Depeche Mode 'Speak & Spell' 1981

Synthetics, Voices Depeche Mode

SONG LYRICS by ALBUM

DEPECHE MODE

Depeche Mode are a young (average age 19), adventurous, dancey pop band from Basildon, England. They were formed in March 1980 as a three-piece, two guitar and synthesizer outfit, but later switched to all synthesizers because they liked the sound better.

Their music--catchy, silvery melodies with a solid back-beat--is chiefly written by Vince Clark, with some songs by Martin Gore. It's performed by Gore and Andrew Fletcher on synthesizers and David Gahan on vocals.

Their name--pronounced De-pech-ay, regardless of the lack of an accent!--was taken from a French magazine. While it means "hurry up fashion, " there's nothing hurried about the band or the music. The only thing quick about Depeche Mode has been their success in the U.K., and that's well deserved.

Depeche Mode began by playing at local clubs and moved on to support bands like Fad Gadget at the Bridgehouse in Canning Town. It was there that they caught the eye of Daniel Miller, electronic whiz-kid and prime mover of Mute Records. Miller put out their first single "Dreaming Of Me" on Mute in February 1981 and signed the band. The song immediately went into the U.K. Top 40, and even made it across the Atlantic to become a dance club import hit here in America.

The band's next two singles, "New Life" and this past summer's "Just Can't Get Enough", also went Top 30 in Britain, establishing Depeche Mode as bonafide pop stars complete with reams of press, airplay and TV appearances. Their debut album Speak & Spell, released in late November, shipped silver, signifying immediate sales of over 60,000 copies, and entered the album charts at #3.

Depeche Mode about the album's songs

"New Life"

Vince Clarke: "My brother Paul Spector wrote the lyrics to this song. He didn't want any or got any credit for it. I remember quite clearly Vince "borrowing" them from him. It's about a Chinese Philosopher. I read a whole page about it in a Depeche Mode book and every word about it was true except who wrote it. Vince's highest qualification is in Woodwork and my brother has a Masters Degree in Philosophy from King's College, London. Vince wouldn't be able to explain what it was about other than what he was told by Paul. I did ask Vince for the original, written lyrics back but he said he'd lost them."

Andrew Fletcher: "Words were never Vince Clarke's strong point. As a matter of fact, we were sometimes quite embarrassed by his stuff! We didn't understand a lot of his songs. He’d never tell us what they were about!"

David Gahan: "I remember walking through town in Basildon one night and I saw these two girls following along behind me. I knew they'd recognised me. And they start singing, 'I stand still stepping on a shady street'. And I start walking a bit faster, turns me collar up like this! And then... 'And I watch that man to a stranger.' And I'm thinking: 'Oh no, this is embarrassing! Do they understand these lyrics?! Perhaps they do and we don't!"

"Puppets"

A working title for this song was "Operator" and David Gahan refers to the song by this title during several gigs during the autumn dates of the 1981 Tour.

"What's Your Name?"

Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher confirmed that the Clarke-penned 'What's Your Name?' is their least favourite Depeche Mode song.

A working title for this song was "Pretty Boy" and Dave refers to the song by this title during several gigs during the autumn dates of the 1981 Tour.

"Just Can't Get Enough"

David Gahan: "I was maybe 18, almost 19. The punk thing had just kind of ended, but there were still a few people who were hanging out in the clubs in London, who were trying to play music that you could dance to a bit more that wasn’t so violent, and “Just Can’t Get Enough” became one of those. We had a group of friends at the time who would go to these different clubs, dressed like we were in the video, sort of leather-y stuff." "The thing is, the song is written by Vince Clarke, who was in the band for like five minutes, and went on to be part of Yaz and Erasure. But that album 'Speak & Spell' was very much a Vince Clarke album, and he owns the rights to that song of course, so it’s been in so many commercials and it pops up. I remember we went to his publisher’s at the time and they sat us all down and they said, “You know, Vince, you’re going to be driving a Rolls Royce when these lot are still on a tandem,” pointing to me and Martin and Fletch. And it probably was true! I think that song has kept him in cornflakes for many years."

12" (STUMM5) UK

● MATRIX: RUNOUT

Runout etching side A:   * STUMM-5·A-3 * EG. JA TAPE One

Runout etching side B:   * STUMM-5·B-3 * EG. JA TAPE One

Recorded at Blackwing Studios, London / Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller / Engineers Eric Radcliffe, John Fryer / Photography Brian Griffin

All Compositions V Clarke except + M Gore

Original - mastered at Tape One, JA (Jack Adams) and EG (Eddy Gorecki) etched in matrix.

Cassette (C STUMM 5) UK

● BARCODE

Barcode:   No

Recorded at Blackwing Studios, London ● Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller ● Engineers Eric Radcliffe, John Fryer ● Photography Brian Griffin

All Compositions V Clarke except + M Gore

Original - White tape and blue letters (see the picture below).

CD (CD STUMM 5) UK April 1988

● MATRIX: RUNOUT / BARCODE

Barcode:   5 016025 600052

Other CD:   Made in France by MPO

Runout:   CD STUMM 5 MPO 01 @@

Recorded at Blackwing Studios, London in 1981 ● Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller ● Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer ● Photography by Brian Griffin ● Designed by T and CP Assoc

All Compositions V Clarke except + M Gore

Cover: Made in Great Britain. Originally released on LP in 1981. Packaging: standard jewel case. 4 page booklet.

PRODUCTION DETAILS ALBUM

"New Life" 3:46  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead" 02:18  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Puppets" 03:58  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Boys Say Go!" 03:07  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Nodisco" 04:15  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"What's Your Name?" 02:45  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Photographic" 04:44  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Tora! Tora! Tora!" 04:37  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Big Muff" 04:24  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Any Second Now" (Voices) 02:35  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Just Can't Get Enough" 03:44  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Dreaming Of Me" 04:03  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Ice Machine" 04:05  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Shout" 03:46  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Any Second Now" 03:08  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Just Can't Get Enough" (Schizo Mix) 06:44  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller. Engineered by Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.

"Speak & Spell" (The original classic album cover)

"Speak & Spell" (Rare, never before published black and white, is derived directly from the original negatives)

"Speak & Spell" (This is from a series of promotional photos, taken by Brain Griffin in his studio in Rotherhithe, London in 1982)

"Speak & Spell" (This is from a series of promotional photos, taken by Brain Griffin in his studio in Rotherhithe, London in 1982)

THE 1th STUDIO ALBUM

discussion album

1981