Yaz (Yazoo) “Don’t Go” 1982. Sire Records/Mute Records. Today, July 3rd, is Vince Clarke’s birthday (b. 1960). Prolific and the master of synthpop, Clarke collaborated with Alison Moyet to form Yazoo after he left Depeche Mode after the release of DM’s debut album Speak & Spell, briefly teamed up with Eric Radcliffe in ‘83 to form The Assembly before founding Erasure in 1985.

“Don’t Go” appeared on Yazoo’s 1982 LP Upstairs at Eric’s and the single hit #3 in the UK and #1 on the US dance chart. This 12″ single features two remixes, inspirationally titled “Re-Mix” and “Re-Re-Mix.” Not a lot of difference between them (though the intros have different vibes) other than the length (4:08 and 4:20 respectively, however the label is misprinted, giving the lengths as 5:08 and 3:20). The flipside is “Winter Kills (album version),” an atmospheric, piano twinkled, blues-club sultry track sung gorgeously by Alison Moyet. It also appears on Upstairs at Eric’s.