[Some Young Reward] -- When I saw that these two albums were both released 40 years ago this week, I wondered how I was going to pick one over the other. Instead, I decided this week deserved a two-fer.
First up, released on September 24, 1984, is Depeche Mode's fourth studio album, Some Great Reward. And, later in that same week, on September 27, 1984, Alphaville released their studio debut album, Forever Young. Let's revisit them in order of release.
Some Great Reward garnered commercial success and critical praise upon release. Oh, there were some negative reviews, too, such as NME critic David Quantick's "Modeahead? Uh-Uh…" (reprinted here along with other bits of press for the record). While reaching #5 and #1 on the UK Albums (OCC) and UK Independent Albums charts, Some Great Reward also peaked at #51 on the US Billboard 200. While that might not seem like much of an accomplishment in the US market, keep in mind that this album marked Depeche Mode's first real chart success in the US: the single "People Are People" peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. "People Are People" was also a Top 20 hit in Canada, and it enjoyed worldwide chart success as well. Of course, that single's success might have been helped by also appearing as the title track of Depeche Mode's July 1984 compilation album. The second single, "Master and Servant," and the double A-side, "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody", also charted well.
Please note: "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" might be my favorite one-two punch of the 1980s -- as nihilistic an interpretation of divine justice as you can find, and it was (commercially) married with a gut-punchingly sincere ballad.
Forever Young was the 1984 debut from German synth band Alphaville. And for four singers without musical training, and using the cheapest synths and drum machines available, they released a serviceable, and kind of danceable, disc. This album is known for the singles "Big in Japan", with a music video that looks like someone filmed a collaboration between a theater student and an art school graduate, and "Forever Young". The other two singles – "Jet Set" and "Sounds Like a Melody" – are not as well known, but they performed pretty well in Europe. I'm still surprised "To Germany with Love" and "Fallen Angel" weren't singles; they were definitely among the more upbeat songs, and "To Germany" had a great, faux slap-bass riff. Sigh. Although Forever Young languished in the basement of the Billboard 200 (stalling at #180), and didn't chart at all in the UK, it did very well across Europe. And that success was enough to get their singles into clubs and earn the band a follow-up album.
YouTube playlists for both albums are embedded below. Let us know your fave tracks from both, or either, record.
Depeche Mode: "Some Great Reward (September 24, 1984)
Alphaville: Forever Young (September 27, 1984)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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