Originally released on 20 October 1997, Useless is the 34th European single by Depeche Mode. Due to airplay in the US before the preceding single Home was announced, Useless initially did not have a commercial standalone release in North America. Instead, the two songs were issued together as a Home / Useless double A-side single. Useless was recorded in London at Eastcote Studios and Westside Studios, and mixed at Abbey Road Studios.
12-inch – UK
Mute – 12 BONG 28 (released 20 October 1997, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) 9:10
B1 Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:38
B2 Useless (Air 20 Mix) 7:56
12-inch promo – UK
Mute – P12 BONG 28 (released in October 1997, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:38
B1 Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) 9:10
Enhanced CD – UK
Mute – CD BONG 28 (released 20 October 1997)
Audio
- Useless (Remix) 4:53
- Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!) 7:17
- Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix) 6:57
Music video (directed by Anton Corbijn)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:32
Enhanced CD limited edition – UK
Mute – LCD BONG 28 (released 20 October 1997)
Audio
- Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix) 6:03
- Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) 9:10
- Useless (Live at Adrenalin Village 1997) 5:21
Music video (directed by Anton Corbijn)
- It’s No Good (Radio Edit) 4:22
CD promo – UK
Mute – RCD BONG 28 (released in October 1997)
- Useless (Remix) 4:53
- Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!) 7:17
- Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix) 6:55
CD – Benelux
Mute – Pias Benelux – 391.1028.24 (released in October 1997)
- Useless (Remix) 4:55
- Useless (Live at Adrenalin Village 1997) 5:21
CD-R promo – UK
Mute – no catalogue number (issued 25 September 1997)
- Useless (Remix) 4:55
- Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!) 7:17
- Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) 9:10
- Useless (Air 20 Mix) 7:56
- Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:38
- Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix) 6:57
- Useless (Live at Adrenalin Village 1997) 5:21
CD-R promo – UK
Mute – no catalogue number (issued in September 1997)
- Useless (CJ Bolland Radio Edit) 4:06
12-inch – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 0-43906 (released 18 November 1997 as a double A-side with the preceding single Home, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Home (The Noodles & The Damage Done) 6:22
A2 Home (LFO Meant To Be) 4:26
AA1 Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Extended Mix) 6:00
AA2 Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:38
7-inch – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 7-17314 (released in 1997 together with the preceding single Home)
A1 Home (Album Version) 5:46
B1 Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit) 4:06
CD – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 9 17314-2 (released 18 November 1997 together with the preceding single Home)
- Home (Album Version) 5:46
- Home (Air “Around The Golf” Remix) 3:58
- Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit) 4:06
Enhanced CD – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 9 43906-2 (released 18 November 1997 together with the preceding single Home, laserfile case)
Audio
- Home (Album Version) 5:46
- Home (Grantby Mix) 4:38
- Home (LFO Meant To Be) 4:26
- Home (The Noodles & The Damage Done) 6:22
- Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Extended Mix) 6:00
- Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:38
- Useless (Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) 9:11
- Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!) 7:15
Music videos (directed by Anton Corbijn, except sg by Steve Green)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:28
- Home (Radio Edit) 3:58 sg
- It’s No Good (Radio Edit) 4:18
- Useless (Remix) 4:54
CD-R promo – US
Reprise Records – no catalogue number (issued in September or October 1997)
- Useless (Radio Edit) 4:49
- Useless (Album Version) 5:13
CD-R promo – US
Reprise Records – no catalogue number (issued 8 September 1997)
- Useless (Radio Edit) 4:51
- Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit) 4:06
CD-R promo – US
Reprise Records – no catalogue number (issued in September or October 1997)
- Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix) 6:03
- Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:38
- Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!) 7:17
- Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™ – Full Version) 9:56
- Useless (Cosmic Blues Edited Mix) 7:56
CD-R promo – US
Reprise Records – no catalogue number (issued in September or October 1997)
- Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!) 7:19
- Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix) 6:57
- Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Extended Mix) 6:04
- Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) 9:08
- Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:41
- Useless (Air 20 Mix) 7:59
CD – Europe / US
Mute – CD BONG 28X / Mute – Reprise – R2 78894D (released 29 March 2004 / 30 March, as part of the box set 6 – Singles 31-36, and separately)
- Useless (Remix) 4:54 / 4:55
- Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!) 7:17 / 7:17
- Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix) 6:57 / 6:57
- Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix) 6:02 / 6:03
- Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) 9:09 / 9:10
- Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix) 5:39 / 5:38
- Useless (Air 20 Mix) 7:58 / 7:56
- Useless (Live At Adrenalin Village 1997) 5:24 / 5:21
- Barrel Of A Gun (music video) 5:29 / 5:28
- It’s No Good (music video) 4:14 / 4:18
Note: Useless was commercially released on the cassette format in Poland only, Home / Useless was released on cassette in the US.
Music video – Worldwide
Mute – no catalogue number (directed by Anton Corbijn, released in October 1997)
Depeche Mode – Useless
- all tracks written by Martin Gore
- produced by Tim Simenon and Depeche Mode
- highest chart position 28 (UK)
- the fourth single from the album Ultra, also appears on the compilation The Singles 86>98 and the box set Ultra | The 12″ Singles
- 1997 Depeche Mode was Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, and Martin Gore