Depeche Mode - Live Hammersmith Odeon - Vinyl Record

Depeche Mode arrived at the Hammersmith Odeon on the Some Great Reward tour in the autumn of 1984, three years past Vince Clarke's departure and fully remade as a darker, harder band. The BBC carried the show, and this unauthorized release takes that broadcast, Richard Skinner's introduction included, and puts it on vinyl.

What makes it worth hearing is the balance. People Are People and Somebody were the songs pulling them into stadiums, but the set also reaches back to Ice Machine and Photographic from the Speak and Spell era, played by a band that no longer sounded anything like the one that recorded them. Master And Servant lands with the metallic clatter Alan Wilder brought to the group, and Everything Counts closes the main run to the sound of an audience singing it back. Broadcast source, so the synths stay crisp.

A clean document of the year Depeche Mode stopped being a pop act.

Side A
1. London BBC Richard Skinner Intro
2. Something To Do
3. Puppets
4. If You Want
5. People Are People
6. Leave In Silence
7. Somebody

Side B
1. Ice Machine
2. Lie To Me
3. Master And Servant
4. Photographic
5. Everything Counts
6. See You

This is an unauthorized live recording, often referred to as a “bootleg.” If you’re not familiar with this type of release, it may not be the right item for you. These recordings may come from radio broadcasts, concert soundboards, audience recordings, or other sources. We do our best to carry well-reviewed titles, but sound quality and source material can vary. Please research the release before purchasing. These are best suited for true fans and collectors looking for rare, hard-to-find performances.