Everything Counts

Single infobox
Name = Everything Counts


Artist = Depeche Mode
from Album = Construction Time Again
B-side = "Work Hard"
Released = July 11 1983
Format = Vinyl record (7" and 12"), CD (1991 box set)
Recorded = 1983
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 7" - 3:58
12" - 7:18
Label = Mute Records
Writer = Martin Gore
Producer = Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller, and Gareth Jones
Chart position =
* #6 (UK)
* #17 (US Dance)
* #8 (Sweden, Switzerland)
* #23 (Germany)
Reviews =
* Allmusic [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:yjuk6j2771e0~T00 link]
Last single = "Get the Balance Right!"
(1983)
This single = "Everything Counts"
(1983)
Next single = "Love, in Itself"
(1983)Single infobox
Name = Everything Counts (Live)


Artist = Depeche Mode
from Album = 101
B-side = "Nothing [Live] "
Released = February 13 1989
Format = Vinyl record (7", 10", and 12"), CD
Recorded = June 18 1988
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 6:45
Label = Mute Records
Writer = Martin Gore
Producer = Depeche Mode
Chart position =
* #22 (UK)
* #13 (US Modern Rock)
* #16 (US Dance)
* #12 (Germany)
* #18 (Switzerland)
* #26 (Austria)
* #27 (New Zealand)
Reviews =
* N/A
Last single = "Little 15"
(1988)
This single = "Everything Counts (Live)"
(1989)
Next single = "Personal Jesus"
(1989)"Everything Counts" is Depeche Mode's eighth UK single (released on July 11 1983) and third US single (released on November 2 1983), from the then upcoming album "Construction Time Again". The single is a pivotal release in the band's career, as the members attempted to transition from the pop numbers of their early years to a more sophisticated sound; it would be the first single of the transition period to hit the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #6 in 1983. It was the first in a long line of industrial-inspired singles released by the band, and has been referred to as "arguably...the first English-language industrial pop hit."ref|reference1 The single was re-released (in live format) on February 13 1989 (March 25 1989 in the US) to support the live album "101".

Background and themes

In January 1983, shortly before the release of the "Get the Balance Right!" single, lyricist Martin Gore attended an Einstürzende Neubauten concert, giving him the idea to experiment with the sounds of industrial music in the context of pop.ref|reference2 This experimentation hinged on the band's first use of a Synclavier, a synthesizer that not only contained a large number of pre-programmed sounds, but also allowed for samples to be imported. With this, the band proceeded to travel around the neighborhood where they could tape "found" sounds and feed them into the Synclavier, then manipulate the noises to fit into their songs. These sounds consisted mainly of hammering anvils, clanging pipes, running water, and the like. In addition to the "found" sounds used as samples, the single also samples a variety of musical instruments, such as the xylophone and a melodica (which Martin has been known to play on stage for the song).

That spring, the band converged in London to begin recording their third album, "Construction Time Again", and changed recording studios as well. For the previous two albums, the band had recorded at Blackwing Studios, but would switch to John Foxx's "The Garden" studio. This change, along with the addition of Gareth Jones to the production team facilitated the band's transition from the hook driven pop songs of their past (a transition that had begun to take shape in 1982 with the more noticeably melancholy "Leave in Silence"). The band continued perfecting their industrial formula over their next two albums, 1984's "Some Great Reward" and 1986's "Black Celebration".

"Everything Counts" would go on to be the first single pulled from the album. In addition to the change in the band's musical influence, the single would introduce a transition in lyrical content as well. "Construction Time Again" would include a bevy of political themes, sparked by the poverty Gore had seen on a recent trip he had taken to Thailand.ref|reference2 These themes were in stark contrast from the inoffensive, love-themed pop numbers of the band's early career. "Everything Counts", specifically addresses corporate greed and corruption in the music industry, as the chorus sings of "grabbing hands" that "grab all they can". Perhaps surprisingly, the single was released at a time when the band itself was not under a formal contract with Mute Records.

It was also the first song in the band's catalogue which includes both of the band's singers prominently (at different times). Lead vocalist David Gahan sings the verses, while song writer Martin Gore sings the chorus.

The song was featured in the video game , a very popular game series. It was featured on the fictional radio station "Wave 103" in the game.

Live performances and re-release

The song would quickly catch on as a fan favorite at the band's concerts, and was used as the opening song for the "Construction Time Again" tour.ref|reference3 The first live version of the song to appear on a commercial release came from the "Some Great Reward" tour in 1984, when a recording from a show in Liverpool appeared on the double A-sided "Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody" single. During the Music for the Masses tour, the band used "Everything Counts" as the final encore and in 1989, the song would be re-released as a single in live form, to promote the live album "101". All live tracks from the release were recorded on June 18 1988 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl during the final performance of the aforementioned Music for the Masses tour. This version of the song is famous for the recording of the crowd continuing to sing the chorus long after the music had stopped.

It also appears in "Devotional" as the closer. It was played during the first two legs of "Touring the Angel" in the first encore, and also appears on the "Touring the Angel: Live in Milan"-DVD.

Music videos

The music video for "Everything Counts" was directed by Clive Richardson in and around Berlin. The band returned to Richardson after not being satisfied with the work of Julien Temple for the "A Broken Frame" singles. Richardson had previously directed the video to "Just Can't Get Enough" two years earlier. According to Wilder, "It was felt that after the Julien Temple years, we needed to harden up not only our sound but also our image. Clive had lots of new ideas which didn't involve stupid storyboards where we were required to act."ref|reference4 In the original music video, the xylophone, the melodica, and the shawm are played by Alan Wilder, Martin Gore, and Andrew Fletcher, respectively. The shawm, however, is produced by a synthesizer on the studio recording, but the band used the real shawm in the music video and television performances for show.

The "Everything Counts (Live)" video was directed by D.A. Pennebaker. The video not only includes portions of the live performance, but also contains various references to the money made from merchandise and ticket sales at the concert, humorously connected to the theme of corruption and greed of the song.

B-side

The original release's B-side "Work Hard" is notable in that it is the first Depeche Mode song (excluding instrumentals) that is credited to both Martin Gore and Alan Wilder (the only other case of this is 1986's "Black Day", an alternate version of "Black Celebration," credited to Gore, Wilder, and Daniel Miller).

The B-side of the live re-release is a live recording of "Nothing", a track from "Music for the Masses". The 12" release also includes live recordings of "Sacred" and "A Question of Lust".

ong versions

Remixes of "Everything Counts"

On the original release, there was only one remix available. The 12" version of the single is called "Everything Counts (In Larger Amounts)", although sometimes (such as on the US release of "Construction Time Again") it is referred to simply as the "Long Version".

The live re-release of the single, however, contains a plethora of mixes, from a variety of remixers, despite the fact that the standard 7" and 12" versions contained no remixes. This release is first Depeche Mode single to be released in a 10" vinyl format; the A-side of the 10" inch version is the "Absolut Mix", remixed by Alan Moulder (certain versions refer to this mix as the "Alan Moulder Mix"). The B-side included the original release's 12" version as well as the "Reprise", a 55-second reprisal of the song's chorus originally placed following the final track ("And Then...") on the "Construction Time Again" album. Specifically, it is the ending of "Everything Counts (In Larger Amounts)" with the beat removed.

The limited edition 12" version is the "Bomb the Bass Mix", remixed by Tim Simenon and Mark Saunders. Simenon would eventually be used by the band as a producer, for the 1997 album "Ultra".

B-side remixes

A variety of mixes of other songs would appear on these single releases as well. On the 1983 release, the 12" B-side contains an extended version of "Work Hard" titled the "East End Remix".

Two remixes of "Nothing" appear on the 1989 release as well, including the "Remix Edit" (sometimes referred to as the "US 7" Mix" as it was the 7" B-side to the US-only single "Strangelove '88") and the "Zip Hop Mix" by Justin Strauss.

A remix of "Strangelove" also appeared on the B-side of the limited edition 12" vinyl, referred to as the "Highjack Mix" by Tim Simenon and Mark Saunders, who also mixed the A-side.

Covers of "Everything Counts"

*Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames covered the song for their 1997 album, "Whoracle" (The band integrated the song into the album's concept).
*In 1998, Meat Beat Manifesto covered the song for the Depeche Mode tribute album "For the Masses".
*Detroit based rock band Electric Six have been known to end gigs on their recent tours by performing the chorus of the song to the tune of their own song "Germans In Mexico".

ample

Listen
filename=Depeche Mode Everything Counts.ogg
title=Depeche Mode "Everything Counts" (1983)
description=30 second sample from the bridge of Depeche Mode's 1983 single, "Everything Counts".
format=OggThe song sample centers around the bridge of the song, which presents the band's inventive use of a variety of instruments (as mentioned earlier in the article) in quick succession. The xylophone enters three seconds into the sample, while the "shawm" enters at six seconds, and the bridge's centerpiece, the melodica, plays from the eight second mark to the 18 second mark.

Track listing

1983 release

;7": Mute / Bong3 (UK) & Sire / 7-29482 (US)
# "Everything Counts" (3:58)
# "Work Hard" (4:21)

;12": Mute / 12Bong3 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [In Larger Amounts] " (7:18)
# "Work Hard [East End Remix] " (6:57)

;L12": Mute / L12Bong3 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [7" Version] " (3:58)
# "New Life [Live] " (4:12)
# "Boys Say Go! [Live] " (2:36)
# "Nothing to Fear [Live] " (4:28)
# "The Meaning of Love [Live] " (3:14);CD (1991 Box Set): Mute / CDBong3 (UK)
# "Everything Counts" (3:59)
# "Work Hard" (4:22)
# "Everything Counts [In Larger Amounts] " (7:21)
# "Work Hard [East End Remix] " (6:58)

;12": Sire / 0-20165 (US)
# "Everything Counts [In Larger Amounts] " (7:18)
# "Work Hard [East End Remix] " (6:57)

Notes and Personnel

*Depeche Mode in 1983 was: Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, Martin Gore, and Alan Wilder.
*"Everything Counts", "Nothing to Fear", and "The Meaning of Love" written by Martin Gore.
*"Work Hard" written by Martin Gore and Alan Wilder.
*"New Life" and "Boys Say Go!" written by Vince Clarke.
*Tracks recorded at The Garden Studios, London.
*"Everything Counts" mixed at Hansa Mischraum, Berlin.
*Gareth Jones was the tonmeister.
*Live tracks recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London.

1989 live release

;7": Mute / Bong16 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [Live Full Version] " (6:45)
# "Nothing [Live] " (4:35)

;10": Mute / 10Bong16 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [Absolut Mix] " (6:04)
# "Everything Counts [In Larger Amounts] " (7:31)
# "Nothing [Remix Edit] " (3:57)
# "Everything Counts [Reprise] " (0:55)

;12": Mute / 12Bong16 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [Live Single Version] " (5:46)
# "Nothing [Live] " (4:40)
# "Sacred [Live] " (5:12)
# "A Question of Lust [Live] " (4:12)

;L12": Mute / L12Bong16 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [Bomb the Bass Mix] " (5:32)
# "Nothing [Zip Hop Mix] " (7:01)
# "Strangelove [Highjack Mix] " (6:33)

;CD: Mute / CDBong16 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [Live Single Version] " (5:46)
# "Nothing [Live] " (4:40)
# "Sacred [Live] " (5:12)
# "A Question of Lust [Live] " (4:12);LCD: Mute / LCDBong16 (UK)
# "Everything Counts [Bomb the Bass Mix] " (5:32)
# "Nothing [Zip Hop Mix] " (7:01)
# "Strangelove [Highjack Mix] " (6:33)

;CD (2004 Box Set): Mute / CDBong16X (UK)
# "Everything Counts [Live Single Version] " (5:46)
# "Nothing [Live] " (4:35)
# "Sacred [Live] " (5:12)
# "A Question of Lust [Live] " (4:12)
# "Everything Counts [Bomb the Bass Mix] " (5:32)
# "Nothing [Zip Hop Mix] " (7:01)
# "Strangelove [Highjack Mix] " (6:33)
# "Everything Counts [Absolut Mix] " (6:04)
# "Everything Counts [In Larger Amounts] " (7:31)
# "Nothing [Remix Edit] " (3:57)
# "Everything Counts [Reprise] " (0:55)

;7": Sire / 7-22993 (US)
# "Everything Counts [Live Radio Edit] " (4:50)
# "Nothing [Live] " (4:35)

;12": Sire / 0-21183 (US)
# "Everything Counts [Bomb the Bass Mix] " (5:32)
# "Everything Counts [Live Single Version] " (5:46)
# "Nothing [Live] " (4:42)
# "Everything Counts [Absolut Mix] " (6:00)
# "Sacred [Live] " (5:13)
# "A Question of Lust [Live] " (4:13)

;Cassette: Sire / 4-22993 (US)
# "Everything Counts [Live Radio Edit] " (4:50)
# "Nothing [Live] " (4:35)

Notes and Personnel

*Depeche Mode in 1989 was: Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, Martin Gore, and Alan Wilder.
*All songs written by Martin Gore.
*Live tracks recorded at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on June 18 1988.
*The "Bomb the Bass Mix" of "Everything Counts" was remixed at Konk Studio, London by Tim Simenon and Mark Saunders.
*The "Zip Hop Mix" and "Remix Edit" of "Nothing" remixed at Soundtracks Studio, New York by Justin Strauss.
*The "Highjack Mix" of "Strangelove" was remixed at Livingston Studios, London by Tim Simenon and Mark Saunders.
*The "Absolut Mix" of "Everything Counts" was remixed at Trident Studio, London by Alan Moulder.

References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:q69asd1ba3zg~T001 All Music Guide song review] by Ned Raggett, retrieved March 7, 2006
* [http://sacreddm.net/2000s/q140105/q140105mainb.htm "The Landscape is Changing"] by Dave Thompson, "Q Magazine", January 14, 2005, retrieved March 7, 2006
* [http://www.sitemaker.gr/mode101/assets/1983.htm Construction Time Again tour dates and setlist]
* [http://www.recoil.co.uk/report/edit/dm8185/spring2_99.htm Editorial: The Singles 81>85] by Alan Wilder, retrieved March 7, 2006
* [http://depmod.com/singles/everything_counts.htm Depeche Mode Visual Discography: "Everything Counts"]
* [http://depmod.com/singles/everything_counts_live.htm Depeche Mode Visual Discography: "Everything Counts (Live)"]
* [http://www.polyhex.com/music/chartruns/chartruns.php UK Singles Chart trajectories]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:5qktk6gx9kr0~T51 US single chart positions] from Allmusic

External links

* [http://archives.depechemode.com/lyrics/everythingcounts.html "Everything Counts" lyrics]
* [http://archives.depechemode.com/lyrics/workhard.html "Work Hard" lyrics]
* [http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/08_everythingcounts.html "Everything Counts" single information from the official Depeche Mode web site]
* [http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/25_everythingcounts101.html "Everything Counts (Live)" single information]