Studio Album · No. 1

Speak & Spell Songwriting Credits by Depeche Mode

1981 Mute 11 tracks 40:42

Produced by Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller  ·  Engineered by Eric Radcliffe, John Fryer

Mute Synth-PopNew WaveElectropop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Depeche Mode carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by Depeche Mode 0 tracksoutside writers
Depeche Mode's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
2
Lyricists
2
Producers
1981
Released
Data Insight

Clarke wrote nine of the eleven tracks and left the band before the year was out. The other two are Martin Gore's first songs on a Depeche Mode record, and they turned out to be the start of everything after.

Speak & Spell came out on Mute in October 1981, the only Depeche Mode album written mostly by Vince Clarke.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
New Life
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
2
I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
3
Puppets
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
4
Boys Say Go!
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
5
Nodisco
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
6
What's Your Name?
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
7
Photographic
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
8
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Martin Gore Martin Lee Gore Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
9
Big Muff
Martin Gore Martin Lee Gore Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
10
Any Second Now (Voices)
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)
11
Just Can't Get Enough
Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin Depeche ModeDaniel Miller Depeche Mode (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 6 contributors

VC
Vince Clarke
Writer
On this album9 written
VJ
Vincent John Martin
Writer
On this album9 written
MG
Martin Gore
Writer
On this album2 written
ML
Martin Lee Gore
Writer
On this album2 written
DM
Daniel Miller
Producer
On this album11 produced
DM
Depeche Mode
Producer · Performer
On this album11 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions Speak & Spell

Who wrote Speak & Spell?
Vince Clarke wrote nine of the eleven tracks. Martin Gore wrote "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and "Big Muff".
Did any single chart in the Hot 100?
No. "New Life", "Just Can't Get Enough" and "Dreaming of Me" all missed it.
Why did Vince Clarke leave?
He left at the end of 1981, going on to form Yazoo and later Erasure.
Who produced it?
The band with Daniel Miller of Mute.
Who engineered it?
Eric Radcliffe and John Fryer.
How did it sell?
The discography publishes certifications for it rather than a sales figure.
How long is the album?
40:42 across eleven tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Speak & Spell Wikipedia: Depeche Mode discography Wikipedia: Depeche Mode Cover Art Archive: Speak & Spell by Depeche Mode