Depeche Mode - The Singles 81>85

The question we have to ask is "Why?" Depeche Mode released The Singles, 86-98 because there was no comprehensive singles collection representing 1986 through 1998. But why release a singles compilation covering 1981 through 1985 when Catching Up with Depeche Mode already covers this turf? For one thing, the singles "Leave in Silence," "Everything Counts," and "People Are People," which were absent from Catching Up, are included here. All the songs are digitally remastered, but how much does digital enhancement really do to improve the sound of early-'80s synth-pop, which is so dated? Not much. However, it's natural to release a comprehensive singles collection that nicely coincides with 86-98. Both compilations are great for first-timers. And the two remixes on 81-85 ("Photographic [Some Bizarre Version]" and "Just Can't Get Enough [Schizo Mix]") will snag collectors. But maybe the answer has nothing to do with marketable packaging. DM have always fancied themselves as notorious. The liner notes for 81-85 include one negative review and one positive for each song. Perhaps as an attempt to fend off the specter of "where are they now?" Depeche Mode feel the need to remind us how controversial they are by reminding us how controversial they were. --Beth Bessmer Amazon.com

i love depeche mode!

i love depeche mode and this cd offers a sample of some of their best remixes/singles. i highly recommend it! September 4, 2007

Horrible sound quality!!

Don't misinterpret this review. Depeche Mode is one of my favorite bands, and these songs are absolutely awesome. However, the mastering on this CD is atrocious. ALL the songs are compressed and clipped, ruining the dynamics of each song. If you take a look at the waveforms of the tracks, you'll see what I mean. It sounds TOO loud and distorted.

Do yourself a favor and find yourself the earlier Singles: 81-85 compilation or Catching Up with Depeche Mode if you live in the States ( although you'll be missing Get the Balance Right, People Are People, and Leave in Silence, but those can be found on the People Are People compilation album ).

This also goes for the mastering on the 86-98 compilation. April 16, 2007

"How much does digital enhancement really do to improve the sound of early-'80s synth pop?"

The above editorial review states:
"All the songs are digitally remastered, but how much does digital enhancement really do to improve the sound of early-'80s synth-pop, which is so dated? Not much."

I completely disagree! It's not a matter of the music sounding dated. It's a matter of the actual sound of the music, which has been improved hugely! I've been doing an A/B comparison between the 2006 'The Best Of - Vol 1' Depeche Mode release and this 1998 'Singles 81>85', and the differences are clear. One would think that the 2006 version would sound better since it was released nearly 8 years after the 1998 version. This, however, is not the case at all. The 1998 disc sounds much better than the 2006 disc. That's not to say that the 2006 disc sounds bad. It just isn't up to the 1998 standards.

The differences are simply the result of the mastering engineers. Simon Heyworth mastered the 2006 best of, whereas Mike Marsh and Roland Brown got it right the first time in 1998 on this compilation. Heyworth's mastering seems to be restrained, sticking closely to the original mastering from the 80s without giving the tracks the extra punch and depth as heard in recent masters. The Marsh/Brown collaboration, on the other hand, gives the tracks bass and fullness, making them sound heavy.

With an excellent digital remastering and a solid tracklisting, 'Singles 81>85' is an essential part of any DM fan collection. February 4, 2007

Depeche Mode's better half

This is classic Depeche Mode. Before they became Americanized, when they were just 4 English lads playing good synth-pop. Before their music deteriorated after "Music For The Masses". Their later stuff pales in comparison to the earlier thought-provoking music. From the chirpy "Dreaming Of Me" to the brooding,deep "Blasphemous Rumours", this cd scores a big hit. New Depeche Mode fans missed out on this era, and they can now experience what it was like. And people who've followed the band from the early 80's can relive the magic. Classic Mode, where have you gone?
December 31, 2006

Mode: The early years.

The beginning of Mode's years was kind of interesting. The periods done in each of these tracks are all notable. There's the Vince Clarke stuff, when Gore took the lead songwriting role, and the time Alan Wilder stepped in. Also interesting is the liner notes, which contain one negative and one positive review for each (well, almost) of the singles. There are some classics here: "Everything Counts" is still one of DM's greatest songs, a beautiful, yet moving track.

"People Are People" was made to be a hit, and even broke them through stateside. In spite what the band may say, it's a wonderful track. "New Life" and "Just Can't Get Enough" are as well, and you get a short introduction to Gore's dark lyrics in "Master and Servant" and "Blasphemous Rumors." Also, a track like "Love, In Itself" shows the group making some pretty unique tracks. Even nearly 25 years later, it sounds like nothing else. I like the samples used on there. Also, the version of "Photographic" here is, in my opinion, even better than the version on "Speak & Spell." You even get a preview at the beginning of tracks with Martin Gore in lead vocals ("Somebody"), although not many singles after would feature him. It's worth owning to hear the two non-album tracks, "Shake the Disease" and "It's Called a Heart."

Of course, there's also a few low spots. "See You" may have been a hit but hasn't aged well and is hookless really. "The Meaning of Love" is kind of a mediocre attempt at re-creating a "Speak" track. The debut "Dreaming of Me" is okay, but really, DM had a lot better after that one.

All in all, this is an interesting look at one of my all-time favorite groups. Yes, the later one is better ("The Singles 86>98"), but that's also because almost every song there is absolutely wonderful, but this shows who Depeche are at least as much as later stuff. That's the great thing about them: The singles collections show who they are equally as much as the albums do. December 16, 2006

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