A Broken Frame

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A Broken Frame
Studio album by Depeche Mode
Released	September 27, 1982
Recorded	Blackwing Studios, London Summer of 1982
Genre	Synth pop Synth Rock Alternative Rock
Length	46:40
Label	UK Mute / US: Sire
Producer(s)	Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Depeche Mode chronology
Speak and Spell (1981)	A Broken Frame (1982)	Construction Time Again (1983)

A Broken Frame is Depeche Mode's second proper studio album and was released on September 27, 1982. This record was written in the absence of Vince Clarke after his departure to form Yazoo with singer Alison Moyet. Alan Wilder was part of a second tour in the United Kingdom occurring prior to the release of this album, but he had not officially joined the band, and thus, does not appear on the album.

A Broken Frame never aged well with the band, possibly due to Martin Gore being thrust into position of chief songwriter after Clarke's departure. (Gore would eventually hone his songwriting skills to become Depeche Mode's sole album songwriter from 1986 to 2001). None of the singles had long-term success compared to most of Depeche Mode's other albums' singles. At the time of their releases/debut show, A Broken Frame was the only album not represented on 101 and Remixes 81 - 04. Prior to 2006, the last song from the album to be played live was "Leave in Silence" in 1986. There have been rumours that the song was going to be played live in Depeche Mode's cancelled 2002 tour. Additionally, Alan wanted "The Sun and the Rainfall" to be played during the Devotional Tour in 1993, but the idea was not supported by any of the other band members. "Leave in Silence" finally made its return, as an acoustic rendition, in a Paris Touring the Angel show in February 2006.

Another negative of the album is that the music videos (directed by Julien Temple) were disliked by the band because of corny-ness and some of the odd acting they were forced to do. (Most of the later videos were simply dancing/banging pipes or in later albums more simple acting). No video from the A Broken Frame era has been officially released, possibly hindering exposure for the album.

After the release of A Broken Frame Depeche Mode went onto their first world tour, which included North America, Europe and the Far East. Previously they had toured in England and Europe as well as the United States.

"Monument" was covered by Gus Gus on For the Masses.

Contents 1 2006 re-release 2 Track listing 2.1 1982 release: Mute / Stumm 9 (UK) 2.2 1982 release: Sire / 23751 (U.S.) 2.3 2006 re-release 3 Singles 4 Miscellanea 5 Album credits

[edit] 2006 re-release

In 2006, A Broken Frame was re-released with a bonus DVD. It was released as a part of the second wave of re-issues. (Along with Some Great Reward and Songs of Faith and Devotion) The first CD was remastered and (except in the USA) was released on an CD/SACD hybrid. The bonus DVD includes the three B-Sides "Now, This is Fun," "Oberkorn (It's a Small Town)" and "Excerpts from: My Secret Garden" in addition to several live versions of some of the songs from A Broken Frame.

The re-release preserves the album as it was originally intended. The bonus track "Further Excerpts from: My Secret Garden" was removed (but unlike earlier re-releases wasn't put on the DVD as an extra) and the version of "Leave in Silence" is the album version, not the "Longer" version, making it's debut in the USA. (Like Further Excerpts, the Longer version doesn't appear on the DVD)

Also included was a 27 minute documentary on A Broken Frame called Depeche Mode 82-83 (The Beginning Of Their So-called Dark Phase) featuring interviews with Depeche Mode (including then just-departing member Vince Clarke and the then-unofficial member Alan Wilder) and other important DM figures like Daniel Miller and cover-photographer Brian Griffin. There is also footage of television appearances and live performances, commentary on the three singles, Vince's departure, Alan's joining, the "See You" tour, the cover, and more. There are excerpts from the three Julien Temple music videos, making this the only time they have been viewable in a public release.

It was released October 2, 2006 in the UK and October 3, 2006 in the US.

The remastered album is set to be released on "deluxe" vinyl 30 March 2007 in Germany and 2 April 2007 internationally.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 1982 release: Mute / Stumm 9 (UK)

1. "Leave In Silence" – 4:51
2. "My Secret Garden" – 4:46
3. "Monument" – 3:15
4. "Nothing to Fear" – 4:18
5. "See You" – 4:34
6. "Satellite" – 4:44
7. "The Meaning of Love" – 3:06
8. "A Photograph Of You" – 3:04
9. "Shouldn't Have Done That" – 3:12
10. "The Sun & The Rainfall" – 5:02

[edit] 1982 release: Sire / 23751 (U.S.)

1. "Leave In Silence" – 6:28
2. "My Secret Garden" – 4:46
3. "Monument" – 3:15
4. "Nothing to Fear" – 4:18
5. "See You" – 4:34
6. "Satellite" – 4:44
7. "The Meaning of Love" – 3:06
8. "(Further Excerpt From:) My Secret Garden" – 4:20
9. "A Photograph Of You" – 3:04
10. "Shouldn't Have Done That" – 3:12
11. "The Sun & The Rainfall" – 5:02

• All compositions by Martin Gore.
• David Gahan sings lead vocals on all songs except "Shouldn't Have Done That" which is a duet with Dave and Martin. "Nothing to Fear" and "Further Excerpts From: My Secret Garden" are instrumental.

[edit] 2006 re-release

Mute: DM CD 2 (CD/SACD + DVD) / CDX STUMM 9 (CD/SACD)

• Disc 1 is a hybrid SACD/CD with a multi-channel SACD layer.
• Disc 2 is a DVD which includes "A Broken Frame" in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM Stereo plus bonus material

1. "Leave In Silence" – 4:51
2. "My Secret Garden" – 4:46
3. "Monument" – 3:15
4. "Nothing to Fear" – 4:18
5. "See You" – 4:34
6. "Satellite" – 4:44
7. "The Meaning of Love" – 3:06
8. "A Photograph Of You" – 3:04
9. "Shouldn't Have Done That" – 3:12
10. "The Sun & The Rainfall" – 5:02

Bonus Tracks (in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, PCM Stereo):

1. "My Secret Garden (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 7:28
2. "See You (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 4:11
3. "Satellite (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 4:28
4. "Nothing To Fear (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 4:28
5. "The Meaning of Love (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 3:14
6. "A Photograph of You (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 3:21
7. "Now This Is Fun" – 3:42
8. "Oberkorn (It's A Small Town)" – 4:07
9. "Excerpt From: My Secret Garden" – 3:14

Additional Material:

1. "Depeche Mode 82-83 (The Beginning Of Their So-called Dark Phase)" [27 Minute video]

All songs were written by Martin Gore.

[edit] Singles

1. "See You" (29 January 1982)
2. "The Meaning of Love" (26 April 1982)
3. "Leave in Silence" (16 August 1982)

[edit] Miscellanea

• Since Martin Gore was forced to write 10 songs for the album, almost without notice, Martin used some songs he had written years before as a teenager. The main single, "See You", and "A Photograph of You" were written at age 16.
• A Broken Frame is the only album without a song with Martin Gore on lead vocals, but it's been argued that "Shouldn't Have Done That" should be considered a Martin-lead track with Dave on backup vocals.

[edit] Album credits

• David Gahan
• Martin Gore
• Andrew Fletcher

• Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode

• Engineeried by John Fryer, Eric Radcliffe
• Recorded at Blackwing Studios, London
• CDD Pre-Mastering by WCI Record Group

• Photography by Brian Griffin
• Design: Martyn Atkins
• Calligraphy: Ching Ching Lee
• Clothes Stylist: Jacqui Frye

• Publisher: Mute Records
• Distributor: Warner Music (U.S.)
• Label: Mute Records (UK) / Sire Records (U.S.)

Depeche Mode
David Gahan | Martin Gore | Andrew Fletcher Vince Clarke | Alan Wilder
Depeche Mode discography
Studio albums: Speak & Spell | A Broken Frame | Construction Time Again | Some Great Reward | Black Celebration | Music for the Masses | Violator | Songs of Faith and Devotion | Ultra | Exciter | Playing the Angel Compilations: People Are People | The Singles 81>85 | Catching Up with Depeche Mode | The Singles 86>98 | Remixes 81 - 04 | The Best Of, Volume 1 | The Complete Depeche Mode Live Albums: 101 | Songs of Faith and Devotion Live | Recording the Angel Tribute Albums: For the Masses | A Techno Tribute to Depeche Mode | Color Theory presents Depeche Mode Singles: Dreaming of Me | New Life | Just Can't Get Enough | See You | The Meaning of Love | Leave in Silence | Get the Balance Right | Everything Counts | Love, in Itself | People Are People | Master and Servant | Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody | Shake the Disease | It's Called a Heart | Stripped/ But Not Tonight | A Question of Lust | A Question of Time | Strangelove | Never Let Me Down Again | Behind the Wheel | Little 15 | Everything Counts (Live) | Personal Jesus | Enjoy the Silence | Policy of Truth | World in My Eyes | I Feel You | Walking in My Shoes | Condemnation | In Your Room | Barrel of a Gun | It's No Good | Home | Useless | Only When I Lose Myself | Dream On | I Feel Loved | Freelove | Goodnight Lovers | Enjoy the Silence 04 | Precious | A Pain That I'm Used To | Suffer Well | John the Revelator / Lilian | Martyr
Videography
Videos: The World We Live In and Live in Hamburg | Some Great Videos | Strange | 101 | Strange Too | Devotional | The Videos 86>98 | One Night in Paris | Touring the Angel: Live in Milan
Related articles
Synthpop | Depeche Mode Tours | Mute Records | Paper Monsters | Counterfeit e.p. | Counterfeit² | Toast Hawaii | Recoil
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