BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987
“Sometimes” is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in October 1986 as their fourth single overall.
After three commercial flops from their debut album Wonderland, “Sometimes” became Erasure’s first bona fide hit, peaking at number one in South Africa, number two in their native United Kingdom and in Germany, and becoming a huge international hit. The song became Erasure’s second Top 5 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where it charted alongside “It Doesn’t Have to Be” and peaked at number four.
Written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, “Sometimes” typifies the Erasure “sound” — an uptempo, dance-oriented pop tune accentuated by Clarke’s analogue synthesizers and Bell’s lyrics about being in love. The music video showcases Erasure on a building rooftop — Clarke playing an acoustic guitar and Bell singing — as they weave through white sheets hanging from a laundry line; near the end of the video rain starts to fall on the duo.
“Sometimes” spent seventeen weeks in the UK singles chart — the duo’s longest chart run for a single in that country — and was included on Erasure’s second album The Circus, released six months later in March 1987.
SIDE A:
Sometimes (Shiver Mix) 5:50
Remix [Uncredited] – Rico Conning
Sometimes (Extended Mix) 7:30
Edited By – Joseph Watt
Remix – Rico Conning
SIDE B:
It Doesn’t Have To Be (The Boop Oopa Doo Mix) 7:13
Remix [Uncredited] – Phil Harding
Sexuality (Private Mix) 5:56
Remix – Rico Conning
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Sometimes | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #4 |
| 1987 | Sometimes | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #37 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20614, Sire – 9 20614-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Producer – Flood
Written-By – Clarke/Bell
NOTES:
Tracklist of Side A is incorrectly identified on back cover and center labels as:
A1 Sometimes (Extended Mix)
A2 Sometimes (Shiver Mix)
“Sometimes (Extended Mix)” is a longer version of the “Shiver Mix”.
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
I’m a huge Depeche fan but I also followed (and bought) almost everything by Vince Clarke through about the first three Erasure albums (I preferred Vince in YAZOO and ASSEMBLY).
Thank you for sharing these wonderfully nostalgic moments with us!!!
Keep up the great work!
p.s.: I used to have a 12″ of “Oh L’amour” with a German version on the flipside … you wouldn’t by any chance have that one?
Will anyone expand on my observation that Paul’s Erasure rips some better than most of the content on this site? I haven’t to listen all the Erasure rips but for some reason the ones I have listen to appeal to my auditory cortex. Did the record company have a secret sauce in mastering or is it my personal preference? If anyone has a fact or an opinion on the subject I would love to hear it.
As it is largely a matter of taste, it takes a master to produce stuff that is and enjoyable on the surface and that will satisfy unconsious expectations or listening habits. It takes a master to combine psychology with predictions anfd translate it to Art. But it takes an artist to make it seem as if it comes naturally. (We know better, sometimes sex, drugs and scented candles are involved..)
No, you just had to much candy! 😀
I love Candy. (And, for NKelly – That reminds me of Bow Wow Wow in a strange way 🙂
Thanks, hombre. I never knew that Erasure’s first three singles were considered commercial flops. I guess that I listened to them so much and heard them played in clubs so I never considered them flops myself.
Sometimes must be one of the best known synth-pop songs of the 80s. I followed the sound exhibitions of both Depeche Mode and Vince Clarke since the 1st DM album Speak & Spell in 1981. Although Vince got stock with main-stream synth-pop with Erasure and I found Depeche Modes more alternative albums much more interesting, Vince just kept producing this catchy synth song after song, and made me returning to Erasurers music time after time, still nothing beats Yazoos Upstairs At Eric’s album! These mixes of Sometimes are not bad, but for me the 12″ mix is the mix to… Read more »
Awesome. Andy sang this song the day before you posted this live on UK radio BBC Radio 2. I recorded it! Also sang a new ‘Torsten…’ song live too.
Very cool Neil 🙂
To record from radio, how old fashioned 🙂 Loveit
Actually i recorded it onto Blu ray disc from Sky+ HD! Also i did record from digital radio onto Minidisc too!
I hope you did not feel the need to defend yourself. Some still use waxrolls, i hear.
Not at all lol. But love my Blu ray recorder. Would recommend to all!
Ahh yes… the first Erasure song I heard! I was at college and this came on in a pub and immediately got my attention! I went out and bought the 12″ limited edition (naturally) and I was hooked. Went straight back out the next day and bought the “Wonderland” LP. I was familiar with Vince Clarke’s work with Depeche Mode, Yazoo and The Assembly, but this incarnation of his music style seemed the right fit. Those first few bars of the Shiver Mix get me every time!
Archiefax thanks for sharing your story. I first became familiar with the band when they opened for Duran Duran on the Strange Behavior tour 1987 I think. I was blown away 🙂
Thanks Paul. I have the UK CD single and the UK remix 12″ (probably yours). Thanks again. 🙂
Kent
Do I know you by chance?
I’ve been a member of your site(3) for several years.
aah I gotcha Kent. i used to have a school mate that was a Kent H.
Aaaaand Monday just got a hundred times better 🙂
Thanks Paul!
Glad to hear that Tim 🙂
An iconic 12″ of my youth. Thank you.
You’re welcome Conner 🙂
Thanks, Paul! This U.S. Extended / Razormaid mix remains unique to this vinyl.
You’re welcome Christian 🙂
Wow yes it’s not on EBX 1. Can’t believe it. What a mess the EBX boxes were / are! Is this definitely not yet available on CD though? I have the deluxe albums but can’t be bothered to check. Maybe it’ll appear somewhere during Erasure 30. 10 disc set on the way…
Nope, NKelly, not on CD yet. Because of that, this remains one of the several Erasure vinyl rips in my library. But I’m sure Paul’s rip is way better than mine 🙂
I hope they don’t ruin the box by over compressing or making the tracks loud.
I have enjoyed other Erasure singles on here before, this one is one of my favourites from Andy & Vince.
Thanks Paul 🙂
You’re welcome Junior 🙂
a large of very good music… DjPaulT.-
You’re welcome Pablo(Dj) 🙂
So nice of you Paul to generously share this Erasure single with us. I missed out on the first time around for buying this single. Karen is going to flip!! We love Erasure so much and we certainly love you Paul. This is exquisite of you!!
Hugs,
Jeff
I was thinking of Karen while i was working on this one Jeff. I hope that you both enjoy this one 🙂
thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂