Pop! The First 20 Hits

Pop! The First 20 Hits
Pop! The First 20 Hits
Greatest hits album by Erasure
Released	16 November 1992
Recorded	1985–1992
Genre	Electropop
Length	75:32
Label	Mute (UK); Sire/Reprise (US);
Producer	Flood; Stephen Hague; Dave Jacob; Erasure; Gareth Jones; Mark Saunders; Martyn Phillipps; David Bascombe;
Erasure chronology
Singles from Pop! The First 20 Hits
	"Who Needs Love Like That (Hamburg Mix)"; Released: 26 October 1992;

Pop! The First 20 Hits is a greatest hits collection from Erasure, released on 16 November 1992 in Germany and the UK and 24 November 1992 in the United States. The album utilises a straightforward format: all of Erasure's singles up to that point, sequenced in chronological order with the addition of the Hamburg Mix of Erasure's first ever single, "Who Needs Love (Like That)".

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Chicago Tribune	^[3]
Robert Christgau	^[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[5]
Melody Maker	(favorable)^[6]
NME	10/10^[7]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	9/10^[8]

In the UK, "Who Needs Love Like That" was released as a single in remixed form ("The Hamburg Mix", a reference to Erasure's extensive touring of Hamburg during the band's formative period). This is included as a bonus track on the UK version of the album, although in the US it only appears on the cassette release, failing to appear on the CD.

Pop! The First 20 Hits became Erasure's fourth consecutive number-one album in the UK. In Germany the album hit number 12 and in the US it peaked at number 112 on the Billboard 200, where it was certified Gold nearly 10 years later by the RIAA.^[9]

A limited-edition double CD was issued.

Pop! The First 20 Hits sequels include Pop2! The Second 20 Hits (direct sequel including the subsequent 20 singles sequenced chronologically) released 17 years later, and Total Pop! The First 40 Hits, the ultimate singles compilation as far as 2009.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Clarke/Bell, except as indicated

Disc 1
No.	Title	Writer(s)	From	Length
1.	"Who Needs Love Like That"	Clarke	Wonderland (1986)	3:06
2.	"Heavenly Action"		Wonderland (1986)	3:20
3.	"Oh L'amour"		Wonderland (1986)	3:07
4.	"Sometimes"		The Circus (1987)	3:39
5.	"It Doesn't Have to Be"		The Circus (1987)	3:46
6.	"Victim of Love"		The Circus (1987)	3:38
7.	"The Circus" (Remix)		The Circus (1987)	4:06
8.	"Ship of Fools"		The Innocents (1988)	4:03
9.	"Chains of Love"		The Innocents (1988)	3:43
10.	"A Little Respect"		The Innocents (1988)	3:31
11.	"Stop!"		Crackers International E.P. (1988)	2:54
12.	"Drama!"		Wild! (1989)	4:05
13.	"You Surround Me"		Wild! (1989)	3:38
14.	"Blue Savannah"		Wild! (1989)	4:19
15.	"Star" (Single Mix)		Wild! (1989)	3:38
16.	"Chorus"		Chorus (1991)	4:29
17.	"Love to Hate You"		Chorus (1991)	3:56
18.	"Am I Right?"		Chorus (1991)	4:17
19.	"Breath of Life" (Single Mix)		Chorus (1991)	3:55
20.	"Take a Chance on Me"	B. Anderson/B. Ulvaeus/MC Kinky	Abba-esque E.P. (1992)	3:45
21.	"Who Needs Love Like That" (Hamburg Mix)	Clarke	Original	3:03

Disc 2
No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Love Saturday"	4:03
2.	"Run to the Sun"	4:24
3.	"Always"	3:56
4.	"Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)"	6:41
5.	"Stay with Me"	6:48
6.	"Rain"	4:10
7.	"In My Arms"	3:27
8.	"Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me"	3:46
9.	"First Contact"	6:01

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Pop! The First 20 Hits*
Chart (1992–1993)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[10]	122
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[11]	4
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[12]	40
European Albums (Music & Media)^[13]	7
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[14]	7
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[15]	12
Greek Albums (IFPI)^[16]	9
Irish Albums (IFPI)^[17]	4
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[18]	40
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[19]	15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[20]	18
UK Albums (OCC)^[21]	1
UK Independent Albums (OCC)^[22]	1
US Billboard 200^[23]	112
Zimbabwean Albums (ZIMA)^[24]	3

Year-end charts

1992 year-end chart performance for *Pop! The First 20 Hits*
Chart (1992)	Position
UK Albums (OCC)^[25]	11

1993 year-end chart performance for *Pop! The First 20 Hits*
Chart (1993)	Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[26]	40
UK Albums (OCC)^[27]	92

Certifications

Certifications for *Pop! The First 20 Hits*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)^[28]	Gold	250,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[29]	3× Platinum	900,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[30]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Evans, Richard (6 August 2024). "Reaction 1984-1993". Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Omnibus Press. p. 475. ISBN 978-1-915841-45-2.
^ Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Pop! The First 20 Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
^ Popson, Tom (15 April 1993). "Erasure Pop! The First 20 Hits (Warner Reprise)". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Erasure". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958.
^ True, Everett (28 November 1992). "Retroactive". Melody Maker. p. 31. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ Quantick, David (14 November 1992). "Long Play". NME. p. 32. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
^ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 9780679755746.
^ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 95.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1026". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1991. p. 47. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 2. 9 January 1993. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 50. 12 December 1992. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Charts.nz – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Independent: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 5 December 1992. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
^ "Erasure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
^ "Year End Charts – Top Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1993". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Top 100 Albums 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Erasure; 'Pop! The First 20 Hits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "British album certifications – Erasure – Pop! The First 20 Hits". British Phonographic Industry. 1 April 1994. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "American album certifications – Erasure – The First 20 Hits". Recording Industry Association of America. 30 July 2001. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[Evans_2024-1] Evans, Richard (6 August 2024). "Reaction 1984-1993". Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Omnibus Press. p. 475. ISBN 978-1-915841-45-2.

[2] Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Pop! The First 20 Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2019.

[3] Popson, Tom (15 April 1993). "Erasure Pop! The First 20 Hits (Warner Reprise)". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 20 June 2019.

[4] Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Erasure". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 6 January 2023.

[5] Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958.

[6] True, Everett (28 November 1992). "Retroactive". Melody Maker. p. 31. Retrieved 29 March 2023.

[7] Quantick, David (14 November 1992). "Long Play". NME. p. 32. Retrieved 13 March 2023.

[8] Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 9780679755746.

[9] "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2012.

[10] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 95.

[ac_Austria_Erasure-11] "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[group=-12] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1026". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[13] "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1991. p. 47. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[14] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[ac_Germany4_Erasure-15] "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[16] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 2. 9 January 1993. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[17] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 50. 12 December 1992. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[ac_New_Zealand_Erasure-18] "Charts.nz – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2019.

[ac_Sweden_Erasure-19] "Swedishcharts.com – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[ac_Switzerland_Erasure-20] "Swisscharts.com – Erasure – Pop! - The First 20 Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[ac_UK2_-21] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[22] "Independent: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 5 December 1992. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.

[ac_Billboard200_Erasure-23] "Erasure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[24] * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000

[25] "Year End Charts – Top Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.

[26] "Jahreshitparade Alben 1993". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[27] "Top 100 Albums 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.

[GermanyErasurePop!_The_First_20_HitsalbumCertRef-28] "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Erasure; 'Pop! The First 20 Hits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[United_KingdomErasurePop!_The_First_20_HitsalbumCertRef-29] "British album certifications – Erasure – Pop! The First 20 Hits". British Phonographic Industry. 1 April 1994. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[United_StatesErasureThe_First_20_HitsalbumCertRef-30] "American album certifications – Erasure – The First 20 Hits". Recording Industry Association of America. 30 July 2001. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[1]