The Singles 81-85: Depeche Mode: Amazon.ca: Music

Frequently Bought Together

1. Dreaming Of Me

2. New Life

3. Just Can't Get Enough

4. See You

5. The Meaning Of Love

6. Leave In Silence

7. Get The Balance Right

8. Everything Counts

9. Love In Itself

10. People Are People

11. Master And Servant

12. Rumours

13. Somebody

14. Shake The Disease

15. It's Called A Heart

16. Photographic (Some Bizarre Version)

17. Just Can't Get Enough (Schizo Mix)

Product Description

From Amazon.com

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

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Customer Reviews

46 Reviews

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (46 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Average to good - 3.5 stars, Jun 19 2004

By

Nero (Sydney, Australia.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Singles 81-85 (Audio CD)

I first started listening to Depeche mode when a friend gave me the 101 album - which was very good. I got this singles collection cheap 2nd hand. I didn't realize how synth dominated their early career was. It is pure synth-pop and contrasts heavily with their later stuff. It lacks the harder techo-rock sounding stuff which gave more of a popular edge to say bands like Duran Duran. I do think 'People are People' is an excellent song concentrating on the paradoxical nature of mankind. Other bonuses are the schizo mix of 'just can't get enough' and 'photographic'. At first i didn't think much of this CD but it just gets better the more you play it. Overall it is a good album and if you can get it cheap even better.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Strong Overview of the Early Years, Mar 17 2004

By

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Singles 81-85 (Audio CD)

It took Depeche Mode three albums to drift into the gothic synth monsters that would release their first five star album, "Some Great Reward." "Singles 81 - 85" nicely encapsulates the somewhat haphazard two other collections of songs from that period, "Catching Up With Depeche Mode" and "People Are People" into something slightly more coherent and without forcing you to buy two discs.

To that end, it's a worthwhile buy. You can watch how Vince Clark's pop world gave way to Martin Gore's darker vision. Think of how the shiny happy "Just Can't Get Enough" is a total 180 turn from the cynical "Everything Counts." Or how the almost tinkertoy sounding three early synthesized singles sound so coy compared to the final two singles here, or the thicker tones of the "People Are People" (or the "Black Celebration" album; essentially just before where this collection cuts off).

While I have a hard time telling anyone to just jump off a hits collection and get an individual DM album, it's still hard not to with bands that were making great whole sets. I'd certainly recommend anything from the period from "Some Great Reward" to the hit laden "Violator." Still, both of "The Singles" collections are fine places to either fill gaps or get some DM on a budget.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Depeche Mode early years!, Nov 13 2003

By

Juha Ylinen "Heinijoki" (Finland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Singles 81-85 (Audio CD)

This Singles 81-85 collection gives a very good grasp of Depeche Mode's early years albums. There are almost all classics what you can listen to. Vince Clarke's era lasted only little time but there are three songs what he has made( Dreaming of Me, New Life and Just Can't Get Enough). I don't like much Speak and Spell album but these tracks are absolutely the best choices for it. Clarke's songs are somehow very similar than M.L Gore's first songs for exemple See You. After the leaving Clarke Gore taked a responsibility for song writing. He has done his job well! My favourite songs from this album are terrific Everything Counts, interesting way made People are People, which tells violence and sentimental Shake the Disease. Love Itself and Get the Balance Right are not so good songs because they are booring and too long. This collections shows that Depeche Mode made intelligent, fine and its own way synth pop music. If you like Duran Duran's two first album( Duran Duran(first) and Rio) and Alphaville's debut album Forever Young, I can say that this collection may be a good inventment for you!

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Amazon review
Beth Bessmer's Amazon review is the first one I've ever read that did not feel like it was written by a real scholar of rock music. Read more

Published on Jan 26 2004 by greg556

2.0 out of 5 stars the not-yet-depressed moles
The best thing about this retrocruise of old Depeche giddy synth-pop from the early '80s isn't the music, it's the liner notes. Read more

Published on Aug 28 2003 by perryink2