I Say I Say I Say

I Say I Say I Say
I Say I Say I Say
Studio album by Erasure
Released	16 May 1994
Recorded	1993
Studio	Studio 142, The Church (London), Windmill Lane (Dublin), 37B (Chertsey, Surrey)
Genre	Synth-pop; dance;
Length	44:08
Label	Mute (UK); Elektra (US);
Producer	Martyn Ware
Erasure chronology
Singles from I Say I Say I Say
	"Always"; Released: 11 April 1994; "Run to the Sun"; Released: 18 July 1994; "I Love Saturday"; Released: 18 November 1994;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[4]
Entertainment Weekly	B^[5]
Los Angeles Times	^[6]
Music Week	^[7]
NME	7/10^[8]
The Observer	(favorable)^[9]
Select	^[10]
Smash Hits	^[11]

I Say I Say I Say is the sixth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in 1994 by Mute Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US. The album was produced by Martyn Ware, who was a founding member of veteran synth-pop groups the Human League and Heaven 17.

Upon its release it became Erasure's fourth consecutive studio album to hit No. 1 in the UK, and fifth overall,^[12] generating three top-20 singles. In the US, I Say I Say I Say debuted and peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200, easily beating their previous highest chart placing. In Germany, the album climbed to number six.

Although Erasure always maintained popularity in the US dance club community, with the rise of grunge rock Erasure saw their exposure on college radio, mainstream stations and MTV become mostly non-existent by 1994.^{[citation needed]} This made it even more of a surprise when the ballad "Always" gave them their third top-20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in September.

The album saw keyboardist/programmer Vince Clarke continue with his by-then trademark exclusive usage of pre-MIDI analog synthesizers and sequencers, with the additional self-imposed constraint that no drum machines were to be used either.^{[citation needed]} Instead, Clarke used synthesizers to create the album's drum and percussion sounds.

Critical reception

Upon its release, James Slattery of Melody Maker felt Erasure had taken a "misguided quest for serious critical acclaim", resulting in the "greatest singles band in the last 10 years" to produce an album without one "shag-happy top five certainty" and only "glimpses of what might've been". He said, "Erasure seem too willing to rein in the extravagances and plump for a utilitarian pop-techno sound, pussy-footing around in a fog of lightweight moderation."^[13] Alan Jones of Music Week remarked that the album "sadly contains fewer songs of merit than any previous Erasure album" and predicted it would be "huge initially" but with a "shorter chart life than usual". He singled out "Always" for "standing head and shoulders above the rest".^[14]

Steven Wells of NME felt the band had "once again proven themselves worthy" with an album which "runs the whole gamut of current bink-bash-bleep-bonk-diddley-bop dancepop". He added, "There are ten screamingly obviously international top ten hits here, all of them hymns to an innocence which yearns desperately to be corrupted and all of them with fabulous, juddering, soaring, sickeningly sweet melodies that wiggle and jiggle past the appalled intellect and make straight for the tear ducts."^[8] Emma Cochrane from Smash Hits wrote, "Whether they're camping it up (complete with choir) on 'So the Story Goes' or bopping about on 'Run to the Sun', these boys are onto a winner, and they know it."^[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Take Me Back"	4:55
2.	"I Love Saturday"	4:02
3.	"Man in the Moon"	4:06
4.	"So the Story Goes"	4:08
5.	"Run to the Sun"	4:25
6.	"Always"	3:57
7.	"All Through the Years"	4:59
8.	"Blues Away"	5:01
9.	"Miracle"	4:12
10.	"Because You're So Sweet"	4:17

On the Chilean/Argentinian cassette version, there's a Spanish rendition of "Always" (Spanish vocal), just before "Always".

In the Philippines release of this album in MC, 2 extended remixes of "Always" were added as hidden tracks (no mention or credits in the inlay), one at the start of each side (before "Take Me Back" on Side 1 and the original "Always" on Side 2).

2016 "Erasure 30" 30th anniversary BMG reissue LP

Subsequent to their acquisition of Erasure's back catalog, and in anticipation of the band's 30th anniversary, BMG commissioned reissues of all previously released UK editions of Erasure albums up to and including 2007's Light at the End of the World. All titles were pressed and distributed by Play It Again Sam on 180-gram vinyl and shrinkwrapped with a custom anniversary sticker.

Personnel

Andy Bell – vocals
Vince Clarke – synthesizers, programming
Sy-Jenq Cheng – design
Mike Cosford – paintings
John Dexter – arranger, conductor
Luke Gifford – assistant engineer
Norman Hathaway – design
Andy Houston – engineer
Rob Kirwan – assistant engineer
Phil Legg – engineer, mixing
Kevin Metcalfe – editing
St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir – choir, chorus
Al Stone – engineer
Martyn Ware – producer
Olaf Wendt – artwork
Kevin Metcalfe – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *I Say I Say I Say*
Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[15]	107
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[16]	2
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[17]	32
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[18]	9
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[19]	85
European Albums (Music & Media)^[20]	5
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[21]	17
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[22]	6
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[23]	19
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[24]	1
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)^[25]	33
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[26]	3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[27]	17
UK Albums (OCC)^[28]	1
US Billboard 200^[29]	18

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *I Say I Say I Say*
Chart (1994)	Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[30]	33
European Albums (Music & Media)^[31]	57
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[32]	42
UK Albums (OCC)^[33]	66

Certifications

Certifications for *I Say I Say I Say*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[34]	Gold	100,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "News". Melody Maker. 19 March 1994. p. 3.
^ Miller, Jonathan. "Erasure – Under Cover". Garethjones.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
^ Masterson, Ian (1995). "Dome Sweet Dome". ErasureInfo.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
^ AllMusic review
^ Romero, Michele (20 May 1994). "I Say, I Say, I Say". Entertainment Weekly.
^ Willman, Chris (22 May 1994). "Organic Love for Space Age Swooners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
^ Jones, Alan (14 May 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
^ ^a ^b Wells, Steven (21 May 1994). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 39.
^ Spencer, Neil (15 May 1994). "Pop Releases". The Observer.
^ Pattenden, Siân (June 1994). "New Albums". Select. p. 86. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
^ ^a ^b Cochrane, Emma (11 May 1994). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 48. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
^ "Erasure | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
^ Slattery, James (14 May 1994). "Albums: It's No Joke". Melody Maker. p. 30.
^ Jones, Alan (14 May 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums". Music Week. p. 18. ISSN 0265-1548.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 95.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2504". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 23. 4 June 1994. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 25. 4 June 1994. p. 15. 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 – I Say I Say I Say" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1994. 22. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Erasure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1994". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "1994 in Review Sales Charts – European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1994" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
^ "Top 100 Albums 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 11. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
^ "British album certifications – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say". British Phonographic Industry. 1 May 1994. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[1] "News". Melody Maker. 19 March 1994. p. 3.

[2] Miller, Jonathan. "Erasure – Under Cover". Garethjones.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2020.

[3] Masterson, Ian (1995). "Dome Sweet Dome". ErasureInfo.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2020.

[4] AllMusic review

[5] Romero, Michele (20 May 1994). "I Say, I Say, I Say". Entertainment Weekly.

[6] Willman, Chris (22 May 1994). "Organic Love for Space Age Swooners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 January 2023.

[7] Jones, Alan (14 May 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 9 May 2025.

[NME-8] Wells, Steven (21 May 1994). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 39.

[9] Spencer, Neil (15 May 1994). "Pop Releases". The Observer.

[10] Pattenden, Siân (June 1994). "New Albums". Select. p. 86. Retrieved 18 December 2024.

[smashhits-11] Cochrane, Emma (11 May 1994). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 48. Retrieved 4 October 2024.

[12] "Erasure | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.

[13] Slattery, James (14 May 1994). "Albums: It's No Joke". Melody Maker. p. 30.

[14] Jones, Alan (14 May 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums". Music Week. p. 18. ISSN 0265-1548.

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

[ac_Austria_Erasure-16] "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[group=-17] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2504". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[18] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 23. 4 June 1994. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[ac_Netherlands_Erasure-19] "Dutchcharts.nl – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[20] "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 25. 4 June 1994. p. 15. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[21] 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_Germany_Erasure-22] "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[ac_Hungary_-23] "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1994. 22. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

[ac_Scotland_-24] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 December 2021.

[25] Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[ac_Sweden_Erasure-26] "Swedishcharts.com – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[ac_Switzerland_Erasure-27] "Swisscharts.com – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

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

[ac_Billboard200_Erasure-29] "Erasure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[30] "Jahreshitparade Alben 1994". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[31] "1994 in Review Sales Charts – European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[32] "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1994" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

[33] "Top 100 Albums 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 11. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.

[United_KingdomErasureI_Say_I_Say_I_SayalbumCertRef-34] "British album certifications – Erasure – I Say I Say I Say". British Phonographic Industry. 1 May 1994. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

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v t e Erasure
Andy Bell Vince Clarke
Studio albums	Wonderland The Circus The Innocents Wild! Chorus I Say I Say I Say Erasure Cowboy Loveboat Other People's Songs Nightbird Union Street Light at the End of the World Tomorrow's World Snow Globe The Violet Flame World Be Gone The Neon Day-Glo (Based on a True Story)
Live albums	Acoustic Live Live at the Royal Albert Hall World Be Live
Compilation albums	The Two Ring Circus Pop! The First 20 Hits Hits! The Very Best of Erasure Pop! Remixed Total Pop! The First 40 Hits Pop2! The Second 20 Hits 10 Great Songs Always: The Very Best of Erasure
Box sets	EBX From Moscow to Mars
Extended plays	Crackers International Am I Right? EP Abba-esque I Love Saturday EP Rain: Plus Moon and the Sky: Plus Boy EP Storm Chaser Pop! Remixed Erasure.Club Phantom Bride EP
Singles	"Who Needs Love Like That" "Heavenly Action" "Oh l'amour" "Sometimes" "It Doesn't Have to Be" "Victim of Love" "The Circus" "Ship of Fools" "Chains of Love" "A Little Respect" "Stop!" "Drama!" "You Surround Me" "Blue Savannah" "Star" "Chorus" "Love to Hate You" "Am I Right?" "Breath of Life" "Take a Chance on Me" "Always" "Run to the Sun" "I Love Saturday" "Stay with Me" "Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)" "Rock Me Gently" "In My Arms" "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" "Rain" "Freedom" "Moon & the Sky" "Solsbury Hill" "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" "Breathe" "Don't Say You Love Me" "Here I Go Impossible Again" / "All This Time Still Falling Out of Love" "Boy" "I Could Fall in Love with You" "Sunday Girl" "Storm in a Teacup" "Phantom Bride" "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" "Be with You" "Fill Us with Fire" "Gaudete" "Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)" "Nerves of Steel" "Fallen Angel"
Video releases	Live at the Seaside Innocents Wild! Abba-esque Pop! The First 20 Hits Hits! the Videos The Erasure Show – Live in Cologne Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Related articles	Discography Yazoo Depeche Mode The Assembly

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