Chains of Love (Erasure song)

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"Chains of Love"
Single by Erasure
From the album The Innocents
Single Released May 31, 1988
Single Format 12" Single
7" single
CD Single
Recorded 1987
Genre Synth pop
Song Length 3:36
Record label Mute Records (UK)
Sire Records (U.S.)
Writer Vince Clarke,
Andy Bell
Producer Stephen Hague
Lyrics -
Chart Positions 11 (UK)
12 (U.S.)
18 (Germany)
Erasure single chronology
"Ship of Fools"
(1988)
"Chains of Love"
(1988)
"A Little Respect"
(1988)

"Chains of Love" is a song by Erasure from their third studio album The Innocents. It was released in 1988 by Mute Records as the second single from that album. Sire Records released it in the United States as the first single from The Innocents. The album version was produced by Stephen Hague and was slightly remixed for its release as a single (most notably the album version starts cold, while the radio version contains a short synthesizer pattern as an intro).

"Chains of Love" became Erasure's sixth consecutive top-twenty hit on the UK singles chart, peaking at number eleven. In Germany it reached number eighteen. "Chains of Love" was Erasure's mainstream breakthrough in the United States, climbing to number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the group's first entry on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also hit number four on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. "Chains of Love" remains as Erasure's highest-charting U.S. pop hit.

The song, written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, is an uptempo dance-oriented synth pop track with Clarke's signature analogue sound and Bell's lyrics about breaking through any restrictions or stereotypes of what love should be. The chorus is memorable for Bell's use of falsetto. The music video featured Clarke and Bell performing the song while being hoisted through the air by thick, metal chains.

Contents

[edit] Track listings

[edit] 7" single (MUTE83)

  1. "Chains of Love" (Single Mix)
  2. "Don't Suppose"

[edit] 12" single (12MUTE83)

  1. "Chains of Love" (Foghorn Mix)
  2. "Don't Suppose" (Country Joe Mix)
  3. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"

[edit] Limited 12" single (L12MUTE83)

  1. "Chains of Love" (Truly In Love With The Marks Bros. Mix)
  2. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (The Dangerous Mix)
  3. "Don't Suppose"

[edit] CD single (CDMUTE83)

  1. "Chains of Love" (Foghorn Mix)
  2. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (The Dangerous Mix)
  3. "Don't Suppose" (Country Joe Mix)
Erasure
Vince Clarke | Andy Bell
Erasure discography | B-sides and non-album songs
Albums/EPs: Wonderland | The Circus | The Two Ring Circus | The Innocents | Crackers International
Wild! | Chorus | Abba-esque | I Say I Say I Say | Erasure | Cowboy | Loveboat | Other People's Songs | Nightbird | Union Street
Compilations: Pop! - the First 20 Hits | Hits! The Very Best of Erasure
Box Sets: EBX 1 | EBX 2 | EBX 3 | EBX 4
Singles: 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 | Who Needs Love Like That (remix) | Always | Run to the Sun | I Love Saturday | Stay With Me | Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) | Rock Me Gently | In My Arms | Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me | Rain | Freedom | Moon & the Sky | Solsbury Hill | Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) | Oh L'amour (remix) | Breathe | Don't Say You Love Me | Here I Go Impossible Again / All This Time Still Falling Out of Love | Boy
Video/DVD: Sanctuary - the EIS Christmas Concert 2002 | Hits! the Videos | The Tank, the Swan and the Balloon | Great Hits Live - Live at Great Woods | The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne