MO Music: Depeche Mode - Speak and Spell

Dave Gahan.  Andrew Fletcher.  Dave Clarke.  In 1981 they changed the world, or at least my world.  As one of the first cassettes in my collection Depeche Mode Speak & Spell sat in a shoebox for almost twenty years until, during a spring cleaning bought of anti-nostalgia, it was unceremoniously left in the basement (and, happily, taken to a new home by some random neighbor).  A replacement on CD was never purchased as assorted 'best of' and 'live' sets eventually supplanted the original.

That oversight is correctable as of today as Speak & Spell is now available as a deluxe reissue.  Not only are the original tracks available but the set also contains a DVD with remastered versions of those tracks, remixes, and, my favorite, b-sides.

Much of Speak & Spell is like stepping into the "way back" machine.  There is a balance of naivety and brilliance that creates a brightness in tone.  The digital remastered versions now available on the DVD add a depth as well.  The b-sides and remixes are great additions as well, but especially fun is the short film interspersing old footage and modern interviews.  (There is a complete lyrics listing in the enclosed booklet for all of you out there that have been singing "I Just Can't Get a Muff" all of these years.) 

In addition to Speak & Spell, Music for the Masses and Violator are also released in deluxe editions today.  Complete track listings for all three and a chance to listen after the jump.

Speak & Spell
New Life
I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead
Puppets
Boys Say Go!
Nodisco What’s Your Name?
Photographic
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Big Muff
Any Second Now (voices)
Just Can’t Get Enough
Dreaming Of Me
Ice Machine (b-side)
Shout (b-side)
Any Second Now (b-side)
Just Can’t Get Enough (Schizo Mix) (remix)

MUSIC FOR THE MASSES  (listen!)
Never Let Me Down Again
The Things You Said
Strangelove
Sacred
Little 15
Behind The Wheel
I Want You Now
To Have And To Hold
Nothing
Pimpf
Agent Orange (b-side)
Pleasure, Little Treasure (b-side)
Route 66 (b-side)
Stjarna (b-side)
Sonata #14 in C#m (Moonlight Sonata) (b-side)
Agent Orange (b-side)
Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix) (remix)
To Have And To Hold” (Spanish Taster) (remix)
Pleasure, Little Treasure” (Glitter Mix) (remix)

VIOLATOR
World In My Eyes
Sweetest Perfection
Personal Jesus
Halo
Waiting For The Night
Enjoy The Silence
Policy Of Truth
Blue Dress
Clean
Dangerous (b-side)
Mephisto (b-side)
Sibeling (b-side)
Kaleid (b-side)
Happiest Girl (b-side)
Sea Of Sin (b-side)