Master and Servant
Encyclopedia
"Master and Servant" is Depeche Mode
's eleventh UK single (released on August 20, 1984) and the second single from the Some Great Reward
album. Despite a lot of controversy surrounding the song, it still managed to reach #9 in the UK Singles Chart
.
"Master and Servant" comes with the "Slavery Whip Mix", the longest 12" DM song at the time with the outro being turned into a swing version of the refrain, and the "Voxless" version which is an instrumental mix of the song. The B-side is "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me", its Release Mix is the 12" version. The 7" version edits out much of the beginning.
Some versions include a song called "Are People People?" which uses samples from "People Are People" and chanting. Both "Are People People?" and "Master and Servant [An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic]" appear on Remixes 81 - 04
in 2004. They are remixed by Adrian Sherwood
.
The production and mixing process of "Master and Servant" are remembered by Alan Wilder, Daniel Miller, and Gareth Jones, as among the longest that Depeche Mode ever endured. One famous story about the song includes a mixing duration of seven days, and after all the reworking and final mastering of the mix, they realized they left the channel with the snare drum muted during the last chorus.
The "Master and Servant" music video was directed by Clive Richardson.
Some of the sounds on “Master And Servant” – such as the whip effect – are based on Daniel Miller standing in the studio hissing and spitting. According to the band, they tried to sample a real whip but "it was hopeless".
The overtly sexual, BDSM
-themed lyrics of "Master and Servant" - complete with synthesized whip-and-chain sound effects - reportedly got the song banned by many radio stations in the United States (although the song reached the Billboard Hot 100
chart anyway, albeit only at #87 and for only a three-week chart stay). Reportedly the song narrowly avoided a radio ban by the BBC as well, and might have been banned if the one BBC staffer who wanted to ban the record had not been away on holiday at the time the other staffers voted on whether to add "Master and Servant" to their playlist.
Track 1 was re-released on the 2- and 3-disc CD versions of Remixes 81 - 04
, while track 2 only appears on the 3-disc version.
The CD single was released in 1991 as part of the singles box set compilations
All songs written by Martin Gore
.
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 eleventh UK single (released on August 20, 1984) and the second single from the Some Great Reward
Some Great Reward
Some Great Reward is the fourth album by the British electronic group Depeche Mode, released in 1984. The album peaked at #5 in the UK and at #51 in the US. The title comes from the last lines of the bridge in "Lie to Me" when it repeats near the end....
album. Despite a lot of controversy surrounding the song, it still managed to reach #9 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
"Master and Servant" comes with the "Slavery Whip Mix", the longest 12" DM song at the time with the outro being turned into a swing version of the refrain, and the "Voxless" version which is an instrumental mix of the song. The B-side is "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me", its Release Mix is the 12" version. The 7" version edits out much of the beginning.
Some versions include a song called "Are People People?" which uses samples from "People Are People" and chanting. Both "Are People People?" and "Master and Servant [An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic]" appear 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...
in 2004. They are remixed by Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, and Skinny Puppy...
.
The production and mixing process of "Master and Servant" are remembered by Alan Wilder, Daniel Miller, and Gareth Jones, as among the longest that Depeche Mode ever endured. One famous story about the song includes a mixing duration of seven days, and after all the reworking and final mastering of the mix, they realized they left the channel with the snare drum muted during the last chorus.
The "Master and Servant" music video was directed by Clive Richardson.
Some of the sounds on “Master And Servant” – such as the whip effect – are based on Daniel Miller standing in the studio hissing and spitting. According to the band, they tried to sample a real whip but "it was hopeless".
The overtly sexual, BDSM
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
-themed lyrics of "Master and Servant" - complete with synthesized whip-and-chain sound effects - reportedly got the song banned by many radio stations in the United States (although the song reached the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart anyway, albeit only at #87 and for only a three-week chart stay). Reportedly the song narrowly avoided a radio ban by the BBC as well, and might have been banned if the one BBC staffer who wanted to ban the record had not been away on holiday at the time the other staffers voted on whether to add "Master and Servant" to their playlist.
7": Sire / 7-28918 (US)
- "Master and Servant" [edit] – 3:27
- "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12
12": Mute / 12Bong6 (UK)
- "Master and Servant (Slavery Whip Mix)" – 9:38
- "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me (Release Mix)" – 8:49
- "Master and Servant (Voxless)" – 4:00
L12": Mute / L12Bong6 (UK)
- "Master and Servant (An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic)" – 4:34
- "Are People People?" – 4:29
- "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12
Track 1 was re-released on the 2- and 3-disc CD versions of 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...
, while track 2 only appears on the 3-disc version.
12": Sire / 0-20283 (US)
- "Master and Servant (US Black and Blue Mix)" – 8:02 (edited by Joseph Watt)
- "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me (US 12" Mix)" – 7:59 (edited by Joseph Watt)
- "Are People People?" – 4:29
CD: Mute / CDBong6 (UK)
- "Master and Servant" – 3:46
- "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12
- "Master and Servant (Slavery Whip Mix)" – 9:38
- "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me (Release Mix)" – 8:49
- "Master and Servant (Voxless)" – 4:00
The CD single was released in 1991 as part of the singles box set compilations
All songs written by 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...
.