I Say I Say I Say

I Say I Say I Say
Studio album by Erasure
Released 16 May 1994
Recorded 1993
Genre Synthpop, dance
Length 44:08
Label Mute Records (UK)
Elektra Records (US)
Producer Martyn Ware
Erasure chronology
Chorus
(1991)Chorus1991		 I Say I Say I Say
(1994)		 Erasure
(1995)Erasure1995
Singles from I Say I Say I Say
  1. "Always"
    Released: 11 April 1994
  2. "Run to the Sun"
    Released: 18 July 1994
  3. "I Love Saturday"
    Released: 21 November 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

I Say I Say I Say is the sixth studio album from synthpop duo Erasure, released in 1994 by Mute Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the U.S. The album was produced by Martyn Ware, who was a founding member of veteran synthpop groups The Human League and Heaven 17.

Upon its release it became Erasure's fourth studio album release to consecutively hit No.1 in the UK, and fifth overall,[2] generating three Top 20 singles. In the U.S., I Say I Say I Say debuted and peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200, easily beating their previous highest chart placing. In Germany, the album climbed to #6.

Although Erasure always maintained popularity in the U.S. dance club community, with the rise of grunge rock Erasure saw their exposure on college radio, mainstream stations and MTV become mostly non-existent by 1994. This made it even more of a surprise when the ballad "Always" gave them their third Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in September.

The album saw keyboardist/programmer Vince Clarke continue with his by-then trademark exclusive usage of pre-MIDI analog synthesizers and sequencers, with the additional self-imposed constraint that no drum machines were to be used either. Instead, Clarke used synthesizers to create the album's drum and percussion sounds.

Track listing

All tracks written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke.

No.TitleLength
1."Take Me Back"4:55
2."I Love Saturday"4:02
3."Man in the Moon"4:06
4."So the Story Goes"4:08
5."Run to the Sun"4:25
6."Always"3:57
7."All Through the Years"4:59
8."Blues Away"5:01
9."Miracle"4:12
10."Because You're So Sweet"4:17

On the Chilean/Argentinian cassette version, there's a Spanish rendition of "Always" (Spanish vocal), just before "Always".

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.

Chart performance

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart[3] 2
Canadian Albums Chart[4][5] 32
Dutch Albums Chart[6] 85
German Albums Chart[7] 6
Swedish Albums Chart[8] 3
Swiss Albums Chart[9] 17
UK Albums Chart[10] 1
U.S. Billboard 200 Chart[11] 18

Personnel

  • Andy Bell – vocals
  • Vince Clarke – synthesizers, programming
  • Sy-Jenq Cheng – Design
  • Mike Cosford – Paintings
  • John R. Dexter – Arranger, Conductor
  • Luke Gifford – Assistant Engineer
  • Norman Hathaway – Design
  • Andy Houston – Engineer
  • Rob Kirwan – Assistant Engineer
  • Phil Legg – Engineer, Mixing
  • Kevin Metcalfe – Editing
  • St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir – Choir, Chorus
  • Al Stone – Engineer
  • Martyn Ware – Producer
  • Olaf Wendt – Artwork

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23453/erasure/
  3. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - I Say I Say I Say". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  4. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  5. ↑ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  6. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - I Say I Say I Say". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  7. ↑ "charts.de". charts.de. 1994-05-16. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  8. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - I Say I Say I Say". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  9. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - I Say I Say I Say". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  10. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23453/erasure/
  11. ↑ Erasure. "Erasure - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
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