Chains of Love (Erasure song)

"Chains of Love" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in May 1988 as their ninth single overall. Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it is an uptempo dance-oriented synthpop track with Clarke's signature analogue sound and Bell's lyrics about breaking through any restrictions or stereotypes of what love should be. The lyrics allude subtly to Bell's desire for wider acceptance of gay couples, his pain evident from the opening lines "How can I explain when there are few words I can choose/How can I explain when words get broken". The chorus is memorable for Bell's use of falsetto. The song was released by Mute Records as the second single from Erasure's third studio album The Innocents. In the United States, Sire Records released it as the first single. The album version was produced by Stephen Hague and was slightly remixed for its single release (most notably the album version starts cold, while the radio version contains a short synthesizer pattern as an intro). The accompanying music video featured Clarke and Bell performing the song while being hoisted through the air by thick, metal chains.

"Chains of Love"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Innocents
B-side"Don't Suppose", "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
ReleasedMay 30, 1988 (1988-05-30)
Recorded1988
GenreSynthpop, new wave[1]
Length3:45
LabelMute (UK)
Sire (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)Stephen Hague
Erasure singles chronology
"Ship of Fools"
(1988)		 "Chains of Love"
(1988)		 "A Little Respect"
(1988)
Music video
"Chains of Love" on YouTube

Critical reception

Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly described the song as a "uber-catchy pop masterpiece" with a "soulful chorus".[2]

Chart performance

"Chains of Love" became Erasure's sixth consecutive Top 20 hit on the UK singles chart, just missing the Top 10 by peaking at number 11. In the United States, it became Erasure's mainstream breakthrough by climbing to number 12 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 Erasure's highest-charting single in the United States.

Track listings
7", Mute / MUTE83 (UK)
  1. "Chains of Love" (Single Mix) - 3:38
  2. "Don't Suppose" - 3:27
12", Mute / 12MUTE83 (UK)
  1. "Chains of Love" (Foghorn Mix) - 6:24
  2. "Don't Suppose" (Country Joe Mix) - 5:57
  3. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (Ennio Morricone) - 3:15
12", Mute / L12MUTE83 (UK)
  1. "Chains of Love" (Truly In Love With The Marks Bros. Mix) - 7:20
  2. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (The Dangerous Mix) (Morricone) - 4:43
  3. "Don't Suppose" - 3:27
12", Sire / 20953-0 (US)
  1. "Chains of Love" (The Unfettered Mix) - 8:22
  2. "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (Morricone) - 3:15
  3. "Chains of Love" (Foghorn Mix) - 6:24
  4. "Chains of Love" (Truly In Love With The Marks Bros. Mix) - 7:20
  5. "Don't Suppose" (Country Joe Mix) - 5:57
  6. "Chains of Love" (fetter dub dub) - 5:10
12", Sire / PRO-A-3186 (US)
  1. "Chains of Love" (The Unfettered Mix) - 8:22
  2. "Chains of Love" (Fetter Dub Dub) - 5:10
  3. "Chains of Love" (shep pettibone radio remix - edit) - 3:38
  4. "Chains of Love" (Truly In Love With The Marks Bros. Mix) - 7:20
  5. "Chains of Love" (shep pettibone instrumental dub) - 3:50
  6. "Chains of Love" (shep pettibone radio remix) - 3:56
CD, Mute / CDMUTE83 (UK)
  1. "Chains of Love" (Foghorn Mix) - 6:24
  2. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (The Dangerous Mix) (Morricone) - 4:43
  3. "Don't Suppose" (Country Joe Mix) - 5:57
CD, Mute / EBX 2.4 (UK)
  1. "Chains Of Love" (remix)
  2. "Don't Suppose" - 3:27
  3. "Chains of Love" (Foghorn Mix) - 6:24
  4. "Don't Suppose" (Country Joe Mix) - 5:57
  5. "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (Morricone) - 3:15
  6. "Chains of Love" (Truly In Love With The Marks Bros. Mix) - 7:20
  7. "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" (The Dangerous Mix) (Morricone) - 4:43
  • part of UK CD single box set
CD, Sire-Reprise / PRO-CD-3140 (US)
  1. "Chains of Love" (7" remix) - 3:40
  2. "Chains of Love" (Shep Pettibone Radio Remix) - 3:56
  3. "Chains of Love" (The Unfettered Mix) - 8:22
  4. "Chains of Love" (Truly In Love With The Marks Bros. Mix) - 7:20

Charts
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 14
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[3][4] 1
Denmark (IFPI)[5] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 85
New Zealand (RIANZ)[8] 31
Singapore (Singaporean Singles Chart) 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 12
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[12] 4
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[12] 1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13] 22
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[14] 18

References
  1. "Erasure: From Moscow to Mars - An Erasure Anthology". 13 July 2017.
  2. Gerard, Chris (2014-09-17). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  3. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  4. "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  5. Danish Singles Chart 8 July 1988
  6. Jaclyn Ward. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  7. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Chains Of Love". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  8. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Chains Of Love". charts.nz. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  9. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Chains Of Love". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  10. "Erasure: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  11. "Erasure Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  12. Erasure. "Erasure - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  13. "Erasure Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  14. "charts.de". charts.de. 1988-05-30. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
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