Yazoos debut album was released in the UK on Mute Records on August 20th 1982 on vinyl and cassette. The compact disc version was released in UK in 1986, though a German version was released in 1984 alongside the cd version of You And Me Both. Upstairs At Eric’s included the two singles Only You and Don’t Go and was largely a Vince Clarke project, with Alison Moyet only providing four of the albums eleven tracks. The tracks was a strange blend of new compositions and older tracks from earlier projects – Tuesday was originally title Wednesday and was written for Vinces 1979-band No Romance In China. Because of the huge success of the two singles, Mute and Daniel Miller wanted Yazoo to rapidly record an album to maintain momentum. It was recorded at Blackwing Studios which was fully booked at the time, so the duo had to use the studio in early mornings. In July 2012 a remastered version of the album was released by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.
Link to Discogs.org Vinyl (STUMM 7)
The iconic cover photo of the two mannequins was shot by photographer Joe Lyons at his studio in north London, but the actual design is uncredited. Lyons shot several different photos of the scene and variants from that session have since been used on the cover of the In Your Room box set, the Nobody’s Diary re-release and the Reconnected EP – all from 2008.
Half'n'half Being the most experienced songwriter at the time, Vince Clarke penned seven of the albums eleven tracks, including the two singles, though two of Alison Moyets tracks really stands out – even today – namely Midnight and Winter Kills.
Came in from the city Can't stop now, don't you know? Oh, baby, make your mind up Can't stop now, don't you know? Came in from the city Can't stop now, don't you know? Write me a letter And she's waiting for someone (waiting for someone) In a story she remembers HMorning, this morning, the curtains are shut I'd wish they'd fix the wires, 'cause my baby don't know And if I write a letter it won't get there on time I'd wish they'd fix the wires, 'cause my baby don't know No meaningful lyrics.
Midnight, it's raining outside, he must be soaking wet Baby, oh, no, can't leave me now Heartache, heartache, yeah Baby, oh, no, can't leave me now And now, it's midnight, it's raining outside, yeah Baby, oh, no, can't leave me now You say you'll lose your pride
I stand alone and watch the clock And in my room against the wall The walls are white and in the night (On Earth, as it is in Heaven)
Looking from a window above All I needed was the love you gave Sometimes when I think of her name All I needed was the love you gave This is going to take a long time All I needed was the love you gave
To your credit to the thirty faces you created To the lights to the trend setting in your head Goodbye Seventies To your credit to the thirty faces you created Goodbye Seventies
Woman of thirty seeing the sun It was her birthday morning Woman of thirty, husband and kids Three thousand miles of honesty dreaming In her heart it wasn't easy
Green in your love Lost in daydreams Tear at me, searching for Pain in your eyes I tear at you, searching for
You say it's time to leave You play your games, but the fact remains Didn't I bring your love down? If you think you need a change You play your games but the fact remains Didn't I bring your love down? You play your games but the fact remains
Vocals and piano – Alison Moyet
01. Intro
02. The Formats
Cassette (C STUMM 7)
Compact-disc (INT 846.803, 610015) / Released in Germany 1984
upstairs_lp_001
upstairs_lp_002
03. The Cover
04. The Tracks
01. Don't Go (Clarke)
Walked into the door
I turned around when I heard
The sound of footsteps on the floor
Love just like addiction
Now I'm hooked on you
I need some time to get it right
Your love's gonna see me through
I ain't never gonna let you go
Don't go
Give me what you got
Fix me with your lovin'
Shut the door and turn the lock
Hey, go get the doctor
Doctor came too late
Another night, I feel all right
My love for you can't wait
I ain't never gonna let you go
Don't go
Walked into the door
I turned around when I heard
The sound of footsteps on the floor
Said he was a killer
Now I know it's true
I'm dead when you walk out the door
Hey, babe, I'm hooked on you
I ain't never gonna let you go
Don't go02. Too Pieces (Clarke)
A face in the hall
Hiding from someone
Afraid of the fall
To take her back to where she came from
And she'll wait alone for hours (waiting all alone)
She won't mind because there's someone
She remembers in the letter
And the tears locked up inside her
Make her heart break open wider
Shuts her eyes and takes the picture from the wall03. Bad Connection (Clarke)
I'll ring you in the morning, but the phone's been cut
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
I've been calling all day
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
The radio reporter said the line's all dead
He told me that I oughta write a letter instead
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
I've been calling all day
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
That I'm leaving in the morning, and I'm ready to go
Can you hear me? can you hear me at all?
Gotta get the operator, make a telephone call
I'll only reach you, baby, on the telephone line
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
I've been calling all day
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
My car's all ready, and my bags are all packed
I'm late already, and I won't be back
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
I've been calling you all day
Can you hear me? (oo, can you hear me? oo, can you hear me?)
That I'm leaving in the morning, and I'm ready to go
Can you hear me? can you hear me at all?
Gotta get the operator, make a telephone call04. I Before E Except After C (Clarke)
05. Midnight (Moyet)
Everyone is sleeping tight, God knows I tried my best
Darling, you know it looks bad
Just lost the best thing that I ever had, well
Still I don't know why I did him wrong, no
It's too late, now, he's gone to say
Said, think about it, please
'Cause I love you, and I need you
And I should have thought of that before I did you wrong, yeah
Before I did you wrong
I should have thought of that
Oo, before I did you wrong
When I saw his face I could see how bad I'd let him down
Cheating when he was working hard, I just had to mess around
I knew from the start he ain't got much money
I should have stayed content with all that good, sweet honey
He's a good, strong man, and I love him so
So how on Earth can I let him go? said, whoah
Said, think about it, please
'Cause I love you, and I need you
And I should have thought of that before I did you wrong, yeah
Before I did you wrong
I should have thought of that
Oo, before I did you wrong
And I'm soaking wet, still looking for that man of mine
And I ain't found him yet, well
All of this rain can wash away my tears
But nothing can replace all of those wasted years
In all of this I tell you I have learnt
Playing with fire gets you burnt
And I'm still burning
Said, think about it, please
'Cause I love you, and I need you
And I should have thought of that before I did you wrong, yeah
Before I did you wrong
I should have thought of that
Oo, before I did you wrong
Well, don't you know, dear? don't you know
I'll lose so much more if you go now?06. In My Room (Clarke)
I only wait for it to stop
And in the room locked up inside me (thy kingdom come)
The cutout magazines remind me
I sit and wait alone (thy will be done) in my room
There is a picture very small (on Earth, as it is in Heaven)
A photograph I took some years ago
It shows a picture of the room I know
I sit and wait alone in my room (on Earth, as it is in Heaven)
The room is lit by electric light
I stand alone and watch the clock (and lead us not into temptation)
I only wait for it to stop
The doors are shut and all the windows lock
The only sound is from the clock
I sit and wait alone in my room (and deliver us from evil)07. Only You (Clarke)
It's like a story of love
Can you hear me?
Came back only yesterday
I'm moving farther away
Want you near me
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
When it's only a game
And I need you
Listen to the words that you say
It's getting harder to stay
When I see you
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
And I wonder what's mine
Can't take no more (can't take no more)
Wonder if you'll understand
It's just the touch of your hand
Behind a closed door
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you08. Goodbye 70's (Moyet)
To your headache to the shape of the 1980's
I'm glad that we don't hear you any more
I'm tired of playing in your fashion war
Sunday night tears from youth cults already dead
I'm glad that we don't hear you any more
I'm tired of fighting in your fashion war
To your subscription for the million copies of 1980
I'm glad that we don't hear you any more
I'm tired of losing in your fashion war09. Tuesday (Clarke)
Packed up her suitcase started to run
Looking for someone looking for none
Pack up and drive away, away
Pack up and drive away
Realisation gradually dawning
A man in a grey suit whispered 'I'm calling'
Pack up and drive away, away
Pack up and drive away
Chained like a dog she had to rid
No point in coping off came the lid
Pack up and drive away, away
Pack up and drive away
Perfect imagery is gleaming
No more shattered clouds were deeming
Pack up and drive away, away
Pack up and drive away
Mumbled words and feeling dizzy
Reasons fight against excuses
Mothers have their ways and uses
Driving slowly she was losing
Dream was stirring only dozing
Eyelids awaken to the daytime
Just an illusion broken sunshine
Woman of thirty there's no choice
I can't hear your helpless voice10. Winter Kills (Moyet)
On bright days
You grew sunblind
You thought me unkind
To remind you
How winter kills
You drove too fast
And got nowhere
You rode on half fare
When you got too scared
How winter kills
Weaker seams
Makes me cruel
Makes me spiteful
Tears are delightful
Welcome your nightfall
How winter kills
Weaker seams11. Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I) (Moyet)
Now, babe, I can't believe
That you have the strenght to go now
I won't stand in your way
I'd be standing there all day
Ain't that something we both know now
I'm the only one that can hold your reins
Didn't I bring your love down all night?
Well, I'm sure we can arrange
For you to get on your own for a while
But I don't need to worry
'Cause you'll get back in a hurry
I know that you like my style
I'm the only one that can hold your reins
Didn't I bring your love down all night?
I'm the only one that can hold your reins
05. The People
Noices – Vince Clarke
Produced by – Eric C. Radcliffe and Yazoo
Additional production and novices – Daniel Miller
Engineered by – Eric C. Radcliffe and John Fryer
Extra chit-chat – Eric's mum
Extra chit-chat – D. Davis
Photography – Joe Lyons
06. The Music
Back
Albums
Upstairs At Eric’s
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Date: August 20, 1982
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Catalogue number: STUMM 7
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