Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Original post date: July 22, 2013
Today’s Pride Month post dives deep into one of Depeche Mode’s most seductive and emotionally tangled singles: “Strangelove.” Originally released in 1987 as the lead single from Music for the Masses, it marked a sonic and thematic shift for the band—moody, magnetic, and rich with contradiction.
“Strangelove” is all about duality—desire vs. guilt, pleasure as pain, salvation wrapped in sin. And for anyone who’s ever loved in secret, or wrestled with their identity in the shadows, lines like “I give in to sin because I like to practice what I preach” hit like a thunderclap. At a time when queer love was often hidden or coded, Depeche Mode gave us a space to feel seen, without ever having to say it outright.
For today’s post, I’m spinning the 1988 U.S. 12″ of “Strangelove”—a stateside-exclusive remix known as the Highjack Remix, remixed by Bomb the Bass. It’s a version that takes the original’s dark sensuality and launches it into overdrive: thumping bass, fractured samples, and a jacked-up energy that’s ready for the club floor and the mirrorball of your mind.
The B-side features a standout too—“Nothing (Zip-Hop Mix)”—remixed by the legendary Justin Strauss. Sleek, rhythmic, and full of low-end bounce, it’s one of those understated Depeche tracks that quietly demands your attention.
This 12″ remains a fan favorite and club essential. It peaked at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #24 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 1988, but more importantly—it struck a deep chord. It became an anthem not just for synth lovers, but for anyone navigating the gray zones of desire, shame, and self-discovery.
For Pride Month, “Strangelove” stands as a reminder that identity and emotion are rarely simple—and that’s where their power lies. Depeche Mode has long held a special place in LGBTQ+ hearts, offering music that embraces complexity, intensity, and unflinching honesty.
SIDE A:
Strangelove (Highjack Remix) 6:31
Remix – Bomb The Bass
Strangelove (Remix Edit) 3:50
Remix – Bomb The Bass
SIDE B:
Nothing (Zip-Hop Mix) 7:03
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Hugo Dwyer
Programmed By [Additional] – Eric Kupper
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss
Nothing (Dub) 6:38
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Hugo Dwyer
Programmed By [Additional] – Eric Kupper
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Strangelove (1988) | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #50 |
| 1988 | Strangelove (1988) | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play | #24 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-21022, Sire – 9 21022-0, Mute – 0-21022, Mute – 9 21022-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: Aug 23, 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Design, Photography – T&CP Assoc.*
- Producer – David Bascomb*, Depeche Mode
- Written-By – M.L. Gore*
NOTES:
Also known as Strangelove ’88.
The mix of track B1 is also known as “Justin Strauss Mix”
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
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)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.