List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Ultra

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 1997 album Ultra.

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.

Ultra (1997)

1. "Barrel Of A Gun"

"Barrel Of A Gun" Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Guitar elements	Mickey & the Soul Generation - "Iron Leg" - 1969	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the intro of "Iron Leg" by Mickey & the Soul Generation is utilised during the bridge sections of "Barrel Of A Gun".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Harp glissando	Korg 01/W XSC-2S Orchestral Card Set - XSC-802 PCM: Multi-Sounds - C-19 "Harp Up" - 1991	Confirmed	An upward harp glissando sound derived from the Korg 01/W XSC-802 Orchestral expansion card is briefly utilised in the intro of "Barrel Of A Gun".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Synthesizer elements	Korg Trinity > Programs > Bank A > A000 "Tsunami Warning" - 1995	Confirmed	An edit of a synthesized pad derived from "Tsunami Warning", a Korg Trinity factory voice, is utilised following the first verse section of "Barrel Of A Gun".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Drum elements	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Love Beach - "Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman" - November 1978	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from mid-way through "Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer is audible throughout the instrumental interlude present on an early work-in-progress recording of "Barrel Of A Gun".	✖

2. "The Love Thieves"

"The Love Thieves" Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Tambourine elements	AMG - HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples - Track 8 (0:40) - "Thick Tambourine Loop - 92 BPM" - 1991	Confirmed	An edited tambourine loop derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout the outro of "The Love Thieves".	✖

3. "Home"

"Home" Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > FUZZ > 34. "Dark Buzzord, Electro-Mulch, Phlangia" - 1995	Confirmed	A manipulated sample of audio derived from "Dark Buzzord", an ambient sound effect featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised in the opening moments of "Home".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > METALS > 61. "Bowed Oil Cans" (sample one) - 1995	Confirmed	A manipulated sample of audio derived from the first of two samples titled "Bowed Oil Cans" as featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised in the third verse section of "Home".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Synthesizer elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SYNTHS > 95. Raveroids - "Zapamento, Tuff Mini, Holloraver - Low & Hi, Over-reso vibrato, Cheep Squares, 2 Ring Modulators, System 100m LFO FX, Wavey Drone" - 1995	Confirmed	A manipulated sample of audio derived from "Wavey Drone", an ambient sound effect featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised in the third verse section of "Home".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Synthesizer elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SYNTHS > 95. "Fuzz Rez Zweep - G1, C2, G2, C3, G3, C4, G4, C5, G5, C6" - 1995	Confirmed	A manipulated sample of audio derived from the "G2" articulation of "Fuzz Rez Zweep", an ambient sound effect featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised sporadically throughout "Home".	Click to display/hide audio example
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SYNTH BASS > 90. "Ravin' Basses: Sweep Steak, Razzy, Mega-Core, Beef Stew, Tuff Guy, Ring-Mod Bass - Lo & Hi" - 1995	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the "Mega-Core" articulation of "Ravin' Basses" as featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised during the chorus and outro sections of "Home".	✖
	Synthesizer elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SWEEPERS > 84. "Bottomless, Pete's Piccolo Sweep, Sea Whistle, Swan Dive, Hard Ringz" - 1995	Confirmed	A manipulated sample of audio derived from "Hard Ringz", an ambient sound effect featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised sporadically throughout "Home".	✖
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SWEEPERS > 85. "Light Shafts, Vanish, Glass Bender, Angel Dust, Astrap Zip, Coasters, Cyclodrone" - 1995	Confirmed	A manipulated sample of audio derived from "Vanish", an ambient sound effect featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised mid-way through "Home".	✖

4. "It's No Good"

"It's No Good" Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	"Electricity" sound effect	Sony Media Software - Methods Of Mayhem: Industrial Toolkit (CD/AKAI) - Loops > FX > "Ancient Noise FX 01 78-01" - 1995	Confirmed	An ambient sound effect derived from the "Ancient Noise FX 01 78-01" sample present in Sony Media Software's 1995 Methods Of Mayhem: Industrial Toolkit is utilised during the middle eight section of "It's No Good" in the moments prior to the third verse.	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, the Methods Of Mayhem: Industrial Toolkit sample is compared to the relevant section of music as heard in the 2006 5.1 version of "It's No Good" as well as the stereo album version.

5. "Uselink"

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

6. "Useless"

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

7. "Sister Of Night"

"Sister Of Night" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

8. "Jazz Thieves"

"Jazz Thieves" is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

9. "Freestate"

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

10. "The Bottom Line"

"The Bottom Line" Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Bass guitar elements	Korg Trinity > Programs > Bank A > A038 "Acoustic Bass" - 1995	Confirmed	The acoustic bass guitar audible throughout "The Bottom Line" is derived from Korg Trinity factory voice A038 "Acoustic Bass".	✖
	Marimba elements	Korg Trinity > Programs > Bank B > B029 "Marimba" - 1995	Confirmed	The reverberated marimba rhythm audible in the intro section of "The Bottom Line" is derived from Korg Trinity factory voice B029 "Marimba".	✖
	Synthesizer elements	Korg Trinity > Programs > Bank A > A000 "Tsunami Warning" - 1995	Confirmed	An edit of a synthesized pad derived from "Tsunami Warning", a Korg Trinity factory voice, is utilised during the choruses and outro sections of "The Bottom Line".	Click to display/hide audio example

11. "Insight"

"Insight" Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > METALS > 61. "Bowed Oil Cans" (sample one) - 1995	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the first of two samples titled "Bowed Oil Cans" as featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised mid-way through "Insight".	✖
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SYNTH BASS > 89. "Morphuzz Bass: C1, G1, C2" - 1995	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the "C1" articulation of "Morphuzz Bass" as featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised during the middle eight section of "Insight".	✖
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SYNTH BASS > 90. "Ravin' Basses: Sweep Steak, Razzy, Mega-Core, Beef Stew, Tuff Guy, Ring-Mod Bass - Lo & Hi" - 1995	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the "Mega-Core" articulation of "Ravin' Basses" as featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised during the choruses, middle eight, and outro sections of "Insight".	✖
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SYNTH BASS > 90. "Ravin' Basses: Sweep Steak, Razzy, Mega-Core, Beef Stew, Tuff Guy, Ring-Mod Bass - Lo & Hi" - 1995	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the "Tuff Guy" articulation of "Ravin' Basses" as featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1 is utilised throughout the chorus and outro sections of "Insight".	✖
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > NOISE > 65. "Mental Rapids, Snake Byte" - 1995	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from "Snake Byte", an ambient sound effect featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1, is utilised sporadically throughout "Insight".	✖
	Ambient elements	Spectrasonics - Distorted Reality 1 > SCI-FI > 79. "Sci-Fi Chimes: Effervescent, Columns, Transversing - Low & Hi" - 1995	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the "Hi" articulation of "Transversing - Low & Hi", an ambient sound effect featured on Spectrasonics's 1995 sample library Distorted Reality 1, is utilised sporadically sporadically throughout "Insight".	✖

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

"It's No Good" (Hardfloor Mix)

"It's No Good" (Hardfloor Mix) - Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes
	Drum elements	Fat Larry's Band - "Down In The Avenue" - 1976	Confirmed

"Useless" (The Kruder & Dorfmeister Session)

"Useless" (The Kruder & Dorfmeister Session) - Depeche Mode 1997	Self-made samples
	Sample	Notes
	Slide guitar stab	A slide guitar stab originally recorded for use in "Policy Of Truth" is utilised throughout the "Kruder & Dorfmeister Session" remix of "Useless".
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes
	Synthesizer, ambient, drum elements	Duet Emmo - Or So It Seems - "Or So It Seems" - August 1983	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from "Or So It Seems" by Duet Emmo is utilised throughout the Kruder & Dorfmeister Session remix of "Useless".
	Drum elements	Odetta - Odetta Sings - "Hit or Miss" - 1970	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from "Hit or Miss" by Odetta is utilised throughout the Kruder & Dorfmeister Session remix of "Useless".

"Useless" (Cosmic Blues Mix)

"Useless" (Cosmic Blues Mix) - Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes
	"I want to hear you play some bass" vocal sample	National Lampoon's That's Not Funny, That's Sick (Sketch comedy album) - 1977	Likely

"Barrel Of A Gun" (United Mix)

"Barrel Of A Gun" (United Mix) - Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes
	Vocal elements	e-LAB - X-Static Goldmine 4 - Track 23 "75 or 150 BPM" > "DUBBY JUNGLE - SUB BASS + CHOIR" > "CHOIR LP" (right stereo channel) - 1995	Confirmed	A treated sample of a vocal harmony originally derived from the opening moments of a 1972 cover of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides, Now" by jazz vocal group The Singers Unlimited featured in the 1995 sample CD X-Static Goldmine by e-LAB is utilised in the intro of the 1997 "United Mix" of "Barrel Of A Gun". Coincidentally, the sample also features in the intro of the Barry Adamson remix of Recoil's "Control Freak", which would also see release in 1997. Alan Wilder comments on this shared sound in an undated Q&A on Shunt: "I had no idea about the use of this sample (which comes from some other source apparently) when Barry Adamson submitted his remix. If I'd known that it had been used on a Mode remix, I'd have edited it out."

"Barrel Of A Gun" (Underworld Hard Mix)

"Barrel Of A Gun" (Underworld Hard Mix) - Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes
	Guitar elements	Mickey & the Soul Generation - "Iron Leg" - 1969	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from the intro of "Iron Leg" by Mickey & the Soul Generation is utilised in the intro of the "Underworld Hard" remix of "Barrel Of A Gun".

"Painkiller" (Kill the Pain Mix)

"Painkiller" (Kill the Pain Mix) - Depeche Mode 1997
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes
	Drum elements	Vanessa Paradis - "The Future Song" - 1992	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from "The Future Song" by Vanessa Paradis is utilised mid-way through "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix)".
	Vocal elements	Junior & the Classics - Kill the Pain / Please Make Love to Me - "Kill the Pain" - 1967	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from "Kill the Pain" by Junior & the Classics is utilised sporadically throughout "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix)".
	Vocal elements	The Groupies - The Groupies - "Part 2" - 1969	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from "Part 2" by The Groupies is utilised mid-way through "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix)".
	Drum elements	Just-Ice - Back to the Old School - "Turbo Charged" - 1986	Confirmed	A sample of audio derived from "Turbo Charged" by Just-Ice is utilised throughout "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix)".