Ship of Fools (Erasure song)

"Ship of Fools"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Innocents
B-side	"When I Needed You", "River Deep, Mountain High"
Released	February 22, 1988
Format	12", 7", CD
Recorded	1988
Genre	Synthpop new wave
Length	4:01
Label	Mute
Writer(s)	Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)	Stephen Hague, Dave Jacob
Erasure singles chronology
"The Circus" (1987) "Ship of Fools" (1988) "Chains of Love" (1988)

"Ship of Fools" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in February 1988 as the duo's eighth single overall.

The song was issued by Mute Records as the lead single from Erasure's third album The Innocents (released eight weeks later in April 1988). It was not released as a single in the United States.

"Ship of Fools" marked Erasure's first release without record producer Flood. Known for creating slick, pop-oriented production style, Stephen Hague took over producing duties for The Innocents album. "Ship of Fools" also marks Erasure's first ballad single-release. Its B-side, "When I Needed You", is also a ballad. Both tracks were written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell.

Upon its release, "Ship of Fools" hit number six in the UK singles chart, becoming the group's third consecutive Top 10 single (and fourth overall).

Track listings

7" single (MUTE74)

1. "Ship of Fools"
2. "When I Needed You"

12" single (12MUTE74)

1. "Ship of Fools" (Shiver Me Timbers Mix)
2. "River Deep, Mountain High" (Warm Depths Mix)
3. "When I Needed You" (Melancholic Mix)

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE74)

1. "Ship of Fools" (RC Mix)
2. "River Deep, Mountain High" (Private Dance Mix)
3. "When I Needed You"

CD single (CDMUTE74)

1. "Ship of Fools" (Shiver Me Timbers Mix)
2. "When I Needed You" (Melancholic Mix)
3. "River Deep, Mountain High" (Private Dance Mix)

Chart performance

Chart (1988)	Peak position
German Singles Chart[1]	9
Irish Singles Chart[2]	6
South African Singles Chart[3]	11
Swedish Singles Chart	7
Swiss Singles Chart[4]	12
UK Singles Chart[5]	6

References

1. "charts.de". charts.de. 1988-02-22. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
2. Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group - http://www.fireballmedia.ie. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
3. Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
4. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Ship Of Fools". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
5. "The Official Charts Company - Ship Of Fools by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics