Depeche Mode sample sources

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Black Celebration (1986)

Fly On The Windscreen (studio version and various live versions) - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
"Over and done with" Daniel Miller vocal sample Alan Wilder confirmed the origin of this vocal sample in response to a fan question during a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil project site:

Q: In the beginning of "Fly On The Windscreen" (the version on Black Celebration), there is a sample of someone talking. It sounds like it could be from radio or television but I have no clue what the person is saying and it bugs the shit out of me. I ran it by the Shunt punks and nobody seemed to know. Do you remember what it is?

A: 'Over and done with' courtesy of Daniel Miller if memory serves correct."[1]

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"Their living hell" vocal sample Peter Jennings, ABC News (television news report, unidentified date)
Jennings was an active news anchor from 1 February 1965 to 1 April 2005. It is likely the exact date of the report sampled by Depeche Mode occurred either before or between November 1985 and December 1985.
Sampled scratch N.W.A. - "Fuck tha Police" - 1988
The scratch effect in the intro of "Fuck tha Police" by N.W.A. is sampled and played several notes down from its root key throughout the Devotional tour version of "Fly On The Windscreen". Notably, it is also used throughout the Devotional tour version of "I Want You Now".

It Doesn't Matter Two - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Vibraphone-like percussive bell A vibraphone-like percussive bell element is employed to mysterious and dramatic effect respectively during the later verses and on the final note of the song. This distinctive sound would also see use in several Depeche Mode songs produced at or around the same time, including "Shake The Disease" and "But Not Tonight".

A Question Of Time - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Guitar-like pluck A brief guitar-like sound reminiscent of a guitar or processed piano sample is layered with a bass part to form the bass sound heard throughout the song. Notably, this sample is also used to play a four note sequence as a fill sporadically throughout "But Not Tonight".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Moan-like vocal sample The Chanters - 'She Wants To Mambo' - 1954
(Re-release by Jazzman Records in 2014)
The second feminine moan in "She Wants To Mambo" is sampled and played in a descending two note passage with EQ for added top-end during the chorus sections of "A Question Of Time". Martin Gore confirmed the use of the sample in the August 1986 issue of Electronics & Music Maker:

It's not that audible, though. It's a sample from a record called "She Wants to Mambo", an old doo-wop disc. At the end of each verse, the woman who sings sort of moans. We sampled this moan and played it up a few notes, which made it sound like a girl moaning. We used it on the chorus section of "A Question of Time"."[2]

In addition to its use in the chorus sections, the sample is also used as a unique "Wha-, wha-, wha-" vocal-like hit that is played repetitively on every step and half step following the percussion fill during the intro and throughout the song's outro. Rather than playing out from start to finish as it does during the chorus sections, the sample is played with a fast decay five notes down from its root key and detuned slightly to form the unique rhythmic hit.

Here Is The House - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Mandolin-like sampled guitar Martin Gore told Electronics and Music magazine in 1986:

"[...] Then there’s the mandolin-like part on "Here Is The House". That was an acoustic guitar sampled twice — once on a down-stroke and once on an upstroke. We used them on alternate notes, so every other note was a downstroke and all the in-between notes were up-strokes. It sounded very funny — almost like a real player."[3]

But Not Tonight - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Mandolin-like sampled guitar Sampled upstroke and downstroke guitar elements originally sampled for use in "Here Is The House" are layered with another sampled part to produce the lead riff. Martin Gore told Electronics and Music magazine in 1986:

"[...] Then there’s the mandolin-like part on 'Here is the House'. That was an acoustic guitar sampled twice — once on a down-stroke and once on an upstroke. We used them on alternate notes, so every other note was a downstroke and all the in-between notes were upstrokes. It sounded very funny — almost like a real player."[3]

Vibraphone-like percussive bell A vibraphone-like percussive bell element is employed during the latter half of each verse section, utilising a 1/4 delay to achieve a hypnotic "bouncing" effect. This distinctive sound would also see use in several other Depeche Mode songs produced at or around the same time, including "Shake The Disease" and "It Doesn't Matter Two".
Resonant bell sample A rich, resonant bell sample is layered with a choral-esque part to create a highly-textured counter melody as heard in its chorus sections. This bell sample would later be used in the introduction of "Strangelove", "Nothing", and the Recoil instrumental "Grain".
Guitar-like pluck A brief "plucked" guitar-like sound plays a tight four note sequence with an immediate Release as a fill sporadically throughout 'But Not Tonight'. This sample is also used in chorus with a bass part to form the bassline of "A Question Of Time".
Hi-hats (open and closed) A sequenced 4/4 hi-hat rhythm comprised of one closed and one open hi-hat is employed throughout the song. These hi-hat parts are also used in several other songs produced at or around the same time, including "Here Is The House" and "Shake The Disease".

Fly On The Windscreen (Death Mix) - Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"I don't care how you feel!" vocal sample Richard Pryor - Unidentified film
"Help the dying" vocal sample Steve Kroft, CBS News (television news report, unidentified date)
Kroft was an active television news anchor with CBS News starting in 1980. It is likely the exact date of the report sampled by Depeche Mode occurred sometime before or between November 1985 and December 1985 at the latest.

Sometimes - Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"Sometimes" vocal sample Louis Armstrong - "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" - 1958
Credit to 'personal cheese' for this discovery.[4]