For most bands, the debut single is also the inaugural recording to be released. That was not the case for Depeche Mode. In early 1981, along with several other new, unknown, and unsigned electronic acts, the group got a track included on the compilation Some Bizarre Album. Depeche Mode’s contribution was Photographic, completed in under a day late in 1980, about nine months after the band was formed by Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher, with Martin Gore coming onboard shortly thereafter. A demo version of the song, with Vince Clarke on vocals, was recorded in the early days when the trio went by the name Composition Of Sound. Later that year, David Gahan joined as lead singer, and it was his suggestion to rename the group Depeche Mode.
With a new frontman and band name, the quartet made their way to the studio (day jobs permitting) with Mute Records founder Daniel Miller to record and mix Photographic for Some Bizarre Album. Marking the band’s first formal studio recording, the track is slightly different from the more well-known version featured on the debut album Speak & Spell, released in October 1981. Over the years, Some Bizarre Album has been reissued on CD a couple of times, and in 1998 its version of Photographic was included as a bonus track on the compilation The Singles 81>85. As for Depeche Mode’s debut single, Dreaming of Me was released in February 1981, three weeks after Some Bizarre Album.
LP – UK
Some Bizarre – BZLP 1 (released 30 January 1981, compilation of 12 tracks by different artists, came in standard inner sleeve or printed inner sleeve with credits)
A2 Photographic 3:14
Note: Some Bizarre Album was issued with or without track listing on the vinyl labels. The compilation was also released on the cassette format.
Depeche Mode – Photographic
- written by Vince Clarke
- produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode
- highest chart position N/A
- appears on the compilation The Singles 81>85 and the box set MODE
- Some Bizarre Album compiled by Stevo (Stephen Pearce)
- 1981 Depeche Mode was Vince Clarke, Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, and Martin Gore
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