The Innocents by Erasure

The Innocents is the third studio album by Erasure, released in 1988. Produced by Stephen Hague and released by Mute Records in Germany and the UK and Sire/Reprise Records in the USA, it was the release that made Erasure superstars in their home country and gave them their long-awaited breakthrough in the U.S. The Innocents became the first in a string of number-one albums by Erasure in the UK, turning double platinum with sales over 600,000. Thanks to heavy exposure on MTV, it also spawned two major Billboard Hot 100 hits, a Top 50 placing on the Billboard 200 and Platinum album certification in the U.S. According To Nielsen SoundScan, 23 years after its release the album has sold a total of 5 million copies worldwide. It is their best selling album to date. The album was remastered and re-released on 26 October 2009 (2009-10-26) to celebrate its 21st anniversary. Prefaced by an EP of remixes led by album track "Phantom Bride," the 21st Anniversary Edition came in a couple of flavours including a limited edition two CD / DVD set, packed inside a CD-sized 20-page hardback book that includes interviews with Vince Clarke and Andy Bell about the making of the record and their thoughts on all the tracks. The second CD includes various rarities, including the 7″ version of the duo's take on "River Deep, Mountain High" and US-specific remixes of "Chains of Love" and "A Little Respect" that weren't released in the UK singles box set.