BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987
“Victim of Love” is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in May 1987 as their sixth single overall.
It was the third single to be lifted from the duo’s second album, The Circus, released six weeks earlier, and was remixed for single release.
The song was written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell and incorporates the signature Erasure sound of uptempo rhythm, analog synthesizer and a prominent acoustic guitar. Bell’s lyrics pertain to one’s apprehension when entering into a new love relationship. The song’s protagonist doesn’t “want to look like some kind of fool” or become a “victim of love”.
Upon its release, “Victim of Love” became the second UK Top 10 single for Erasure, peaking at number seven. “Victim of Love” also hit number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart (Clarke and Bell would have to wait eighteen years before their second U.S. Dance chart-topper “Breathe”).
The song remains one of Erasure’s signature tunes and is a concert favorite.
SIDE A:
Victim Of Love (Vixenvitesse Mix) 5:41
Remix – Daniel Miller, Rico Conning
Soldier’s Return (Machinery Mix) 5:00
Producer – Erasure, E.C. Radcliffe*
Remix – E.C. Radcliffe*
SIDE B:
Victim Of Love (Extended Mix) 6:56
Mixed By – Mr. Mixmaster Phil Harding*
Victim Of Love (Dub Mix) 3:24
Mixed By – Mr. Mixmaster Phil Harding*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Victim Of Love | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
| 1987 | Victim Of Love | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #37 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20740, Sire – 9 20740-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Design [Designed By] – Me Co.*
Producer – Flood (tracks: A1, B1, B2)
Written-By – Clarke/Bell
NOTES:
Track A1 remixed at Guerilla.
Tracks B1 and B2 remixed at P.W.L.
Original version of “Victim Of Love” available on the Erasure album ‘The Circus’ on Sire Records.
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
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: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/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
Disculpa Paúl pero el archivo de E.G. Daily – Love In The Shadows no esta,
gran rola (GRACIAS)
Not a criticism of you at all (someone at Sire must have got their mixes muddled), but the version of ‘The Soldier’s Return’ included here isn’t the musically sparse Machinery Mix but the longer, slightly lusher Return of the Radical Radcliffe Mix.
Your posting possibly prompted by the release of their 17th studio album last week and/or the start of their European tour tomorrow??
Definitely sounds better than the Remixes found on the Erasure Singles Box sets I have! Wonderful!
Thank youMemoryboy 🙂
Oooooooh I just love them. Needless to say, I suppose. They´ve always had a huge fan base over here in Germany although charts-wise they´ve always remained under achievers. Only three of their many, many fabulous songs cracked the top 10 [Ship Of Fools became no. 9, Always no. 5 and Sometimes no. 2]. Even their wonderful Blue Savannah only reached no. 13.
I was astonished how good they are live. Andy still has a wonderful voice although does not stop for him, either, admittedly.
A great band with a huge catalogue of great songs.
That should read “although time does not stop for him”, obviously… 🙂
I agree with all you said Song_and_Dance. By the way love Germany and Brussels 🙂
Brilliant mixes from a brilliant band. Many thanks for this Paul. May I ask what’s happened to the “In Love With Love” by Debbie Harry post. Wanted to get a flac copy of it and pretty certain it was on here… Is it possible to get it uploaded on here again please my friend? It’s certainly one of my huge favourites. Cheers and Hugs x
Hi Roy I was asked to remove Debbie Harry and some other artists Go West, The Adventures , Fun Boy Three, Living In A Box, The Specials, Midge Ure and Ultravox by Blue Raincoat Music who purchased Chrysalis Records in 2016. Hopefully they do something good with the artist catalogs that they purchased. So far I have not seen anything.
Midge and UVOX?! What a shame!
Do you use soulseek Roy? Maybe a user on there could assist with something that they may have downloaded before it was removed?? Maybe his user name is ianroz…?
Oh Paul!! Karen and I “love you to the sky, sky, sky, sky, sky” for posting this song from one of our favorite bands, Erasure! I didn’t have many of their original 12-inches and did miss out on some of the CD box sets, so this is indeed a very nice addition into you Erasure discography! We are both looking forward to hearing your amazing treatment to bringing this song back into our general consciousness. Can’t thank you enough for EVERYTHING you do!! You are absolutely the……..BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff
Thank you Jeff and Karen 🙂
One of my favorite USA 12″s. They consolidated so many UK issues, and sometimes skipped the Ltd Edt mixes, but here we got both. One of the very best from Sire.
Hope you enjoy it Goodguy 🙂