Yazoo (band)

Yazoo
Company type	Duo
Industry	Music
Founded	1981
Headquarters	Basildon, England
Products	Synth-pop music, studio albums

Yazoo—known as Yaz within the North American market—was a synth-pop duo originating from Basildon, Essex, England. Established in late 1981, the group consisted of vocalist Alison Moyet and keyboardist Vince Clarke, formerly of Depeche Mode. Their discography includes two studio albums: Upstairs at Eric's (1982) and You and Me Both (1983). Yazoo played a pivotal role in the development of synth-pop and left a lasting impact on the house music movement throughout the mid to late 1980s. The partnership dissolved in May 1983, after which Moyet embarked on a solo career marked by success, while Clarke went on to co-found Erasure. The duo briefly reunited for a concert tour in 2008.

Origins and Upstairs at Eric's (1982)

Both Clarke and Moyet were raised in Basildon and attended the same Saturday music classes from the age of eleven. Influenced by synth-pop pioneers Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Clarke co-founded Depeche Mode, contributing to an album and three singles written by him released on Mute Records in 1981. Meanwhile, Moyet performed with local punk and blues groups before placing an advertisement in Melody Maker seeking musicians for a "rootsy" blues ensemble following her previous band's disbandment.

Clarke was the sole respondent; having recently exited Depeche Mode, he had not previously met Moyet despite their geographical closeness. Moyet was familiar with Clarke’s future bandmates but not Clarke himself. Clarke had observed Moyet's performances through shared contacts. Intending to sustain his relationship with Mute Records, Clarke composed "Only You" and invited Moyet to record a demo. The two formed a duo inspired by acts like OMD and Soft Cell.

Their musical preferences diverged: Moyet leaned toward traditional genres, whereas Clarke favored contemporary R&B over classic blues forms. Clarke presented "Only You" to Mute Records head Daniel Miller, who initially showed little enthusiasm until publishers expressed interest. Subsequently, Mute requested that they record both the single and a full album. Having already written "Don't Go," Clarke considered it too strong for a B-side and therefore composed "Situation" specifically for that purpose.

The name Yazoo originated from the blues-focused label Yazoo Records, which led to a legal threat amounting to £3.5 million and compelled them to adopt the name Yaz in North America due to an existing American band using Yazoo.

Released in March 1982 in the UK, "Only You" climbed to number two on the singles chart. The debut album was created at Blackwing Studios in London, predominantly during early morning hours because of scheduling conflicts. With Daniel Miller unavailable, studio owner Eric Radcliffe stepped in as producer alongside Clarke and Moyet; the album was named Upstairs at Eric's as a tribute to Radcliffe.

The follow-up UK single "Don't Go" reached the top three in July 1982. In North America, "Situation" gained popularity as a club track after being remixed by DJ François Kevorkian, serving as Yazoo's introductory single there and peaking at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100; "Only You" was subsequently released as their second single, reaching number 67.

Upstairs at Eric's, released in August 1982, attained number two on the UK Albums Chart, sold over 300,000 units, and earned platinum certification. In the United States, it initially reached number 92 on the Billboard 200 but eventually achieved platinum status with over one million copies sold by 1989 through persistent word-of-mouth promotion. To promote the album, the duo completed a 24-date tour across Europe and North America.

You and Me Both and the group's dissolution (1983)

Following the November 1982 release of the UK single "The Other Side of Love", which climbed to number 13 on the UK singles chart, the pair returned to Blackwing Studios to work on their sophomore album. However, friction between Clarke and Moyet had intensified. Clarke considered Upstairs at Eric's a unique venture and was hesitant to commit to another Yazoo project, only convinced by his publishers who worried about the consequences of him abandoning a second band so soon. At the same time, Moyet found the sudden spotlight overwhelming and resented shouldering most of the promotional responsibilities alone. Unlike their initial effort, the follow-up album was created over a four-month span with Clarke and Moyet seldom recording together—Clarke laid down instrumental tracks during mornings, while Moyet recorded vocals in the evenings.

The lead single "Nobody's Diary" debuted in May 1983 ahead of the album and reached number three on the UK charts. Despite this success, Yazoo declared their breakup shortly after its release. The album, entitled You and Me Both, was issued in July 1983 and topped charts in both the UK and New Zealand but lacked additional single releases or touring support, which led to lower sales compared to their debut. Nevertheless, it earned gold certification in the UK with sales surpassing 100,000 copies and reached number 69 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

The duo parted ways primarily due to personal growth considerations; Clarke went on to establish Erasure, while Moyet embarked on a prosperous solo path.

In 2008, both artists reflected that inadequate communication played a major role in their split. Moyet recognized Clarke’s artistic openness but remarked on his emotional distance and limited engagement affecting their relationship. Clarke confessed to struggling with communication beyond studio sessions and attributed their rapid ascent to fame as a barrier to forming a genuine connection:

"Everything happened very quickly... we never really bonded... we didn't truly know each other... when issues arose we lacked the tools to communicate."

Moyet also emphasized their differing temperaments—Clarke being reserved and internalizing feelings, whereas she was more expressive and sometimes difficult.

Legacy

After Yazoo's breakup, Clarke collaborated with Eric Radcliffe in forming the Assembly, a project designed to release one-off singles featuring various vocalists. They produced a single track, "Never Never" with Feargal Sharkey, before disbanding. Clarke also took on production duties for The Peter Pan Effect, an album by longtime friend Robert Marlow. Subsequently, he partnered with Andy Bell to create Erasure, achieving significant synth-pop success. Meanwhile, Moyet secured a contract with CBS Records and launched her solo career successfully.

In 1990, "Situation" was reissued in the UK as a remix, reaching number 14 on the singles chart. A greatest hits collection titled Only Yazoo: The Best of was released in 1999 following reissues and remixes of "Only You," "Don't Go," and "Situation." Clarke remixed Moyet’s 1994 single "Whispering Your Name," and although they attempted a duet for her track "This House," the collaboration was ultimately blocked by Sony Music.

Yazoo’s music has been featured extensively across films and television, enhancing their cultural footprint. "Only You" was included in Napoleon Dynamite, The Office, Can't Hardly Wait, as well as episodes of Fringe, The Americans, and Once Upon a Time. Cover versions of "Only You" have appeared in commercials for J. C. Penney in 2007 and were performed by Selena Gomez for Netflix's 13 Reasons Why in 2017. "Don't Go" appeared in I'm Alan Partridge and the film Tango and Cash. The track "Situation" was featured in the TV movie Exile and used in an advertisement for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance SP. In 2007, "Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)" was included in an episode of The Sarah Silverman Program.

In 2009, Anohni, lead singer of Antony & the Johnsons, revealed that DJ Andy Butler invited her to participate in the debut Hercules and Love Affair album project with the goal of capturing Yazoo’s distinctive sound: "We loved Yazoo."

2008 reunion and 'Reconnected' tour

Although Moyet and Clarke had been apart for many years, Moyet had always hoped to perform tracks from You and Me Both live, a prospect unrealized as the duo parted ways before the album's launch. Towards the end of 2007, following the promotion of her album The Turn and without immediate solo projects planned, Moyet reached out to Clarke to discuss a reunion timed with Mute Records’ remastered releases of Yazoo’s catalog.

Initially, Clarke declined due to his ongoing dedication to Erasure and loyalty to bandmate Andy Bell. However, when Bell announced a hiatus from Erasure, Clarke reconsidered. Through Daniel Miller, head of Mute Records, Clarke conveyed his willingness to reunite for live performances. Bell is said to have responded by requesting tickets for the reunion concerts.

The first public indication of Yazoo’s comeback was posted on 11 December 2007 via Erasure’s official website, which launched a dedicated Yazoo site and Myspace page. Shortly after, on 13 December, UK music publication Planet Sound disclosed plans to re-release both Yazoo albums alongside a reunion show in support of these editions.

On 20 January 2008, Yazoo announced five UK concerts scheduled for June, coinciding with the release of a comprehensive four-disc box set titled In Your Room. This collection included remastered stereo and 5.1 surround sound versions of Upstairs at Eric's and You and Me Both, along with B-sides, remixes, a DVD featuring fresh interviews, videos for their UK and US singles, and archival television performances. Two EPs accompanied the releases: the Nobody's Diary EP, issued on 12 May with remixes including one by Erasure’s Andy Bell, and the Reconnected EP released on 9 June containing various Yazoo track remixes.

On 8 April 2008, Clarke and Moyet appeared together publicly in London’s Covent Garden for the first time since the early 1990s—a moment widely covered by media outlets. Their promotional activities included a performance on BBC’s Friday Night with Jonathan Ross broadcast on 16 May. The tour quickly expanded beyond the UK to include dates throughout Europe and the United States. The 'Reconnected' tour officially commenced in Copenhagen on 26 May 2008, coinciding with the launch of In Your Room. The concert held in Los Angeles on 10 July was recorded for broadcast on Richard Blade’s Sirius Radio program. The North American leg concluded with a performance in New York City—marking their first appearance there since October 1982.

In May 2008, Clarke revealed intentions to capture the London concerts for a potential live album. This plan came to fruition with the release of the double album Reconnected Live in September 2010.

On 14 May 2011 at Mute Records’ Short Circuit festival in London, Moyet joined Clarke on stage prior to Erasure’s set to perform three Yazoo songs: "Nobody's Diary," "Ode to Boy," and "Don't Go." In an interview, Moyet expressed that this was "99.9% sure" their final joint performance would be, while reflecting positively on their renewed relationship.

Musical style and legacy

Matt Mitchell from Paste Magazine characterized Yazoo as "one of the most important and formative synth-pop bands in the sub-genre's history."

Discography

Both albums by Yazoo received critical praise for combining Clarke’s synthesizer-driven melodies with Moyet’s blues- and soul-inflected vocal style:

Upstairs at Eric's (1982)
You and Me Both (1983)

Awards

Year	Award Event	Category	Entry	Outcome
1983	Brit Awards	British Breakthrough Act	Themselves	Template:Won
1983	Brit Awards	British Group	Themselves	Template:Nom
1984	Ivor Novello Awards	Best Selling A-Side	"Only You"	Template:Nom

External links