Depeche Mode 'The Singles 81→85' 1985

SONG LYRICS by TRACK

The Singles 81→85 was Depeche Mode‘s first UK compilation album, gathering together all their singles up to that point in sequential order, tacking on the new tracks ‘It’s Called A Heart’ and ‘Shake The Disease’, the latter of which has become something of a live staple for the band. Both tracks were released as singles to support the compilation.

The Singles 81→85 was also the first of a series of artist compilations issued by Mute. The track list on the reverse reflected each track’s success in the singles charts rather than being in the order they were released in.

Gore’s lyrical development from ‘See You’ (a cutesy, endearing single penned as a teenager) to the harrowing introspection of ‘Shake The Disease’ showed a dizzying level of maturity in the briefest of timeframes. ‘Somebody’ (excluded from the LP edition, presumably because of space) remains Gore’s most powerful, fragile ballad, his tender lyrics interspersed with darker considerations and ruminations; elsewhere, tracks like ‘Everything Counts’, ‘People Are People’ and ‘Blasphemous Rumours’ were casually and effortlessly cynical, the latter getting the band into hot water with the Church of England given its pondering about the existence of a cruel God.

12" (MUTEL 1) UK

● MATRIX: RUNOUT

Barcode:   No

Runout A:   MPO MUTE L 1 A4 13 FUTURIST CLASSICS

Runout B:   BAG O" HITS MPO MUTE L1 B4

Vinyl record format:   33 RPM STEREO

Original releases may or may not have a "13 Hits" sticker on front sleeve. The pictures and icons come in glossy style.

Cassette (C MUTEL 1) UK

Without barcode, black tape with "Mute Records Limited", short backsleeve.

CD (CDMuteL1) UK

1   "Dreaming Of Me" ℗ 1981 (03:43)

2   "New Life" ℗ 1981 (03:43)

3   ° "Just Can't Get Enough" ℗ 1981 (03:41)

4   "See You" ℗ 1982 (03:52)

5   "The Meaning Of Love" ℗ 1982 (03:05)

6   "Leave In Silence" ℗ 1982 (04:00)

7   † "Get The Balance Right" ℗ 1983 (03:12)

8   "Everything Counts" ℗ 1983 (03:58)

9   "Love In Itself" ℗ 1983 (04:00)

10   "People Are People" ℗ 1984 (03:43)

11   "Master And Servant" ℗ 1984 (03:45)

12   "Blasphemous Rumours" ℗ 1984 (05:06)

13   "Somebody" ℗ 1984 (04:19)

14   "Shake The Disease" ℗ 1985 (04:47)

15   "It's Called A Heart" ℗ 1985 (03:48)

● MATRIX: RUNOUT / BARCODE

SPARS Code:   AAD

Barcode:   No

Runout:   MUTEL CD 1 MPO 01.

Runout, mould code area (white):   COMPACT DISC MPO FRANCE 04

Other CD:   MADE IN FRANCE by M.P.O.

MD (MD MUTEL 1) Release 1994 UK

"Dreaming Of Me" 03:43

"New Life" 03:43

"Just Can't Get Enough" 03:41

"See You" 03:52

"The Meaning Of Love" 03:05

"Leave In Silence" 04:00

"Get The Balance Right" 03:12

"Everything Counts" 03:58

"Love In Itself" 04:00

"People Are People" 03:43

"Master And Servant" 03:45

"Blasphemous Rumours" 05:06

"Somebody" 04:19

"Shake The Disease" 04:47

"It's Called A Heart" 03:48

● BARCODE

Barcode:   5 016025 981038

Other:   MADE IN AUSTRIA

PRODUCTION DETAILS COMPILATION

"Dreaming Of Me" 03:43  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"New Life" 03:43  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Just Can't Get Enough" 03:41  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"See You" 03:52  •  Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode. Engineered by John Fryer and Eric Radcliffe.

"The Meaning Of Love" 03:05  •  Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode. Engineered by John Fryer and Eric Radcliffe.

"Leave In Silence" 04:00  •  Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode. Engineered by John Fryer and Eric Radcliffe.

"Get The Balance Right" 03:12  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller.

"Everything Counts" 03:58  •  Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode. Tonmeister by Gareth Jones.

"Love In Itself" 04:00  •  Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode. Tonmeister - Gareth Jones. Recorded at The Garden,London. Mixed at Hansa Mischraum, Berlin.

"People Are People" 03:43  •  Produced by Daniel Miller, Depeche Mode and Gareth Jones. Assistant Engineers by Ben Ward, Stefi Marcus, Colie McMahon.

"Master And Servant" 03:45  •  Produced by Daniel Miller, Depeche Mode and Gareth Jones. Assistant Engineers by Ben Ward, Stefi Marcus, Colie McMahon.

"Blasphemous Rumours" 05:06  •  Produced by Daniel Miller, Depeche Mode and Gareth Jones. Assistant Engineers by Ben Ward, Stefi Marcus, Colie McMahon.

"Somebody" 04:19  •  Produced by Daniel Miller, Depeche Mode and Gareth Jones. Assistant Engineers by Ben Ward, Stefi Marcus, Colie McMahon.

"Shake The Disease" 04:47  •  Produced by Daniel Miller, Depeche Mode and Gareth Jones at Handsa Mischraum, Berlin.

"It's Called A Heart" 03:48  •  Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode. Engineered by Dave Allen. Recorded at Genetic Studios, and mixed at Livingston Studios.

№ 1 Magazine, 12 October 1985, UK : "The new Depeche Mode October 14 LP is out on, and it's a sort of 'greatest hits'. 'The Singles 81-85' is an "historical retrospective" (posh, eh?) comprising 13 singles.".

discussion compilation

1985