TOP 7: Vince Clarke

Few people have actually been able to be successful as member of two different music bands, British synth pop legend Vince Clarke is one them. Always flamboyant in his music style and appearance, Clarke was the original song writer for Depeche Mode's very succesful premiere album Speak & Spell in 1981. After having a few creative differences with the other members of the band, he left the group leaving the no less talented Martin L. Gore as their official songwriter. 

After forming other minor groups, Vince Clarke finally teamed up with the even more flamboyant Andy Bell to  form Erasure, another legendary pop group that scored a lot of hits in the eighties and early nineties. They still keep on popping hard these days.

To celebrate the illustrious career of this master of eighties music the editorial staff of 1980 Me are showing the definite list of the best songs from this decade written and  performed by him. Tell us what you think!

1. JUST CANT GET ENOUGH

This was the song that sent Depeche Mode to superstardom back in 1981 and has been covered by many other groups since then. 

2. A LITTLE RESPECT

Erasure's greatest hit was written in 1988 for the album The Innocents featuring Andy Bell's signature falsetto in the chorus.

3. WHAT'S YOUR NAME

"Hey you are such a pretty boy!"

4. NEW LIFE

Depeche Mode's second single ever.

5. SHIP OF FOOLS

This song from 1988 was Erasure's first ballad. This performance is from a concert in 2005 and features Clarke playing the guitar.

6. PHOTOGRAPHIC

This is rumoured to be DM's first song ever but was never released as a single although it has a music video.

7. WHO NEEDS LOVE LIKE THAT

Scenes from Erasure's classic concert in 1992 performing their 1985 song Who Needs Love Like That where Andy Bell  wore an unbelievably ultra mega flamboyant cowboy outfit.  Vince Clarke later appears showing his peculiar taste in fashion.