New Life (song)

"New Life" is the second single by English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their debut studio album Speak & Spell, originally released on 13 June 1981.^[1][a] It was the first Depeche Mode single to feature remixes, and was released only in Europe.

"New Life"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Speak & Spell
B-side	"Shout!"
Released	13 June 1981[1]
Recorded	May 1981
Studio	Blackwing (London)
Genre	Synth-pop[2][3]
Length	3:43 (album version) 3:58 (12″ remix)
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Vince Clarke
Producer(s)	Depeche Mode Daniel Miller
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Dreaming of Me" (1981) "New Life" (1981) "Just Can't Get Enough" (1981)
12" Single Cover
The cover of the 12" single (12MUTE014)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]

Background

Vince Clarke wrote the song,^[6] which was recorded at Blackwing Studios.^[7] One of several album tracks written before the band officially went into the studio to record the album, "New Life" was the first Depeche Mode single released in the 12" format; the previous single, "Dreaming of Me", was originally only released on 7" vinyl.^[8] It was the first single by the band to feature remixes, a staple of all later Depeche Mode single releases.^[9] Both "New Life" and "Shout!"'s 12" mixes were done by the band themselves.^[10] The cover of the UK 12" sleeve was based on a photo used in the scientific magazine Mind Alive in 1968; the same photo was the basis for the cover of the Black Sabbath album Born Again (1983).^[9] In the UK, the single was given the catalogue number 7MUTE014 for the 7" single, 12MUTE014 for the 12" single, and in Germany the catalogue number was INT 111.800 (7") and INT 126.800 (12").^[11]

The song's b-side was "Shout!", and its 12" remix was given the name "Rio Mix" only on the English release.^[11]

Release

The single became Depeche Mode's breakthrough hit in the UK, peaking at #11.^[12][13] On 25 June 1981, the band performed "New Life" during their debut on the BBC's Top of the Pops.^[7]

Track listing

All tracks written by Vince Clarke

7″: Mute / 7Mute14 (UK)

1. "New Life" – 3:43
2. "Shout!" – 3:44

12″: Mute / 12Mute14 (UK)

1. "New Life" (remix) – 3:58
2. "Shout!" (Rio mix) – 7:31

• Re-released in 2018 as a part of the Speak & Spell: The 12″ Singles box set

CD: Mute / Intercord / CDMute14 / INT 826.800 (West Germany) – released in 1988

1. "New Life" (remix) – 3:58
2. "Shout!" (Rio mix) – 7:31
3. "New Life" (7″ version) – 3:43

CD: Mute / CDMute14 (UK) – released in 1991

1. "New Life" (remix) – 3:58
2. "Shout!" – 3:44
3. "Shout!" (Rio mix) – 7:31

CD: Sire / 40290-2 (US) – released in 1991

1. "New Life" (remix) – 3:58
2. "Shout!" – 3:44
3. "Shout!" (Rio mix) – 7:31

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "New Life"

Chart (1981)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)[14]	22
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	11
UK Indie (MRIB)[16]	1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[17] with "Shout!"	29

Notes

1. One source suggests it was released earlier, around 5 June 1981.^[5]