The Singles 81→85 Explained

The Singles 81→85
Type:greatest
Artist:Depeche Mode
Cover:Depeche Mode - The Singles 81-85.png
Border:yes
Recorded:December 1980 – July 1985
Studio:
Genre:Synth-pop[1] [2]
Label:Mute
Producer:
Prev Title:Some Great Reward
Prev Year:1984
Next Title:Catching Up with Depeche Mode
Next Year:1985

The Singles 81→85 is a greatest hits album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 14 October 1985 by Mute Records.[3] [4] The compilation was not originally released in North America, where it was replaced by its counterpart Catching Up with Depeche Mode. This was the first release to feature a picture of the band on the cover (aside from the compilation album People Are People, which was released exclusively in North America in 1984).

In 1998, to coincide with the release of The Singles 86>98, the album was reissued and remastered under the title The Singles 81>85, featuring new cover art and two bonus tracks. As of April 2006, the 1998 reissue had sold 283,000 copies in the United States.[5]

Artwork

On the inner sleeve of both the original LP and the reissue, as well as in the CD booklet and cassette inlay, each single's cover is pictured along with comments by certain reviewers, both positive and negative. Pre-Pet Shop Boys era, Neil Tennant's dismissive Smash Hits review from the actual release date of the double A-side single "Blasphemous Rumours"/"Somebody" is featured.

The photograph by Eric Watson featured on the cover was displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London.[6]

Track listing

All tracks written by Martin L. Gore, except where noted. All tracks produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode, except where noted

Original 1985 releases

CD

Notes

Remastered 1998 releases

CD

Tracks 1–15 on remastered edition are the same as on originally 1985 release; brand-new tracks listed as tracks 16 and 17.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985)! scope="col"
Peak
position
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[7] 11
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 36
French Albums (IFOP)[9] 19
UK Independent Albums (MRIB)[10] 1
Chart (1998)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 135

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)! scope="col"
Position
UK Albums (Gallup)[12] 64

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Raggett, Ned . All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music . . 2001 . 0879306270 . 112.
  2. Web site: The best of the best-ofs . . 21 December 2004 . 31 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050204002036/http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/20/bestof.three/ . 4 February 2005.
  3. New Albums: Mon 14 Oct–Friday, 18th Oct, 1985 . . 12 October 1985 . 25 . 0265-1548.
  4. Smith . Robin . Mode Back Track . . 12 October 1985 . 4 . 0144-5804 . Depeche Mode's Greatest Hits album will be out on October 14..
  5. Caulfield . Keith . Ask Billboard: New Depeche Order Mode . . 5 April 2006 . 9 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150922134500/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58848/ask-billboard . 22 September 2015.
  6. Web site: NPG x88142; Depeche Mode – Portrait . . 18 July 2014.
  7. European Hot 100 Albums . . 2 . 46 . 18 November 1985 . 15 . 29800226.
  8. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . fi . 1st . Helsinki . . 2006 . 978-951-1-21053-5.
  9. Web site: Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste . InfoDisc . fr . 11 January 2019. Select "DEPECHE MODE" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
  10. Book: Lazell, Barry . Depeche Mode . http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/d.htm . Indie Hits 1980–1989: The Complete U.K. Independent Charts (Singles & Albums) . . 1997 . 0-95172-069-4 . 10 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090205032823/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/d.htm . 5 February 2009.
  11. Web site: ARIA chart peaks . . 11 January 2019 . Imgur.
  12. Top 100 Albums (January 5–December 28, 1985) . Music Week . 18 January 1986 . 11 . 0265-1548.