Depeche Mode "Master And Servant (Single & Video)"

"Master and Servant" is Depeche Mode's eleventh UK single, released in 1984 and the second single from the Some Great Reward album. Its subject matter is BDSM relationships, which caused some controversy. It reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart, number 49 in the American dance chart and number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The overtly sexual, BDSM-themed lyrics of "Master and Servant" — complete with synthesized whip-and-chain sound effects — reportedly meant that the song was banned by many radio stations in the United States (although the song reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart anyway, albeit only at number 87 and for only a three-week chart stay).

Reportedly, the song narrowly avoided a radio ban by the BBC as well. "Master and Servant" might have been banned if the one BBC staffer who wanted to ban the record had not been away on holiday at the time the other staffers voted on whether to add "Master and Servant" to their playlist.

The production and mixing process of "Master and Servant" are remembered by Alan Wilder, Daniel Miller, and Gareth Jones, as among the longest that Depeche Mode ever endured. One famous story about the song includes a mixing duration of seven days, and after all the reworking and final mastering of the mix, they realized they left the channel with the snare drum muted during the last chorus.

Some of the sounds on "Master and Servant", such as the whip effect, are based on Daniel Miller standing in the studio hissing and spitting. According to the band, they tried to sample a real whip but "it was hopeless".

The "Slavery Whip Mix" was the longest 12" Depeche Mode song at the time, with the outro being turned into a swing version of the refrain. The "Voxless" version is an instrumental mix of the song. The B-side is "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me", featuring a 12-inch "Release Mix". The 7" version edits out much of the beginning.

Some versions include a song called "Are People People?" which uses samples from "People Are People" along with chanting. Both "Are People People?" and "Master and Servant (An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic)" appear on Remixes 81–04 in 2004. They are remixed by Adrian Sherwood.

Track listings

7": Mute / 7Bong6 (UK)

1. "Master and Servant" – 3:46
2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12

7": Sire / 7-28918 (US)

1. "Master and Servant" [edit] – 3:27
2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12

12": Mute / 12Bong6 (UK)

1. "Master and Servant (Slavery Whip Mix/12" Version)" – 9:38
2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me (Release Mix)" – 8:49
3. "Master and Servant (Voxless)" – 4:00

L12": Mute / L12Bong6 (UK)

1. "Master and Servant (An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic)" – 4:34
2. "Are People People?" – 4:29
3. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12

Track 1 was re-released on the 2- and 3-disc CD versions of Remixes 81–04, while track 2 only appears on the 3-disc version.

12": Sire / 0-20283 (US)

1. "Master and Servant (US Black and Blue Mix)" – 8:02 (edited by Joseph Watt)
2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" (US 12" Mix) – 7:59 (edited by Joseph Watt)
3. "Are People People?" – 4:29

CD: Mute / CDBong6 (UK)

1. "Master and Servant" – 3:46
2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12
3. "Master and Servant (Slavery Whip Mix)" – 9:38
4. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me (Release Mix)" – 8:49
5. "Master and Servant (Voxless)" – 4:00

The CD single was released in 1991 as part of the singles box set compilations.

All songs written by Martin Gore.