Recorded at Blackwing Studios in London and originally released on 26 April 1982, The Meaning Of Love is the fifth single by Depeche Mode. It was initially not released as a standalone single in the US, instead it featured as the B-side of See You.
7-inch – UK
Mute – 7 MUTE 022 (released 26 April 1982)
A1 The Meaning Of Love (Album Version) 3:05
B1 Oberkorn (It’s A Small Town) 4:07
12-inch – UK
Mute – 12 MUTE 022 (released 26 April 1982, generic inner sleeve)
A1 The Meaning Of Love (Fairly Odd Mix) 4:59
B1 Oberkorn (It’s A Small Town) (Development Mix) 7:37
7-inch – red transparent vinyl edition – Germany
Mute – Mute 022 – Intercord Ton – INT 111.804 (released 26 April 1982)
A1 The Meaning Of Love (Album Version) 3:04
B1 Oberkorn (It’s A Small Town) 4:07
Get your rare German edition of The Meaning Of Love on 7-inch red transparent vinyl format from eBay (subject to availability).
12-inch – yellow transparent vinyl edition – Germany
Mute – Mute 022 – Intercord Ton – INT 126.805 (reissue released in 1987 as part of the ‘Colour Collection’, generic inner sleeve)
A1 The Meaning Of Love (Fairly Odd Mix) 4:59
B1 Oberkorn (It’s A Small Town) (Development Mix) 7:37
Get your rare German edition of The Meaning Of Love on 12-inch yellow transparent vinyl format from eBay (subject to availability).
CD – Germany / France
Mute – CD Mute 22 – Intercord Ton INT 826.805 / Mute – Virgin 30301 (released in 1988)
- The Meaning Of Love (Fairly Odd Mix) 5:00
- Oberkorn (It’s A Small Town) (Development Mix) 7:38
- The Meaning Of Love (Album Version) 3:05
CD – UK / US
Mute – CDMute 22 / Mute – Sire – 40293-2 (released 25 November 1991 / 26 November, as part of the box set 1 – Singles 1-6, and separately)
- The Meaning Of Love (Album Version) 3:08 / 3:05
- Oberkorn (It’s A Small Town) (7-inch Version) 4:10 / 4:07
- The Meaning Of Love (Fairly Odd Mix) 5:01 / 4:58
- Oberkorn (It’s A Small Town) (Development Mix) 7:38 / 7:38
Music video – Worldwide
Mute – no catalogue number (directed by Julien Temple, released in April 1982)
Depeche Mode – The Meaning Of Love
- written by Martin Gore
- produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode
- highest chart position 12 (UK)
- the second single from the album A Broken Frame, also appears on the compilations The Singles 81→85 and Catching Up With Depeche Mode, plus the box set A Broken Frame | The 12″ Singles
- 1982 Depeche Mode was Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, and Martin Gore (even though Alan Wilder appears in the music video for The Meaning Of Love and toured with the band, he was not yet officially a member)