Singles Discography

Strangelove

Charts

UK (16) US (76) Germany (2)

Notes

Strangelove Every story has a turning point. The DM story reached a critical one when BONG 13 was unleashed on planet earth. Although it failed to reach the top 10 in the UK, and then ultimately miss the US top 40 twice, it's remembered mostly as the band's breakout US hit as well as the catalyst for DM future American successes to follow. It's also the band's first of seven #1 dance hits in the US. The success later spilled over to American radio where it gained almost as much airplay as its then one hit wonder "People Are People", posting a #76 entry.

"Strangelove" was also a turning point in the way the band would approach their single campaigns. This became the first release where the single had more than two remixes. Previously, the band would have their own extended version and maybe a remix done outside of their own recording sessions. On BONG 13, the song had its usual extended version in the form of the Maxi-mix. Then on the L12, two mixes with their own direction were offered up in the form of the Blind and Pain mixes. The Blind mix is a harder and edgier remix from Daniel Miller based on his remixed album version of the song. This version connected with radio listeners. The Pain mix, on the other hand, is a classic house mix by Phil Harding that had its foundations from the Maxi-mix. He also contributed the promo-only Fresh Ground mix that deconstructs "Strangelove" and mixes in samples from Cameo's "Word Up". It has never been released digitally and remains one of the holy grails of DM collectables. It was scarce then when it was printed on DANCE BONG 13 and it's even more scarce now. BONG 13 is also the start of Mute's multiple promotional release campaigns. Not only was there the rare DANCE BONG 13, but there were also the equally scarce CLUB BONG 13 and SHOP BONG 13 12" releases. This release would also be the first BONG to be issued on the new digital CD format. In 1992, following the wake of the import craze of the previous year, its exclusion off the Singles box sets led to the single being reissued on CD along with "Never Let Me Down Again", "Behind the Wheel", and "Everything Counts" seeing individual reissues. These reissues ended up being comprehensive mini-albums containing all the remixes and B-sides from their respective campaigns.

"Strangelove", deep with mixes, was nearly as deep with B-sides. "PIMPF" would serve as the primary B-side on the 7" and appear on the L12 with then fellow B-side "Agent Orange". A "remix" of "PIMPF", entitled "FPMIP" appeared on 12 BONG 13. It's a humourous take by remixing a classical piano piece, but it was done nicely with the trademark vox samples soloed as an opening intro.

One of the more fascinating attributes of BONG 13 has to be its cover: a close up of the orange megaphone that's been stenciled with the single's catalogue number on the inside of its horn. Unlike its predecessors or even the releases that would follow, the image of the megaphone turned the release into something tangible. This megaphone was BONG 13; it was "Strangelove" and when you see it, you know exactly what it's for, where it's from, how loud and powerful it was, and what music was going to erupt from it. The centerpiece of the megaphone, as its featured on the sleeves, was a bit phallic in nature. Not to mention, the Anton-directed video features said megaphone in an equally suggestive manner (that subliminally screams out chick magnet) as well as accentuate the tangibility of the megaphone. In the video, it serves as its own character as well as a natural extension of the band. With two female models in various states of dress, Anton crafted one of the more provocative and racy DM videos ever. Later Anton videos would feature varying levels of suggestive and/or perverse imagery.

On its own, it served as a powerful icon that drew many outsiders into the DM fold, not just for the single, but for the entire album campaign. When the dust had settled, "Strangelove" would be the most significant US release, the most important BONG of them all. It would also be the first of a three-part trilogy of pivotal "…Masses" singles that would follow the new successful blueprint established from here onwards.

US Releases

	Sire 7" Single 28366-7 Strangelove FPMIP Notes:* *The B-side is in fact "Pimpf" and not the remix "Fpmip". The US 7" version is different from the UK 7" version.
	Sire 12" Single 20696-0 Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) Strangelove (Midi-Mix) Strangelove (Blind Mix) FPMIP Notes:* *This is a different version that fades out 20 seconds earlier, different than what appears on L12 BONG 13 and the 1992 CD Reissues.
	Sire Cassette Maxi Single 9 20741-4 Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) Strangelove (Midi-Mix) FPMIP Strangelove (Blind Mix) Strangelove (Pain Mix) Agent Orange
	Sire Limited Edition 12" No Picture Sleeve 20769-0 Strangelove (Pain Mix) Agent Orange Strangelove (7" Version) Notes: Appears in a specially stickered generic Sire Maxi Single sleeve
	Sire 5" CD Single (1992 Reissue) 9 40328-2 Strangelove PIMPF Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) Agent Orange Strangelove (Blind Mix) FPMIP Strangelove (Pain Mix) Strangelove (MIDI Mix) Notes:* *Same version as it appears on (7") BONG 13
	Sire Promo 12" Single PRO-A-2780 Strangelove (Pain Mix) Agent Orange Strangelove Notes: US Promo 12" with a Green Negative of the Bong 13 megaphone on the cover.
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UK Releases

	Mute 7" Single BONG 13 Strangelove PIMPF
	Mute 12" Single 12 BONG 13 Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) Strangelove (Midi-Mix) FPMIP
	Mute Limited Edition 12" Single L12 BONG 13 Strangelove (Blind Mix) PIMPF Strangelove (Pain Mix) Agent Orange
	Mute Cassette Single C BONG 13 Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) PIMPF Strangelove (Midi-Mix) Agent Orange Strangelove (LP Mix) Notes:* *The "LP Mix" is in fact the same as the version on BONG 13, and not the album version.
	Mute 5" CD Single CD BONG 13 Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) PIMPF Strangelove (Midi-Mix) Agent Orange Strangelove (LP Mix) Notes:* *The "LP Mix" is in fact the same as the version on BONG 13, and not the album version.
	Mute 5" CD Single (1992 Reissue) CD BONG 13 Strangelove PIMPF Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) Agent Orange Strangelove (Blind Mix) FPMIP Strangelove (Pain Mix) Strangelove (MIDI Mix) Notes:* *Same version as it appears on (7") BONG 13.
	Mute White Label Promo 12" Single DANCE BONG 13 Strangelove (Blind Mix) Strangelove (The Fresh Ground Mix) Notes: No picture sleeve.
	Mute White Label Promo 12" Single CLUB BONG 13 Strangelove (Maxi-Mix) Strangelove (Pain Mix) Notes: No picture sleeve.
	Mute White Label Promo 12" Single S BONG 13 Strangelove (7" Mix) PIMPF (7" Mix) Strangelove (12" Maxi-Mix) Notes: No picture sleeve. This promo is also known as SHOP BONG 13.
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