BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987
“Strangelove” is a single by Depeche Mode from their sixth studio album Music for the Masses. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, number 2 in West Germany and in South Africa, and was a Top 10 success in several other countries, including Sweden and Switzerland. In the US it reached number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the first of 9 number-ones on the US Dance charts, where it stayed for three weeks at the top.
The b-side “Pimpf” is a dark instrumental that is mostly piano, named after a magazine of the Hitler Youth organizations. “Pimpf” later shows up as the final track on Music for the Masses. There is also a remix available on some “Strangelove” single releases called “Fpmip” (“Pimpf” backwards).
This is the first US 12″ release for “Strangelove” released May 20th, 1987.
Significant to the US 12 inch single release (20696-0) is the “Blind Mix”. Unlike every other release of this mix worldwide, the US release fades the mix out prematurely (by a little under a minute). This abnormal mastering job was also available on the Sire Records promotional CD compilation “Hit It”, and on other US releases of the remix, until the 1991 CD single box sets.
SIDE A:
Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) 6:31
Strangelove (Midi-Mix) 1:40
SIDE B:
Strangelove (Blind Mix Edit) 6:09
Remix – Daniel Miller, Rico Conning
Fpmip 5:19
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Strangelove | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #50 |
| 1987 | Strangelove | U.S. Billboard Hot dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
| 1987 | Strangelove | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #5 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20696, Sire – 9 20696-0, Mute – 0-20696, Mute – 9 20696-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: May 20, 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-po
CREDITS:
Design, Photography By – T&CP Assoc.*
Producer – David Bascombe, Depeche Mode
Written-By – M.L. Gore*
NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP “MUSIC FOR THE MASSES”
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
ty
My OCD kicked in… %)
Is this the Allied (Sire™ beneath logo) or SRC (Sire®) press?
Thanks as always.
Osc
strangelove is one of the better singles,
i remember getting like 7 or 8 different formats,
cassette, vinyl, cd, import, it went on and on…
and then they re-released it again.
ah, the good (bad) old days of collecting were crazy.
thanks paul
later
-1
I still remember as if it happened yesterday, walkin’ into a record shop, they were playing Depeche Mode’s 1st album Speak & Spell, I was hooked! They have so many marvelous remixes, single remixes, and b-sides. Probably the most diverse remixing discography in the universe, people tend to forget that they are an alternative music group, they don’t make easy listening mainstream pop! Still, they have a huge global following, because they make powerful songs and I’m still interested in everything they release! Some favorites of the older remixes and b-sides include: Something To Do (Metal Mix) Behind The Wheel… Read more »
Thanks Paul. Not sure if this was to fill my request, but I appreciate it either way!
If you’re giving thought to another DM 12″ to follow this up, People Are People would be my choice. 😉
I knew someone had requested it but I could not remember who 🙂 I have the US pressing of “People Are People” and have not posted it because I don’t think it sounds very good. I am going to try and get a UK or German pressing instead 🙂
Me! Me! It was me! I requested “People Are People” awhile back! It’s my favorite Depeche Mode song, partially for sentimental reason’s… such huge memories of that period of time, just before puberty, back in 1984, the song on the radio caught my attention, and it was the very first 12″ vinyl “Maxi-Single” I had ever bought (I had my mom buy it for me) I must have been 13 or 14 years old. Nobody else sounded like Depeche Mode that year, it was ground-breaking, “People Are People” was the hit that broke Depeche Mode big, it’s what brought them… Read more »
I defer to Memoryboy! I’ll take it for granted he lives up to his name.
While I did make a more recent DM request, it wasn’t PAP until now.
However, Leave In Silence or Little 15 would be some nice follow ups to PAP that I don’t recall anyone asking for before…unless Memoryboy wants to chime in again. 😉
If not that, then Personal Jesus/Enjoy The Silence/Policy Of Truth/World In My Eyes of course. 😉
Oh Goodguy don’t get me started! There are so many great Depeche Mode songs that could use the vinyl rip treatment. As far as 80’s era, a few that come to mind: 1) Love, In Itself (12″): Mainly because the excellent and not as well known remix of the B-Side track “Fools” is on there, and it’s so, so, so damn good. The extended version deserves a vinyl rip. 2) Personal Jesus (12″): A vinyl rip of the “Holier Than Thou” remix would be exciting. But it’s also equally exciting to imagine the B-Side “Dangerous” getting the vinyl rip treatment.… Read more »
I remember buying this 12″ vinyl back in 1987 and playing it so much, and I transferred it to cassette tape and would play it in my friend’s cars. I have all the different vinyl 12″ mixes of this song, both the 87′ and 88′ versions. The Pain Mix (Edit) is not on the singles box set I noticed. Also the Highjack Mix Edit is missing from the singles box set. I love Depeche Mode’s new album ‘Spirit’. It’s excellent. I also loved ‘Delta Machine’ from a few years back. They continue to release amazing music in my opinion. I… Read more »
Agree with you Memoryboy about the bonus tracks off of “Sounds of the Universe,” especially the track, “Ghost.” As a lover of Halloween, this song is so great on a mixed CD compilation along with Sharon Needles’ cover version of Ministry’s “Everyday Is Halloween.” Haunting stuff!!!
Loved your passion for Depeche Mode. It’s great to find like-minded people on Paul’s phenomenal website!!!
Jeff
Yes Jeff, Halloween is coming up. I love this time of year too. I’ve never heard Sharon Needles version of Ministry’s “Everyday Is Halloween.” I will have to look that up on YouTube. (Although I love the original, and have it on vinyl as well)
My favorite tracks off “Sounds Of The Universe” (Including box set tracks) are:
1) Peace
2) Jezebel
3) Fragile Tension
4) Wrong
5) Oh Well
6) Ghost
7) Come Back
8) Little Soul
9) Perfect
I also love “Light”…… etc… great album!
THANKS Paul, I love Depeche Mode, specially this 12″ because with this vinyl I fell in love with Depeche Mode. THANKS!!!!!
You’re welcome Rafael Cova 🙂
Hearing this song again makes me so nostalgic for the Depeche Mode of yesteryear. Although I like their latest album, a lot of the current releases by the band don’t fill me up the way the past incarnation of the band did. Thanks so much Paul for this. “The Blind Mix” got a lot of radio play on New York’s dance radio station Hot 103.5 at the time. The beat just kicks so much butt!! I also enjoyed the flip-side too as DM was quite experimental with the music.
Thanks Paul again, so much!!
Jeff
Loved this era of the band too Jeff.Dark mysterious and sexual 🙂
Paul!! Love what you said: “Dark, mysterious and sexual.”
Just Awesome!!
Jeff
The song, the numerous versions, the designs, the video… Strangelove, in my eyes, was and is THE perfect Depeche Mode song. I´ve always loved it and there are several offical and unofficial remixes and live versions on the 500GB harddisk in my car. Love it Love it Love it. Listened to it a gazillion times in my life but I still am happy as can be that you honour it today. Thank you Paul. Btw, some trivia: the word “Pimpf” is still used here and there just describing a little boy. Certainly not in the media owing to its history… Read more »
Always loved this song to I have I think three different US 12″ singles for it. Already posted the “Highjack Remix” in 2013 the other I have is a promo I think 🙂
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Omar :0
Thanks SO MUCH for this one! I’ve been waiting. I’ve always noticed the slight difference between the vinyl mix and the CD single version of the Blind Mix. So glad to finally have this. Thanks again!
You’re welcome Ric 🙂
My favorite Depeche Mode track. So many mixes are available, but this US 12″ has all my favorites, probably because it’s what I bought back in the day and played to death. (Literally- my original copy’s grooves are worn so thin the record is practically unplayable today!) Never got into the B-side track, though, sorry if that’s a bit blashpemous DM fans.
One of my favorites too David 🙂