Pop! The First 20 Hits

Pop! The First 20 Hits is a greatest hits collection from Erasure, released on 16 November 1992 in the Germany and the UK and 24 November 1992 in the USA. 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).

Pop! The First 20 Hits
Greatest hits album by Erasure
Released	16 November 1992 (Germany/UK) 24 November 1992 (USA) 4 May 2009 (remastered)
Recorded	1985–1992
Genre	Synthpop
Length	75:32
Label	Mute (UK) Sire/Reprise (USA)
Producer	Flood, Stephen Hague, Dave Jacob, Erasure, Gareth Jones, Mark Saunders, Martyn Phillipps, David Bascombe
Erasure chronology
Abba-esque (1992) Pop! The First 20 Hits (1992) I Say I Say I Say (1994)
Singles from Pop! – the First 20 Hits
"Who Needs Love Like That (Hamburg Mix)" Released: 26 October 1992

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	9/10[4]

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.[5]

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.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	From	Length
1.	"Who Needs Love Like That"	Clarke	Wonderland (1985)	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

Chart performance

Original release

Chart (1992/1993)	Peak position
Austrian Albums Chart[6]	4
Canadian Albums Chart[7][8]	40
German Albums Chart[9]	12
New Zealand Albums Chart[10]	40
Swedish Albums Chart[11]	15
Swiss Albums Chart[12]	18
UK Albums Chart[13]	1
US Billboard 200 Chart[14]	112

1994 re-issue

Chart (1994)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart[13]	31

1996 re-issue

Chart (1996)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart[15]	137

2001 re-issue

Chart (2001)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart[15]	156

References

1. Raggett, Ned. "Erasure - Pop! The First 20 Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
2. Popson, Tom (15 April 1993). "Erasure Pop! The First 20 Hits (Warner Reprise)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
3. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958.
4. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 9780679755746.
5. "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Archived from the original on 2 September 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
6. Steffen Hung. "Erasure – Pop! – The First 20 Hits". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
7. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
8. "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
9. "charts.de". charts.de. 16 November 1992. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
10. Steffen Hung. "Erasure – Pop! – The First 20 Hits". charts.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
11. Steffen Hung. "Erasure – Pop! – The First 20 Hits". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
12. Steffen Hung. "Erasure – Pop! – The First 20 Hits". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
13. "The Official Charts Company – Pop the first 20 hits by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
14. Erasure. "Erasure – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
15. "Chart Log UK: E-40 – E-Z Rollers". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 24 June 2012.