Black Celebration | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 17 March 1986 | |||
Recorded | November 1985 – January 1986 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 41:01 | |||
Label | Mute | |||
Producer |
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Depeche Mode chronology | ||||
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Singles from Black Celebration | ||||
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Black Celebration is the fifth studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 17 March 1986 by Mute Records. The album's co-producer Daniel Miller devised "a plan to capture the essence of the dark works" that Martin Gore created because Martin Gore had no intention of compromising the mood that his demos had set. Miller and Gareth Jones produced the album to be more like an environment rather than a collection of songs. Their production created "a tech-noir future dystopia" that "glitters of gloom". [3]
Black Celebration reached number four on the UK Albums Chart, and has been cited as one of the most influential albums of the 1980s. [4] To promote the album, the band embarked on the Black Celebration Tour. Three years after its release, Spin ranked it at number 15 on its "25 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. [5]
The album was promoted by the single "Stripped" released 10 February, and was followed by "A Question of Lust", released 14 April, "A Question of Time" released 11 August. Instead of "Stripped", "But Not Tonight" was released as a single in the US, due to its more commercial appeal, on 22 October.
The band wanted to change their working routine yet again to make sure that things would not lead to boredom or lack of production. Daniel Miller stated: "I was a bit frustrated because I couldn't get the guys to think about working in different ways." He admired the working methods of the German film director Werner Herzog, which meant that the band had "lived the album", meaning they attended the studio every day and worked endlessly on the songs and production. Miller felt that he wanted "a kind of intensity", as he had felt that production was slowing down since their debut Speak & Spell , which had snappy recording and production, with the exception of Construction Time Again , which he claims was due to there being "so many new things going on". [6]
With regard to the recording processes and song formation, samples were yet again at the forefront of the sound. Gareth Jones stated that they would always use their own samples and tried to avoid using samples from other sources. For example, the opening title track initially was to have samples of Winston Churchill saying "A brief period of rejoicing" because they enjoyed "that idea of a brief moment of rejoicing." However, instead of sampling Churchill saying it, they had Miller say the quote instead. [7] He said that, though they admired hip hop, they had no desire to sample in the same fashion. "We didn't want to collage other people's work and drop it into Martin's songs. We used samplers to grab real sounds from the real world to make sure our samples were original." On the song "Fly on the Windscreen", Jones recalled: "You can hear a rather young sounding Daniel again saying 'over and done with.' The breath sample noise at the start is interesting too." [8] On Alan Wilder's Shunt website, in the Q&A section, he stated that these "breath samples" were in fact Miller saying "'Horse' repeatedly very fast." [9]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
The Austin Chronicle | [11] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [12] |
NME | 7/10 [13] |
PopMatters | 9/10 [14] |
Q | [15] |
Record Mirror | [16] |
Rolling Stone | [17] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [18] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10 [19] |
Contemporaneous reviews for Black Celebration in the British press were mixed. Melody Maker 's Steve Sutherland lambasted the album and wrote that Depeche Mode came off as "pussycats desperate to appear perverted as an escape from the superficiality of teen stardom" [20] and Sounds published a similarly scathing review, [21] while criticizing chief songwriter Martin Gore's "adolescent fragments of despair",
Sean O'Hagan of NME nonetheless praised Black Celebration's "perfectly constructed jigsaw melodies" and concluded, "When the songs address topics other than the composer's state of mind – as on the evocative exploration of loneliness that is 'World Full of Nothing' – Depeche Mode sound like a lot more than just a high tech, low-life melodrama." [22] Betty Page of Record Mirror felt that the band should be admired for their "refusal to follow anything but their own fashion" and "unswerving ability to come up with great, fresh melodies." [16]
Black Celebration has since been reappraised in retrospective reviews. In 2007, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone referred to the album as an "instant classic for the band's fans" that at the time of its release had seemingly been "utterly ignored by everybody else." [17] Bandmate Andy Fletcher recognised that it was a "classic Depeche Mode fan favourite" among their albums in The Singles 86>98 Electronic Press Kit, saying "a collection of songs on there that's absolutely fantastic." [23]
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails cited Black Celebration, and its subsequent tour, as an influence and said it helped inspire him to write the album Pretty Hate Machine , saying "DM was one of our favorite bands and the Black Celebration record took my love for them to a new level." [24]
The tour began with a European leg, starting in Oxford, England in late March 1986 and finishing in Rüsselsheim, West Germany in late May. A North American jaunt followed in early June, commencing in Boston and culminating mid-July in Irvine, California. Shortly after the North American leg, the group headed to Japan to play three dates.
In early August, the group began a second run of European shows, starting in Fréjus, France. The group performed four additional dates in France, as well as two shows in Italy, before wrapping up the tour in Copenhagen. [25]
Book of Love joined the tour as the opening act on 29 April in Hanover, West Germany, and continued for the rest of the first European leg and throughout all tour dates of the North American leg (ending on 15 July). [26]
In 2007, Black Celebration was re-released with a bonus DVD. It was released on 20 March 2007 in the United States, on 26 March in the United Kingdom and on 2 April in the rest of Europe, as a part of the third wave of reissues (along with Construction Time Again ). The first CD was remastered and (except in the United States) released as a CD/SACD hybrid. The bonus DVD includes the album's B-sides in addition to the singles and B-sides for "Shake the Disease" and "It's Called a Heart", two singles released in the interim between Some Great Reward and Black Celebration. The reissue also includes several live versions of some of the songs from Black Celebration. The album is released as originally intended and ends with "New Dress" (not "Black Day" or "But Not Tonight").
As with the other reissues, the accompanying DVD includes a documentary film. The film's title, The Songs Aren't Good Enough, There Aren't Any Singles and It'll Never Get Played on the Radio, is a quote from the film in which Martin Gore paraphrases Daniel Miller's reaction to the album's early demos. The documentary includes much detail about the making of the album, its singles and the ensuing tour. Other highlights include the band meeting the Cure and behind-the-scenes footage of several of the music videos.
The remastered album was released on vinyl on 2 April 2007 in Europe and on 11 September 2007 in the United States.
All tracks are written by Martin L. Gore, except where noted. All lead vocals by Dave Gahan, except where noted.
No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Black Celebration" | 4:55 | |
2. | "Fly on the Windscreen – Final" | 5:18 | |
3. | "A Question of Lust" | Gore | 4:20 |
4. | "Sometimes" | Gore | 1:53 |
5. | "It Doesn't Matter Two" | Gore | 2:50 |
No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "A Question of Time" | 4:10 | |
7. | "Stripped" | 4:16 | |
8. | "Here Is the House" |
| 4:15 |
9. | "World Full of Nothing" | Gore | 2:50 |
10. | "Dressed in Black" |
| 2:32 |
11. | "New Dress" | 3:42 | |
Total length: | 41:01 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
12. | "Breathing in Fumes" | 6:07 | ||
13. | "But Not Tonight" (extended remix) | 5:13 | ||
14. | "Black Day" |
| Gore | 2:36 |
Total length: | 54:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "But Not Tonight" | 4:15 |
Total length: | 45:16 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Depeche Mode: 1985–86: (The Songs Aren't Good Enough, There Aren't Any Singles and It'll Never Get Played on the Radio)" (written and produced by Roland Brown; directed by Ross Hallard and Phil Michael Lane) | 57:40 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Black Celebration" | 4:55 |
2. | "Fly on the Windscreen – Final" | 5:18 |
3. | "A Question of Lust" | 4:20 |
4. | "Sometimes" | 1:53 |
5. | "It Doesn't Matter Two" | 2:50 |
6. | "A Question of Time" | 4:10 |
7. | "Stripped" | 4:16 |
8. | "Here Is the House" | 4:15 |
9. | "World Full of Nothing" | 2:50 |
10. | "Dressed in Black" | 2:32 |
11. | "New Dress" | 3:42 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "Black Celebration" | 6:11 |
13. | "A Question of Time" | 4:37 |
14. | "Stripped" | 6:34 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Shake the Disease" |
| 4:52 | |
16. | "Flexible" | 3:14 | ||
17. | "It's Called a Heart" | 3:51 | ||
18. | "Fly on the Windscreen" | 5:07 | ||
19. | "But Not Tonight" | 4:19 | ||
20. | "Breathing in Fumes" | 6:08 | ||
21. | "Black Day" |
| Gore | 2:39 |
22. | "Christmas Island" |
| instrumental | 4:52 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Black Celebration 8-track cartridge. [27]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
France (SNEP) [48] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [49] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [50] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [51] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the lineup of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists of Gahan and Gore.
Martin Lee Gore is an English musician and songwriter. He is one of the founding members of the electronic rock band Depeche Mode and is the band's main songwriter. He is the band's guitarist and keyboardist, and occasionally provides lead vocals. Gore possesses a tenor singing voice which contrasts with lead vocalist Dave Gahan's dramatic baritone. He is also known for his flamboyant and (sometimes) androgynous stage persona. Gore has also released several solo albums and collaborated with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke as part of VCMG.
Construction Time Again is the third studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 22 August 1983 by Mute Records. It was the band's first album to feature Alan Wilder as a member, who wrote the songs "Two Minute Warning" and "The Landscape Is Changing". The album's title comes from the second line of the first verse of the track "Pipeline". It was recorded at John Foxx's The Garden studios in London, and was supported by the Construction Time Again Tour.
Some Great Reward is the fourth studio album by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 24 September 1984 by Mute Records. The album peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number 51 in the United States, and was supported by the Some Great Reward Tour. This also saw the band using samplers, much like they did in their previous studio album Construction Time Again (1983), which they would continue to use in their following studio albums Black Celebration (1986), Music for the Masses (1987) and Violator (1990).
Music for the Masses is the sixth studio album by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 28 September 1987 by Mute Records. The album was supported by the Music for the Masses Tour, which launched their fame in the US when they performed at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The tour led to the creation and filming of the documentary/live album titled 101.
Catching Up with Depeche Mode is a compilation album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released solely in North America on 11 November 1985 by Sire Records.
A Broken Frame is the second studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 27 September 1982 by Mute Records. The album was written entirely by Martin Gore and was recorded as a trio after the departure of Vince Clarke, who had left and formed Yazoo with singer Alison Moyet. Alan Wilder was part of a second band tour in the United Kingdom prior to the release of A Broken Frame, but had not officially joined yet and does not appear on the album.
Ultra is the ninth studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 14 April 1997 by Mute Records. It was the band's first album following the departure of Alan Wilder. Wilder's departure and lead singer Dave Gahan's drug problems, which culminated in a near-fatal overdose, had caused speculation that Depeche Mode was finished.
Exciter is the tenth studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was first released on 14 May 2001 in the United Kingdom by Mute Records and a day later in the United States by Reprise Records. The album was produced by Mark Bell, and was supported by the Exciter Tour, one of the band's most successful tours.
Songs of Faith and Devotion is the eighth studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was first released on 22 March 1993 in the United Kingdom by Mute Records and a day later in the United States by Sire Records and Reprise Records. The album incorporated a more aggressive, darker rock-oriented tone than its predecessor Violator (1990), largely influenced by the emerging alternative rock and grunge scenes in the United States.
"Stripped" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album Black Celebration (1986) on 10 February 1986, through Mute Records. Written by the band's lead songwriter Martin Gore, "Stripped" introduces the more dark and sample oriented composition that featured on the Black Celebration album. It incorporates various samples into its instrumental; most notably, the sound of an idling motorcycle engine was recorded, altered slightly, and inserted as a percussive element.
The Singles 86>98 is a greatest hits album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 28 September 1998 by Mute Records. It serves as a follow-up to the band's previous compilation, The Singles 81→85, which was also reissued in the same year. The compilation covers the band's seven-inch single releases spanning five studio albums, while including the new song "Only When I Lose Myself". It also includes "Little 15" and the live version of "Everything Counts", which was released as a single in 1989. All tracks on The Singles 86>98 were newly remastered, as was the case with the re-release of The Singles 81→85.
Playing the Angel is the eleventh studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was first released on 17 October 2005 by Mute Records in the UK, and a day later by Sire Records and Reprise Records in the United States. It was supported by the Touring the Angel tour and the four singles "Precious", "A Pain That I'm Used To", "Suffer Well", and "John the Revelator" / "Lilian". The album reached number one in over 10 countries and entered the top 10 in the United Kingdom and United States.
"Everything Counts" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their third studio album, Construction Time Again (1983). A live version of the song was released in 1989 to support the band's live album 101. The original single reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, whereas the live version reached No. 22.
"The Meaning of Love" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their second studio album, A Broken Frame (1982). It was released on 26 April 1982 as the album's second single. It reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
"A Question of Lust" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their fifth studio album, Black Celebration (1986). It was released on 14 April 1986 as the album's second single.
Devotional – A Performance Filmed by Anton Corbijn is a video release by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, featuring almost an entire concert from their 1993 Devotional Tour, filmed in Barcelona, Liévin and Frankfurt (Festhalle). It was directed by Anton Corbijn, and released in 1993. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video in 1995. The soundtrack was recorded in Liévin, Stade Couvert Régional, on 29 July 1993.
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Delta Machine is the thirteenth studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 22 March 2013 by Columbia and Mute Records. It is the band's first album released under Columbia. Recorded in 2012 in Santa Barbara, California, and New York City, the album was produced by Ben Hillier and mixed by Flood, who had previously worked with the band on their albums Violator (1990) and Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993). A deluxe edition was also released, containing a bonus disc with four bonus tracks, as well as a 28-page hardcover book including photos by Anton Corbijn.
Spirit is the fourteenth studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 17 March 2017 by Columbia and Mute Records. The album was recorded with new producer James Ford, and was preceded by the single "Where's the Revolution". It was the final Depeche Mode studio album to feature co-founder and keyboardist Andy Fletcher before his death on 26 May 2022. The album produced three singles.
A late-night record alternating between brittle ballads and industrial-sounding synth-pop—a poignant tug of war between man and machine.
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