Speak & Spell

Release type:What's this?
studio album
First released:
Oct 5 1981

Overview Edit

Speak & Spell is the first album from the British synthpop group Depeche Mode, recorded and released in 1981. The album peaked at #10 in the UK Albums Chart.

The Overview appearing in this section is attributed to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speak_&_Spell_(album). Portions of this Overview may be available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, version 3.0 or any later version, available at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Additional terms may apply. See Wikipedia Terms of Use for details.

This particular version Edit

Record label:
Catalog number:
3642
Release dates:
  • Oct 25 1990

Genres

Alternative Rock, Dance, Electronic, Post-punk, Synthpop, Alternative, Classic Rock, Disco, New Wave, Indie Disco. Vote on Genres

What do Amazon.com customers think?

5 stars a great reissue
don't listen to the naysayers. the U.S. reisssue of 'speak and spell' is a more than worthy addition to the dm reissue canon. chances are you already own 'speak and spell,' as well as it's great b-sides, 'ice machine,' 'i sometimes wish i was dead,' and 'shout,' so i won't get into the album itself.

the accompanying dvd is a veritable treasure trove for mode-a-philes, the most shiniest diamond being the interviews with vince clarke. i don't know much about vince's personal feelings about dm, bu…
Written by M. Lohrke
2 stars buy the import !!!!
If you must have Speak and Spell ( which is quite good, despite being very lightweight, fluffy, lyrically empty early-eighties synth-pop ) do yourself a favour and spend the extra money on the import version. The US version pales in comparison to the original Uk version. There is a great song ( Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead, which is not as depressing as its title would suggest ) that was left off the US pressing, and the extra time was taken up by the inclusion of the 12" remix of Just Can't Get …
Written by J. Brady

Track listing Edit

Credits Edit

Other versions Edit

Speak & Spell 16 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Phantom Sound & Vision
release dates: Nov 22 1996
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Speak & Spell 16 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Intercord Tonträger
catalog number: INT 836.805
release dates: 1988 in Germany
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Speak & Spell 16 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Mute
catalog number: 6182
release dates: 1988 in United Kingdom
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Speak & Spell 11 tracks format: 1 x vinyl
record label: Sire Records
catalog number: SRK3642
release dates: Oct 6 1981 in United States
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11 tracks format: 1 x vinyl
record label: Mute
catalog number: STUMM5
release dates: Oct 5 1981 in United Kingdom
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11 tracks format: 1 x cassette
record label: Mute
catalog number: CSTUMM5
release dates: Oct 5 1981 in United Kingdom
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Speak & Spell 12 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Rhino / Wea
catalog number: INT 836.805
release dates: Mar 31 2006 in Germany, Jun 6 2006 in United States
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Speak & Spell 12 tracks format: 1 x SACD
record label: Mute
catalog number: INT 836.805
release dates: Jun 6 2006
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Speak & Spell 12 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Mute
catalog number: INT 836.805
release dates: Jun 6 2006
view details
Speak & Spell Deluxe Edition
format: 1 x CD, 1 x DVD
catalog number: INT 836.805
release dates: Jun 6 2006
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Speak & Spell 12 tracks format: 1 x CD
release dates: Apr 4 2006
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Trivia Edit

  • This was the last album the band made with Vince Clarke who went on to form Yazoo.
  • "Big Muff" escaped censorship but the band denied any salacious meaning

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