The Singles 86–98

''The Singles 86>98'' is a greatest hits album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 28 September 1998 by Mute Records. It serves as a follow-up to the band's previous compilation, ''The Singles 81→85'', which was also reissued in the same year. The compilation covers the band's seven-inch single releases spanning five studio albums (from 1986's ''Black Celebration'' to 1997's ''Ultra''), while including the new song "Only When I Lose Myself". It also includes "Little 15" (from ''Music for the Masses'', released as a single in Europe) and the live version of "Everything Counts" (from the live album '' 101''), which was released as a single in 1989. All tracks on ''The Singles 86>98'' were newly remastered, as was the case with the re-release of ''The Singles 81→85''.

The band decided to release the album as a close follow-up to ''Ultra'', Depeche Mode's first studio album after Alan Wilder's departure and Dave Gahan's drug addiction and resulting health problems, to maintain interest in the band. The four-month The Singles Tour that followed marked the first time Depeche Mode had toured since the 1993–1994 Devotional/Exotic Tour, since they had declined to tour ''Ultra'' a year earlier, playing only a few songs at a handful of shows instead.

''The Singles 86>98'' has sold 500,000 units in the United States (double albums count as two units), achieving platinum certification. The album was also listed on ''Blender'' magazine's "500 CDs You Must Own: Alternative Rock" list.

''The Videos 86>98''

To coincide with the release of ''The Singles 86>98'', the band released a VHS/DVD called ''The Videos 86>98'' featuring the music videos for all of the songs, and more. In 2002, the DVD was re-released as ''Videos 86-98+'', which included more videos and some electronic press kits.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''The Singles 86>98''.

Depeche Mode

* Alan Wilder
* David Gahan – lead vocals
* Martin Gore – lead vocals
* Andy Fletcher

Technical

* Depeche Mode – production ; mixing
* Daniel Miller – production
* Gareth Jones – production
* Phil Harding – remix
* Dave Bascombe – production
* Shep Pettibone – remix
* Flood – production
* François Kevorkian – mixing
* Phil Legg – mixing
* Mark Stent – mixing
* Alan Wilder – additional production, remix
* Steve Lyon – additional production, remix
* Butch Vig – additional production, remix
* Tim Simenon – production ; mixing
* Q – mixing
* Alan Moulder – remix
* Mike Marsh – compiling, remastering
* Roland Brown – compiling, remastering

Artwork

* Mat Cook – concept, art direction
* Rick Guest – sleeve photography
* Elaine Macintosh – stills production
* Lee Collins – photo shoot technician
* P.A. Taylor – photo shoot technician
* Anton Corbijn – Depeche Mode 86 photograph (taken from "A Question of Time" video)
* Marina Chavez – Depeche Mode 98 photograph

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

Album information from the official Depeche Mode website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singles (86-98), The
1998 greatest hits albums
Albums produced by Butch Vig
Albums produced by Daniel Miller (music producer)
Albums produced by Flood (producer)
Albums produced by Gareth Jones (music producer)
Albums produced by Tim Simenon
Depeche Mode compilation albums
Mute Records compilation albums