It's Called a Heart
1985 single by Depeche Mode
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"It's Called a Heart" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released as a single on 16 September 1985. It reached number 8 in West Germany and 18 in the UK.
| "It's Called a Heart" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Depeche Mode | ||||
| from the album The Singles 81→85 | ||||
| B-side | "Fly on the Windscreen" | |||
| Released | 16 September 1985 | |||
| Recorded | June 1985 | |||
| Studio | Genetic (Streatley, England) | |||
| Genre | Synth-pop | |||
| Length | 3:48 | |||
| Label | Mute | |||
| Songwriter | Martin L. Gore | |||
| Producers |
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| Depeche Mode singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "It's Called a Heart" on YouTube | ||||
"It's Called a Heart", alongside their previous single "Shake the Disease", were both included on the 1985 compilation albums The Singles 81→85 (UK) and Catching Up with Depeche Mode (US).
Background
Depeche Mode had commitments to perform live in the first half of 1985, but had no plans to release a new album, instead choosing to focus on releasing their first-ever singles collections in the UK and US.[1] Under pressure from their label to produce another single after "Shake the Disease", the band went into Genetic Studios in Streatley, Berkshire in June 1985 to record "It's Called a Heart".[2]
Release and promotion
When it came time to release the song, member Alan Wilder disagreed with releasing "It's Called a Heart", instead suggesting that the song "Fly on the Windscreen" would be a superior choice.[2] Said Wilder, "I felt it ['It's Called a Heart'] was really going backwards, it was so poppy and trite."[2] However, the rest of the band outvoted Wilder, and "Fly on the Windscreen" was released as the single's B-side.[2] A year later, singer Dave Gahan admitted that "It's Called a Heart" was a poor choice,[3] and the band remixed and added "Fly on the Windscreen" to their follow-up album, Black Celebration.[4] In a 1998 interview, songwriter Martin Gore called the song "one of the worst things we've ever released."[5]
Both songs were produced by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode.[6] The Slow Mix of "It's Called a Heart" and the Death Mix of "Fly on the Windscreen" were both produced by Gareth Jones at Hansa Studios.[6]
"It's Called a Heart", backed with "Fly on the Windscreen", was released as a single on 16 September 1985.[2] In the UK, Mute Records released the single on 7", 12" and "Double" 12" vinyl releases with catalogue numbers 7BONG9, 12BONG9 and D12BONG9, respectively.[7] Breaking with Depeche Mode's recent single tradition, there was no limited / L12BONG release of this record, instead a double / D12BONG release, which contained two 12" records released together.[8] Initial pressings of the 7" in the UK came with a fold-out poster.[6] In addition, a promotional 12" was released with a whitelabel to DJs with catalogue number BONG9.[8] In Germany, Intercord Records released the 7" and 12" vinyl singles with catalogue numbers INT 111.831 and INT 126.832, respectively.[2] Initial pressings of the German 7" were on red vinyl, and the 12" initial pressings were made on blue vinyl.[8] In addition, in Germany, "It's Called a Heart" was included on a promotional-only cassette release titled Hitaktiv 85/86.[8]
Cover design of the singles was done by Martyn Atkins and T+CP Associates with illustrations by English artist Tamara Capellaro.[6]
The song reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.[9]
Music video
A video was created for "It's Called a Heart", directed by Peter Care.[10] After leaving Depeche Mode in 1995, Wilder suggested that one of his few regrets during his time in the band was participating in the shoot for the video.[11]
The video was included on Some Great Videos (1985) and Video Singles Collection (2016).
Later releases
"It's Called a Heart" was included as one of two new tracks on the compilation The Singles 81→85 in the UK the same year, along with "Shake the Disease".[12][13] In the US, it was released on the compilation album Catching Up with Depeche Mode, also includes the B-side, "Fly on the Windscreen", which reappeared in a slightly different mix on the band's 1986 album Black Celebration.[2]
"It's Called a Heart" later appeared on the compilations album Greatest Hits (1987).
A remix of "Fly on the Windscreen" appeared on the compilation album Remixes 2: 81–11 (2011).
Live versions
A live version of "It's Called a Heart" has not been officially released. Live versions of "Fly on the Windscreen" were released on Devotional (1993), Tour of the Universe: Barcelona 20/21.11.09 (2010), and some versions of Recording the Universe (2009–2010).
Track listings
All tracks are written by Martin L. Gore.
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Released as part of the 3 (Singles 13–18) box set.
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Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] | 31 |
| Denmark (IFPI)[15] | 2 |
| Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[16] | 10 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] | 11 |
| France (SNEP)[18] | 29 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[19] | 5 |
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[20] | 19 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[21] | 16 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] | 47 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] | 7 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] | 7 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[25] | 18 |
| UK Indie (OCC)[26] | 1 |
| West Germany (GfK)[27] | 8 |
