Neha Patil (Editor)

Who Needs Love Like That

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Format
  
12", 7", CD

Genre
  
Synthpop, new wave

Recorded
  
1985

Length
  
3:16

B-side
  
"Push Me Shove Me" (1985)

Released
  
2 September 1985 (original version) 26 October 1992 (Hamburg mix)

"Who Needs Love Like That" is the debut single released by British synthpop duo Erasure. The song was released in the UK on Mute Records in 1985 as a prelude to their debut album Wonderland. The video was directed by John Scarlett Davies and produced by Nick Verden for Aldabra.

Contents

While the original 1985 release enjoyed only minor success, the later "Hamburg Mix" version (issued in 1992 to promote the Pop! compilation) reached the top 10 in both the UK and Ireland.

History

"Who Needs Love Like That" is an uptempo pop song written by Vince Clarke. The lyrics are a cast-off to a destructive love relationship, in which the protagonist asks "who needs love like that?" The music video takes place in a mock Western, with Clarke, Andy Bell and various extras dressed as cowboys. Both Bell and Clarke appear in dual roles, the others being woman's drags.

Upon its release, the song spent two weeks in the UK singles chart, peaking at number 55. In 1992, the song was remixed and tacked on to the end of Erasure's greatest hits collection Pop! - the First 20 Hits (although in the U.S. it only appears on the cassette release). The "Hamburg Mix" (slightly retitled to put "Like That" in parenthesis) was released as a single and became a Top 10 UK hit, peaking at number ten.

7" single (MUTE40)

  1. "Who Needs Love Like That"
  2. "Push Me Shove Me"

12" single (12MUTE40)

  1. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Legend Mix)
  2. "Push Me Shove Me" (Extended as Far as Possible Mix)
  3. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Instrumental Workout Mix)

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE40)

  1. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Mexican Mix)
  2. "Push Me Shove Me" (Tacos Mix)

12" US single (SIRE 0-20404)

  1. "Who Needs Love Like That" (The Love That Mix Version / Mexican Mix) 6:08
  2. "Push Me Shove Me" (That Rough And Tumble Mix / Tacos Mix) 5:46
  3. "Heavenly Action" (A Divine Mix / Yellow Brick Mix) 6:43
  4. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Single Edit) 3:03

CD Single (CDMUTE40)

  1. "Who Needs Love Like That"
  2. "Push Me Shove Me"
  3. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Legend Mix)
  4. "Push Me Shove Me" (Extended as Far as Possible Mix)
  5. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Instrumental Workout Mix)

7" single (MUTE150) / Cassette single (CMUTE150)

  1. "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Hamburg Mix)
  2. "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Single Edit)

12" single (12MUTE150)

  1. "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Phil Kelsey Mix)
  2. "Ship of Fools" (Orbital Southsea Isles of Holy Beats Mix)
  3. "Sometimes" (Danny Rampling Mix)

CD single (CDMUTE150)

  1. "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Hamburg Mix)
  2. "The Soldier's Return"
  3. "Don't Say No"
  4. "The Circus" (Gladiator Mix)

Limited CD single (LCDMUTE150)

  1. "Who Needs Love (Like That)" (Phil Kelsey Mix)
  2. "Ship of Fools" (Orbital Southsea Isles of Holy Beats Mix)
  3. "Sometimes" (Danny Rampling Mix)

References

Who Needs Love Like That Wikipedia
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