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Who Needs Love Like That
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Who Needs Love Like That
| cover = Erasure - Who Needs Love Like That.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Original 1985 single cover
| type = single
| artist = Erasure
| album = Wonderland; Hamburg Mix (1992) from Pop! - the First 20 Hits
| B-side = "Push Me Shove Me"
| released = *2 September 1985 (original version)
*20 October 1992 (Hamburg mix)
| recorded = 1985
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Synthpop, hi-NRG, new wave
| length = 3:16
| label =
| writer = Vince Clarke
| producer = Flood
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Heavenly Action
| next_year = 1985
| misc =
}}
"'Who Needs Love Like That'" is the debut single released by British synthpop duo Erasure. The song was released in the UK on Mute Records in 1985 as a prelude to their debut album, 'Wonderland' (1986). The accompanying music video was directed by John Scarlett Davies and produced by Nick Verden for Aldabra. While the original 1985 release enjoyed only minor success, the later "Hamburg Mix" version (issued in 1992 to promote the 'Pop!' compilation) reached the top 10 in both the UK and Ireland.
History
"Who Needs Love Like That" is an uptempo pop song written by Vince Clarke. The lyrics are a cast-off to a destructive love relationship, in which the protagonist asks "who needs love like that?" The music video takes place in a mock Western, with Clarke, Andy Bell and various extras dressed as cowboys. Both Bell and Clarke appear in dual roles, the others being woman's drags.
Upon its release, the song spent two weeks in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 55. In 1992, the song was remixed and tacked on to the end of Erasure's greatest hits collection 'Pop! - the First 20 Hits' (although in the U.S. it only appears on the cassette release). The "Hamburg Mix" (slightly retitled to put "Like That" in parenthesis) was released as a single and became a Top 10 UK hit, peaking at number ten.
Critical reception
Ned Raggett from AllMusic said that songs like "Who Needs Love Like That" "aren't quite as strong but work in the general formula quite well regardless." Howard Cohen from 'Knight-Ridder Newspapers' described it as "frothy dance".Cohen, Howard (6 August 1995). "Can't duck disco". p. 4E. 'Wisconsin State Journal'. Chris Gerard from 'Metro Weekly' wrote that it is "a little simple and raw compared to their later work (and the video is hilariously campy), but it has a classic dance groove and keyboard riff that beams the listener back nearly 30 years, and its hard to play without smiling and singing along."
On the release of the 1992 remix, 'Music Week' commented, "It was a brilliant introductory single, and its lack of success first time out it peaked at number 55 is baffling. A straightforward reissue would have been preferable, as the song has very strong melodic verses, which are exorcised completely from the remix, but its dancefloor sensibilities are more than sufficient to ensure it becomes a major success." A reviewer from 'People Magazine' stated that Clarke "has not lost his ability to make his music-box synth-sound pulse, as he does in such songs" as "Who Needs Love Like That". Darren Lee from 'The Quietus' said it "bears Yazoo's unmistakeable imprint, with Andy Bell content to mimic Alison Moyet's dulcet vocals." Mark Frith from 'Smash Hits' described it as "Human League-esque".
Track listings
Original release (1985)
* '7" single (MUTE40)'
# "Who Needs Love Like That"
# "Push Me Shove Me"
* '12" single (12MUTE40)'
# "Who Needs Love Like That" (Legend Mix)
# "Push Me Shove Me" (Extended as Far as Possible Mix)
# "Who Needs Love Like That" (Instrumental Workout Mix)
* 'Limited 12" single (L12MUTE40)'
# "Who Needs Love Like That" (Mexican Mix)
# "Push Me Shove Me" (Tacos Mix)
* '12" US single (SIRE 0-20404)'
# "Who Needs Love Like That" (The Love That Mix Version / Mexican Mix) 6:08
# "Push Me Shove Me" (That Rough And Tumble Mix / Tacos Mix) 5:46
# "Heavenly Action" (A Divine Mix / Yellow Brick Mix) 6:43
# "Who Needs Love Like That" (Single Edit) 3:03
* 'CD single (CDMUTE40)'
# "Who Needs Love Like That"
# "Push Me Shove Me"
# "Who Needs Love Like That" (Legend Mix)
# "Push Me Shove Me" (Extended as Far as Possible Mix)
# "Who Needs Love Like That" (Instrumental Workout Mix)
Hamburg Mix (1992)
* '7" single (MUTE150) / Cassette single (CMUTE150)'
# "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Hamburg Mix)
# "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Single Edit)
* '12" single (12MUTE150)'
# "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Phil Kelsey Mix)
# "Ship of Fools" (Orbital Southsea Isles of Holy Beats Mix)
# "Sometimes" (Danny Rampling Mix)
* 'CD single (CDMUTE150)'
# "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Hamburg Mix)
# "The Soldier's Return"
# "Don't Say No"
# "The Circus" (Gladiator Mix)
* 'Limited CD single (LCDMUTE150)'
# "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Phil Kelsey Mix)
# "Ship of Fools" (Orbital Southsea Isles of Holy Beats Mix)
# "Sometimes" (Danny Rampling Mix)
Charts
Original release (1985)
Hamburg Mix release (1992)
References
Category:1985 debut singles
Category:1992 singles
Category:Erasure songs
Category:Songs written by Vince Clarke
Category:Song recordings produced by Flood (producer)
Category:Mute Records singles
Category:1985 songs
Category:Sire Records singles
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