The Singles 86–98

The Singles 86>98 is a compilation album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 28 September 1998 by Mute Records. It was released as a follow-up to the band's previous compilation, The Singles 81→85, which was also reissued in the same year. The compilation covers the band's 7-inch single releases spanning five studio albums (from 1986's Black Celebration to 1997's Ultra), as well as including the band's 1998 standalone single "Only When I Lose Myself". Also included is "Little 15" (from Music for the Masses, released as a single in Europe), and the live version of "Everything Counts" (from the live album 101) which was released as a single in 1989. All tracks on The Singles 86>98 were newly remastered, as was the case with the re-release of The Singles 81→85.

Contents

• The Videos 8698
• Track listing
• Personnel
• Songs
• References

The band decided to release the album as a close follow-up to Ultra, Depeche Mode's first album after Alan Wilder's departure and Dave Gahan's drug addiction and resulting health problems, to maintain interest in the band. The four-month The Singles Tour that followed marked the first time Depeche Mode had toured since the 1993–94 Devotional/Exotic Tour, since they had declined to tour Ultra a year earlier, playing only a few songs at a handful of shows instead.

The Singles 86>98 has sold 500,000 units in the United States (double albums count as two units), achieving Platinum certification. The album was also listed on Blender magazine's "500 CDs You Must Own: Alternative Rock" list.