List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/The Singles 81→85

Glossary Terms used in this article

In audio production, sampling refers to the use of a portion (or sample) from a sound within another recording. As pioneers of the electronic music genre, Depeche Mode were among the most prolific acts to make use of sampling technology within a traditional pop music format. Among the many original samples recorded and utilized by Depeche Mode to enhance the atmosphere of their musical output are many that originated elsewhere, including brief passages of musical recordings by other artists, snippets of audio from television shows, radio broadcasts, films, environmental sounds, and more. Analysis of these sample sources and how they are manipulated is a popular topic of discussion amongst fans of the group.

Key
Official	The sample is confirmed to have been used in the specified song by a past/present member of Depeche Mode, an individual involved in its production, or band archivist Daniel "BRAT" Barassi.
Confirmed	The sample is independently confirmed to have been used in the specified song.
Likely	The sample is likely to have been used in the specified song but has not yet been confirmed.
Unconfirmed	The sample is not yet confirmed to have been used in the specified song.
Disproven	The sample is confirmed to not have been used in the specified song.
Unknown	It is unclear if the sample was used in the specified song.

Information

This page aims to document all verifiable sound sources for many of the musical parts used by Depeche Mode in the production of their 1985 greatest hits album The Singles 81→85.

Due to the manipulated nature of the samples described in this article, there is unavoidable potential for error or sample misattribution. To ensure accuracy, this article strives to use verified quotes from band members and recording personnel with citations wherever possible, audio examples, and independent research voluntarily contributed by Depeche Mode and Recoil fans worldwide. This article provides an interesting document on this topic in a tabular format that is organized, well-researched, and reasonably accurate. Please bear in mind that due to the limited number of relevant quotes for each sample from band members or associates involved in producing the music described on this page, audio samples that lack official confirmation are not guaranteed to be accurate.

This article differentiates samples by origin: Self-made samples, which describe any material initially recorded by Depeche Mode or Recoil, and Sourced samples, which describe samples not initially recorded by either group. In addition to confirmed samples, this article also covers samples commonly misreported as having been used but directly refuted by a member or associate of Depeche Mode or Recoil.

If you notice an error or wish to contribute or request the removal of information contained within this article, please feel free to contact us.

The Singles 81→85 (1985)

1. "Dreaming Of Me"

"Dreaming Of Me" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

2. "New Life"

"New Life" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

3. "Just Can't Get Enough"

"Just Can't Get Enough" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

4. "See You"

"See You" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

5. "Leave In Silence"

"Leave In Silence" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

6. "Get The Balance Right"

"Get The Balance Right" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

7. "Everything Counts"

"Everything Counts" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

8. "Love, In Itself"

"Love, In Itself" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

9. "People Are People"

"People Are People" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

10. "Master And Servant"

"Master And Servant" Depeche Mode 1984	Self-made samples
	Sample	Notes			Audio
	Middle eight melody	In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Glass (10)", features an untitled preset ("NULL PRESET"), which contains a bell-like sample. This bell element is used to play a G♯ octave, which is subsequently sampled and layered with a manipulated piano sound to form the melody played on every second bar during the middle eight of "Master And Servant" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses and World Violation tours. Notably, this sound is also used as a melodic accent throughout the Music For The Masses tour arrangement of "Just Can't Get Enough".			✖
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Middle eight melody	Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #1 Bank B: "TOY PIANO"	Confirmed	A metallic bell-like melody performed during the middle eight section of "Master And Servant" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses tour is derived from the Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #1 program "TOY PIANO".	✖

11. "Blasphemous Rumours"

"Blasphemous Rumours" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

12. "Shake The Disease"

"Shake The Disease" Depeche Mode 1985	Self-made samples
	Sample	Notes			Audio
	Melodic elements	A celeste-like element is layered with a variety of other musical parts (including a separate bell sample and synthesized parts. This distinctive sound would also see use in several other Depeche Mode songs recorded during this era, including "It Doesn't Matter Two" and "But Not Tonight") to form a melodic part audible during the post-chorus sections of "Shake The Disease".			✖
	Melodic elements	A sample featuring audio derived from a synthesizer originally recorded for use during the verse sections of "Everything Counts" is layered with a separate sample to form the eight note melody performed throughout the first half of each verse section. This sample is also used to subtle effect throughout the chorus sections of "Here Is The House".			✖
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Melodic elements	Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #1 Bank B: "CALIOPE"	Confirmed	A manipulated calliope-esque sample derived from the Yamaha DX7 factory Rom #1 program "CALIOPE" is layered with a series of other instruments to form the layered melody performed during the middle eight section of "Shake The Disease".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Melodic elements	Emulator II factory library disk #04: Grand Piano - Preset #1: "Piano #1"	Confirmed	"Shake The Disease" utilises a series of edited samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #04 "Grand Piano". As is common practice with multi-sampled instruments, the samples are keymapped onto separate sections of a sampler keyboard in accordance with their pitch to approximate the differences in tone between notes of differing octaves on a traditional piano, and are subsequently layered with a guitar-like sample to form the melody performed in the latter half of each verse section.	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, Emulator II factory disk #04 "Grand Piano" is compared to a selection of audio from the "Remixed Extended" remix of "Shake The Disease" (played out of phase to more clearly expose the verse melody) to demonstrate the similarity in tone between the Emulator II contents and one layer of the verse melody.
	Melodic elements	Synclavier II Resynth Library Disk #4 - 4464 Harp	Confirmed	A harp-like synth pluck sound derived from the "Harp" timbre of Synclavier II Resynth library diskette #4 is layered with a separate sampled sound to form the lead melody heard during the chorus sections of "Shake The Disease".	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, a selection of audio derived from "Shake The Disease" is compared to the source sound as produced by the Arturia Synclavier V, a Synclavier VST emulation (Resynth timbre "4464 Harp" courtesy of Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones via "Timbre Share" Facebook group).
	Melodic elements	Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #3 - 2337 Chimes #1	Confirmed	An edit of the "Chimes #1" timbre of Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #3 is used to play a brief melody during the post-chorus sections of "Shake The Disease".	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, a selection of audio derived from "Shake The Disease" (played out of phase to more clearly expose the sound in question) is compared to the source sound as produced by the Arturia Synclavier V, a Synclavier VST emulation (Resynth timbre "2337 Chimes #1" courtesy of Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones via "Timbre Share" Facebook group).
	Drum elements, open hi-hat, closed hi-hat, snare drum, bass drum	Yamaha Corporation - Yamaha RX-11 digital drum machine - 1984	Confirmed	A series of bass drum, snare drum, and hi-hat samples derived from the Yamaha RX-11 programmable drum machine are utilised throughout "Shake The Disease".	✖

13. "It's Called A Heart"

"It's Called A Heart" Depeche Mode 1985	Self-made samples
	Sample	Notes			Audio
	Guitar elements	"It's Called A Heart" makes sporadic use of a looped guitar part during the instrumental breaks following each chorus section. This sample would later famously be used to form the lead melody heard throughout "A Question Of Time".			✖
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Bass elements	Emulator II factory library disk #06: "Bass, Synth, Drums"	Confirmed	"It's Called A Heart" utilises a bass guitar sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #06 "Bass, Synth, Drums".	✖
	Choir elements	Emulator II factory library disk #12: "Voices" - SAMPLE 3	Confirmed	A choir pad audible throughout the intro and verse sections of "It's Called A Heart" features a sample derived from the "Voices 1" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices". Notably, this sample is also used throughout "But Not Tonight".	✖

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

"Flexible"

"Flexible" Depeche Mode 1985
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Bass elements	Emulator II factory library disk #06: "Bass, Synth, Drums"	Confirmed	"Flexible" utilises a bass guitar sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #06 "Bass, Synth, Drums".	✖
	Choir elements	Emulator II factory library disk #12: "Voices" - SAMPLE 3	Confirmed	A sample derived from the "Voices 1" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices" is utilised throughout "Flexible".	✖
	Banjo elements	Emulator II factory library disk #23: "Accordian & Banjo" - SAMPLE 7	Confirmed	A looping sample of a strummed banjo derived from Emulator II factory library disk #23 "Accordian & Banjo" is audible throughout "Flexible".	✖
	Cello, violin elements	Emulator II factory library disk #37: "Cello & Violin" - SAMPLE 11, SAMPLE 12	Confirmed	Two samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #37 "Cello & Violin" are utilised sporadically throughout "Flexible".	✖