A tour of Hansa Studios

On 9 July I was fortunate enough to go on a tour of Hansa Studios, Berlin organised by Thilo at Berlin Music Tours . As well as the Hansa tour they also arrange a bus tour of Berlin's music scene which I'll be doing next time I'm there. I recommend that you go on this tour if you have a chance.

As regular readers will know I'm something of a Depeche Mode fan so the chance to tour Hansa was an incredible opportunity. The tour itself begins outside the studios where Thilo tells you about the building's fascinating history and reveals some Depeche, Bowie and U2 secrets. I'm not revealing those here as that wouldn't be right ;) . From the outside of the building you can see the restaurant (bottom left of picture on the right) where Andy Fletcher first discovered Toast Hawaii in betwen frantic bursts of clapping etc in the studio. The tour starts in the he reception hall where I took the photo of the legendary studio sign you see at the top of the blog. The entrance hall is filled with pictures of the many artists that have used the studio ranging from Depeche Mode to U2 to Bowie to Mike Batt (he of Wombles and Katie Melula "fame"). The next stop is the main hall which was formerly Studio 2. One point to note here is that on the way up to the hall you walk up these steps (left) which were the location for the cover shoot on the rear of the A Question of lust single. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to arrange a photo that matched the single cover - I would have done had I got the chance as anyone who knows me would expect. Anyway, after wandering up and photographing the stairs we came into the Meistersall. It is spectacular room and you really can sense the history when you're in it. Remember this was the room where Heroes and parts of Low were recorded, where Depeche recorded Somebody and where Recoil played on the last tour. It was a privilege just to stand there albeit I tried to put the image of a naked Martin Gore singing Somebody as far from my mind as I could. A Christain Rock band were rehearsing in the room when we were there and whilst it isn't my cup of musical tea, it gave us a chance to hear how good music sounds in the hall.  Here's a picture of the hall

From there we went up to what was the old control room. It's now a bar but previously it was the room that housed the mixing desk etc that dealt with all recordings from the main hall. The area around Hansa used to be pretty desolate featuring only a garden and a view of the Berlin Wall. It was from the control room's window that Bowie saw two people kissing "...by the wall" which helped inspire Heroes. As with the main hall, it felt really special standing in that room.

From there we moved upstairs to Studio 1. What's special about Studio 1? This is where Depeche mixed Construction Time Again and recorded Some Great Reward, Shake The Disease and Black Celebration. I didn't know what to say or do when I was there really. I'd seen footage from their time in the studio on the re-issue dvd's and had had the pleasure of hearing Gareth Jones talk about his and DM's time there at the Mute Short Circuit event but to actually stand in the studio was mind blowing. Here's a picture of the studio itself

which I am assured is pretty much as it was at the time the band recorded there albeit the equipment has changed etc. What was exactly the same as the time Depeche (and U2, Nick Cave, Einsturzende Neubauten etc) was the control room for Studio 2. The vast majority of the equipment in there was there when Depeche recorded there and was used by them, Gareth Jones and Daniel Miller. Call me a needless Depeche Mode geek like fanboy but the fact I was able to see (and indeed surreptitiously touch) that equipment took my breath away. Here's the mixing desk itself:

The picture isnt too clear but at the sides you will hopefully see the wall speakers. Thilo plugged his IPhone into the desk and played Black Celebration at full volume through those. I've never heard the song sound as good or as huge. It was stunning. As well as the desk the original analogue tape machines remain in place.

I tweeted a picture of these to Gareth Jones who retweeted it so that's confirmation enough for me.

And that was that. We had some studio chat which was I enjoyed far much more than my wife did and then we left. It was a truly fantastic experience and like I said above, if you are in Berlin then get in touch with Thilo and go on this tour. Every Depeche Mode fan should do it.

(Thanks to Panos for the additional info and fact checking!)

MY DEPECHE MODE COLLECTION

I was updating my DM collection list (I know, I know) and thought I'd put it on here as someone on Twitter asked for this so blame them. It's not complete and it's probably only half the size of many others but I love it.

I've stuck a few pictures in too for those of you who enjoy that sort of thing.

Here it is:

David’s Depeche Mode Collection

1. Singles

Dreaming Of Me UK 7”
Dreaming Of Me UK 1991 cd re-issue
Dreaming Of Me 1988 German 3” cd

Dreaming Of Me French CD single

New Life UK 7”
New Life UK 12”
New Life UK 1991 cd re-issue
New Life German Marbled vinyl 12”

New Life French 12"
New Life 1988 German cd

Just Can’t Get Enough UK 7”
Just Can’t Get Enough UK 12”
Just Can’t Get Enough UK 1991 cd re-issue
Just Can’t Get Enough German White Vinyl 12”
Just Can't Get Enough German Grey Vinyl 12"
Just Can't Get Enough German 7"
Just Can't Get Enough German 12"
Just Can’t Get Enough 1988 German cd
Just Can't Get Enough Sire 12" promo (US)

Just Can't Get Enough French CD single

See You UK 7”
See You UK 12”
See You UK 1991 cd re-issue
See You German 7” red vinyl
See You German Marbled Vinyl 12”

See You US 12"
See You 1988 German cd

See You French CD single

The Meaning Of Love UK 7”
The Meaning Of Love UK 12"
The Meaning Of Love 1991 cd re-issue
The Meaning Of Love German 7” red vinyl
The Meaning Of Love German yellow vinyl 12"
The Meaning Of Love 1988 German cd
The Meaning Of Love 1988 Benelux cd

The Meaning Of Love French CD single

Leave In Silence UK 7”
Leave In Silence UK 12”
Leave In Silence 1991 cd re-issue
Leave In Silence German 7" red vinyl
Leave In Silence German clear vinyl 12”
Leave In Silence 1988 German cd

Leave In Silence French CD single

Get The Balance Right UK 7”
Get The Balance Right UK 12”
Get The Balance Right UK Numbered Limited Edition 12”
Get The Balance Right 1991 cd re-issue
Get The Balance Right German 7” red vinyl
Get The Balance Right German red vinyl 12”
Get The Balance Right German Blue vinyl Limited Edition 12”
Get The Balance Right 1988 German cd reissue (original 12” version)
Get The Balance Right 1988 German cd reissue (limited edition 12” version)
Get The Balance Right French numbered cd

Get The Balance Right French 12"

Everything Counts UK 7”
Everything Counts UK 12”
Everything Counts UK Limited Edition Numbered 12”
Everything Counts 1991 UK cd re-issue
Everything Counts German 7” red vinyl
Everything Counts German coloured vinyl 12”
Everything Counts German Coloured vinyl Limited Edition 12”
Everything Counts 1988 German cd (12 “ version)
Everything Counts 1988 German cd (Limited edition 12” version)
Everything Counts US promo 12"

Everything Counts French CD single

Love In Itself UK 7”
Love In Itself UK 12”
Love In Itself UK Limited Edition Numbered 12”
Love In Itself 1991 UK cd-reissue
Love In Itself German red vinyl 7”
Love In Itself German grey vinyl 12”
Love In Itself German clear vinyl limited edition 12”
Love In Itself 1988 German cd (12” version)
Love In Itself 1988 German cd (Limited Edition version)
Love In Itself French numbered cd (2305)

Love In Itself French CD

People are People UK 7”
People are People UK 12”
People are People UK Limited Edition 12”
People are People 1991 UK cd-reissue
People are People German 7” red vinyl
People are People German 12” marbled vinyl
People are People German Limited Edition Marbled vinyl
People are People 1988 German cd
People are People US 12”

Master and Servant UK 7”
Master and Servant UK 12”
Master and Servant UK Limited Edition numbered 12”
Master and Servant UK Limited Edition numbered 12 “ (2)
Master and Servant UK 12" white label
Master and Servant 1991 UK cd re-issue
Master and Servant German 7” red vinyl
Master and Servant German Coloured Vinyl 12”
Master and Servant German Coloured Vinyl Limited Edition 12”
Master and Servant 1988 German cd
Master and Servant US 12 “ (US Black and Blue Mix)

Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody UK 7”
Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody UK 7” EP
Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody UK 12”
Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody UK 1991 cd re-issue
Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody German 7" red vinyl
Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody German Yellow Vinyl 12”
Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody German Grey Vinyl 12”
Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody 1988 German cd
Blasphemous Rumours French numbered cd (3635)

Shake The Disease UK 7”
Shake The Disease UK 12”
Shake The Disease UK Limited Edition 12”
Shake The Disease 1991 UK cd-reissue
Shake The Disease German 7" red vinyl
Shake The Disease German coloured vinyl 12”
Shake The Disease German coloured vinyl Limited Edition 12”
Shake The Disease 1988 German cd

Its Called A Heart UK 7”
Its Called A Heart UK 12”
Its Called A Heart Uk Limited Edition double pack 12”
Its Called A Heart 1991 UK cd re-issue
Its Called A Heart German 7" red vinyl
Its Called A Heart German coloured vinyl 12”
Its Called A Heart 1988 German cd
Its Called A Heart US 12” (Emotion mixes)

Stripped UK 7”
Stripped UK 12”
Stripped UK 12" promo
Stripped 1991 UK cd-reissue
Stripped German 7” red vinyl
Stripped German 12” blue splatter vinyl
Stripped German 12" white vinyl
Stripped German 1988 cd-reissue

A Question Of Lust UK 7”
A Question Of Lust UK Cassette Single Pack (Inc badge) (x 2: one opened, one sealed)
A Question Of Lust UK 12”
A Question Of Lust 1991 UK cd re-issue
A Question Of Lust German 7” red vinyl
A Question Of Lust German Coloured Vinyl 12”
A Question Of Lust German Yellow Vinyl 12”
A Question Of Lust 1988 German cd
A Question Of Lust/A Question Of Time US Double cover 12”
A Question Of Lust US 12" promo

A Question Of Time UK 7”
A Question Of Time UK 12”
A Question Of Time UK Limited Edition 12”
A Question Of Time 1991 UK cd re-issue
A Question Of Time German 7” red vinyl
A Question Of Time German coloured vinyl 12”
A Question Of Time German Limited Edition grey vinyl 12”
A Question Of Time 1988 German cd single
A Question Of Time UK L12 Promo

Strangelove UK 7”
Strangelove UK 12”
Strangelove UK Limited Edition 12”
Strangelove UK 12" promo (DANCEBONG)
Strangelove UK 12" promo (SBONG13)
Strangelove UK Cd single
Strangelove UK 1991 cd re-issue
Strangelove German 7" red vinyl
Strangelove German 12” Coloured Vinyl
Strangelove German 12” Limited Edition coloured vinyl
Strangelove German cd single
Strangelove US 12”
Strangelove US 3” cd single

Never Let Me Down Again UK 7”
Never Let Me Down Again UK Cassette Single
Never Let Me Down Again UK 12”
Never Let Me Down Again UK Limited Edition 12”
Never Let Me Down Again UK cd single
Never Let Me Down Again UK 1991 cd single re-issue
Never Let Me Down Again German 7" red vinyl
Never Let Me Down Again German coloured vinyl 12”
Never Let Me Down Again German coloured vinyl Limited Edition 12”
Never Let Me Down Again German cd single
Never Let Me Down Again US Promo cd single
Never Let Me Down Again UK promo 12"
Never Let Me Down Again UK promo L12"

Behind The Wheel UK 7”
Behind The Wheel UK Cassette Single
Behind The Wheel UK 12”
Behind The Wheel UK Limited Edition 12”
Behind The Wheel UK cd single
Behind The Wheel UK 1991 cd re-issue
Behind The Wheel German 12” coloured vinyl
Behind The Wheel German Limited edition 12” coloured vinyl
Behind The Wheel German 3” cd single
Behind The Wheel German cd single
Behind The Wheel 1991 European re-issue cd
Behind The Wheel US 12”
Behind The Wheel UK 12" promo (DBONG15)
Behind The Wheel UK L12" promo

Little 15 German 3” cd single
Little 15 German cd single
Little 15 UK 7"
Little 15 Netherlands 7"
Little 15 UK 12”
Little 15 1991 cd re-issue

Everything Counts (Live) UK 7”
Everything Counts (Live) UK 12”
Everything Counts (Live) UK Limited Edition 12”
Everything Counts (Live) 10” with postcards and stickers
Everything Counts (Live) UK 3” cd single
Everything Counts (LIve) German 3" cd single
Everything Counts (Live) UK Limited Edition 3” filofax pack cd single
Everything Counts (Live) 1991 Uk cd re-issue
Everything Counts (Live) 2004 UK cd re-issue
Everything Counts (Live) 1991 European cd re-issue
Everything Counts (Live) UK 12" promo
Everything Counts (Live) UK L12" promo

Personal Jesus UK 7”
Personal Jesus UK 7” Gatefold
Personal Jesus UK 12”
Personal Jesus UK Limited Edition 12”
Personal Jesus Uk 3” cd single
Personal Jesus UK Limited Edition 3” cd single
Personal Jesus UK Cassette Single
Personal Jesus 2004 Uk cd re-issue
Personal Jesus US Maxi cd single
Personal Jesus German cd single
Personal Jesus German Limited Edition cd single
Personal Jesus Australian 12" Blue vinyl
Personal Jesus UK 12" promo
Personal Jesus Japanese maxi cd single

Enjoy The Silence UK 7”
Enjoy The Silence UK 12”
Enjoy The Silence UK Limited Edition 12”
Enjoy The Silence UK Extra Limited 12”
Enjoy The Silence Uk 3” cd single
Enjoy The Silence UK Limited Edition 3” cd single
Enjoy The Silence UK Extra Limited Edition 3” cd single
Enjoy The Silence 2004 Uk cd re-issue
Enjoy The Silence US Maxi Cd
Enjoy The Silence German 3” CD single
Enjoy The Silence German Limited Edition 3” cd single
Enjoy The Silence UK Cassette Single
Enjoy The Silence UK 12" promo
Enjoy The Silence UK radio promo CDBONG18R
Enjoy The Silence Japanese cd single

Policy Of Truth UK 7”
Policy Of Truth UK Cassette Single
Policy Of Truth UK 12”
Policy Of Truth UK Limited Edition 12”
Policy Of Truth UK cd single
Policy Of Truth UK Limited Edition cd single
Policy Of Truth 2004 UK cd re-issue
Policy Of Truth US Maxi cd
Policy Of Truth German cd single
Policy Of Truth Limited Edition cd single
Policy Of Truth UK 12" promo
Policy Of Truth UK radio promo cd
Policy Of Truth Japanese cd maxi

World In My Eyes UK 7”
World In My Eyes UK Cassette Single
World In My Eyes UK 12”
World In My Eyes UK Limited Edition 12”
World In My Eyes UK cd single
World In My Eyes UK Limited Edition cd single
World In My Eyes German Limited Edition cd single
World In My Eyes 2004 UK cd re-issue
World In My Eyes Japanese Maxi cd
World In My Eyes UK Promo 12" (numbered)
World In My Eyes UK 12" promo
World In My Eyes Japanese maxi cd single

I Feel You UK Cassette Single
I Feel You UK cd single
I Feel You UK Limited Edition CD single
I Feel You UK 7"
I Feel You UK 12”
I Feel You UK Limited Edition 12”
I Feel You 2004 Uk cd re-issue
I Feel You UK 12" promo

Walking In My Shoes UK Cassette Single
Walking In My Shoes UK cd single
Walking In My Shoes UK Limited Edition cd Single
Walking In My Shoes UK 12”
Walking In My Shoes UK Limited Edition 12”
Walking In My Shoes 2004 UK cd re-issue
Walking In My Shoes UK 12" promo
Walking In My Shoes German 7"
Walking In My Shoes UK 7" promo

Condemnation UK Cassette Single
Condemnation UK cd single
Condemnation UK Limited Edition cd single
Condemnation UK 12”
Condemnation UK Limited Edition 12”
Condemnation 2004 UK cd re-issue
Condemnation UK promo 12"
Rush UK promo 12"
Condemnation French cd single in card sleeve

In Your Room UK Cassette Single
In Your Room UK 12"
In Your Room UK Limited Edition 12"
In Your Room UK cd single
In Your Room UK Limited Edition cd single
In Your Room UK extra limited edition cd single (triple pack)
In Your Room 2004 cd re-issue
In Your Room UK 12" promo

Barrel Of A Gun UK Cd single
Barrel Of A Gun Uk Limited Edition cd single
Barrel Of A Gun UK 12”
Barrel Of A Gun UK Limited Edition 12”
Barrel Of A Gun 2004 cd re-issue
Barrel Of A Gun UK 12" Promo
Barrel Of A Gun UK 12" L12 Promo
Barrel Of A Fun UK promo cd

Its No Good UK Cassette Single
Its No Good UK cd single
Its No Good Limited Edition UK cd single
Its No Good UK 12”
Its No Good 2004 cd re-issue
It's No Good UK 12" Promo
It's No Good UK L12" Promo
It's No Good (Live) UK Promo cd

Home UK Cassette Single
Home UK cd single
Home UK Limited Edition cd single
Home UK 12”
Home 2004 cd re-issue
Home UK 12" Promo
Home UK Promo cd

Useless UK cd single
Useless UK Limited Edition cd single
Useless UK 12”
Useless 2004 cd re-issue
Useless UK Promo 12"
Useless UK Promo cd

The West German red vinyl 7" collection

Only When I Lose Myself UK cd single
Only When I Lose Myself UK Limited edition cd single
Only When I Lose Myself UK Extra Limited edition cd single
Only When I Lose Myself UK 12”
Only When I Lose Myself UK Limited Edition 12"
Only when I Lose Myself 2004 cd re-issue
Only When I Lose Myself UK promo 12"
Only When I Lose Myself UK L12" promo
Only When I Lose Myself UK promo cd

Dream On UK cd 1
Dream On UK cd 2
Dream On UK 12”
Dream on 2004 cd re-issue
Dream On UK 12" promo
Dream On UK L12 Promo
Dream On UK XL12 Promo

I Feel Loved UK cd 1
I Feel Loved UK cd 2
I Feel Loved Uk 12”
I Feel Loved UK Limited Edition 12”
I Feel Loved UK 2 track Radio promo
I Feel Loved UK 12" promo
I Feel Loved UK L12" promo
I Feel Loved UK XL12" promo

Freelove UK cd 1
Freelove UK cd 2
Freelove UK DVD single
Freelove UK 12”
Freelove UK 12" promo
Freelove UK L12 Promo double 12"

Goodnight Lovers UK cd
Goodnight Lovers Limited Edition red vinyl 12” with poster

Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK cd1
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK cd2
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK cd3
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK 12
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK Limited Edition 12”
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK XL12"
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK double 12" promo P12BONG34
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK 12" promo PL12BONG34
Enjoy The Silence 2004 UK 12" promo PXL12BONG34

Precious UK cd 1
Precious UK cd 2
Precious UK dvd
Precious Limited Edition 7” Picture Disc
Precious UK 12"
Precious UK Limited Edition 12"
Precious UK 12" promo
Precious UK L12" promo
Precious UK promo cd RCDBONG35

A Pain That I’m Used To UK cd 1
A Pain That I’m Used To UK cd 2
A Pain That I’m Used To UK dvd single
A Pain That I'm Used To Uk 12"
A Pain That I'm Used To UK Limited Edition12"
A Pain That I’m Used To Limited Edition 7” Picture Disc
A Pain That I’m Used To Limited Edition 7” Picture Disc
A Pain That I'm Used To UK 12" Promo
A Pain That I'm Used To UK L12 Promo
A Pain That I'm Used To UK promo cd (version 1) RCDBONG36
A Pain That I'm Used To UK promo cd (version 2) RLCDBONG36

Suffer Well UK cd1
Suffer Well UK cd2
Suffer Well UK dvd single
Suffer Well Limited Edition 7” Picture Disc
Suffer Well UK 12"
Suffer Well UK Limited Edition 12"
Suffer Well - UK XL12" (The Darkest Star remixes)
Suffer Well UK 12" promo
Suffer Well UK L12 Promo
Suffer Well UK XL12 Promo (The Darkest Star)
Suffer Well UK promo cd RCDBONG37

John The Revelator / Lilian UK cd1
John The Revelator / Lilian UK cd2
John The Revelator / Lilian UK dvd single
John The Revelator / Lilian Limited Edition 7” Picture Disc
John The Revelator / Lilian UK 12"
John The Revelator / Lilian  UK Limited Edition 12"
John The Revelator / Lilian UK 12" white label Promo
John The Revelator / Lilian UK L12" white label promo

Martyr UK cd1
Martyr UK cd2
Martyr UK DVD single
Martyr Limited Edition 7” Picture Disc
Martyr UK 12"
Martyr UK Limited Edition Double 12"
Martyr UK 12" promo

Wrong UK cd1
Wrong UK cd2
Wrong UK 12”
Wrong UK 7” Coloured vinyl
Wrong UK 7” Coloured vinyl
Wrong UK promo cd RCDBONG40

Peace UK cd1
Peace UK cd2
Peace UK 7” Coloured vinyl

Hole To Feed/Fragile Tension UK cd
Hole To Feed/Fragile Tension UK double 12”

Personal Jesus 2011 UK cd
Personal Jesus 2011 UK 12” Coloured vinyl

Heaven UK cd
Heaven UK LCD
Heaven UK 12"

Soothe My Soul UK cd 1
Soothe My Soul UK cd 2
Soothe My Soul UK 12"

Should Be Higher UK cd 1
Should Be Higher UK cd 2
Should Be Higher UK 12"

Where's The Revolution UK cd
Where's The Revolution UK double 12"

Going Backwards UK cd
Going Backwards UK double 12"

Cover Me UK cd
Cover Me UK double 12"

Singles Boxsets 1-6



2. Albums

Speak and Spell UK LP
Speak and Spell UK cassette
Speak and Spell UK cd (1988)
Speak and Spell UK CD re-issue with dvd (2006)
Speak and Spell – UK Vinyl reissue
Speak and Spell US 12" promo sampler (Big Muff/Photographic/Nodisco/Boys Say Go)

A Broken Frame UK LP
A Broken Frame UK cassette
A Broken Frame UK cd (1988)
A Broken Frame UK CD re-issue with dvd
A Broken Frame UK Vinyl reissuse
Selections From A Broken Frame - Sire US 12" promo

Construction Time Again UK LP
Construction Time Again UK Cassette
Construction Time Again UK CD (1988)
Construction Time Again UK CD re-issue with dvd
Construction Time Again UK Vinyl reissue
Construction Time Again Italian vinyl
Construction Time Again Australian vinyl with gatefold sleeve
Construction Time Again Polish vinyl
Construction Time Again German vinyl with poster

Some Great Reward UK LP
Some Great Reward UK CD
Some Great Reward UK Cassette
Some Great Reward German Grey Vinyl LP
Some Great Reward UK CD re-issue with dvd
Some Great Reward UK Vinyl reissue

Singles 81-85 UK LP
Singles 81-85 UK cassette
Singles 81-85 UK cd
Singles 81-85 German Grey Vinyl LP
Singles 81-85 (UK re-issue cd with extra tracks)
Singles 81-85 reissue vinyl UK

Singles 81-85 minidisc
The Remixes 81-85 UK promo vinyl

Black Celebration UK Cassette
Black Celebration UK LP
Black Celebration UK cd
Black Celebration German Grey Vinyl LP
Black Celebration UK CD re-issue with dvd
Black Celebration – UK Vinyl reissue

Music For The Masses UK LP
Music For The Masses UK Clear Vinyl LP
Music For The Masses UK Cassette (Limited edition with Black Celebration as b side)
Music For The Masses UK Cassette
Music For The Masses German Blue Vinyl LP
Music For The Masses German standard Vinyl LP
Music For The Masses Scandinavian isse LP
Music For The Masses UK CD re-issue with dvd (2006)
Music For The Masses – UK Vinyl reissue
Music For The Masses - Strangelove/NLMDA 12" HMV single

101 UK Cassette
101 UK Double LP
101 UK reissue double LP
101 UK double cd (soft box)
101 UK double cd (hard box)
101 UK double cd (SACD Re-issue)

Violator UK LP
Violator UK cassette
Violator UK CD
Violator UK CD re-issue with dvd (2006)
Violator (Japanese 2 disc edition on Alpha Records)
Violator – UK Vinyl reissue
Violator - 12" promo single feat the 4 singles
Violator - UK "Pizza Box" promo set
Violator - US cd
Violator - French cd
Violator - Benelux cd

Songs Of Faith and Devotion UK LP
Songs Of Faith and Devotion UK CD
Songs Of Faith and Devotion UK Cassette
Songs of Faith and Devotion UK CD re-issue with dvd
Songs of Faith and Devotion – UK Vinyl reissue

Songs Of Faith and Devotion Live UK cd
Songs Of Faith and Devotion Live UK LP

Ultra UK LP
Ultra UK CD
UltraUK Cassette
Ultra UK Vinyl re-issue
Ultra UK CD re-issue with dvd

Singles 86-98 UK CD
Singles 86-98 - Limited Edition UK vinyl boxset
Singles 86-98 UK Minidisc
Remixes 86-98 - UK Promo (3 x 12")

Exciter UK CD
Exciter UK LP
Exciter UK cassette
Exciter UK Vinyl re-issue
Exciter UK Minidisc
Exciter UK CD re-issue with dvd

Remixes 81 – 04 – 3 x cd
Remixes 81-04 Ltd Ed UK 6 x LP boxset

Playing The Angel UK CD
Playing The Angel UK Ltd edition cd with dvd
Playing The angel UK double vinyl

Live Here Now – Live in Jones Beach
Live Here Now – Live in Monterrey
Live Here Now – Live in Las Vegas
Live Here Now – Live in Mexico City
Live Here Now – Live in Mexico City
Live Here Now – Live in Sofia

The Best of Depeche Mode – cd and DVD pack
The Best of Depeche Mode - UK 3 x vinyl

Sounds Of The Universe – cd
Sounds Of The Universe - UK double vinyl
Sounds Of The Universe – boxset

Live Here Now – Glasgow
Live Here Now – London O2
Live Here Now – Albert Hall

Remixes2 81-11 – 3 x cd
Remixes2 81-11 - 6 x vinyl limited edition boxset

Delta Machine UK double vinyl
Delta Machine UK Deluxe cd

Spirit UK double vinyl
Spirit UK deluxe edition cd
Spirit UK cd
Spirit German Saturn only boxset with badge
Spirit Hong Kong edition with Tote bag
Spirit FNAC only red vinyl edition

3. Miscellaneous

Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead - UK flexidisc given away with Flexipop Magazine (1981) (contains one off mix of the track)

Dressed In Black (Record Mirror 7" ep given away with Record Mirror magazine 1986) (contains one off mix of the track)

But Not Tonight US 12"

BONG magazine - Death's Door flexidisc
BONG magazine -BONGFAN2 cd

Personal Jesus 2011 - US RSD 12"

X1 - Japan only boxset
X2 - Japan only boxset

I Want You Now - Japanese cd single (unsnapped)

To be continued.......

DEPECHE MODE - LEAD ME INTO YOUR DARKNESS - SONGS OF FAITH AND DEVOTION AND 1993

In these days of over hyped, ITunes exclusive remixes, pre-order everything twelve months before the band have recorded it rubbish, it is funny to think that I first learned that Depeche were about to release a new album by reading a couple of paragraphs in Melody Maker which said that Songs of Faith and Devotion (SOFAD - I'm not writing the full name every time) was coming out in March, preceded by a single called I Feel You and was to be supported by a 180 date 18 month world tour. This was exciting news although not everyone in my halls at Aberdeen University thought that. In fact no-one else seemed mildy bothered. Pah. Clowns. What did they know? SOFAD was about to change everyone's perception of Depeche Mode, even the people whose breakfast I interrupted with my relentless quoting from Melody Maker. 

The first single from the album was I Feel You, which really was something rather different. It was released on 15 February 1993, once again skillfully avoiding the UK number one spot by stopping at number 8. I Feel You was exclusively premiered on Simon Mayo's Radio 1 breakfast show in the January. I taped the song (ask your parents kids) and played it relentlessly for days. What the bloody hell was this? Screeching tyres, a prominent rock sounding guitar, drums? "This is the morning of Allah?" Wow - Depeche Mode had changed. Regardless of all that though, I loved it. This was my first new Depeche music as a fully signed up fan (or Devotee as we would shortly become) and it was thrilling. The video for the song confused matters further. Beard! Alan on drums! Martin's hunchback in grey tracksuit trousers walking through a desert impression! Christ Dave - keep that waistcoat on man! Bloody hell - that's the girl from Brush Strokes! Beard! The only "normal" thing about it was the fact that Fletch's keyboard wasn't plugged in. It was a fantastic video with its' "Is that REALLY Depeche Mode" imagery fitting the "Hang on is THAT Depeche Mode" feel of the song. Stunning.

The single itself was available on the usual plethora of formats with the usual number of remixes. I hadn't seen the album tracklisting when I bought the single so One Caress appeared to be a brand new b-side. I still don't think album tracks should go on b-sides as it's a bit of a cheat, even if they are as beautiful as One Caress, more of which later. The 7" (BONG21) and cassette single (CBONG21 - right) featured two tracks - I Feel You and One Caress. The 12" and Cd singles (12BONG21 and CDBONG21) contained One Caress and three mixes of I Feel You - Throb Mix, 7 Inch mix and Babylon Mix. The artwork for the 7", 12 and cd was the same and can be seen on the left. The mixes are all pretty good, although I can't tell the difference between the version on the 7"and the 7" version. The Throb Mix is a good almost extended version style mix. The Babylon Mix (not the last time biblical imagery would be used in the next few months) is really cool with lots of interesting beeps and bleeps. Further remixes were made available on the limited edition formats - L12BONG21 and LCDBONG21 (artwork right). The tracklisting on each was the same with four mixes of I Feel You - Life's Too Short Mix and Swamp Mix both by Brian Eno, Renegade Soundwave Afghan Surgery Mix and Helmet At The Helm Mix. The Eno mixes are typically Eno-ish and are rather marvellous bubbling along in ambient fashion with Dave and Martin's voices occasionally popping up to remind us that it's a Depeche track. The Renegade Soundwave mix is decent enough but my favourite here is the Helmet At The Helm Mix. It's really cool and I still play it a lot. Finally, the artwork on all formats was nice. The cover pictures were outlines of the big metal puppet type things that hung behind the Devotional stage. Each picture features the birthday of the member it represents. The pictures of the band on the various formats show them in Hamburg's seedy Reeperbahn all gloomy and tattooed.

I Feel You UK 12" Promo 

The next release wasn't a new single but was instead a new album. A UK NUMBER 1 ALBUM! AND A U.S. NUMBER 1 ALBUM! Crikey. That album was of course Songs of Faith and Devotion which was released on 22 March 1993 on LP (STUMM108), CD (CDSTUMM108), cassette (CSTUMM108), MiniDisc (MDSTUMM108) and even Digital Cassette (No I've no idea either - DCCSTUMM108). All formats had the same brilliant if slightly spooky artwork - it's over there on the left. This was the first album since Singles 81-85 to feature the lads' faces. Mercifully there are no nipples on display here. Note too that the shapes from I Feel You appear here revealing who was what blob on the single covers. This is such an important Depeche Mode album. They were arguably the biggest band on the planet at this point. Only U2's ongoing ZooTV/Zooropa tour matched the Devotional/Exotic/USA94 tours in size and scope at the time. I think it's also fair to say that Depeche Mode's fanbase was at its biggest and most (pardon the pun) devoted at the time. This was before the era of arranging meet ups through Home or online presales remember, yet Depeche were filling the hugest venues possible all over the world. Many fans still look back on the shows of that era as landmarks.

Some people, specifically me, regret only going to one show on the tour (Crystal Palace and it was my first Depeche show). This is an album epic in scale. Whereas Violator had been clean, crisp, electronic and almost robotic, SOFAD was looser, used rock dynamics more than ever and looked not to Europe as all previous DM albums had done, but to America but not in a Joshua Tree/Rattle & Hum way, thank God. There were many issues which beset the band when recording the album, all of which are well known to everyone and really don't merit any exploration here. If it's ok with you, I don't see the need to go over the old drink and drugs ground even though it still crops up every time the band are interviewed. It happened, they came through it and in the midst of it all they gave us SOFAD. That's the story I want to focus on.

So to the album. There were ten tracks in all kicking off with I Feel You. Next up we had the, pardon my language, fucking epic Walking In My Shoes. When I first listened to SOFAD, it took me a while to even get beyond this track. Martin's lyrics are exceptional here and as for the music.....almost indescribable. The first time I heard the Martin's guitar line that kicks in at 3 minutes, 4 seconds,  I am not ashamed to say that I had tears in my eyes. It's musical perfection - Alan goes epic with the strings, Martin plays his bit and the world stops moving just so that you can listen to it. I've got shivers even thinking about it now. If anyone ever criticises Depeche Mode, play them Walking In My Shoes and watch as they change their mind. That was good and then Track 3 Condemnation kicked in. I am instantly taken back to the first time I heard this album. I was sitting on the floor of my parents living room in Castle Douglas, beside the cd player trying to absorb every single nanosecond of the music. Suddenly, the piano/gospel sound kicks in. Wow. Then the lyrics! And Dave's singing! Again, I sound over the top no doubt but it was stunning. I recall that I wrote a letter (it was the early 90's - that's how we rolled) to my then girlfriend, now wife writing out part of the words to Condemnation and telling her, no doubt to her utter disinterest, that these were the greatest words ever written. What a start to an album!

Next up is Mercy in You. It's a great song but I tend to overlook it, mainly because it's sandwiched between two of my favourite tracks. It's cool though and it really worked live I thought. Track 5 is Judas, one of two Martin sung tracks on the album. As with much of the early 90's DM, there was religious imagery all over the shop and Judas is no exception to that. The song though is beautiful and the music is again sensational. It kicks of with some Uilleann pipes and then goes all Alan with much success. The "If you want my love" ending is great too. The track concludes with an instrumental passage with strings and much more magic bringing it to an end. Tricky's Starving Souls project covered Judas some years ago on the I Be The Prophet ep, renaming the track If You Want My Love. It's well worth seeking out. Track 6 is In Your Room. Obviously, Alan felt the first half of the album wasn't epic enough so he threw the kitchen sink, kitchen and whole house into this one. It's the classic Alan Wilder Depeche track for me. It starts slow the builds, builds and builds towards a stunning ending. I love it. The live version was amazing too and makes you wonder why the Zephyr Mix (see below) version was used so much in later tours. Track 7 is probably the least popular on the album, Get Right With Me. It's another Dave as preacher man with gospel singing song. I've got a lot of time for it however, I think that, like Mercy In You, it suffers not because of its quality but because it is in such esteemed company. Interlude Number 4 then pops up (a bit of the Swamp Mix of I Feel You) before Rush smacks us about the face.

Rush - rare UK promo 12" PL12BONG23R

At the time, Industrial music was increasing in popularity (NIN, Ministry etc - at least that's what they called industrial music then) as was dance music. There were rumours that Depeche were going to go either industrial or dance on SOFAD, neither of which they really did. Some say Rush is a hybrid of the two but I don't. It's just an electronic band doing electronic music albeit louder than they had ever done so before. Rush is a great great song, musically and lyrically. As you can see above, a promo 12" for Rush was released to tie in with the Condemnation single release. I guess it is because Rush was eminently more remixable than Condemnation. Track 9 is the aforementioned One Caress, Martin's second lead vocal on the album. It's just Martin and an orchestra and it is a stunner. As with the whole album, the lyrics are wonderful as is the music. This was again new territory for the band as outsiders had never got a look in before. It proved that the two could combine effortlessly. One Caress was released as a single in the U.S. There's a dark, gothic, rather odd and full of cockroaches video that accompanies it. We end our journey on track 10, Higher Love. Alan empties out what remains of his epic box and throws it in here ending the album on a lost Depeche classic. If for some reason you haven't heard this album, change that now.

My SOFAD stuff

The second single from the album was Walking In My Shoes which was remixed for its r

elease on 26 April 1993. The song only got to number 14 in the UK which is frankly a crime. The video is part terrifying/part baffling really. There are loads of chicken headed folk ice skating, small people, tall people, fat people, thin people, 4 naked ladies sitting in top of the band, Dave wiggling around and much more. It's bizarre but good. There were only (!) five formats available here. Firstly we had CBONG22 (right) featuring the 7 inch remix of Walking In My Shoes and a new b-side called My Joy. The remix of the main track is ok, but lacks the splendour of the album version. My Joy is a great song. It was recorded at the same time as the album, and many think it should have been on there. It really is ace and you must try and find it if you don't have it. The standard 12" and cd (12BONG22 and CDBONG22 - left) featured 4 tracks and had really shiny covers. The tracks are Walking In My Shoes (7 inch mix), Walking In My Shoes (Grungy Gonads mix - seriously. I mean who thought that up? Jesus), My Joy (7 inch mix) and My Joy (Slow Slide Mix). The 7 inch mixes are oddly named given the lack of a U.K. release 7" here.

Walking In My Shoes German 7" single

The (sigh again) Grungy Gonads mix is, despite its woeful name, bloody good and parts of it were used live then and still are now. The best thing here though is the Slow Slide mix of My Joy which improves what was already an excellent track. Limited editions were of course released too on 12" (L12BONG22) and cd (LCDBONG22) both of which shared the artwork on the right. I also have a t-shirt with that cover on. I wore it in rotation with my other Depeche tshirts at the time which included the dreadful long sleeved grey one with the band on the front. In fact I wore them so much that I was known as "Depeche Dave" which in the era when liking Depeche still meant that you only liked leather dresses and Just Cant Get Enough was fairly trying. Anyway - 4 tracks on each here, all remixes of WIMS. They are: Extended Twelve Inch mix (great), Random Carpet Mix (ok), Anandamidic Mix (great too) and Ambient Whale Mix (ok in a sound of 1993 way). Not a classic L12/lcd but not a dreadful one either.

Walking In My Shoes UK 12" promo

The band's next single was a stone cold HIT! reaching number 8 in the UK. Condemnation (Paris Mix) was a remixed version of the drooled about above album track, so called because Alan remixed i

in Paris. Clever stuff.  No U.K. 7" single again so instead we had a cassette single (CBONG23 - left) with two tracks -  the Paris Mix of Condemnation and Death's Door (Jazz Mix). The Paris mix is good, but as with WIMS' remix, it doesn't match the original album track. The mix adds the backing singers from the tour and a few other sounds. Death's Door was originally recorded pre SOFAD for the soundtrack to Wim Wenders' film Until The End Of The World. It's a Martin sung song, ruminating on death for a change. The Jazz Mix was at that point only available on a BONG fan 

club flexi disc or on bootlegs. I like it, although it is a tad long, especially when we hit the jazz section.

The standard 12" and cd (12BONG23 and CDBONG23 - above right) had the same artwork but slightly different tracklistings. The artwork is a shot from the screens that were used during the song's live performances. The tracks each release have in common are the two from the cassette single and two remixes of Rush - Spiritual

Guidance Mix and Amylnitrate Mix (Instrumental). The 12" adds the Wild Planet Mix (Vocal) of Rush. The three remixes are all good for different reasons with my favourite being the Spiritual Guidance version. That's not to detract from the others however, as they're fine too. The limited edition releases here were a little different from usual as they came in the guise of a live e.p. The band were already knee deep in the Devotional tour at this point, so I guess the plan was to release a live e.p. to show how good they'd become on stage. The tracks and artwork for LCDBONG23 and L12BONG23 were again identcal (left) and featured live versions of Condemnation, Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence Halo. It's not the bravest tracklisting but it's good and again, in the non internet era, it was great. There were two videos too. The Paris Mix video, filmed in Hungary, is seen above. A live video also appeared and that version later appeared on Devotional.

Condemnation UK 12" promo

Bitten by the live bug the band released the puzzling Songs Of Faith and Devotion 

Live on 6 December 1993 on LP (LSTUMM106), CD (LCDSTUMM106) and Cassette (LCSTUMM106), all of which have the same artwork (right),  being a shot from the film used during Never Let Me Down Again on the tour. As you'd guess, the album is a live version of SOFAD culled from the Devotional tour. It's not exactly a must have, but the live versions are all good, with only One Caress and Get Right With Me falling a bit flat. The live versions of Walking In My Shoes and In Your Room are must hears. The Devotional video (later dvd) was released around this time too which you simply HAVE to get. Adhering to my own rules, I'm not going into the dvd too much here. It's a version of live Devotional show (made up from 3 or 4 concerts) and it really is worth seeing. It has Fly On The Windscreen for goodness's sake!

Depeche began 1994 flying all over the world for the Exotic Tour, and later the USA 94 tour, which wrapped up the mammoth SOFAD promotional trip. Do try and get the bootlegs from the Hawaii, San Francisco and Santiago shows on these legs as they are soundboard recordings, and the setlists are fantastic, the "grunge" version of A Question of Time aside. The Santiago one features a clearly out of his mind Dave uttering the immortal "Well...is it me or is it a little Chile in here? Hahahahahaha". Quite Dave, quite.

The only official release of 1994 was a remixed version of In Your Room which yet again went top ten in the UK,  reaching number 8 on release on 10 January 1994.

The video seems to be Anton's fairwell to Depeche Mode as he clearly thought they were on the way out. It revisits other DM videos and shows the band individually chained to chair not so much as in a room but more in a prison. The cassette single CBONG24 (right) has two tracks. Firstly, the Butch Vig remix of In Your Room known as the Zephyr Mix. It's a vastly different version to the album one and, again, isn't as good, as it sacrifices the mood and atmosphere of the song for..well...more guitars. Hmmm. Track two is the Adrenaline mix of Higher Love which takes the majesty of the original and lobs it into a fairly horrific disco. Not that good really.

We then have the 12 and cd releases. The 12" singles are easier to deal with. 12BONG24 (left) gave us 5 tracks being the two from the cassette single and three more remixes of In Your Room - Apex Mix, The Jeep Rock Mix and Extended Zephyr Mix. The Apex Mix is another Brian Eno mix and is rather good. The Jeep Rock Mix is a remix by Geoff Barrow from Portishead and is again a good one. The Extended Zephyr Mix simply extends the original remix. L12BONG24 (below) contains no fewer than six tracks all live versions of In Your Room, Policy of Truth, Fly On The Windscreen, World In My Eyes, Never Let Me Down Again and Death's Door. All great to hear and the version of World In My Eyes blew me away at the time. If you ever want evidence of what Alan Wilder brought to Depeche Mode, these live tracks supply it.

The cd release here was odd. CDBONG24 (same artwork as 12BONG24) came in a fold our "crucifix" pack extending the religious metaphor so far it snapped. It houses not one, not two but THREE cd's. CDBONG24 features the Zephyr and Extended Zephyr mixes of In Your Room together with the live versions of Never Let Me Down Again and Death's Door. LCDBONG24 (available separately and with the same artwork as L12BONG24) added the live versions of In Your Room, Policy of Truth, World In My Eyes and Fly On The Windscreen. Finally, XLCDBONG24 (below) gave us the Jeep Rock Mix and Apex Mix of In Your Room and the Adrenaline Mix of Higher Love. Put them all together and you had a fold out pack which if you opened more than once started to fall apart. Still, it's a funny wee item to own.

In Your Room UK 12" promo

And that was that. The band kept touring until July when they finally brought the SOFAD marathon to an end going away to either keep battling or feeding addictions or even to leave the band in Alan's case. The SOAFD era is a defining era in the band's history and is a fascinating one for so many reasons. The next time we saw Depeche Mode would be 1997 and things would be very different then. That's where I'll begin next time.

As ever, thanks very much for reading and thank you also for the comments. I'm so pleased, proud and indeed humbled that so many people read this blog and like it. It really is fantastic. The pictures are sourced from the usual places and all the opinions, however misguided, are mine and mine only

DEPECHE MODE - THE ONE THAT I PREFER - VIOLATOR and 1990 (Part 2)

So last time we'd got up the release of the magnificent Enjoy The Silence. Here, I'll take a fawning, over complimentary and barely objective look at Violator itself together with the remaining singles from the album. As ever, views are my own, discography information is sourced from depechemode.com and the pictures are borrowed from depechemode.tv which for the uninitiated is a forum full of foul mouthed neanderthals who happen to like Depeche Mode. Do have a look at it.

It's no exaggeration to say that music changed forever and for the better on March 19 1990. Ok, it maybe is but you get my point. On that day Depeche Mode unleashed Violator on an unsuspecting world simultaneously changing the planet's perception of both them as a band and of electronic music generally. The album and tour were huge successes with the band turning into a fully fledged stadium band as their sold out nights at Dodgers Stadium show. The album reached number 2 in Britain (Changesbowie and a Carpenters collection were to blame for keeping the band from a justified number one) and number 7 in the US. At that point it could be argued that Depeche were one of the biggest bands in the world, especially given that U2 and REM were then having a rest. Bear in mind too that Depeche were still viewed as an "alternative" act which makes this success all the more impressive.

The great thing about Depeche Mode back then was their ability to constantly reinvent themselves whilst ensuring that their releases were always a step or two n from the previous one. Violator (STUMM64 - sleeve right) was no exception to that. The 9 tracks (plus two unnamed on the sleeve musical passages) are so different from anything that the band had done before that it's hard to believe the same chaps who recorded It's Called A Heart only 5 years before turned out the likes of Halo etc. The album kicks off with the Depeche Mode do Kraftwerk but faster World In My Eyes which is the best first track of any DM album ever - fact. Track 2 is the phenomenal Sweetest Perfection, a Martin sung song which features Dave on counter meoldy duties towards the end. This song has the Alan Wilder presses the epic button feel to it. It builds and builds before a fantastic middle part moving towards the sort of explosion noise at the end which is then hastily followed by the well know "bing bing" of Personal Jesus. The version on Violator grafts a part from the Holier Than Thou Approach mix from the standard issue 12" and cd singles. Track 4 is one of THE classic Depeche Mode songs - Halo. It's an absolutely perfect song with great lyrics, a killer chorus and music that proves the Depeche of 1990 really were up to something rather special. I even love

"Bring your chains, your lips of tragedy and fall into my arms"

and I'm still not sure how that particular scenario would play out in real life. Marvellous however. Next up we have the frankly epic (I know, I know, stop praising everything. I AM trying. Honest) Waiting For The Night or as Martin would have originally had it Waiting For The Night To Fall but the words "To Fall" were apparently missed off when the sleeves were printed. You'd think someone would be checking those things. Anyhow, WFTN is a seqeuncer driven wonderballad (!) with beautiful vocals from Dave and Martin. The World Violation tour version was really special (from what I've seen on youtube as I didnt see that tour :( ) with top notch visuals from Anton. WFTN ends side one as we used to say. Next up is Enjoy The Silence a song about which I made my views pefectly clear last time. Enjoy The Silence then moves into an unnamed track which we all know is named Crucified (Dave on lead guitar and Fletch on vocals - FACT) before Policy of Truth smacks us in the face. I'll talk about Policy of Truth more below. For fans of typing errors generally ( I presume you are one if you read my blog as it is full of them) Policy of Truth is listed as The Policy of Truth in the lyrics inside the album. Again, you'd think someone would have a look at these things.

The last two tracks are just as good as anything that came before. Blue Dress follows Policy of Truth. It is another Martin sung song in the classic Gore "Dress up and I'll watch you from over here you lucky lady" style. It's great however and was played acoustically by Martin on the World Violation tour along with Sweetest Perfection, Here Is The House, I Want You Now, World Full of Nothing and Little 15. He played 2 from that lot a night. Blue Dress is followed by another quick instrumental Interlude # 3 which sounds like the band wandering over a moorland singing and the we hit the last track Clean. I make no apologies for my countinual bias here. Clean is an astounding track and a perfect way to end the album. The production of the album by Flood and Alan Wilder is sensational throughout.

I can honestly say that Violator changed my life, no doubt about that at all. I bought the cassette (CSTUMM64 - STUMM64 was the album and CDSTUMM64 the cd by the way) on the day it came out and listened to it constantly for about a year. I let it out of my sight once lending it to Lindsay White after much persuasion only for her to return it with the black sticker on side 2 peeled away slightly at the corner. Argh! It may be the fondness with which I recall that period making me say it but of all the versions here I still think the cassette package generally is the most beautiful. The artwork as a whole is perfection but the cassette version will always be my favourite here. Whenever I hear or indeed think of Violator I am taken back to being a 16 year old amazed by what I am hearing and just being caught up in the sheer beauty of the album. I'll never lose that and for that I simply have to thank Depeche Mode.

The next single from Violator was Policy of Truth which came out on 7 May 1990 reaching number 16 in the UK and. Policy is a great track with one of Martin's catchier choruses. It's still very popular amongst fans now despite the forum based whinging that greeted its return to the setlist during the last tour. Yes there are about 50 other songs they could play but after you've had a few beers/wines etc jumping about singing along to Policy of Truth is a very enjoyable way to spend 5 minutes. So there. The video features the lads chasing around an American city all looking for a snog with the same two girls. They have a quick kiss with them all then run off leaving the lads looking either angry (Dave and Alan) perplexed as ever (Fletch) or really sad (Martin). Poor Martin - he looks genuinely upset. The 7" (BONG19 - right) and cassette single (CBONG19 - left) come with two tracks Policy of Truth and a new b-side Kaleid which is an instrumental with acid house type bass in places and what my parents would inevitably call "a really good beat." A version of Kaleid mixed up with Crucified was used as the intro music on the tour. Your standard 12" (12BONG19 - same cover art as the 7") and cd single (CDBONG19 - right) contained 3 new mixes. Policy of Truth (Beat Box Mix), Policy of Truth (Capitol Mix) and Kaleid (When Worlds Mix). The Beat Box mix is my favourite here as it really enhances the song and gives it that old fashioned 12" extended mix feel which I think we're all fans of. The Capitol Mix is fine too although it's not the most memorable remix of the bunch. I really like the Kaleid remix too - to be honest I think the track is one of my favourite Depeche Mode instrumentals. Interesting fact eh? The cd single (CDBONG19 - above right) replaced the When Worlds Mix of Kaleid with Kaleid (Remix) whichis another mix of decent quality.There were the usual limted editions too - a rather fabulous glossy gatefold 12" (L12BONG19 - left) and an equally lovely cd single (LCDBONG19 - right). The 12" (the band's first gatefold 12") features three remixes the first of which is the fantastic Trancentral Mix by the KLF which features their usual mix of ambiet oddness and, naturally, sheep noises. Every time someone says "I'm not a Politician, I'm a basis man" I have a wry smile to myself. Ok, this hasn't ever actually happenned but IF it did I'd smile. The other mix of Policy of Truth on the 12" is Pavlov's Dub which is a fairly decent mix too although I don't exactly drool whenever I hear it. The Remix of Kaleid as first found on CDBONG19 completes the 12". The cd single has 5 tracks - the two Policy of Truth remixes from L12, Kaleid (When Wolrds Mix) and the 7" mixes of both Policy of Truth and Kaleid.

The fourth and final single from Violator (although Halo was considered for a fifth release) was the majestic World In My Eyes which was released on 17 September in a multitude of interesting formats. The single got as far as number 17 in the UK despite both its' general brilliance and the fantastic video which was part World Violation footage (amazing) and part Dave perving over some girl in a drive in cinema seemingly reciting the words of the song to her.The artwork for the single is amazing with different members doing the WIME hand signal thing on the different formats. The 7" (BONG20 - right) and cassette single (CBONG20 - left) had three tracks including two new tracks - World In My Eyes (7" version), Happiest Girl (Jack Mix) and Sea of Sin (Tonal Mix). The b-sides are the stars of these formats. Happiest Girl is a great Martin perv song which quite boldly and quite correctly rhymes "thighs" with "eyes". Sea of Sin is just bloody brilliant. We really were spoiled with b-sides at this point - Dangerous, Happiest Girl, Sea of Sin and Kaleid are stronger than many b-sides and indeed most of Exciter. For the record, and as far as I can tell, the 7" cover features Fletch, the cassette single Alan. 12BONG20 (right with I think Martin doing the hand business on the cover) gave us three tracks - World In My Eyes (Oil Tank Mix), Happiest Girl (Kiss-a-mix) and Sea of Sin (Sensoria). The mixes of the b-sides are excellent of course but my favourite here is the Oil Tank Mix of the main track which I played to death when I first bought this record. It's a long slowish mix but it's a cracker. The cd (CDBONG20 - left with Dave's hands) replaced the mix of Sea of Sin on the 12" with the Tonal Mix from the 7" and cassette release and added the 7" version of the lead track. Next we have the limited editions. The beautiful, rare as 3 note Fletch keyboard parts limited editions. As with my Quad:Final Mix woe I really have to go back to my 16 year old self and slap him repeatedly until he buys at least 3 copies of each stressing the utter importance of NOT CUTTING OPEN THE 12" PACK ESPECIALLY AT THE WRONG BLOODY PART! The frankly greatest limited record ever released L12BONG20 (right) came in a glossy black 12" sleeve with an inner sleeve featuring live shots from the tour. The best bit however was the blue PVC sleeve it came in which had to be cut open at the top. This was indicated by the words "Violate Here." Absloutely perfect. Just amazing. Not only did I cut the thing open, I did it at the wrong part too. Idiot. Alan and Fletch are doing the hand signals on the cover. Artwork aside, there was also a record with music on it here. The tracks are World In My Eyes (Dub In My Eyes) (decent mix), World In My Eyes (Mode To Joy) a brilliant mix by Jon Marsh of the briefly popular Beloved and Happiest Girl (The Pulsating Orbital Mix) an instrumental mix by ambient oddballs The Orb. All great tracks. The limited cd (LCDBONG20 - left) is hugely rare meaning that I only have two copies. I know - geek. One is the German edition which I presume is as rare. Anyway, it's yet another stunning package featuring a live Dave on the front and lots of other live shots inside. It has 6 tracks aboard - World In My Eyes (Dub In My Eyes), World In My Eyes (Mode To Joy), Sea of Sin (Sensoria) and Happiest Girl (Jack Mix) we already know about. The additions here were World In My Eyes (Mayhem Mode) and Happiest Girl (The Pulsating Orbital Vocal Mix). The former is another Jon Marsh mix which I prefer to Mode To Joy. The latter is a vocal version of the Orb's instrumental mix from L12BONG20 which is really really good. It was also ultra rare given the rarirty of this cd not really gaining much exposure until the singles box set re-releases.

Trying to put bias aside, I find it immensely difficult to think of another period in Depeche or indeed any band's history when the brilliance of the songs has been matched by the brilliance of the product throughout from the artwork to the adverts to the backing films to the record labels and beyond. Anton and the band merged perfectly and created Depeche Mode's most iconic phase. Other stadium league bands were watching closely - U2's Zoo TV lifted World Vioaltion's best bits and both their artwork and that or REM's for Automatic For The People was created by Anton. As well as musically, Depeche were influencing artistically.

The World Violation Tour wrapped up leaving Depeche as one of the world's biggest bands and justifiably so. After a small break, they'd do their best to top it (and themselves) with Songs of Faith and Devotion. That'll be the next blog at some not too distant point in the future. As ever, all views expressed above are mine only and if you find mistakes then blame me!