• Depeche Mode
• Depeche Mode Music For The Masses Rare

For the Masses is a 1998 tribute album to the British band Depeche Mode, specifically the works of Martin Gore. The album charted in America and reached the Top 20 in Germany, making it the most successful Depeche Mode tribute album of all time.^[1] The album title is taken from Depeche Mode's 1987 album Music for the Masses.^[2] The album cover was photographed by Martyn Atkins who shot and designed early Depeche Mode artwork; the whole album artwork is consistent with the past Depeche Mode albums.^[3]

Listen to Music For The Masses on Spotify. Depeche Mode Album 1987 14 songs. Artist: Depeche Mode/Martin GoreAlbum: Music For The Masses Demo and Studio Outtake Collection (Remastered)Year: 1987 Setlist:00:00:00 - 1 - Depeche Mode - S.

Background[edit]

The project was started by the band members of God Lives Underwater, David Reilly in particular, in collaboration with their manager Gary Richards and Philip Blaine of 1500 Records (an A&M Records label until 2001),^[2] featuring a wide array of bands including The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, Rammstein, and Meat Beat Manifesto. Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Foo Fighters wanted to do tracks but schedule complications prevented them.^[3] Manson, who wanted to cover 'Personal Jesus,' eventually did so for his greatest hits album Lest We Forget: The Best of in 2004. Credited executive producers for the album are Philip Blaine and Gary Richards.

Release[edit]

The compact disc release features a notoriously poor use of HDCD encoding. When decoded as HDCD, one channel signals a -4 dB gain adjustment throughout, making it noticeably quieter than the other. If played as a regular CD, however, the gain adjustment information is ignored.^[4]

The Smashing Pumpkins version of 'Never Let Me Down Again' was originally released a few years previously as a b-side for 'Rocket'.^[1]Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins performed the song 'Never Let Me Down Again' with Depeche Mode at the KROQ Acoustic Christmas concert in 1998. The 'World in My Eyes' cover by The Cure also appears on the Cure box set Join the Dots.

Rammstein released their cover of 'Stripped' as a single, accompanied by a controversial^[5] music video, directed by Philipp Stölzl, which uses excerpts from Olympia, a Leni Riefenstahl documentary film covering the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The single charted at No. 14 in Germany. A live version is available on the Völkerball DVD.

Reception[edit]

In his critical review for Allmusic, Stephen Erlewine writes that Depeche Mode songs are 'difficult to cover without replicating the original arrangements' and that only a few bands succeeded in making the songs their own. He singles out the versions from Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure, Gus Gus, and Rammstein, stating that 'they're almost good enough to make the overall mediocrity of the album worthwhile.' ^[6]

NME states that this tribute album is 'not about investigating Depeche Mode's legacy, but massaging swollen egos'. The Smashing Pumpkins and The Cure are commended for attempting something different while the rest of the entries fail in adding their own twist to the songs and are hoping for 'some controversy-free exposure'.^[7]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Martin Gore.

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abMalins, Steve (2001). Depeche Mode : A Biography. Andre Deutsch. p. 248. ISBN978-0-233-99430-7.
2. ^ ^abNewman, Melinda (28 February 1998). 'The Beat: Depeche Mode Tribute A Dream Come True'. Billboard Magazine. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 110 (9): 16. ISSN0006-2510.
3. ^ ^ab'For The Masses - Philip Blaine interviewArchived October 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine' Bong Magazine N:o 36 (June 1998). Retrieved 21 May 2011.
4. ^'List of HDCD-encoded Compact Discs'. Hydrogenaudio. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
5. ^'Nazis? Heil, no!' NME. 14 September 1998. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
6. ^ ^abErlewine, Stephen Thomas. For the Masses at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
7. ^ ^ab'For The Masses - Album Review'. NME. 19 September 1998. Retrieved 29 June 2011.

External links[edit]

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Music For The Masses
Chart Position (UK): 10
Chart Position (USA): 35

Mute STUMM 47
UK LP, released September 28th, 1987
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
Side 2
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Mute STUMM 47
UK Limited Edition clear vinyl LP, released September 28th, 1987
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15

Side 2
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Mute STUMM 47 / HMV 1
UK Limited Edition HMV LP + bonus promotional 12' single, released September 28th, 1987
this is a promotional release, and was not for sale.

Side 1
Strangelove (Maxi Mix)

Side 2
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)

Mute STUMM 47
UK Withdrawn 'budget line' LP, released 1990's
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
Side 2
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Mute DM LP 6
UK 'Collector's Edition' Remastered 180 gram LP, released March 12th, 2007
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Side 2
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

BMG / Music On Vinyl MOVLP942 / 8718469534319
UK 180 gram LP, released February 3rd, 2014
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
Side 2
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Mute C STUMM 47
UK Cassette, released September 28th, 1987
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Side 2
Agent Orange
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)

Mute C STUMM 47
UK 'Double Album Cassette' Cassette, released 1987
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Side 2
Black Celebration
Fly On The Windscreen (Final)
A Question Of Lust
Sometimes
It Doesn't Matter Two
A Question Of Time
Stripped
Here Is The House
World Full Of Nothing
Dressed In Black
New Dress

Mute CD STUMM 47
UK CD, released September 28th, 1987
this is a commercial release.

Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible
Agent Orange
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)

Mute CDX STUMM 47
UK Remastered CD, released April 3rd, 2006
this is a commercial release.

Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Mute DM CD 6
UK 'Collector's Edition' Remastered SACD + DVD, released April 3rd, 2006
this is a commercial release.

Disc 1 (SACD)
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Disc 2 (DVD)
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible
Agent Orange
Pleasure, Little Treasure
Route 66
Stjarna
Sonata No. 14 in C#m (Moonlight Sonata)
Agent Orange
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)
Depeche Mode 87-88: Sometimes you do need some new jokes (video)

Sire 25614-1
US LP, released October 6th, 1987
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again [4:47]
The Things You Said [3:55]
Strangelove [4:38]
Sacred [5:01]
Little 15 [4:14]

Side 2
Behind The Wheel [5:17]
I Want You Now [3:28]
To Have And To Hold [3:08]
Nothing [4:12]
Pimpf [3:56]
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Sire / Reprise / Rhino WBA1-233916
US 'Collector's Edition' Remastered 180 gram LP, released January 22nd, 2008
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15

Side 2
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Rhino WBA1-233916
US 180 gram LP, released February 4th, 2014
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15

Side 2
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Sire 25614-2
US Cassette, released October 6th, 1987
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15

Side 2
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible
Agent Orange
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)

Sire 25614-2
US Cassette, released 1987
this is a commercial release.

Side 1
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Side 2
Agent Orange
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)

Sire 25614-4
US CD, released October 6th, 1987
this is a commercial release.

Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible
Agent Orange
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)

Sire / Reprise / Rhino R2 77592
US 'Collector's Edition' Remastered CD + DVD, released June 6th, 2006
this is a commercial release.

Disc 1 (CD)
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible

Disc 2 (DVD)
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible
Agent Orange
Pleasure, Little Treasure
Route 66
Stjarna
Sonata No. 14 in C#m (Moonlight Sonata)
Agent Orange
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)
Depeche Mode 87-88: Sometimes you do need some new jokes (video)

Depeche Mode

The vinyl versions of this album do not feature 'Agent Orange', 'Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)', 'To Have And To Hold (Spanish Taster)' and 'Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix).

The UK album was released in a limited edition clear vinyl version, back in 1987. There was also a special HMV edition, which was the original vinyl, with a special promotional 12' single.

A newly designed UK budget release series of the original albums was planned in the '90's. Word has it that 135 copies were printed up of 'Music For The Masses'. As the project was scapped, all copies (excluding 12) were destroyed. Those 12 copies were accidentally shipped to distributors. Record stores were simply told that these new pressings were from the 'upcoming budget line' vinyl reissues. The stores, at the time, had no idea that the copies they received were very rare items. The webmaster of this site, not knowing of the release at the time, just happened to stumble upon one at a local Los Angeles record shop. Alan Wilder auctioned off his copy in 2012 for over $3,000.

A unique release is the 'Black Celebration' and 'Music For The Masses' UK cassette. Both titles were combined for a 'Double Album Cassette' release. The catalog number for the cassette is the same as the normal 'one album' version.

The cassette and CD versions of the original US album featured the bonus tracks 'Agent Orange' (b side of the 'Strangelove' single), 'Never Let Me Down Again' (Aggro Mix, on the 'Never Let Me Down Again' single), 'To Have And To Hold' (Spanish Taster, a b side of the 'Never Let Me Down Again' single) and the Glitter Mix of 'Pleasure, Little Treasure' (another b side from the 'Never Let Me Down Again' single).

The instrumental interlude after 'Pimpf' is called 'Interlude #1 - Mission Impossible'. It is not credited on the album.

Original pressings of the US cassette were sequenced so side one ended with 'Little 15', and side two contained the rest of the album tracks, and the four bonus tracks. Later pressings put the entire album on side one, and just the four bonus tracks on side two

In 2006, the album was completely remastered, and released in two different formats (SACD + DVD, and LP in Europe, CD + DVD, and LP in North America). The SACD + DVD version featured the album in a remastered 5.1 surround sound presentation, on the SACD disc. The CD + DVD version featured the album in a remastered 5.1 surround sound presentation on the DVD disc. The CD and LP were remastered stereo audio. The US edition of the remastered CD was not a SACD. Only the European release was in SACD format. The US DVD is a standard DVD, not a specific DVD-Audio disc.

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Depeche Mode Music For The Masses Rare