Never Let Me Down Again
Encyclopedia
"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 European countries (Sweden
, Switzerland
, etc.). The cover art features fragments of a Soviet
map of Russia and Europe, with different fragments used for the different editions of the single.
video is when Dave Gahan waves his arms in the air during the end of the song, and the sold out crowd of 60,000 mimicked Gahan's movements. It is now a tradition at Depeche Mode shows for fans to wave their arms in the air during the end of "Never Let Me Down Again."
On November 8, 2001, shortly after their final Exciter Tour
concert in Mannheim
, Germany
, the band played "Never Let Me Down Again" during the MTV Europe Music Awards
in Frankfurt
, which aired in the US on MTV2
. It can be viewed at the official Depeche Mode website.
.
Another remix of the track, by German group Digitalism
was released in 2006 as one of the Digital Deluxe Bonus Tracks of The Best Of, Volume 1
(also released as a limited double vinyl 12").
Eric Prydz
remixed the song for the band's remix compilation album Remixes 2: 81–11
uses the "Split Mix", minus the intro and outro, and during the EBM
portion, Gahan's pair of dancing shoes are shown walking without anyone wearing them, before someone puts them on and wears them to dance. There is also a shortened one with just the Single version of the song, without the dancing shoes. It appears on The Videos 86>98. They are directed by Anton Corbijn
.
, which was engineered by Dave Bascombe. The "Glitter Mix" showed up as a bonus track on the CD/Cassette versions of Music for the Masses and in remastered form on the 2006 CD/DVD release.
The rarer b-side is "To Have and To Hold (Spanish Taster)". Martin Gore
's original plan for the song sounded a lot like this upbeat electropop, but Alan Wilder
turned it into the dark wave track it eventually became. While Alan's version was always set to be the final version, Martin 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.
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 nineteenth 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 August 24, 1987, and the second single for the then upcoming 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:...
. A relatively moderate hit in the UK, at #22, it was a smash 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....
, where it hit #2, and a Top 10 success in several other European countries (Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, etc.). The cover art features fragments of a Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
map of Russia and Europe, with different fragments used for the different editions of the single.
Live performances
The song became a favourite among fans, especially live. Shows during Depeche Mode's 1988 tour were often closed with this song. Notable in the 101101 (album)
-Disc one:A Side# "Pimpf" – 0:58# "Behind the Wheel" – 5:55# "Strangelove" – 4:49# "Something to Do" – 3:54# "Blasphemous Rumours" – 5:09B Side# "Stripped" – 6:45# "Somebody" – 4:34...
video is when Dave Gahan waves his arms in the air during the end of the song, and the sold out crowd of 60,000 mimicked Gahan's movements. It is now a tradition at Depeche Mode shows for fans to wave their arms in the air during the end of "Never Let Me Down Again."
On November 8, 2001, shortly after their final Exciter Tour
Exciter Tour
Exciter Tour was a 2001 concert tour by English electronic band Depeche Mode in support of the group's 10th studio album, Exciter, which was released in May 2001....
concert in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the band played "Never Let Me Down Again" during the MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, which aired in the US on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
. It can be viewed at the official Depeche Mode website.
Remixes
The main 12" remix of "Never Let Me Down Again" is the "Split Mix", a nine minute track which features the regular song, an added intro plus a techno arrangement appended at the end. The arrangement was expanded to the "Aggro Mix" on the 12" B-side, also available as a bonus track on the CD/Cassette version of Music for the Masses. The "Split Mix" appears on Remixes 81 - 04Remixes 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...
.
Another remix of the track, by German group Digitalism
Digitalism (band)
Digitalism is a German electro house duo founded in 2004 in Hamburg and consisting of Jens "Jence" Moelle and İsmail "Isi" Tüfekçi. They are signed to French label Kitsuné Music, and have released four singles to date: "Idealistic", "Zdarlight", "Jupiter Room", and "Pogo"...
was released in 2006 as one of the Digital Deluxe Bonus Tracks of The Best Of, Volume 1
The Best Of, Volume 1
The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 is the fifth compilation album by British group Depeche Mode. The album was released on 13 November 2006 by Mute Records...
(also released as a limited double vinyl 12").
Eric Prydz
Eric Prydz
Eric Sheridan Prydz is a Swedish DJ and producer based in London, United Kingdom. The pronunciation of his surname is often questioned; it is pronounced "prids", but when under his alias, Pryda, it is pronounced "pride-ah"...
remixed the song for the band's remix compilation album Remixes 2: 81–11
Remixes 2: 81–11
-Three disc version:-Charts:...
Music videos
There are two music videos for "Never Let Me Down Again". The original version, from StrangeStrange (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 "Split Mix", minus the intro and outro, and during the EBM
Electronic body music
Electronic body music or industrial dance is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic dance music...
portion, Gahan's pair of dancing shoes are shown walking without anyone wearing them, before someone puts them on and wears them to dance. There is also a shortened one with just the Single version of the song, without the dancing shoes. 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...
.
B-sides
There are two b-sides. "Pleasure, Little Treasure" is a short dance track. An extended version called the "Glitter Mix" ends with fragments of vocal recordings that have been reversed and treated with delay effects. Notably, some of these sounds can be heard in the track "Mothers Talk" from the 1985 Tears for Fears album Songs from the Big ChairSongs from the Big Chair
Songs from the Big Chair is the second album by the British rock band Tears for Fears. It was released in 1985 on Phonogram Records, and remains their highest selling album to date. The album peaked at no.2 in the UK and reached no.1 in the US...
, which was engineered by Dave Bascombe. The "Glitter Mix" showed up as a bonus track on the CD/Cassette versions of Music for the Masses and in remastered form on the 2006 CD/DVD release.
The rarer b-side is "To Have and To Hold (Spanish Taster)". 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...
's original plan for the song sounded a lot like this upbeat electropop, but Alan Wilder
Alan Wilder
Alan Charles Wilder is a British musician, formerly of Depeche Mode. His current musical project is called Recoil, started as a side project to Depeche Mode. When he left the latter in 1995, it became Wilder's primary project...
turned it into the dark wave track it eventually became. While Alan's version was always set to be the final version, Martin 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.
7": Mute / 7Bong14 (UK)
- "Never Let Me Down Again" – 4:20
- "Pleasure, Little Treasure" – 2:52
12": Mute / 12Bong14 (UK)
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix)" – 9:34
- "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)" – 5:34
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)" – 4:53
12": Mute / L12Bong14 (UK)
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Tsangarides Mix)" – 4:22 (Remixed by Chris Tsangarides)
- "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Join Mix)" – 4:53 (Remixed by John FryerJohn Fryer (music)John Fryer is an English record producer. Best known for his production work, he also branched out as a musician as one of only two constant members of This Mortal Coil , providing keyboards, strings and synthesizer sequencing for the band, and its offshoot, The Hope Blister.- Career :Starting out...
& Paul KendallPaul KendallPaul Kendall also known as PK or Piquet is a sound engineer, producer, mixer, composer.-The Space Age :Born in 1954, falling between the two moments of hippy and punk found himself stuck firmly in glam....
) - "To Have and to Hold (Spanish Taster)" – 2:33
CD: Mute / CDBong14 (UK)
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix)" – 9:34
- "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Join Mix)" – 4:53
- "To Have and to Hold (Spanish Taster)" – 2:33
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)" – 4:53
- Originally released in Cardsleeve [1987]
- Rereleased as 4track CD Single in Slim Jewel Case in 1991.
CD: Mute / CDBong14 (UK)
- "Never Let Me Down Again" – 4:20
- "Pleasure, Little Treasure" – 2:52
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix)" – 9:34
- "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)" – 5:34
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)" – 4:53
- "Never Let Me Down Again (Tsangarides Mix)" – 4:22
- "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Join Mix)" – 4:53
- "To Have and To Hold (Spanish Taster)" – 2:33
- The second CD is the 1992 re-release.
Notable covers
- The Smashing PumpkinsThe Smashing PumpkinsThe Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
recorded a cover of the song and released it as a b-side on their rare 1994 CD single "Rocket". Billy CorganBilly CorganWilliam Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
is a longtime fan of Depeche Mode. In 1998, Depeche Mode invited Corgan, their opening act, onstage to perform the song together. This version of the song is also featured on the soundtrack for Not Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
(in the soundtrack of the movie, another cover of a Depeche Mode song appears: But Not Tonight, this one covered by Stone Temple PilotsStone Temple PilotsStone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
's Scott WeilandScott WeilandScott Weiland is an American musician, lyricist, and vocalist, most notable for his work with Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland is also known for his five-year career with supergroup Velvet Revolver as well as his own solo career...
). When discussing the tribute album For the MassesFor the MassesFor the Masses is a 1998 tribute album to Depeche Mode, specifically the works of Martin Gore. The album charted in America and reached the Top 20 in Germany, making it the most successful Depeche Mode tribute album of all time....
, which the Pumpkins cover appears on, Martin Gore said he'd "always liked" the Pumpkins cover, while Dave Gahan said he "particularly liked it", and even thought it was "a lot better" than the Depeche Mode original. - Farmer boysFarmer Boys (band)Farmer Boys is a heavy metal band from Stuttgart, Germany. They reached their peak of popularity with their album The World Is Ours, released in 2000; the videos for singles "Here Comes The Pain" and "If You Ever Leave Me Standing" were put into heavy rotation by German alternative music channels...
, featuring Anneke van GiersbergenAnneke van GiersbergenAnneke van Giersbergen is the former lead singer of the Dutch progressive/alternative rock band The Gathering which she departed in August 2007. Since then, she has been involved in a solo project called Agua de Annique which also included her husband & drummer of the band, Rob Snijders...
(Ex-The GatheringThe Gathering (band)The Gathering is a Dutch alternative rock band, founded in 1989 by brothers Hans and René Rutten and vocalist Bart Smits in the small city of Oss, North Brabant....
) (CountrifiedCountrified (Farmer Boys album)Countrified is the first full length album of the German heavy metal band Farmer Boys. All of the album's songs make reference to farm life or farm animals. It also has a cover track of Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down Again". The album is the band's heaviest album ever recorded and it strongly...
, 1996) - BerlinBerlin (band)Berlin is an American New Wave/Synthpop band. The group was formed in Los Angeles in 1978 by John Crawford . The band contained Crawford, Terri Nunn , David Diamond , Ric Olsen , Matt Reid and Rod Learned . Learned left during the first EU tour and was replaced by Rob Brill...
(4Play, 2005) - Tre LuxTré LuxTre Lux is the solo trip hop project of Tina Root, the vocalist of Switchblade Symphony.-A Strange Gathering:Her first full-length album, A Strange Gathering, was released September 19, 2006...
(A Strange Gathering, 2006) - The MissionThe Mission (band)The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
have recorded a cover version of this song which is available on a compilation album Aural Delight. - Avagami recorded a cover of this song which was released on their debut album, Metagami.
- Sylvain ChauveauSylvain ChauveauSylvain Chauveau is a critically acclaimed instrumental music and electronic music artist and composer from Bayonne, France.-Background:Sylvain Chauveau was born in Bayonne, France , and now lives in Brussels, Belgium...
covered the song for 'Down to the Bone - An Acoustic Tribute to Depeche Mode' with Ensemble Nocturne.