Never Let Me Down Again

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“Never Let Me Down Again”
Single by Depeche Mode from the album Music for the Masses
B-side	"Pleasure, Little Treasure"
Released	August 24, 1987
Format	Vinyl record (7" and 12"), CD (1992 box set)
Recorded	1987
Genre	Synthpop
Length	4:20 (7") 9:34 (12")
Label	Mute Records
Writer(s)	Martin Gore
Producer	Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller, and Dave Bascombe
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Strangelove" (1987) "Never Let Me Down Again" (1987) "Behind the Wheel" (1987)

"Never Let Me Down Again" is Depeche Mode's nineteenth UK single, released on August 24, 1987, and the second single for the then upcoming album Music for the Masses. A relatively moderate hit in the UK, at #22, it was a smash in West Germany, where it hit #2, and a Top 10 success in several other European countries (Sweden, Switzerland, etc.). The single's cover art features a fragment of a Soviet map showing the northern part of Russia adjacent to the Arctic Ocean.

The song became a favourite among fans, especially live. Shows during Depeche Mode's 1988 tour were often closed with this song. Notable in the 101 video is when Dave Gahan waves his arms around during the end of the song, and the sold out crowd of 80,000+ mimicked Gahan's movements. It is now a tradition at Depeche Mode shows for fans to wave their arms around during the end of "Never Let Me Down Again."

One of the most well-known remixes of "Never Let Me Down Again" was the "Split Mix", which was a 9 minute+ track which had the regular song, an added intro plus a new techno arrangement appended at the end. The arrangement got a spinoff song called "Never Let Me Down [Aggro Mix]" which is also a bonus track on the CD/Cassette version of Music for the Masses. The Split Mix appears on Remixes 81 - 04. Another remix of the track, by German group Digitalism was released in 2006 as one of the Digital Deluxe Bonus Tracks of The Best Of, Volume 1.

There are two b-sides. "Pleasure, Little Treasure" is a short dance track. An extended version called the "Glitter Mix" has some distorted vocals added to it, and some dialogue played backwards. The "Glitter Mix" showed up as a bonus track on the CD/Cassette versions of Music for the Masses and in remastered form on the 2006 CD/DVD release.

The rarer b-side is "To Have and To Hold (Spanish Taster)". Martin Gore's original plan for the song sounded a lot like this, but Alan Wilder turned it into the dark track it eventually became. While Alan's version was always set to be the final version, Martin wanted his version to be recorded as well. However, not all of the lyrics are sung in the song. It shows up as one of the bonus tracks on the CD/Cassette version of Music for the Masses and is on the CD versions of "Never Let Me Down Again". The regular version of "To Have and To Hold" is one of the main tracks on the Music for the Masses LP.

There are two music videos for "Never Let Me Down Again". The original version, from Strange uses the "Split Mix", minus the intro and outro, and during the techno portion, Gahan's pair of dancing shoes are shown walking without anyone wearing them, before someone puts them on and wears them to dance. There is also a shortened one with just the Single version of the song, without the dancing shoes. It appears on The Videos 86>98. They are directed by Anton Corbijn.

On November 8, 2001, shortly after their final Exciter Tour concert in Mannheim, Germany, the band played "Never Let Me Down Again" during the MTV Europe Music Awards in Frankfurt, but it did air in the US on MTV2. It can be viewed at the official Depeche Mode website.

[edit] Track listings

All songs written by Martin L. Gore.

[edit] 7": Mute / 7Bong14 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down Again" – 4:20
2. "Pleasure, Little Treasure" – 2:52

[edit] 12": Mute / 12Bong14 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix)" – 9:34
2. "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)" – 5:34
3. "Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)" – 4:53

[edit] 12": Mute / L12Bong14 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down Again (Tsangarides Mix)" – 4:22
   • Remixed by Chris Tsangarides
2. "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Join Mix)" – 4:53
   • Remixed by John Fryer & Paul Kendall
3. "To Have and to Hold (Spanish Taster)" – 2:33

[edit] CD: Mute / CDBong14 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix)" – 9:34
2. "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Join Mix)" – 4:53
3. "To Have and to Hold (Spanish Taster)" – 2:33
4. "Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)" – 4:53

[edit] CD: Mute / CDBong14 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down Again" – 4:20
2. "Pleasure, Little Treasure" – 2:52
3. "Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix)" – 9:34
4. "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix)" – 5:34
5. "Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)" – 4:53
6. "Never Let Me Down Again (Tsangarides Mix)" – 4:22
7. "Pleasure, Little Treasure (Join Mix)" – 4:53
8. "To Have and To Hold (Spanish Taster)" – 2:33

The second CD is the 1992 re-release

• The American versions of "Never Let Me Down Again" are the same as the UK and do not have any exclusive mixes.
• The "Tsangarides Mix" of "Never Let Me Down Again" is basically the same song with a distorted intro and a slightly different beat.

[edit] Trivia

• The song was featured in the series Cold Case, in series three, episode one ("Family").
• The automobile featured in the video is a BMW Isetta.

[edit] Notable Covers

The Smashing Pumpkins recorded a cover of the song and released it as a b-side on their rare 1994 CD single "Rocket". Billy Corgan is a longtime fan of Depeche Mode. In 1998, Depeche Mode invited Corgan, their opening act, onstage to perform the song together. This version of the song is also featured on the soundtrack for Not Another Teen Movie

American band Berlin (better known for their #1 hit "Take my breath away" ) also covered this song in 2005.

In 2006, Tre Lux covered "Never Let Me Down Again" on the cover album A Strange Gathering.

The Mission have recorded a cover version of this song which is available on a compilation album Aural Delight.

[edit] External links

• Single information from the official Depeche Mode web site
• Video at YouTube