Rocktrospectiva: Depeche Mode's "A Question Of Time" Turns 40

Released on 11 August 1986 "A Question Of Time" was a song by the English electronic band Depeche Mode, as the third and final single from their fifth studio album, Black Celebration, following the similarly titled "A Question of Lust". The single was a top 20 hit in several European countries. The accompanying music video was the beginning of a long collaboration between Depeche Mode and Anton Corbijn.

Depeche Mode had entered the studio to record tracks for their album Black Celebration in November 1985, with recording of all album tracks starting at Westside Studios in London and final production and mixing moving to Hansa Studios in West Berlin by early 1986.

Depeche Mode released Black Celebration in mid-March 1986, and "A Question of Time" was the album's third and final single, released on 11 August 1986 by Mute Records in the US, Intercord Records in West Germany, and Sire Records in the US.

In the UK, commercial releases included a 7", a 12" and a limited 12" vinyl single, given catalogue numbers 7BONG12, 12BONG12 and L12BONG12, respectively. Mute also released the 7" and both 12" singles promotionally, with a unique mix on the 7" release.  In West Germany, Intercord Records released initial pressings of the 7" on red vinyl with catalogue number INT 111.841, as well as 12" and limited 12" releases that mirrored the UK release. In addition, Dischi Ricordi released a rare promotional 7" in Italy (catalogue number BONG12) that included a unique cover. After Black Celebration's first two singles, "Stripped" and "A Question of Lust", both featured black as the dominant color of its cover art, the 12" releases of "A Question of Time" got "optimistic" white covers.

Music producer Phil Harding remixed "A Question of Time" for the 12" single, and the B-side to both 12" releases were tracks recorded on 10 April 1986 in Birmingham, England, while the band was supporting the album with their Black Celebration Tour.

The music video for "A Question of Time" is the first Depeche Mode video to be directed by Anton Corbijn. Shot in Los Angeles in black and white and inspired by road movies, the video marked the beginning of a relationship that allowed Depeche Mode to craft the image they wanted. Said Alan Wilder later, "it wasn’t until Anton got involved in 1986, that we realised we could take more control over the cohesive image of the group." Corbijn had photographed the band back in 1981 for NME, and they had approached him to direct some of their music videos earlier in their career, but Corbijn had turned them down, saying "I didn't like their music much. They were kind of a teen band, and I was into serious music back then." The band liked Corbijn's video shoots because they were more intimate, sometimes just Corbijn and the band instead of having large video crews like their earlier videos.

 

A Question Of Time Track Listing: 

 

7": Mute/ 7Bong12 (UK)

 

1. A Question Of Time (Remix)

2. Black Celebration (Live)

 

12": Mute/ 12Bong12 (UK)

 

1. A Question Of Time (Extended Remix)

2. Black Celebration (live)

3. Something To Do (live)

4. Stripped (live) 

 

12": Mute/L12Bong12 (UK)

 

1. A Question Of Time (New Town Mix)

2. A Question Of Time (Live Remix)

3. A Black Celebration (Black Tulip Mix)

4. More Than A Party (live)

 

CD: Intercord/Mute INT 826.850 (West Germany)

 

1. A Question Of Time (Extended Remix)

2. Stripped (live)

3. Black Celebration (live)

4. Something To Do (live)

5. A Question Of Time (remix)