Black Celebration

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Black Celebration
Studio album by Depeche Mode
Released 17 March 1986
Recorded November 1985–January 1986
Westside Studios, Genetic Studios, London; Hansa Mischraum, Berlin
Genre Synthpop, dark wave
Length 41:12 (UK)
45:27 (US)
Label Mute/Sire (US/Canada)
Producer Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller, and Gareth Jones
Depeche Mode chronology
Some Great Reward
(1984)		 Black Celebration
(1986)		 Music for the Masses
(1987)
Singles from Black Celebration
  1. "Stripped"
    Released: 10 February 1986 (1986-02-10)
  2. "A Question of Lust"
    Released: 14 April 1986 (1986-04-14)
  3. "A Question of Time"
    Released: 11 August 1986 (1986-08-11)
  4. "But Not Tonight[1]"
    Released: 22 October 1986 (1986-10-22)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4/5 stars[2]
Melody Maker negative[3]
NME favourable[4]
PopMatters 9/10 stars[5]
Record Mirror 4/5 stars[6]
Rolling Stone favorable[7]
Sputnikmusic 4.5/5 stars[8]

Black Celebration is the fifth studio album by Depeche Mode. Released by Mute Records on 17 March 1986, it further cemented the darkening sound that was initially hinted towards on their albums Construction Time Again and Some Great Reward.

Black Celebration was cited as one of the most influential albums of the '80s.[8][9]

Black Celebration Tour was the supporting tour for this album.

Contents

Overview [edit]

Black Celebration is the Depeche Mode album that has the most songs with Martin Gore on lead vocals: "A Question of Lust", "Sometimes", "It Doesn't Matter Two", "World Full of Nothing" and "Black Day" as a bonus track. The remaining tracks are sung by Dave Gahan.

The track "Fly on the Windscreen" had already been released as the B-side of the "It's Called a Heart" single. The band decided to rework the song (adding new effects and making it more stereophonic) and released it as the "Final" version on this album. It was later performed live, and given a slight hip hop edge during the 1993 Devotional Tour. A recorded performance of this version is featured in the live video Devotional and a special live single of "In Your Room".

Re-release [edit]

In 2007, Black Celebration was re-released with a bonus DVD. It was released as a part of the third wave of re-issues (along with Construction Time Again). The first CD was remastered and (except in the USA) was released on a CD/SACD hybrid. The bonus DVD includes the B-sides in addition to the singles and B-sides for "Shake the Disease" and "It's Called a Heart", two songs that were recorded shortly before the album and were released too early to be put on the album. There are also several live versions of some of the songs from Black Celebration. The album is released the way it was originally intended and ends with "New Dress" (not "Black Day" or "But Not Tonight").

Like the other re-issues, the DVD includes a documentary on the album. The title (seen below) is Martin paraphrasing Daniel Miller about his demos for Black Celebration in the film. The double-documentary discusses both The Singles 81→85 and Black Celebration, its more challenging commercial success (especially the song "Stripped") and all five related singles. It also includes a plethora of behind-the-scenes footage of the making of Black Celebration and the ensuing tour. Highlights include the band meeting The Cure, and behind the scenes footage of several of the music videos. The documentary is nearly an hour long.

It was released 20 March 2007 in the USA, 26 March in the UK and 2 April in the rest of Europe.

The remastered album was released on "deluxe" vinyl on 2 April 2007 in Europe. 11 September 2007 in the United States.

Track listing [edit]

All songs written by Martin Gore, except "Black Day" written by Martin Gore/Alan Wilder/Daniel Miller and "Christmas Island" written by Martin Gore/Alan Wilder.

UK LP [edit]

Side one [edit]

  1. "Black Celebration" – 4:55
  2. "Fly on the Windscreen - Final" – 5:18
  3. "A Question of Lust" – 4:20
  4. "Sometimes" – 1:53
  5. "It Doesn't Matter Two" – 2:50

Side two [edit]

  1. "A Question of Time" – 4:10
  2. "Stripped" – 4:16
  3. "Here Is the House" – 4:15
  4. "World Full of Nothing" – 2:50
  5. "Dressed in Black" – 2:32
  6. "New Dress" – 3:42

Bonus tracks on CD version:

  1. "Breathing in Fumes" – 6:07
  2. "But Not Tonight (Extended Remix)" – 5:13
  3. "Black Day" – 2:36

US LP/CD/MC [edit]

Side one [edit]

  1. "Black Celebration" – 4:55
  2. "Fly on the Windscreen (Final)" – 5:18
  3. "A Question of Lust" – 4:20
  4. "Sometimes" – 1:53
  5. "It Doesn't Matter Two" – 2:50

Side two [edit]

  1. "A Question of Time" – 4:10
  2. "Stripped" – 4:16
  3. "Here Is the House" – 4:15
  4. "World Full of Nothing" – 2:50
  5. "Dressed in Black" – 2:32
  6. "New Dress" – 3:42
  7. "But Not Tonight" – 4:15

The U.S. version of "A Question of Time" was mastered incorrectly; the screeching sound in the intro (the first four seconds of the song) is repeated.

2007 re-release [edit]

Mute: DM CD 5 (CD/SACD + DVD) / CDX STUMM 26 (CD/SACD)

  • Disc 1 is a hybrid SACD/CD with a multi-channel SACD layer.
  • Disc 2 is a DVD which includes "Black Celebration" in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM Stereo plus bonus material
  1. "Black Celebration" – 4:55
  2. "Fly on the Windscreen (Final)" – 5:18
  3. "A Question of Lust" – 4:20
  4. "Sometimes" – 1:53
  5. "It Doesn't Matter Two" – 2:50
  6. "A Question of Time" – 4:10
  7. "Stripped" – 4:16
  8. "Here Is the House" – 4:15
  9. "World Full of Nothing" – 2:50
  10. "Dressed in Black" – 2:32
  11. "New Dress" – 3:42

Live in Birmingham, April 1986 (in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, PCM Stereo):

  1. "Black Celebration"
  2. "A Question of Time"
  3. "Stripped"

Bonus Tracks (PCM Stereo):

  1. "Shake the Disease"
  2. "Flexible"
  3. "It's Called a Heart"
  4. "Fly on the Windscreen" [original]
  5. "But Not Tonight"
  6. "Breathing in Fumes"
  7. "Black Day"
  8. "Christmas Island"

Additional Material:

  1. Depeche Mode 85-86: The songs aren't good enough, there aren't any singles and it'll never get played on the radio [57 minute video]

Charts and certifications [edit]

Charts [edit]

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart[10] 26
French SNEP Albums Chart 11
German Albums Chart[11] 2
Swedish Albums Chart[12] 5
Swiss Albums Chart[13] 1
UK Albums Chart[14] 3
US Billboard 200[15] 90

Certifications [edit]

Region Certification Sales/shipments
France (SNEP)[16] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[17] Platinum 500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Credits [edit]

  • Dave Gahan - lead vocals, sampling
  • Martin Gore - keyboards, guitar, sampling, backing vocals, lead vocals on "A Question Of Lust", "Sometimes", "It Doesn't Matter Two" and "World Full Of Nothing"
  • Andy Fletcher - sampling, backing vocals
  • Alan Wilder - keyboards, sampling, drum programming, piano on "Sometimes", programming, backing vocals

Production [edit]

  • Daniel Miller - keyboards, programming, backing vocals on "Black Celebration" and "Fly On The Windscreen (Final)", songwriting
  • Gareth Jones - keyboards, programming

Miscellaneous [edit]

  • In 1989, the album was ranked #15 on Spin magazine's list of "The 25 Greatest Albums Of All Time".[20]
  • The voice at the beginning of "Black Celebration" is Daniel Miller (impersonating Winston Churchill) saying, "A brief period of rejoicing."
  • Black Celebration is the only Depeche Mode album that has a title track. However, there are three other Depeche Mode albums that get their names from lyrics in songs on the albums: Construction Time Again, Some Great Reward and Playing the Angel.
  • Black Celebration is the only Depeche Mode album which does not have a track featured on The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1, although the DVD edition carries both "Stripped" and "A Question Of Time".
  • Black Celebration was the last Depeche Mode album to feature Brian Griffin as cover photographer.
  • The B-side "Black Day" is a new composition that reprises lyrics from "Black Celebration", sung by Martin Gore.
  • On the back of the cover, a quote reciting Life in the so-called space age can be read. This quote gave inspiration to God Lives Underwater, who released an album with such a title, in 1998.
  • The 1986 film Modern Girls used the song "But Not Tonight". The track was released as a single in North America only, and was not included on most other versions of Black Celebration.
  • The single "Stripped" is used in the film Say Anything....
  • The songs "Stripped" and "A Question of Lust" are both in the film Dangerously Close.
  • The song "Black Celebration" is used as the music for the Welder (John DeFoe) chase sequence in 7 Days a Skeptic by Ben Croshaw.
  • "Breathing in Fumes" can be seen as a remix of "Stripped", utilizing the lyrics and vocal lines of the song with a more industrial beat.
  • The song "Fly on the Windscreen" was used in Miami Vice episode "El Viejo".[21]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Released only in North-America
  2. ^ Raggett, Ned. Black Celebration at Allmusic. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  3. ^ Sutherland, Steve (15 March 1986). "Black In The Night [Black Celebration - review]". Melody Maker. 
  4. ^ O'Hagan, Sean (15 March 1986). "Nipple Erectors [Black Celebration - review]". NME. 
  5. ^ Keefe, Michael (10 May 2007). "Depeche Mode: Black Celebration Review". PopMatters. Retrieved 2 July 2011. 
  6. ^ Page, Betty (15 March 1986). "Black Celebration (review)". Record Mirror. 
  7. ^ Coleman, Mark (17 July 1986). "Black Celebration by Depeche Mode Music review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 July 2011. 
  8. ^ a b "Depeche Mode Black Celebration". Sputnikmusic. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2011. 
  9. ^ "Xfm launches '25' series for influential albums". Music-News.com. 31 Jan 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011. 
  10. ^ "Discographie Depeche Mode". AustrianCharts.at. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  11. ^ "Suchergebnis". Charts-Surfer.de. Retrieved 24 February 2009. Note: User must define 'neuer suchbegriff' search parameter as "Depeche Mode".
  12. ^ "Discography Depeche Mode". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  13. ^ "Discography Depeche Mode". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  14. ^ "Black Celebration". Discography. DpecheMode.com. Retrieved 14 October 2011. 
  15. ^ "Depeche Mode > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  16. ^ "French album certifications – Depeche Mode – Black Celebration" (in French). InfoDisc.  Select DEPECHE MODE and click OK
  17. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Depeche Mode; 'Black Celebration')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. 
  18. ^ "British album certifications – DepecheMode – Black Celebration". British Phonographic Industry.  Enter Black Celebration in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  19. ^ "American album certifications – Depeche Mode – Black Celebration". Recording Industry Association of America.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  20. ^ "The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time". Spin. April 1989. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved 14 October 2011. 
  21. ^ ""Miami Vice" El Viejo (1986) - Soundtrack". IMDb. 
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