Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85

Originally released 15 October 1985, “The Singles 81→85” is the first compilation album issued in the UK by Depeche Mode. The CD version features all the band’s singles from ”Dreaming Of Me”, to the previously unreleased ”It’s Called A Heart” and ”Shake The Disease”. On the vinyl version, ”The Meaning Of Love” and ”Somebody” are omitted.

“The Singles 81→85” was released in most parts of the world. However, North America did not see a release of this title, instead the somewhat different compilation “Catching Up With Depeche Mode”, was released there.

In 1998, shortly after the release of “The Singles 86>98”, the original “The Singles 81→85” was reissued as the remastered and repackaged  “The Singles 81>85”, with two additional tracks.

LP – UK
Mute – MUTEL 1 (released 15 October 1985, gatefold sleeve)

Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85

LP blue transparent vinyl white label test pressing – UK
Mute – MUTEL 1 (released in September or October 1985, standard inner sleeve)

Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85

LP – grey opaque vinyl edition – Germany
Mute – Mutel 1 – Intercord Ton – INT 146.817 (released 15 October 1985 with silver or blue sticker on front cover – reissue with blue sticker released in 1988 and 1989, gatefold sleeve, printed metallic-like picture of the band included)

Get your German edition of “The Singles 81→85” in coloured vinyl format from eBay (subject to availability).

Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85

Metallic-like picture

Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85

LP – Brazil
Mute – Sire – 670.8026 (reissue released in 1988 simply titled “The Singles”, features Route 66 [the B-side of the single Behind The Wheel] as a bonus track, this title was also released on cassette)

Depeche Mode – The Singles

Depeche Mode – The Singles

CD – UK
Mute – CD MUTEL 1 (released 15 October 1985)

Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85

  1. Dreaming Of Me 3:44 vc (1981)
  2. New Life 3:43 vc (1981)
  3. Just Can’t Get Enough 3:37 vc (1981)
  4. See You 3:52 (1982)
  5. The Meaning Of Love 3:05 (1982)
  6. Leave In Silence 3:58 (1982)
  7. Get The Balance Right! 3:11 (1983)
  8. Everything Counts 3:57 (1983)
  9. Love, In Itself 3:58 (1983)
  10. People Are People 3:43 (1984)
  11. Master And Servant 3:50 (1984)
  12. Blasphemous Rumours 5:07 (1984)
  13. Somebody 4:21 (1984)
  14. Shake The Disease 4:46 (1985)
  15. It’s Called A Heart 3:48 (1985)

Note: “The Singles 81→85” was also released on cassette and mini-disc.

Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85

  • all tracks written by Martin Gore, except vc by Vince Clarke and ★ by Robert William Troup Jr
  • produced by Daniel Miller, Gareth Jones, and Depeche Mode
  • highest chart position 6 (UK)
  • 1985 Depeche Mode was Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, Martin Gore, and Alan Wilder (Vince Clarke was in the band from 1980 to 1981)