Some Great Reward

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Lore & Background

The recording sessions for Some Great Reward began in February 1984, after the Construction Time Again tour ended in December 1983. Originally planning to record in London before mixing at Hansa Studios in West Berlin, they moved their entire production to Berlin after their time at Music Works Studio expired. This shift proved pivotal; inspired by David Bowie and Iggy Pop's legacy there, the band thrived in the city's "all-night partying atmosphere." Songwriter Martin Gore, navigating a new relationship, immersed himself in Berlin's S&M clubs and nightlife, even adopting cross-dressing habits. He famously told a 1984 interviewer that "sexual barriers are silly," while Dave Gahan noted that Martin was simply living the teenage experiences he had missed. This environment fueled a darker lyrical direction. Gore drew from personal taunts in Basildon for "People Are People" and channeled his exposure to taboo subjects into the S&M-themed "Master and Servant" and the religiously critical "Blasphemous Rumours." The band adopted an "industrial chic" image, donning black leather and fetish harnesses to shed their "teeny-wimp" reputation. Producer Gareth Jones relocated to Berlin with a new German girlfriend, joining Martin Gore in creating what the group described as having a "gang mentality" where it was "us against the world." The resulting sound blended heavy sampling of industrial noises—like striking concrete—with programmed Synclavier tracks, creating a powerful, atmospheric aesthetic that defined their maturity.

In Their Own Story

The band entered Hansa Studios in West Berlin with a clear vision: to evolve and make "powerful, strong records with a lot of atmosphere." During the sessions, they attempted to sample a live drummer but found few usable sounds, instead turning their attention to construction noises next door. As Gore recalled, "they'd be next door tearing a wall down and we couldn't tell which was which!" This chaos became part of the music; tracks like "Master and Servant" and "Blasphemous Rumours" emerged from this hedonistic Berlin culture, causing mild controversy upon release. Meanwhile, Alan Wilder took on a heavier role, staying in the studio until 2 or 3 AM to mix while the others clubbed, marking a turning point in his contribution to the band. Amidst the intensity, lighter moments existed. The band recorded an unreleased all-covers album called Toast Hawaii, named after Andy Fletcher's favorite cafeteria snack. Gore sang "Somebody"—a song written for Friedrich—completely nude in the studio, with only Wilder on piano, creating what Wilder called their first "acoustic-performed track." In February 1984, they played a one-off show at Birmingham Odeon for Oxford Road Show. By March, they paused recording to finish the Construction Time Again Tour in Eastern Europe and Spain before returning to Berlin. As their popularity surged, Sire Records released the compilation People Are People in July 1984 after Construction Time Again failed to chart in the US. The single "People Are People" eventually topped West German charts thanks to an Olympic ad campaign, though it initially missed the US charts entirely.

Reader's Guide

Some Great Reward is essential listening for understanding Depeche Mode's transition from new wave pop to a darker, industrial-infused sound. Released on 24 September 1984, the album peaked at number five in the UK and reached number one in West Germany, becoming their most successful European release up to that point. In the US, it spent 42 weeks on the charts, peaking at number 54 (or 51 depending on the source metric mentioned). The album was supported by the Some Great Reward Tour, which ran from September 1984 through July 1985 and included filming for the live video The World We Live In and Live in Hamburg. Key tracks include "People Are People," which became their first US chart success (reaching No. 13 on Billboard Hot 100 by mid-1985) and a Top 20 hit in Canada, though the band later grew weary of playing it live. The double A-side "Blasphemous Rumours"/"Somebody" and "Master and Servant" also charted in Europe, with the latter causing radio controversy due to its sexual themes. Visually, the album features cover design by Martin Atkyns and photography by Brian Griffin, shot at Round Oak Steelworks for an "industrial chic" look. Following this era, Depeche Mode released the compilation The Singles 81→85 in October 1985, accompanied by the video collection Some Great Videos.

Did You Know?

• During recording, the band sampled construction noises next door to the studio, hitting skips and concrete so much that they couldn't tell if the sound came from their track or a wall being torn down.
• Martin Gore wrote "Somebody" for a later relationship, not for his girlfriend Christina Friedrich during this period.
• "People Are People" reached number one in West Germany and later climbed to number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in 1985, marking the band's first major American hit.
• Alan Wilder delayed his own vacation during mixing sessions because he foresaw they would go over deadline and didn