WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME - ULTRA THE 12" SINGLES BOXSET

 

Eleven months after the Songs Of Faith And Devotion The 12" Singles boxset, the Ultra The 12" Singles boxset has arrived. What's in it? Are there any surprises? Is it something rather lovely? Well, records, yes and very much yes are the answers. Let me explain.

As with the previous releases in this series, the 12" singles are housed in a thick cardboard box. The Useless hand has provided the inspiration for the covert art this time.

The rear of the box tells you what is inside.

As ever, we have the picture menu that shows what you'll find inside, including the three new 12" singles each of which we will come onto shortly.

There's a download card too. Put that beside the box and convince your friends that you have two boxsets and that one of them is really far away.

This review is just a look at the records, not a review of the music. As part of my ongoing what seemed a good idea at the time but it's only when you write about them do you realise just how many singles Depeche Mode have released project, the four Ultra era singles have each been reviewed. You can find them here:

Barrel Of A Gun - http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.com/2021/06/depeche-mode-singles-1981-to-2021-part_30.html

It's No Good - http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.com/2021/07/depeche-mode-singles-1981-to-2021-part.html

Home - http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.com/2021/08/depeche-mode-singles-1981-to-2021-part.html

Useless - http://almostpredictablealmost1.blogspot.com/2021/08/depeche-mode-singles-1981-to-2021-part_13.html

First out of the box is Barrel Of A Gun. Once again, all of the packaging is faithfully reproduced. In the case of this record, there are some lovely touches. When the single was originally released, early pressings came with a silver inner sleeve. That's what you get here which is very nice. 

That's what it looks like on its own. 

A poster was also tucked into a few of the original releases and we get one of those here too. It's a lovely thing and just what you want if you've ever wondered what Fletch and Martin look like without faces.

The original 12" (the bottom one in the picture above) has a sticker in the top left telling you the names of the remixes. Here, as we got in the wonderful Violator The 12" Singles box, the sticker is included for you to stick on if you wish.

That's it above. Don't worry - (a) I've not stuck it on and (b) I know it shouldn't go there. I wouldn't do that to you. 

The sleeve is a gatefold just like the original. Dave is still chained to a radiator and Martin is ready to go deep sea diving.

Side A and the front cover are pictured above. Sadly, even a remastered Underworld Hard Mix still sounds like something that shouldn't have happened.

The rear sleeve is black and shiny which is marvellous but a bugger to photograph as you can see me in it which kind of ruins everything. I had to snap it from an odd angle as a result.

We only got one L12 in 1997 and it was this beauty.

L12BONG25 is a wonderful thing.

When It's No Good was first released, there was one 12", the first time Depeche Mode had not released an L12 since A Question Of Lust. Don't say "But what about Little 15?" Nobody knows if that single was released in any official capacity anywhere on earth.

Here, 12BONG26 is faithfully reproduced which means we have to sit through those remixes again. This song was crying out for a top notch, classic Depeche Mode 12" remix but sadly that just didn't happen.

Hang on - what's this? Well, for the first time ever, we have an L12BONG26. The single's original release saw two CD singles accompany the 12" and cassette single in the UK and to ensure that the remixes that appeared on the original LCD are included in this boxset, a 12" has been specially created. Now, Depeche Mode fans are probably the most relaxed fans of any band there is and they don't get bothered at all by things like catalogue numbers, so will anyone even be interested in the addition of a new L12 to the band's catalogue? I joke of course as the creation of the L12BONG26 catalogue number together with its two companions we'll look at shortly has annoyed some people. There are some collectors who won't buy the box meaning they will now have a gap in their collection and there are others who feel that this is a pointless rewriting of history. Fair enough. I'm very much in the group of people who think this is a pretty cool idea. Perhaps I'd feel differently if I didn't have the box.

The sleeve is based on the LCDBONG26 design and the labels are very nicely done. On Side A, we have It's No Good and Slowblow. On Side B (above), we get Slowblow (Darren Price Mix) and It's No Good (Bass Bounce Mix).  That is not the same tracklisting as LCDBONG26 but does mean that the two tracks on the A Side and the remix of Slowblow get a vinyl release. The Bass Bounce Mix of It's No Good is also known as the Dom T Mix and that already appears on the 12BONG26 in the boxset. The version on this record is 3 seconds longer. Quite what is in those three seconds is a mystery. The inclusion of a remix that is already in this boxset is the only negative point about this L12.

The Home 12" is naturally just the same as the original 12BONG27.

I do love those labels. 

Home sees the introduction of the second new L12, L12BONG27. It takes the four songs from CDBONG27 and LCDBONG27 that didn't make it onto the 12" at the time and gives them a vinyl release. On Side A (above), we have the single version of Home and Home (The Noodles And The Damage Done. The orange label is a very nice thing and reminds me of the promo CD for World In My Eyes. I really do need to get out more.

As with L12BONG26, the artwork for L12BONG27 is based on the LCD release. On Side B, we have the live versions of Barrel Of A Gun and It's No Good from the London Ultra party. The label is again a joy to behold.

The last single from Ultra was Useless and 12BONG28 is here in all its purple glory.

The tracklisting remains the same as the original release.

Talking of the original release, it had a sticker on the front of the 12" (see bottom record above). As with Barrel Of A Gun, we get the sticker inside the sleeve again to stick on if we wish. The addition of the sticker is another great touch and it's yet another example of the thought that has gone into these boxsets. It's pictured above but here's a close-up:

Finally, we have another new 12", L12BONG28.  It takes the five remixes of Useless that didn't get a vinyl release and grants them one. On Side A (above) we have Useless (Remix), Useless (Escape From Whenever: Parts 1 & 2!) and Useless (Cosmic Blues). The latter remix first appeared on CDBONG28 where it was called Cosmic Blues Mix. Wonder why that's not the case here? The artwork is based on LCDBONG28 and, yes, the labels are very nice too.

The rear sleeve is a superb thing isn't it? The two tracks on Side B are Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix) and Useless (Live), another recording from the Ultra party. The videos for Barrel Of A Gun and It's No Good that featured on the enhanced CDBONG28 and LCDBONG28 respectively don't appear on either 12" but that is entirely understandable.

The last part of the box is the reproduction poster and this time round it's the Useless advert that we get. 

As with all the 12" boxsets, this is expensive and arguably not that necessary if you have all the 12" singles already but, just like its predecessors, it is a thoroughly well thought out and well put together collection. The singles look and sound fantastic and the attention to detail both in an audio and visual sense is outstanding. The creation of three L12 singles is controversial but it makes sense when you see them in the context of the boxset. As an aside, it's interesting to note that the second It's No Good promo, PL12BONG26 is nowhere to be seen here.  Since this box was announced, it has in fact disappeared from the discography section on the official Depeche Mode site. The Club 69 mixes seem destined to remain unloved, unacknowledged and on promo only forever.

Will we wait 11 months for the Exciter boxset? And just how many 12" singles will be in that one? If all of the promos are reproduced, it's going to be a very large box indeed. 

DEPECHE MODE - THE SINGLES 1981 TO 2021 PART 38: I FEEL LOVED

 

Following Exciter's release in May 2001, Depeche Mode embarked upon a lengthy world tour in support of the album. The second single from the album, I Feel Loved was released on 30th July 2001 as the tour wandered through America. 

The song was stood out among Exciter's sparse electronica (I'm ignoring The Dead Of Night - I always do) and was perhaps the more obvious choice for "comeback" single but Depeche Mode don't do obvious do they? 

With I Feel Loved, we got BIG NAME remixes, a questionable video and more promos than anyone knew what to do with. This is the story of I Feel Loved.

A FEELING OF INNER BLISS - I FEEL LOVED

The Single

Picture courtesy of depmod.com

BONG48 confirmed that I Feel Loved would be the second single from Exciter and told us it would be released on 16th July 2001. It wasn't of course and instead I Feel Loved, BONG31, came out two weeks later on 30th July.

In his review of Exciter, the NME's Stephen Dalton said of I Feel Loved:

"Gore's songwriting (veers) off into diverse and occasionally sublime directions. Hence the cheekily titled pop trifle I Feel Loved, a blast of shameless disco hedonism with a side order of existential ennui."

Fair enough. The NME's Single review took a different path:

"Post-drugs contentment may have given the Mode their best album in years but there is still a vague air of mid-life drift about tracks like this - plush, polished, executive-class disco pastiche full of expensive noises but not much passion. Still, it certainly exudes more authentic dancefloor zing than superstar DJ Danny Tenaglia's flaccid house mix, which reeks of a lazy contractual obligation bashed out on the way to catch a flight to Ibiza. Iggy's 'Dirt' is also here, reworked into a slo-mo gothcore stomp. Trent Reznor must be spinning in his grave. You know, the one where he sleeps."

To promote the song, Depeche Mode appeared on UK programme CD:UK, a show that was meant for kids but firmly aimed at adults. It was presented by Ant & Dec who for those of you outside the UK were two notorious Newcastle based rappers, very much the Ice-T and Eazy E of their day, who were tamed and turned to TV work. If you don't believe me, look for Let's Get Ready To Rumble which is very much their equivalent of Fuck Tha Police. Anyway, Depeche recorded this performance on 24 March 2001 and it was later broadcast in May that year.

As Ant or possibly Dec notes, one of the biggest bands in America there. Not the world mind, just America. It's a fairly standard performance really. The music is from playback but Dave's vocals are live which is nice although as we can hear has already replaced the "I" in the title with "Ahhhhhhhh." That apart, Christian is now fully in place, Martin will not feel the benefit of that coat when he gets out and Fletch, well, Fletch gives a stellar performance of knob twiddlery. One day they should turn all the keyboards on and see what noises he is making. It may well be art.

There was a Top Of The Pops appearance too on. Like the CD:UK one, it was filmed in March and was then broadcast on 4th May, Sophie Ellis-Bextor introduces the band and, once again, we have a live vocal. As it was recorded at the same time as Dream On (see last blog), Martin is wearing his penis t-shirt again. Stop it Martin.

The band also appeared on the Jay Leno show on 7th August 2001 but that video isn't available just now. It's a live take so it means that there are backing singers, more tom-toms than one ever needs (i.e. more than 0) and Dave fairly screaming out the lyrics. All a bit odd really.

Australian promo poster

The, erm, blizzard of publicity in the UK saw the single not do that well at all really. It entered the charts at Number 12 but instead of going up it fell, firstly to 31 then 43, 54, 69, 72 and 77. A disappointing showing really.

 I Feel Loved is a funny one really. At the time it felt as if the band were trying a little too hard to tap into the dancier side of the market (God, I sound old) and, as I mentioned earlier, it stood out on Exciter as being rather against the grain of the album. As a Depeche Mode-do-pop type thing it's fine and certainly better than later attempts at the same such as Lilian, but I wouldn't call it classic Depeche Mode. It was only played at 50 of the 84 Exciter tour shows because it put too much strain on Dave's voice and was last played live on 8th September 2001.  The fact is, it didn't really work live and that will be why we've never heard it since.

Joyously, we also had a non-instrumental B-Side this time. Dirt by The Stooges from their legendary 1970 album Fun House was covered for the B-Side and it is really rather good and far more Depeche sounding than the A-Side. It's never been played live however.

The Video

February 2001 - Depeche Mode HQ, Basildon:

"Hello is that John Hillcoat?"

"Yes."

"Hi, it's Depeche Mode here. We're on speakerphone. Do you know who we are?"

"Tainted Love right?"

"Close enough. We have a new single coming out a.."

"Really? I thought you guys stopped after A Little Respect."

"Ah..erm...no, that was Erasure. Same label but different band. We're Depeche Mode - you know Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus and all that?"

"The horses video and the one with the man dressed as the King?"

"YES! That's it John."

"Right ok, cool. Hello Depeche Mode - how can I help you."

"Well, as we said John, we have a new single coming out. We're rehearsing for our tour just now so we don't have a lot of time but we'd like you to direct the video for us."

"Oh right..."

"Are you up for that?"

"Why not. Anything I should know?"

"Well, to give you a bit of history, we originally made very bad videos, then they got slightly better, then Anton Corbijn came onboard and made us artistically credible. We really want to carry on down that road to be honest."

"I know Anton's stuff. All monochrome and random images of priests and women in underwear. Is that what you're after?"

"No, not really John. Just something that looks decent and fits the song really."

"Ok, grand. I think I can do that."

"See you in California in April then John? Would that work?"

"Ok. That sounds fine. Tell me, do any of you know any dog handlers? Or people that own attack dogs?"

"Not really John, no. Why?"

"Never mind, Depeche Mode, never mind. See you soon."

April 27th 2001, Hollywood, California

"Martin, are they real police?"

"Looks like it Dave."

"And the dogs?"

"Definitely real, Dave."

"No! Are they police attack dogs?"

"That Hillcoat chap mentioned dogs didn't he?"

"He did Andy and yes Dave, they look very much like police attack dogs."

"I don't want to get bitten Mart. They might damage my keyboard hand. I won't be able to play if that happens."

"Don't worry Fletch. I'll see if I can find Jo...ah there he is. John! John!"

" Ah hello Marvin. "

"it's Martin."

"Undoubtedly so. I've been working very hard on the video for I Felt Love you know. There's a whole concept that will blow your minds."

"What do we need to do?"

"Nothing Malcolm. Just go in there and play. You, the singer and that tall chap with the dark glasses hiding behind that skip. Does he not like dogs?"

"Not really, no."

"Ok, off you go. We'll get this very Depeche Mode like video filmed and that'll be that. And don't worry - it's NOTHING like an Anton Corbijn video."

May 2001, Depeche Mode HQ, Basildon

"No answer Dave. That's the third message we've left him."

"Well, it's too late to do anything now Martin as we need to go on tour. We'll just have to leave it."
"I know Dave, I know. It's a shame that it's a shoddy shambles of a video that makes literally no sense and just sees us playing in a club while dogs wander about. Future reviews on smartarse blogs won't like it. "

"No-one will read that Martin, don't worry."

June 2001, behind a skip, Hollywood

"Have the dogs gone? Can I come out now? Martin? Dave?......"

The Single

This release was promo-tastic. Let's have a look at the UK promos first.

Firstly, we have the promo CD, RCDBONG31. It features two remixes of I Feel Loved: Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Radio Edit and Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Edit, the radio getting no look in on the latter. 

There were three promo 12" singles each housed in lovely sleeves with the labels matching the sleeve colour. They don't make them like than anymore. P12BONG31 features all 14 minutes 12 seconds of Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Mix. It's very good fun and features a snippet of Excerpts From: My Secret Garden which is rather random but very enjoyable.

On the AA Side, we have not only a snazzy label but also Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Instrumental which is a full 29 seconds shorter than the A-Side.

PL12BONG31 has Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Dub on Side A.

The AA Side features the Desert After Hours Dub which is the only place we'll find that and Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Edit.

Finally in promo land, we have PXL12BONG31. On the A-Side we have the Umek Remix.

The AA Side has the Thomas Brinkmann Mix and Chamber's Remix on its gorgeously labelled side.

There are promo CD-Rs too but that's a level of madness to which I will not descend. To the official releases then, starting with CDBONG31:

As with Dream On, the single came in a cardboard sleeve which housed another cardboard sleeve containing the CD. Dave's arm and hand appears on it.

The rear of both sleeves is far less colourful. The CD contains three tracks in all: I Feel Loved (Single Version), Dirt and I Feel Loved (Extended Instrumental). The title of the latter tells you all you need to know.

LCDBONG31 is an interesting thing. There's a nice inner sleeve there for example. There are three remixes of I Feel Loved to listen to - Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Edit, Thomas Brinkmann Mix and Chamber's Remix. The latter two are fine, but the Tenaglia one is the winner here.

On the other side of the CD sleeves, it's all black again. Even Dave's arm is in black and white. The exciting thing here though is the Enhanced element. This was 2001 when the world was still fresh and innocent and things like small films on CDs blew everyone's minds. Here, there are four 30 second long videos: In the studio with Mark Bell and Gareth Jones, the first Exciter photoshoot with Anton, the second Exciter photoshoot with Anton and At The Video Shoot with Stephane Sedoui. There are also 9 exclusive images and a downloadable wallpaper. For your computer, not your house.

12BONG31 features Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Edit, an 8 minute long edit of the full remix on Side A.

Side AA contains Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Dub.

We got an L12 this time too. L12BONG31 has the enjoyable enough Umek Remix on Side A.

Side AA houses the Thomas Brinkmann Remix and Chamber's Remix. It has a lovely label too. These are of course the same three tracks we saw on PXL12BONG31. If you look closely enough, and if this is what your life has come to then welcome to the club, PXL12BONG31 is etched on the inner groove with the "PX" part scored out. Admit it, this is what you come here for.

Before we look at the 14,000 or so different things that popped up in America, let's look at what France did. They released 2 CDs like the UK ones and a promo 12" featuring two mixes you couldn't get anywhere else: Laurent F. Remix and Fafa "Superfunk" Monteco Remix -Club Version. The BONGFAN2 CD that came with BONG52 features the former remix and Fafa Monteco Mix - Edit Version. 

In the US then, there were 15 different CD-Rs. 15! They feature a whole lot of remixes that I frankly can't be bothered listing here. As ever, depmod.com will look after you there.

There is a US promo CD in a jewel case.

Dave's arm appears on the inner sleeve and the CD contains three versions of  I Feel Loved - Remix, Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Edit and Album Edit.

As well as a 7" and a CD single (neither pictured because I don't have them), there is a double 12". On disc 1, we have Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Edit on Side A and Thomas Brinkmann Mix and Chamber's Remix on Side B.

Disc 2 has Danny Tenaglia's Labor Of Love Instrumental on Side C and I Feel Loved (Extended Instrumental) and Dirt on Side D. There are also two promo 12" singles.

I Feel Loved came out, Depeche Mode found favour with clubbers for the first time in a while and the band's 84 date Exciter tour was well underway. All was well in Depeche Mode world.

Perhaps I Feel Loved didn't perform as well as the band thought it might, but it did have a longer shelf life than you might imagine as it ended up nominated for two Grammys in 2002. Sadly, it lost out in the Best Dance Recording category to Janet Jackson's impressively bland All For You and in the Best Remixed Recording, Danny Tenaglia's Labour Of Love Mix lost out to the Deep Dish mix of the even blander Thank You by Dido.

The next time we saw Depeche Mode, they would have moved beyond feeling loved to Freelove. We'll look at that next time.