Behind the Wheel

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"Behind the Wheel"
DepecheModeBehindTheWheel.jpg
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Music for the Masses
B-side "Route 66"
Released28 December 1987 (1987-12-28) [1]
RecordedFebruary–July 1987
Genre
Length5:18
Label Mute
Songwriter Martin L. Gore
Producers
  • Depeche Mode
  • David Bascombe
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Never Let Me Down Again"
(1987)		"Behind the Wheel"
(1987)		"Little 15"
(1988)
Music video
"Behind the Wheel" on YouTube

"Behind the Wheel" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their sixth studio album, Music for the Masses (1987). It was released December 1987 as the album's third single, reaching number 21 in the United Kingdom and number six in both Switzerland and West Germany.

Contents

Recording

"Behind the Wheel" was written by Martin Gore as part of the recording sessions for the band's sixth studio album, Music for the Masses. [5] Recording for the song took place between sessions at Studio Guillaume Tell near Paris, France and Konk studios in London, England. [5] [6] [7] Mixing of the track took place at Puk Recording Studios in Denmark. [6]

The song has a sequence of four chords that keep cycling, which band member / producer Alan Wilder compared to Penrose stairs; "once you get around [to the top], you're back at the bottom again. That's kind of how the chord sequence works [in the song]." [8] "Behind the Wheel" incorporated some of Gore's guitar playing, who played his Gretsch guitar for the part. [9]

Lyrics

The song focuses lyrically on power dynamics in relationships, [10] with one reviewer describing it as a metaphorical journey through dominance and submission. [11]

Release

"Behind the Wheel" was released on 28 December 1987 by Mute Records in the UK, Sire Records in the US and Intercord Records in West Germany. [12] In the UK, the release saw a wide variety of vinyl releases, some of which have become valuable collector's items if they can be found: a 7" test pressing (catalogue number SBONG15), a regular 7" single (7BONG15), a promotional 7" containing a unique mix (DJBONG15), a 12" single (12BONG15), a limited 12" single (L12BONG15), and a promotional 12" single (DBONG15). [13] In West Germany, 12" and limited 12" vinyl singles were released with initial pressings in orange vinyl and yellow vinyl, respectively, with catalogue numbers INT 126.87 and INT 126.876. [14] The US saw unique mixes that combined "Behind the Wheel" and "Route 66" into a single remix, issued on 7" and 12" vinyl and released in April 1988. [15]

The single version of the song was remixed by the American music producer Shep Pettibone. [16] His version was chosen for release because the band felt it was more danceable than the album version. [16] The B-side, a cover version of the Bobby Troup song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" was chosen because Gore said he "thought it would be a good idea to record a driving song on the B-side of 'Behind the Wheel'". [17] "Route 66" was remixed by the Beatmasters and was made up from elements of "Behind the Wheel". [17]

When the single started to rise in the charts, Depeche Mode were invited to perform the song on the BBC's "Top of the Pops, which they did on the 7 January 1988. [18]

Music video

The music video was directed by Anton Corbijn [19] and included on the Strange (1988) compilation, The Videos 86–98 (1988), and their Video Singles Collection (2016).

Critical reception

Cash Box called it a "dark, European funk tune for those who dance with a touch of sadness" that is "very strange, yet appealing." [20]

In 1989, the single was ranked number 30 on Spin magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Singles of All Time". [21] [ unreliable source? ]

Other releases

Remixes of "Behind the Wheel" appear on compilations: The Singles 86–98 (1998) and Remixes 2: 81–11 (2011). Live versions appear on 101 (1989) and releases of Recording the Angel (2006) and Recording the Universe (2010).

Track listings

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

7": Mute / 7Bong15 (UK)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (remix) – 4:03
  2. "Route 66" – 4:11

12": Mute / 12Bong15 (UK)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (Shep Pettibone mix) – 5:56
  2. "Route 66" (Beatmasters mix) – 6:19

12": Mute / L12Bong15 (UK)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (Beatmasters mix) – 8:00
  2. "Route 66" (Casualty mix) – 10:40 (remixed by Dave Allen)

CD: Mute / CDBong15 (UK)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (7" remix) – 4:03
  2. "Route 66" – 4:11
  3. "Behind the Wheel" (Shep Pettibone mix) – 5:56
  4. "Behind the Wheel" (LP mix) – 5:19

CD: Mute / CDBong15 (UK)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (remix) – 4:03
  2. "Route 66" – 4:11
  3. "Behind the Wheel" (Shep Pettibone mix) – 5:56
  4. "Route 66" (Beatmasters mix) – 6:19
  5. "Behind the Wheel" (Beatmasters mix) – 8:00
  6. "Route 66" (Casualty mix) – 10:40
  7. "Behind the Wheel" (LP mix) – 5:19

Cassette maxi-single: Mute / CBong15 (UK)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (Shep Pettibone mix) – 5:56
  2. "Route 66" (Beatmasters mix) – 6:19
  3. "Behind the Wheel" (LP mix) – 5:19

7": Sire / 7-27991 (US)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (remix) – 4:03
  2. "Route 66/Behind the Wheel" (mega-single mix) – 4:13 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)

12": Sire / 0-20858 (US)

  1. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" (megamix) – 7:48 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)
  2. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" (megadub) – 6:10 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)
  3. "Behind the Wheel" (extended remix) – 5:56
  4. "Behind the Wheel" (Beatmasters mix) – 8:00

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

  1. "Behind the Wheel" (extended remix) – 5:56
  2. "Behind the Wheel" (dub) – 5:53
  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) – 4:12
  4. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" (Megamix) – 7:48 (remixed by Ivan Ivan)
  5. "Behind the Wheel" (Beatmasters mix) – 8:00
  6. "Behind the Wheel" (extended remix) – 5:56

Charts

Behind the Wheel 2011

"Behind the Wheel 2011"
Behind The Wheel 2011 - Depeche Mode.png
Promotional single by Depeche Mode
from the album Remixes 2: 81–11
Released6 June 2011
Recorded1987 (vocals), 2011 (instrumentation)
Genre House
Length6:42 (album)
Label Mute
Songwriter Martin L. Gore
Producer Vince Clarke

"Behind the Wheel 2011" (Reprise / Rhino / Mute PRCD-400205) is a US-only promotional CD single, released in 2011. The title track is a remix made by former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke for the band's Remixes 2: 81–11 album. The single was promotional only, and not for sale. It reached number three on the Billboard 's Hot Dance Club Play chart in 2011. [32]

Track listing [38]

  1. "Behind the Wheel 2011" (Vince Clarke extended vocal) – 6:42
  2. "Behind the Wheel 2011" (Mark Picchiotti re-edited Vince Clarke dub) – 6:44
  3. "Behind the Wheel 2011" (Mark Picchiotti re-edited Vince Clarke radio mix) – 3:36

References

  1. ↑ "Xmas News". Record Mirror . 26 December 1987. p. 9. ISSN   0144-5804.
  2. ↑ DiGravina, Tim. "Depeche Mode - Barrel of a Gun". AllMusic . Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. ↑ Andy Kellman. "Arthur Baker Presents Dance Masters: Shep Pettibone - The Classic 12" Master-Mixes". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Top 40 New Wave Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock . 31 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 153.
  6. 1 2 Music for the Masses (CD booklet). Depeche Mode (remastered ed.). Sire Records. 2006. R2 77591.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ Malins 2001, p. 121.
  8. ↑ Hallard, Ross (director); Lane, Phil Michael (director) (2006). Depeche Mode: 1987–88 (Sometimes You Do Need Some New Jokes) (DVD). Mute Records.
  9. ↑ Rowe, Felix (10 April 2025). "Making Depeche Mode's Music For The Masses". ClassicPopMag. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Behind the Wheel – Depeche Mode Lyrics Meaning". LyricsLayers. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Behind the Wheel by Depeche Mode – Song Meaning and Facts". Song Meanings and Facts. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 167–169.
  13. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 167–168.
  14. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 169.
  15. ↑ "Depeche Mode – Behind The Wheel / Route 66 (Megamix)" . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  16. 1 2 Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 167.
  17. 1 2 "Route 66". dmlive.wiki. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "DM Archives / video / television / Top of the Pops" . Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  19. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 170.
  20. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 23 April 1988. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Spin Magazine (USA) Lists...Page 2". Archived from the original on 1 October 2005.
  22. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 5, no. 7. 13 February 1988. p. 16. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  23. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  24. ↑ "Depeche Mode – Behind the Wheel" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  25. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Behind the Wheel". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  26. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  27. ↑ "Depeche Mode – Behind the Wheel". Singles Top 100.
  28. ↑ "Depeche Mode – Behind the Wheel". Swiss Singles Chart.
  29. ↑ "Depeche Mode: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "The Indie Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 23 January 1988. p. 24. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  31. ↑ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  32. 1 2 "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  33. ↑ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  34. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending May 28, 1988". Cash Box . Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  35. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Depeche Mode – Behind the Wheel" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  36. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video – Top Dance Club Play Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-25. ISSN   0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1988" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "DM Discography Singles – Behind The Wheel 2011". Depechemode.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
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