A Broken Frame

Infobox Album |
Name = A Broken Frame
Type = Album
Artist = Depeche Mode


Released = September 27 1982
Recorded = December 1981 - July 1982
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 39:36
http://violation.forumcommunity.net
Label = Mute
Sire (US/Canada)
Producer = Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gifpxqr5ldae link]
Last album = "Speak and Spell"
(1981)
This album = "A Broken Frame"
(1982)
Next album = "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). In the documentary that appears on the DVD that came with the 2006 reissue, Gore describes the record as "our worst album". 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. Mr. Wilder wanted "The Sun & 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 corniness 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 on their first world tour, which included North America, Europe and the Far East. Previously they had toured England and Europe as well as the United States.

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

A special limited edition live album based on "A Broken Frame" recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on the 25th October 1982 was also released early in 1983 which also included a special 12" version of "Get The Balance Right" on the B-Side.

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 a 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 its debut in the USA. (Like "Further Excerpts", the "Longer" version doesn't appear on the DVD)

Sadly, there are flaws with the re-release. A chord at the beginning of the stereo mixes of "Satellite" has mysteriously disappeared and there are live versions of "Shouldn't Have Done That" and "The Sun & The Rainfall" listed on the DVD artwork that are not present on the disc itself. These mistakes have never been rectified.

Also included was a 27-minute documentary on "A Broken Frame" called "Depeche Mode 1982 (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 was released on "deluxe" vinyl 30 March 2007 in Germany and 2 April 2007 internationally.

Track listing

1982 release: Mute / Stumm 9 (UK)

# "Leave in Silence" – 4:51
# "My Secret Garden" – 4:46
# "Monument" – 3:15
# "Nothing to Fear" – 4:18
# "See You" – 4:34
# "Satellite" – 4:44
# "The Meaning of Love" – 3:06
# "A Photograph of You" – 3:04
# "Shouldn't Have Done That" – 3:12
# "The Sun and the Rainfall" – 5:02

1982 release: Sire / 23751 (U.S.)

# "Leave in Silence" – 6:28
# "My Secret Garden" – 4:46
# "Monument" – 3:15
# "Nothing to Fear" – 4:18
# "See You" – 4:34
# "Satellite" – 4:44
# "The Meaning of Love" – 3:06
# "Further Excerpts From: My Secret Garden" – 4:20
# "A Photograph of You" – 3:04
# "Shouldn't Have Done That" – 3:12
# "The Sun and 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 Mr. Gore. "Nothing to Fear" and "Further Excerpts From: My Secret Garden" are instrumental.

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

# "Leave in Silence" – 4:51
# "My Secret Garden" – 4:46
# "Monument" – 3:15
# "Nothing to Fear" – 4:18
# "See You" – 4:34
# "Satellite" – 4:43 (contains a slight edit, or error, at the beginning of the track on the redbook layer along with all stereo mixes. The 5.1 mixes do not contain the edit.)
# "The Meaning of Love" – 3:06
# "A Photograph of You" – 3:04
# "Shouldn't Have Done That" – 3:12
# "The Sun and the Rainfall" – 5:02

Bonus Tracks (in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, PCM Stereo):
# "My Secret Garden (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 7:28
# "See You (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 4:11
# "Satellite (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 4:28
# "Nothing to Fear (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 4:28
# "The Meaning of Love (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 3:14
# "A Photograph of You (Live In Hammersmith, October 1982)" – 3:21Bonus Tracks (in PCM Stereo):
# "Now, This Is Fun" – 3:27
# "Oberkorn (It's a Small Town)" – 4:07
# "Excerpt From: My Secret Garden" – 3:14

Additional Material:
# "Depeche Mode 1982 (The Beginning of Their So-Called Dark Phase)" [27 Minute video]

All songs were written by Martin Gore.

ingles

# "See You" (29 January 1982)
# "The Meaning Of Love" (26 April 1982)
# "Leave In Silence" (16 August 1982)

Charts

- 1983 U.K Albums Chart 8

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, though he duets with Dave on "Shouldn't Have Done That".

Album credits

* David Gahan
* Martin Gore
* Andrew Fletcher

* Produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode

* Engineered 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.)