music for the masses

Depeche Mode broke into the mainstream with the dark and dramatic mystical redemption of this prophetic post punk synth pop classic. After the critical and commercial successes of their albums 'Some Great Reward' and  'Black Celebration'  and the single 'People Are People'; the band was poised for a breakthrough. Depeche Mode joined co-producer David Bascombe at Studio Guilliame Tell in Paris, France and Konk Studios in London with Dave Gahan on lead vocals and sampler; Martin Gore on keyboards, guitar, accordion, sampler, and vocals; Alan Wilder on keyboards, sampler, piano, programming, and backing vocals; Andy Fletcher on sampler and backing vocals. 'Music for the Masses' was more than wishful thinking. Songwriter Gore says: "It's far more interesting to write about things that aren't as pleasant. I find more inspiration in less pleasant things. I think there's too much nice-ness in the charts...It's really interesting to write really personal things, especially if people can get something out of them."

Wilder explains the title and motif: "There's been an idea which came from our designer Martin Atkins...of a speaker to give the kind of ironic element which the title has...to put this speaker in a setting which wasn't really to do with the masses at all but was in fact the opposite...so you end of with this kind of eerie thing where you get these speakers and megaphones in the middle of a setting that doesn't suit it at all." Dave Gahan adds: "The whole thing is very tongue in cheek...we don't feel that we do sell to the masses."

Regardless, 'Music for the Masses' propelled the band to international success; going to number sixty in Australia, thirty-five in the US, sixteen in Austria, ten in the UK, seven in France and Italy, four in Sweden and Switzerland, and number two in Germany.









http://www.depechemode.com/












'Strangelove' made it to seventy-six on the US pop chart, twenty-nine in Austria, twenty-five in France, twenty-four in Italy, sixteen in the UK, six in Ireland, five in Sweden, three in Switzerland, two in Germany, and number one on the US hot dance club chart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIrm0dHbCDU






'Never Let Me Down Again' rose to eighty-two in Australia, sixty-three on the US pop chart, twenty-nine in Austria and France, twenty-two in the UK, thirteen in Italy, twelve in Ireland and on the US hot dance club chart, seven in Sweden and Switzerland, and number two in Germany.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snILjFUkk_A







'Behind the Wheel' went to ninety-eight in Australia, sixty-one on the US pop chart, thirty-four in New Zealand, twenty-one in France and the UK, sixteen in Ireland, ten in Sweden, six in Germany and Switzerland, and number three on the US hot dance club chart.






'Route 66'




'Behind the Wheel / Route 66' megamix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkB4COqwcW4




'Music for the Masses'

full album:



All tracks written by Martin Gore.



1. Never Let Me Down Again 0:00
2. The Things You Said 4:47
3. Strangelove 8:50
4. Sacred 13:47
5. Little 15 18:35
6. Behind The Wheel 22:53
7. I Want You Now 28:12
8. To Have and to Hold 31:57
9. Nothing 34:48
10. Pimpf 39:06