Speak & Spell [180-Gram Vinyl]

by Depeche Mode

Overview

Though probably nobody fully appreciated it at the time -- perhaps least of all the band! -- Depeche Mode's debut is at once both a conservative, functional pop record and a groundbreaking release. While various synth pioneers had come before -- Gary Numan, early Human League, late-'70s Euro-disco, and above all Kraftwerk all had clear influence on Speak & Spell -- Depeche became the undisputed founder of straight-up synth pop with the album's 11 songs, light, hooky, and danceable numbers about love, life, and clubs. For all the claims about "dated" '80s sounds from rock purists, it should be noted that the basic guitar/bass/drums lineup of rock is almost 25 years older than the catchy keyboard lines and electronic drums making the music here. That such a sound would eventually become ubiquitous during the Reagan years, spawning lots of crud along the way, means the band should no more be held to blame for that than Motown and the Beatles for inspiring lots of bad stuff in the '60s. Credit for the album's success has to go to main songwriter Vince Clarke, who would extend and arguably perfect the synth pop formula with Yazoo and Erasure; the classic early singles "New Life," "Dreaming of Me," and "Just Can't Get Enough," along with numbers ranging from the slyly homoerotic "Pretty Boy" to the moody thumper "Photographic," keep everything moving throughout. David Gahan undersings about half the album, and Martin Gore's two numbers lack the distinctiveness of his later work, but Speak & Spell remains an undiluted joy. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	05/27/2014
Label:	Rhino / Warner Bros.
UPC:	0081227960889
Rank:	16388

Tracks

1. New Life
2. I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead [2006 Remaster]
3. Puppets
4. Boys Say Go!
5. Nodisco
6. What's Your Name?
7. Photographic
8. Tora! Tora! Tora!
9. Big Muff
10. Any Second Now (Voices)
11. Just Can't Get Enough
12. Dreaming of Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Depeche Mode   Primary Artist,Vocals
Andy Fletcher   Keyboards,Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass)
Martin Gore   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Vince Clarke   Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Dave Gahan   Vocals

Technical Credits

Eric Radcliffe   Engineer
John Fryer   Engineer
Andy Fletcher   Producer,Group Member
Depeche Mode   Producer
Martin Gore   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Alan Wilder   Group Member
Vince Clarke   Composer,Producer
Daniel Miller   Producer
Dave Gahan   Producer