The Singles 86>98

Depeche Mode

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 6, 1998
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B00000DAGD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,198 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

So Depeche Mode releases a singles compilation featuring only one previously unreleased song ("Only When I Lose Myself") in anticipation of a major tour. Sound suspiciously like a shameless cash-in? Sure. But The Singles, 86-98 needed to be made. This is a worthwhile purchase for casual admirers and completists alike. The two-disc set contains revamped versions of the major singles from 1986 to 1998 and a version of "Little 15" that was first released only in France. The set's "grand finale" is the live recording of "Everything Counts," from the 101 album. Although the original studio version of the "Everything Counts" single appeared on 1984's People Are People, DM fudged the chronology to justify including this astounding live recording on the album (a ploy to psych up concert-ticket buyers?). The live recording highlights the worshipful crowd applauding, cheering, and chant-singing "The grabbing hands / Grab all they can / Everything counts in large amounts" long after the song has ended. Ka-ching! --Beth Bessmer

New Musical Express

...[T]his two-CD collection shows how the grimy alleyways of cult approval opened out into shiny stadium Valhalla, singer Dave Gahan moving from songwriter Martin Gore's personal voyeur to rock star ringleader. All along, lurking behind the dungeon door and the bedsit curtains, Depeche Mode never really enjoyed the silence. All they ever wanted was the applause.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Their Ever Changing Modes, March 17, 2004

By	Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

As far as capturing the mood of the times, Depeche Mode had a perfect moment when they released "Violator." They were suddenly jerked out of their status as the band disenfranchised Goth kids moped along with to arena rock superstars. Although a few of the singles from the classic "Black Celebration" had made them alternative gods when alternative still meant you were in the alienated minority and "Music For The Masses" had already moved them to the forefront of MTV Video makers, it was songs like "Enjoy The Silence" and "Personal Jesus" that made them truly mass music makers.

This "Singles 86<98" collection is, then, a more honest representation of the music that most people "understand" as Depeche Mode. It's brooding, foreboding and seductive, and often not without the kinky undertones that you can easily find on earlier songs like "Blasphemous Rumors" or "Master and Servant." (Think of how the line "Pain, will you return it" leaps away from the hooky chorus of "Strangelove.") But once DM discovered a consistent knack for the pop hook, there was no holding their fortunes back.

The push/pull of a song like "Personal Jesus" drives the brilliant obsessive lyric home, to a point where even Johnny Cash could recognize the universality of the words. It, along with "Policy Of Truth," are probably the most honest of Martin Gore's songs on this double set. But even after the worldwide stardom granted them after "Violator," DM tried frequently to experiment with the sound.

"Songs Of Faith and Devotion" found the band flirting with guitar rock and gospel, and it's the crunch of "I Feel You" that opens the second half of "The Singles 86<98." Fans of the moodier keyboard driven DM may have been put off by this elaborate amount of experimentation (and by the fact that Alan Wilder's exit had left the group to carry on as a trio), but they would have missed the pleading beauty of "Walking in My Shoes." Which, given Dave Gahan's oncoming near death from a heroin addiction that kicked in during the "Violator" world tour, seems to make more sense. The music of "Ultra" even seemed to capture the aftermath (titles like "It's No Good," "Useless" and "Barrel of a Gun") as Martin Gore watched his partner's parade of madness, but it was also a major return to classic DM form. "Gun" in particular sounds like a descent through a numb fog, just the kind of depression obsession fans of "Black Celebration" had probably been missing. (The 2001 album "Exciter" came after this anthology, but is a cool minimalist CD worthy of your time.)

The remaining tracks, "Little 15" and "Everything Counts" are noteworthy but not exceptional. The single mix of "Little 15" was only released in France. The live version of "Everything Counts" ducks the issue of having been released in its original form before 1986 by taking the version from the "101" concert album and movie, and holds its status as an audience fave even before the days of superstardom.

Also, would it be too much to ask to get a full CD of DM's amazing bonus tracks and soundtrack selections? "Route 66," "Dangerous" "Sea of Sin," etc., deserve a better fate than to be bonus tracks on CD singles.

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.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dumb Editorial Reviews!, April 29, 2004

By	"paleophile0" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

The above editorial review suggests that DM included the live version of "Everything Counts", which was originally released in 1983, to milk a cash cow, and even "fudged chronology" to do so. This isn't the case at *all*. This live version was released as a hit single in 1989 (Mute Cat# Bong16) and therefore fits perfectly into the chronology and theme established by the title.

As for this record itself, it's a fantastically put together and very historically accurate document of DM's output of hit singles during the years in question. The idea is simple and straightforward: compile the 7" versions of each of their singles between the years 1986-1998 (with a few technical exceptions that would only be noticed by the most devoted fans). It's not by any means their most consistent or best album; look to either "Violator" or "The Singles 81-85" for such an item. Never-the-less, the album itself is very, very good and an excellent place to start for anybody who wants to become acquainted with the band and hear some excellently written and produced electronic music.

My sole complaint with this album is that the singles "Little 15" and "Everything Counts Live" aren't put in their proper chronology but rather placed at the very end of the album for whatever reason.

But as for accusations of milking cash cows...that's alomst complete nonsense. This compliation was built with historical accuracy in mind and if the cash comes, it's only a result of the suberb music and production on this record. Get this along with "The Singles 81-85" for a very good introduction to this superlative pop band.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT compilation But, I prefer other albums besides this, August 18, 2000

By	Philip Watkins (San Jose, California USA) - See all my reviews

I am a huge fan of Depeche Mode. They are basically the fathers of tecno and house but, they are much more than that. Their Music is full of incredible lyrics and vocals. There are great songs on this compilation but, I wouldnt say these songs are the best songs they have. If you are a first time listener to depeche mode this will probably be good for you. But, if you like rock I would suggest getting the album "songs of faith and devotion" it has great guitar in it and it leans more towards a rock sound. If you are into dance or house music I suggest the album "violator" it is Depeche Modes best selling album and it is virtually made for the night club. If you are into dark slow music with a lot of bass then I suggest "ultra" This album is my personal favorite and the lyrics are some of Martin Gore's best. And if you are into old school synth pop then I suggest any depeche mode album before 1986 or you can just get "81-84 singles compilation" But, other than that if you want the full feel of depeche mode than get this album!