Music for the Masses - Definition and Overview

Music for the Masses is a 1987 album by Depeche Mode. It provided the band with mainstream success in the United States for the first time since Some Great Reward, and the new styles of music that appeared on the album formed the foundation for their breakthrough effort, Violator.

The album was recorded during a transitional period for Depeche Mode. As such, it contains some of their classic synth pop ("Strangelove", "Behind the Wheel", "Nothing") and goth-electronica ("Little 15", "To Have and to Hold", "Pimpf"). However, it also hints at the modern rock ("Never Let Me Down Again", "The Things You Said", "Sacred") that would characterize their later career.

Mainstream success in the States

The album became the band's highest-charting in the US upon its release, reaching #35 on the Billboard 200. It also contained more hit singles than any of their previous releases. While there was no exremely popular single from the album ("People Are People" from Some Great Reward reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100), the three singles that were released all made it onto the Hot 100, a feat that hadn't been achieved by any Depeche Mode single after those from Some Great Reward. Moreover, all three singles achieved modest success on the chart.

The first single from the album, "Strangelove", only reached #76 and spent 6 weeks on the chart upon its initial release. "Never Let Me Down Again" was then issued and hit #63, spending 10 weeks on the chart. It success was duplicated by "Behind the Wheel", which had a similar chart run. This propelled "Strangelove" to #50, making it the highest-charting single from the album.

The story was similar in the United Kingdom. While no single reached the chart heights of Depeche Mode's early career, "Strangelove" narrowly became the band's second-highest charting single since 1984 when it hit #16. The two follow-up singles charted in the upper 20s. The album was less successful, reaching only #10.

Track listing

1. "Never Let Me Down Again"
2. "The Things You Said"
3. "Strangelove"
4. "Sacred"
5. "Little 15"
6. "Behind the Wheel"
7. "I Want You Now"
8. "To Have and to Hold"
9. "Nothing"
10. "Pimpf"