"Behind the Wheel" is Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...

's twentieth UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 single, released on December 28, 1987, and the third single for the album Music for the Masses

Music for the Masses

Music for the Masses is the sixth studio album by Depeche Mode. It was released by Mute Records on September 28, 1987, and was supported by the Music for the Masses Tour.-Mainstream success in the United States:...

. Peaking at #21 in the UK charts, it hit #6 in West Germany

West Germany

West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....

.

The B-Side is a cover of Bobby Troup

Bobby Troup

Robert William "Bobby" Troup Jr. was an American actor, jazz pianist and songwriter. He is best known for writing the popular standard " Route 66", and for his role as Dr...

's standard "Route 66

Route 66 (song)

" Route 66", often rendered simply as "Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961, The Rolling...

", named after the highway

U.S. Route 66

U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...

 of the same name. The music for the cover is similar, sometimes identical to "Behind the Wheel" (specifically during the bridge

Bridge (music)

In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...

). In fact, there are several mixes that combine the two together. Martin Gore

Martin Gore

Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...

 is the lead singer on "Route 66", while David Gahan

David Gahan

Dave Gahan is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the baritone lead singer for the British electronic music band Depeche Mode since their debut in 1980. He is also an accomplished solo artist, releasing albums in 2003 and 2007...

 and Gore sing "Behind the Wheel" together. For The World Violation Tour in 1990, Gahan sang lead on "Route 66" instead of Gore.

There is also a Beatmasters

Beatmasters

The Beatmasters are a team of dance music songwriters, musicians and producers who were successful as artists in their own right in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s and then went on to produce and remix records for many other groups...

 mix of both songs. "Route 66 (Beatmasters Mix)" shows up on Remixes 81 - 04

Remixes 81 - 04

-remixes 81·04:* LCDMUTEL8 – one CD edition# "Never Let Me Down Again " – 9:32# "Personal Jesus " – 7:47# "Barrel of a Gun " – 9:36# "Route 66 " – 6:18...

. The remixed version includes a promo for the TV game show Name That Tune

Name That Tune

Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....

and a radio announcement by Wolfman Jack

Wolfman Jack

Robert Weston Smith, known commonly as Wolfman Jack was a gravelly voiced US disc jockey who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early career:...

 urging young people to register for the Selective Service.

There are two music videos for "Behind the Wheel". The original version, from Strange

Strange (video)

Strange - A Black and White Mode by Anton Corbijn is the second music video compilation by Depeche Mode, featuring the first five Depeche Mode videos directed by Anton Corbijn, released in 1988. Corbijn shot the entire video album in Super-8....

 uses the "LP Mix". There is also a shortened one using the 7" "Remix" version of the song. It appears on The Videos 86-98. They are directed by Anton Corbijn

Anton Corbijn

Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...

. The video, shot in Italy, opens with the car used in the Never Let Me Down Again

Never Let Me Down Again

"Never Let Me Down Again" is Depeche Mode's nineteenth UK single, released on August 24, 1987, and the second single for the then upcoming album Music for the Masses. A relatively moderate hit in the UK, at #22, it was a smash in West Germany, where it hit #2, and a Top 10 success in several other...

 video being towed away - the video becoming an unofficial sequel to the one for the previous single.

Track listings

"Behind the Wheel" is written by Martin Gore. "Route 66" is written by Robert William Troup Jr.

Bobby Troup

Robert William "Bobby" Troup Jr. was an American actor, jazz pianist and songwriter. He is best known for writing the popular standard " Route 66", and for his role as Dr...

.

12": Mute / 12Bong15 (UK)

1. "Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix)" – 5:55
2. "Route 66 (Beatmasters
   Beatmasters
   The Beatmasters are a team of dance music songwriters, musicians and producers who were successful as artists in their own right in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s and then went on to produce and remix records for many other groups...
   
    Mix) – 6:19

12": Mute / L12Bong15 (UK)

1. "Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters
   Beatmasters
   The Beatmasters are a team of dance music songwriters, musicians and producers who were successful as artists in their own right in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s and then went on to produce and remix records for many other groups...
   
    Mix)" – 7:58
2. "Route 66 (Casualty Mix)" – 10:39 (remixed by Dave Allen
   David M. Allen
   David M. Allen is a British record producer, engineer and mixer. He is mostly known for his work with new wave, synth pop and goth rock bands including The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, The Chameleons, Depeche Mode, The Associates, The Human League, Clan of Xymox, Gianna Nannini, Shelleyan Orphan and...
   
   )

CD: Mute / CDBong15 (UK)

1. "Behind the Wheel (7" Remix)" – 3:58
2. "Route 66" – 4:09
3. "Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix)" – 5:57
4. "Behind the Wheel (LP Mix)" – 5:18

CD: Mute / CDBong15 (UK)

1. "Behind the Wheel (Remix)" – 3:58
2. "Route 66" – 4:11
3. "Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix)" – 5:57
4. "Route 66 (Beatmasters Mix)" – 6:21
5. "Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters Mix)" – 8:01
6. "Route 66 (Casualty Mix)" – 10:42
7. "Behind the Wheel (LP Mix)" – 5:18
   • The second CD is the 1992 re-release.

Cassette maxi-single: Mute / CBong15 (UK)

1. "Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix)" – 5:57
2. "Route 66 (Beatmasters Mix)" – 6:21
3. "Behind the Wheel (LP Mix)" – 5:18

7": Sire / 7-27991 (US)

1. "Behind the Wheel (Remix)" – 3:58
2. "Route 66/Behind the Wheel (Mega-Single Mix)" – 4:15 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)

12": Sire / 0-20858 (US)

1. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Megamix)" – 7:51 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)
2. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Megadub)" – 6:17 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)
3. "Behind the Wheel (Extended Remix)" – 5:57
4. "Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters Mix)" – 8:01

12": Sire / PRO-A-2952 (US PROMO)

1. "Behind the Wheel (Extended Remix)" – 5:50
2. "Behind the Wheel (Dub)" – 6:00
3. "Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters Mix)" – 8:00
4. "Behind the Wheel (7" DJ Remix)" – 3:48

CD: Sire / PRO-CD-2953 (US PROMO)

1. "Behind the Wheel (Remix)" – 4:03
2. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Mega-Single Mix)" – 4:29 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)
3. "Route 66/Behind the Wheel (Mega-Single Mix)" – 4:22
4. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Megamix)" – 7:51 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)
5. "Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters Mix)" – 8:01
6. "Behind the Wheel (Extended Remix)" – 5:57

• The "Megamix" and the "Mega-Single" remixes by Ivan Ivan are simply the two songs mixed together, alternating back and forth. One Mega-Single Mix opens with "Behind The Wheel", the other with "Route 66". These mixes were not released in the UK.
• The "Extended Remix" and "Shep Pettibone Mix" are the same. The Behind the Wheel/Route 66 megamix appeared on the rare fourth disc of Depeche Mode's remix compilation, Remixes 81-04.

External links

• Single information from the official Depeche Mode web site