V. Clark

As the driving force between nearly all tracks on Depeche Mode's debut album Speak & Spell, Vince Clarke actually offered the song Only You to Depeche Mode upon his departure in 1981 wishing to ensure them at least one hit following his exit. Depeche Mode declined the offer, however, realising that if they were going to make it, they had to make it on their own. Subsequently, under the Yazoo moniker Vince Clarke would have his first hit with Only You, while Depeche Mode would start to rely on Martin Gore's hit capabilities. The first single release following Vince Clarke's departure was "See You" and the rest is, as they say, history.

Both Yazoo's debut album Upstairs At Eric's and their follow up album You And Me Both are pop-pearls, but pick one and go with You And Me Both. This is the very definition of Ajax-pop; cheerfully happy, utterly catchy, and frisky clean. And - funny enough - an album that has stood the test of time way better than Depeche Mode's two first albums.