullock & Christopher Frost,version 3 is by Team Shelter-Mark R Bebb & Rob Bradley.
Take a look at all of our variants,and vote in the poll attached,multiple votes are allowed. After a month (31st January 2017) the poll will close and a definitive version of the album can be compiled and a list of the top 10 tracks all be put together to create the ultimate version.
Or do you have a different selection?,tell us below
Version One
Side One-Erasure4rum Mark Pugh
1.Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
Queen classic just think of Andy multi-tracking the backing box,a cover I'm sure Freddie would approve of.
2.Who Were You With In The Moonlight (Dollar)
Dollar-it's just a camp cover of a classic pop song to payback for Oh L'Amour.
3.Back In Black (AC/DC)
AC/DC who wouldn't want to hear that rock classic,a genre so far removed from Erasure it may just work.
4.Ghosts (Japan)
Japan-Andy loved them,so did I,but this backing would suit Vince down to the ground.
5.Need A Man Blues (Bronski Beat)
Bronski Beat album track thats quite apt,maybe even getting Jimmy to join in on backing.
Side Two-Erasure4rum tEEm
I find that OPS appeared to suffer from a lot of "veto factor" to the point of having mostly songs that weren't the band's true favourites.
My list tries to address that.
1. Sound Of Silence - (Simon & Garfunkel)
S&G are Vince's favourite band (at least top three), and the super-melodic nature of this song is reflected in a lot of Erasure's material,
so I think this one is a no-brainer.
2. I Am Always Touched By Your Presence Dear - (Blondie)
Blondie is Andy's favourite artist, and this dynamic pop song with a soaring, intergalactic chorus is pretty much already an E classic in disguise.
3. Both Sides Now - (Judy Collins)
Again, one of Vince's favourite artists - Joni Mitchell (even though the version the cover would be based on is Judy Collins' poppier incarnation).
This is one of the greatest songs ever. The band taking it and Erasurizing it up would be an epic event.
4. Happy Heart - (Petula Clark)
A melodic pop track from an era of innocence that I believe has Andy's name written all over it. Hummable for days. Wistful, uplifting, yet
still managing to be sad - an emotional goldmine for Erasure.
5. Soldiers/Lovelight - (Abba)
As a nod to Abba-esque (it *is* 25 years in 2017 since that #1), I think this full double-length medley would become a bigger-than-life classic.
Touching on war and love, it's Erasure through and through with some of the catchiest melodies in the Abba catalogue.
On a "B" note, quite literally (and this may be cheating), I would love for Vince to cover the instrumental "Popcorn" by Gershon Kingsley as a B-side.
Runner up: "Delilah" by Tom Jones. Imagine Andy's voice on that and some colossal analogue synths from Vince turning this popzilla.
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Version Two
Side One-Team Torsten Barney Ashton-Bullock
1. Hang With Me-(Robyn)
The circumspection of first love and lust, working out who you can trust. The feel of partying hard but being aware of the potential to be shy and hurt. It’s got lyrical depth but is a joyous electro-pop song too!
2. So Sorry, I Said-(Liza Minnelli)
Like a dramatic pop-theatre cross-over in 3 minutes. An ultimate story telling song that would benefit from a more sympathetic and updated instrumentation.
3. The World At Large Alone-(Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy)
Story telling songs are where it’s at for me and singers channelling the empathy of the life stories of the characters in such songs have the ability to transcend ‘pop’ with the ‘process of becoming’ - basically being an actor. This is a redolent and everyday story of the heartbreak of the end of a romance that because of a debilitating shyness never began. The train for ‘New Street’ awaits for all the wishes otherwise.
4. Under The Ivy-(Kate Bush)
The challenges and complexities of adulthood often bring forth a wish to retreat to childhood simplicities. In this song, the protagonist wishes herself back in the safety of a den ‘under the ivy’ in the garden her childhood home. A place that she felt secure and safe, states of mind that can elude us as we age.
5. Eighth Day-(Hazel O'Connor)
Andy has always aligned his musical loves to what he calls ‘soft punk’. Hazel O’Connor with her breakout post-punk album and film ‘Breaking Glass’ was at the vanguard of British artists working in this genre. I have always imagined an electro-pop version of this classic track, a song I consider to be a secular hymn in a violently shifting world.
Side Two-Team Tortsen Christopher Frost
1. God Only Knows - (The Beach Boys)
I love the harmonies and feeling in this song and feel that Andy's voice is well suited. He showed his versatility in singing ballads and touching/sentimental songs during the Torsten shows/albums.
2. Pure Imagination (from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory)
Again this is a heart warming song that I feel Andy's voice is suited to. It would also be interesting to hear what sound world Vince would come up with for a song like this.
3. I've Got You Under My Skin-(Frank Sinatra)
This is one of my favourite big band jazz standards and it would be interesting to hear an Erasure take on something so removed from their stock output.
4. Space Oddity-(David Bowie)
This is my favourite David Bowie track which packs a punch emotionally, narratively and musically. Again I think Andy could put the emotion into the song and Vince could create a unique backdrop to show off his voice.
5. You Were Always On My Mind-(Willie Nelson)
... just because ... it might put the cat amongst the pigeons a bit …
Version Three
Side One-Mark R Bebb Shelter
For me personally, Hi-NRG, electronic pop is what Erasure do & have done best with exceptional gusto. With that in mind, I can personally only think of 5 x iconic electro-pop tracks that I love (excluding Erasure tracks of course) that would be great to hear them cover for hedonistically delighting my lil electro-fantastic life, so here goes:
1) 'Smalltown Boy' by Bronski Beat
A life-asserting 'coming out' & 'coming of age' track from a time saturated with taboos & experimentation. Has one of the most iconic synth riffs ever produced. Would love to hear Andy's falsetto on Jimmy's track and to see how Vince could re-invent his trademark bleeps on this.
2) 'Fade To Grey' by Visage.
This would be also a fitting tribute to the late, iconic Steve Strange. Once again, with Midge Ure of Ultravox on production of this along with the fabulous Rusty Egan (now also a 'Shelter' advocate incredibly), makes for a winning formula. A huge 80's hit the first time 'round, would be wondrous to hear how our boys could re-work this classic. Once again has one of the most famously iconic bass-line riffs ever produced for a synth track. The Eccentricity both on an audio-visual level would also play to Andy & Vince's combined theatrical strengths.
3) 'A Forest' by The Cure.
Why this track I hear you say?! The Cure a grungy guitar band & Erasure a synth duo. This track has an an incredible synth / guitar riff which I know Vince could de-construct & re-construct a thousand times over within the electronica domain. I can envisage hearing this done in a kinda dramatic yet deliciously dark 'breath of life' style. Andy, whilst not Robert Smith in tone or feel, could take it somewhere else, more into the commercial pop arena as the riff has huge commercial potential for a re-invention and would get to have lots of watery digital delay panning around whilst swimming in an ethereal sea of reverb to give it that 'dream-like' effect. What Vince could do with this track is unlimited & makes for an extremely exciting prospect.
4) 'Say Hello, Wave Goodbye' by Soft Cell.
I think it's fair to say first & foremost this track would have an incredible musical fit both for Andy & Vince. As with all these tracks, most 80's/90's fans would know & love this iconic pop track. The chorus vocals, well all I have to say is that whilst I adore Marc Almond, Andy's voice on this emotive & dramatic chorus would simply soar and play on every heart-string, whilst his lower register in the verses would enjoy massaging each note & jumping around wildly. Vince on the other hand would love these Dave Ball riffs, elements have 'only you' qualities about them. With Erasure at the helm, this track could potentially undergo a complete re-birth.
5) 'I Feel Love' by Donna Summer.
Quite possibly aside from Gloria Gaynor's 'I will survive' remains one of disco's timeless all/time constant stalwarts the world over. I can hear Andy's falsetto raising the dead with this one and as for 'That riff', can you even begin to imagine how much more energy Vince could inject? The mind boggles. This has the potential to make everyone start to question everything they thought they knew about their own music tastes & orientation here!! This could be abba-Esque camp-tastic & legendary!
#ShelterOfficial
Side Two-Rob Bradley Shelter
Some recent monster anthems that vince and Andy would absolutely smash……
1.Coming Home-Sigma and Rita Ora.
2.Give Your Heart A Break-Demi Lovato.
3.Stay The Night-Zedd
4.Something New-Axwell and Ingrosso
5.Reload-Seb Ingrosso,Tom Trash and John Martin.
Version Four
Side One-Mike Depaz Erasure4rum Member
1.Only Living Boy In New York-Simon & Garfunkel
Always thought could do a killer arrangement
2.Why Don't They Leave Things Alone?-Blancmange
Always thought Vince could have written this when with Assembly. Neil Arthur was slated for a part singer in Assembly if an album was made.
3.Drifting Falling-Ocean Blue
Former label mates on Sire. They love Erasure and this songs would be somehow amazing if they could redo in Erasurey way
4.Please, Please, Please Let me get What I Want- Dream Academy
I love this more than the Smiths Version, Vocals would be amazing by Andy
5.Emotion in Motion-Rick Ocask
Solo single from The Cars singer- Could be a piece done for I Say, I Say, I Say
Side Two-Matt Danforth-Erasure4rum Member and half of pop duo Front & Centre
1.There's a Kind of Hush - The Carpenters
2.Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
3.Moonlight Desires by Gowan
4.Xanadu -ELO
5.A Kind of Magic - Queen
All the above for the same simple reason that I think they would transfer well to the Synth Pop Genre, and I really think Andy could pull it off