DEPECHE MODE DISCOGRAPHY




Depeche Mode 'Never Let Me Down Again' 1987



Single:  

Never Let Me Down Again


Label:  

Depeche Mode  

MUTE


Catalog number:  

BONG14


Release date:  

24 August 1987


Producer:  

Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller и David Bascombe


Design of single:  

T & CP Associates


Formats edition:  

7"LP

12"LP

L12"LP

CD

MC

VIDEO

AUDIO


UK chart:  

22 position



DEPECHE MODE:


■  

Dave Gahan


■  

Martin Gore


■  

Andy Fletcher


■  

Alan Wilder




RELEASE INFO


Depeche Mode "Never Let Me Down Again"



Single Released on 24 August 1987 in the UK



The cover art features fragments of a Soviet map of Russia and Europe, with different fragments used for the different editions of the single. Studio impresario Alan Wilder and the other members of the band considered the track an "obvious single" with much potential. They developed it throughout so that dramatic-type elements such as the Led Zeppelin-influenced drum patterns and Martin Gore's distinctive guitar riffs sound in the forefront. The lyrics of the song, starting with the strident vocals of "I'm taking a ride with my best friend", are generally regarded as reflecting drug use, with the track being labeled by NME music journalist Jane Solanas as a "masterpiece" that well conveys the feeling of "drug euphoria".


The main remix version of the track, known as the "Split Mix", came about with direct involvement from the band. The 12" maxi release stretched to exactly nine and a half minutes long. Oddly enough, despite the pleasing results from the point of view of the band, that proved to be the last time in decades that a remix came out with their direct involvement. The main 12" remix of "Never Let Me Down Again" is known as the "Split Mix", as stated above, and the nine-and-a-half-minute track featured direct involvement from the band during its creation. In detail, the remix features the regular song, an added intro piece, and a techno-like musical arrangement appended at the end. The arrangement was expanded to the "Aggro Mix" on the 12" B-side, a piece additionally available as a bonus track on the CD and cassette tape versions of Music for the Masses.


The rarer b-side is "To Have and To Hold (Spanish Taster)". Martin Gore's original plan for the song sounded a lot like upbeat electropop, but Alan Wilder turned it into the dark wave track it eventually became. While Alan Wilder version was always set to be the final version, Martin Gore wanted his version to be recorded as well. However, not all of the lyrics are sung in the song. It shows up as one of the bonus tracks on the CD/Cassette version of "Music For The Masses" and is on the CD versions of "Never Let Me Down Again". The regular version of "To Have and To Hold" is one of the main tracks on the "Music For The Masses" LP.





VINYL RELEASE


7" single (BONG14) UK



Side One



"Never Let Me Down Again" (Single Version) 04:20



Side Two



"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Single Version) 02:51





● MATRIX: RUNOUT



Other Side Two:   Made in England


Runout Side One:   ②x ONLY JOKING M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 A Commercial A THE EXCHANGE L18923 DAMONT


Runout Side Two:   L18924 DAMONT I'M GOIN' INTO ME SHELL. ①X M̶P̶O̶ BONG 14 B¹ 4 JONZ


Vinyl record format:   45 RPM/Stereo





Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode


Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode




VINYL RELEASE


12" single (12BONG14) UK



Side One



"Never Let Me Down Again" (Split Mix) 09:34



Side Two



"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Glitter Mix) 05:34


"Never Let Me Down Again" (Aggro Mix) 04:53





● MATRIX: RUNOUT



Other:   Made in England


Runout Side One:   12 BONG-14 A1 PAG The Exchange Damont "Mixed By The Slob"


Runout Side Two:   12 BONG-14 B1 PAG Damont "Gone Fishing"


Vinyl record format:   45 RPM/Stereo





Sleeve spot varnished front and rear over map images. Semi-matte cover. Generic inner sleeve with rounded corners.







Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode


Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode




VINYL RELEASE


L12" single (L12BONG14) UK



Side One



"Never Let Me Down Again" (Tsangarides Mix) 04:22



Side Two



"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Join Mix) 04:53


"To Have And To Hold" (Spanish Taster) 02:33





● MATRIX: RUNOUT



Other:   Made in England


Runout Side One:   L-12 BONG º14 A1 PAG The Exchange


Runout Side Two:   L-12 BONG 14 B1 PAG JONZ F


Vinyl record format:   45 RPM/Stereo





Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode


Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode




CD RELEASE


CD single (CDBONG14) UK Release 1987



1.   "Never Let Me Down Again" (Split Mix) 09:34


2.   "Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Join Mix) 05:04


3.   "To Have And To Hold" (Spanish Taster) 02:33


4.   "Never Let Me Down Again" (Aggro Mix) 04:54





● MATRIX: RUNOUT / BARCODE



Other:   MADE IN ENGLAND


Runout:   CD BONG 14 · MASTERED BY NIMBUS





Original release in cardboard sleeve with inner sleeve.







Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode




MC RELEASE


Cassette single (CBONG14) UK



"Never Let Me Down Again" (Split Mix) 09:34


"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Glitter Mix) 05:34


"Never Let Me Down Again" (Aggro Mix) 04:53





Same tracks on both sides. Video cassette type packaging. Tracks play the same both sides







Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode




MUSIC VIDEO RELEASE


Never Let Me Down Again (Single Version)



Release 24 August 1987


Written by Martin L. Gore


Produced by Dave Bascombe, Depeche Mode


Video directed by Anton Corbijn



Notes: This video is for the 7" version of the song.






Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix)



Release 12 Jule 1988


Written by Martin L. Gore


Produced by Dave Bascombe, Depeche Mode


Video directed by Anton Corbijn



Notes: This video is for the 12" version ("Split Mix") of the song. Where the 7" version fades out after 4 minutes, the 12" version keeps going.






Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)



Release 05 June 1998


Video directed by Alexander Soloha



Notes: Studio "Art Pictures" produced by Dmitry Ivanov with the participation of cameraman Vladislav Opeliants. Russia. The prize "For the best work of the operator" at the TV video clip contest "Generation-98".





Depeche Mode

Photography Anton Corbijn : 1987 in Denmark during “Never Let Me Down Again” video shoot.




AUDIO | RELEASES


PRODUCTION DETAILS TRACKS



"Never Let Me Down Again" (Single Version) 04:20  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and David Bascombe. Additional production and help from Daniel Miller. Engineered by David Bascombe.


"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Single Version) 02:51  •  Produced by Depeche Mode and Dave Bascombe. Engineered by Dave Bascombe.


"Never Let Me Down Again" (Split Mix) 09:34  •  Remixed by Depeche Mode and Dave Bascombe.


"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Glitter Mix) 05:34  •  Remixed by Depeche Mode and Dave Bascombe.


"Never Let Me Down Again" (Aggro Mix) 04:53  •  Remixed by Depeche Mode and Dave Bascombe.


"Never Let Me Down Again" (Tsangarides Mix) 04:22  •  Remixed by John Fryer and Paul Kendall.


"To Have And To Hold" (Spanish Taster) 02:33  •  Remixed by Depeche Mode and Dave Bascombe. Engineered by Dave Bascombe.


"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Join Mix) 05:04  •  Remixed by John Fryer and Paul Kendall.





POSTER


Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode


Depeche Mode



THE 19th SINGLE



discussion single




1987






Depeche Mode


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