The Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1 [CD/DVD]

• Artist: Depeche Mode
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 14, 2006
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

Consider this a primer, because there is no way a career spanning 25 years can be summarized justifiably within the cramped space of an 80-minute disc. The Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1 takes a very selective skip through the group's past, and it leaves no room for anything off Black Celebration -- an album many fans (albeit the most depressive ones) cite as a favorite. While the relatively thorough Singles 81>85 and Singles 86>98 can be seen as the proper entry route, they don't have the benefit of covering 2001's Exciter or 2005's excellent Playing the Angel, so this disc -- as of 2006, at least -- is very nearly the best possible way to get a feel for the whole daunting discography. Tending to stick to the singles that made the greatest impact on the mainstream and club charts, the selections do signify that the group hasn't lost any traction. Just compare the difference between 1981's "Just Can't Get Enough" and 2005's "Precious" to the difference between the Rolling Stones' "Time Is on My Side" (1964) and "Mixed Emotions" (1989); Depeche Mode remained on an even keel creatively, while the Stones were hailed for continuing to exist and for making music that didn't embarrass their legacy. (If that's not a slap in the face of real rock & rollers who laughed at the thought of synth pop as more than a silly trend, what is?) Also consider this: If a poll were to be conducted in order to determine the absolute favorite Depeche Mode song of all time, there would be at least 40 write-ins in addition to the 18 options (including a decent new song) provided here. So, if you should happen to pick up this disc as an introduction and find yourself knocked out, you have a lot of catching up in your future. [A version of the release adds a DVD packed with 23 videos and a half-hour film.] ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Personal Jesus [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(3:47)
Just Can't Get Enough [DVD]	Vince Clarke	Depeche Mode	(3:43)
Everything Counts [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(4:01)
Enjoy the Silence [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(4:14)
Shake the Disease [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(4:51)
See You		Depeche Mode	(3:57)
It's No Good [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(5:58)
Strangelove [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(3:46)
Suffer Well [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(3:52)
Dream On [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(3:41)
People Are People [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(3:46)
Martyr		Depeche Mode	(3:25)
Walking in My Shoes [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(5:00)
I Feel You [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(4:35)
Precious [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(4:09)
Master and Servant [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(3:49)
New Life		Depeche Mode	(3:46)
Never Let Me Down Again [DVD]		Depeche Mode	(4:18)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Just Can't Get Enough [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Everything Counts [DVD]		Depeche Mode
People Are People [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Master and Servant [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Shake the Disease [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Stripped [DVD]		Depeche Mode
A Question of Time [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Strangelove [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Never Let Me Down Again [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Behind the Wheel [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Personal Jesus [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Enjoy the Silence [DVD]		Depeche Mode
I Feel You [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Walking in My Shoes [DVD]		Depeche Mode
In Your Room [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Barrel of a Gun [DVD]		Depeche Mode
It's No Good [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Only When I Lose Myself [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Dream On [DVD]		Depeche Mode
I Feel Loved [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Enjoy the Silence 04 [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Precious [DVD]		Depeche Mode
Suffer Well [DVD]		Depeche Mode

Credits

Q (Mixing), Dave Bascombe (Producer), Roland Brown (Writer), Roland Brown (Compilation), Roland Brown (Video Producer), Vince Clarke (Group Member), Flood (Producer), Flood (Mixing), Steve Fitzmaurice (Mixing), John Fryer (Engineer), Martin L. Gore (Group Member), Phil Harding (Remixing), Gareth Jones (Producer), Gareth Jones (Engineer), François Kevorkian (Mixing), Phil Legg (Mixing), Daniel Miller (Producer), Daniel Miller (Compilation), Daniel Miller (Mixing), Shep Pettibone (Remixing), Eric Radcliffe (Engineer), Tim Simenon (Producer), Tim Simenon (Mixing), Mark "Spike" Stent (Mixing), Butch Vig (Producer), Butch Vig (Mixing), Alan Wilder (Group Member), Simon Heyworth (Remastering), Clive Richardson (Video Director), Jeremy Wheatley (Mixing), Paul Morley (Liner Notes), Anton Corbijn (Art Direction), Anton Corbijn (Video Director), Anton Corbijn (Visuals), Ben Hillier (Producer), Ben Hillier (Mixing), Mike Shinoda (Interpretation), Peter Care (Video Director), Uwe Flade (Video Director), Brian D. Griffin (Video Director), Mark Blakkat Bell (Producer), John Hillcoat (Video Director)