“Lie to Me,” “Stories of Old” and “Shame” are three grossly underrated tracks, particularly the first one of the bunch. The same holds true for the extended version of “Shake the Disease” whose 7″ version is actually included on Volume 1. I would be hard pressed to choose, however, between the single version and the extended remix.
It was only released as a single, and on the odd US only album release People Are People. To me it is the single that had DM turning a corner into what would be their eventual fully realized sound and lyrical themes. Early single “Get the Balance Right” is a must in my book for anything that is going to `represent’ DM, be it a greatest hits collection or documentary. Oh, let’s call it, The Best Of, Volume 1.5. That said, here’s what else I would include. All in all, the eighteen tracks selected for this collection are a fairly representative and fair look at a spectacular and legendary pop band that probably still isn’t given the due it deserves. Just so we’re clear, this isn’t necessarily what I think should have gone on the final record. Just for kicks, let’s go over what mine would include. If other DM fans out there are like me, they’ve probably created their own greatest hits collection, either as a mixtape, mix CD, or as an iPod playlist. Maybe it’s just that songs from Black Celebration work better as a complete thematic whole, “Stripped” following “A Question of Time” and “But Not Tonight” succeeding “New Dress.” I don’t know, but I’m still trying to fathom a “Best of Depeche Mode” without “Fly on the Windscreen.” On this particular “Best Of,” the most notable absence is any song from Black Celebration. While no one can argue the inclusion of hits like “Strangelove” and “Just Can’t Get Enough,” there are plenty of other songs whose exclusion some will take issue with. DM’s catalog is do rich and deep, with so many fan favorites, that they can’t all be represented to make everyone happy. The thing to know about Depeche Mode fans and the songs they love is that they represent a double-edged sword. The debate with hits collections, as always, is over song selection. And when that happens, a retrospective can’t be too far behind. That collection and the subsequent tour CD and DVD proved to the world that DM were back and more relevant than ever. One would think that a band well over 25 years old would be in its declining years, but 2005’s Playing the Angel went a long way toward dispelling those feelings. However, as most Depeche Mode fans know, this collection, and even the previous hits albums, haven’t even begun to explore real depth of a band that has stood the test of time and laughed in the face of traditionalism. According to the band, there are no plans to release succeeding volumes in a “Best Of” series, making the “Volume 1” in the title somewhat of a joke.
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