Recorded at Music Works in London and mixed at Hansa Mischraum in Berlin, Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody is the 12th single by Depeche Mode. Originally released on 29 October 1984, it’s also the band’s first double A-side single. Blasphemous Rumours sparked some controversy with its lyrics, while Somebody is the first Depeche Mode single sung by Martin Gore rather than lead vocalist David Gahan. Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody was initially not commercially released as a single in the US.
7-inch – UK
Mute – 7 BONG 7 (released 29 October 1984)
A1 Somebody (Remix) 4:19
AA1 Blasphemous Rumours 5:06
7-inch – UK
Mute – 7 BONG 7 E (released 29 October 1984)
A1 Somebody (Remix) 4:19
A2 Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:52
AA1 Blasphemous Rumours (7-inch Version) 5:06
AA2 Told You So (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:54
12-inch – UK
Mute – 12 Bong 7 (released 29 October 1984, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Blasphemous Rumours (Album Version) 6:21
B1 Somebody (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:23
B2 Two Minute Warning (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:33 aw
B3 Ice Machine (Live in Liverpool 1984) 3:48 vc
B4 Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:44
7-inch – red transparent vinyl edition – Germany
Mute – 7 Bong 7 – Intercord Ton – INT 111.824 (released 29 October 1984)
A1 Somebody (Remix) 4:20
AA1 Blasphemous Rumours 5:06
Get your rare German edition of Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody on 7-inch red transparent vinyl format from eBay (subject to availability).
12-inch – grey opaque vinyl edition – Germany
Mute – 12 Bong 7 – Intercord Ton – INT 136.803 (released 29 October 1984, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Blasphemous Rumours (Album Version) 6:20
B1 Somebody (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:26
B2 Two Minute Warning (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:36 aw
B3 Ice Machine (Live in Liverpool 1984) 3:45 vc
B4 Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:45
Get your rare German limited edition of Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody on 12-inch grey opaque vinyl format from eBay (subject to availability).
12-inch promo – US
Mute – Sire – PRO-A-2271 (released in 1984, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Blasphemous Rumours (7-inch Version) 5:06
B1 Something To Do (Album Version) 3:45
B2 (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me (7-inch Version) 4:13
7-inch – Philippines
Mute – New York Records – NEW-9259 (released in 1984, generic ‘DYNA RECORDS’ sleeve)
A1 Somebody (Remix) 4:18
B1 Stories Of Old 3:12 (taken from Some Great Reward)
12-inch – Philippines
Mute – 12 Bong 7 – New York Records – OC-EP-17034 (released in 1984, titled “Live”, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Somebody (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:29
A2 Two Minute Warning (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:36 aw
A3 Ice Machine (Live in Liverpool 1984) 3:45 vc
A4 Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:46
B1 Blasphemous Rumours (Album Version) 6:20
12-inch – yellow transparent vinyl edition – Germany
Mute – 12 Bong 7 – Intercord Ton – INT 126.839 (reissue released in 1987 as part of the ‘Colour Collection’, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Blasphemous Rumours (Album Version) 6:20
B1 Somebody (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:26
B2 Two Minute Warning (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:36 aw
B3 Ice Machine (Live in Liverpool 1984) 3:45 vc
B4 Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:45
12-inch – orange transparent vinyl edition – Germany
Mute – 12 Bong 7 – Intercord Ton – INT 126.839 (reissue released in 1988, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Blasphemous Rumours (Album Version) 6:20
B1 Somebody (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:26
B2 Two Minute Warning (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:36 aw
B3 Ice Machine (Live in Liverpool 1984) 3:45 vc
B4 Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:45
CD – France / Germany
Mute – Virgin – 30057 / Mute – Intercord Ton – INT 826.839 (released in 1987 / 1988)
- Blasphemous Rumours (Album Version) 6:24 / 6:24
- Somebody (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:26 / 4:29
- Two Minute Warning (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:36 / 4:36 aw
- Ice Machine (Live in Liverpool 1984) 3:45 / 3:46 vc
- Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:45 / 5:45
CD – UK / US
Mute – CDBONG 7 / Mute – Sire – 40300-2 (released 25 November 1991 / 26 November, as part of the box set 2 – Singles 7-12, and separately)
- Blasphemous Rumours (Album Version) 6:22 / 6:23
- Told You So (Live in Liverpool 1984) 4:56 / 4:56
- Somebody (Remix) 4:21 / 4:20
- Everything Counts (Live in Liverpool 1984) 5:53 / 5:53
Note: Does not include Ice Machine which was removed from the front inlay for later editions.
Music videos – Worldwide
Mute – no catalogue number (directed by Clive Richardson, released in October 1984)
Depeche Mode – Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody
- all tracks written by Martin Gore, except aw by Alan Wilder, and vc by Vince Clarke
- produced by Daniel Miller, Gareth Jones, and Depeche Mode
- highest chart position 16 (UK)
- the third single from the album Some Great Reward, Blasphemous Rumours also appears on the compilations The Singles 81→85 and Catching Up With Depeche Mode, Somebody also appears on the US compilation Catching Up With Depeche Mode, both tracks appear on the box set Some Great Reward | The 12″ Singles
- 1984 Depeche Mode was Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, Martin Gore, and Alan Wilder