Singles Discography

Behind the Wheel / Route 66

Charts

UK (21) US (61) Germany (6)

Notes

The third in a trilogy of DM's most pivotal releases, BONG 15 is an all-time fan favourite. Never has DM released two tracks that were as symbiotic to each other as "Behind the Wheel" and "Route 66". One told you how and the other told you where. Both connected with Southern California's auto driven culture in 1988. Already "riding high" with the fanbase on the last two releases, this release was the final cement that bound the band with their rabid LA fan base. They were always close to the region over the years, but with this release, they had seemingly taken residency somewhere in the valley.

The cover art builds further on the BONGS. This time, an iconic tilted logo was created topped by a large printed MODE crowned with Behind The Wheel on top. It remains as one of the most enduring images for the band. The release, however, wasn't without it flaws. Shep Pettibone, at the time was one of the industry's most sought after remixers, best known for his work with Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, and George Michael, dropped the ball with his remixes for "…Wheel". It appeared to be a perfect combination on paper but fell short in execution. Still, it was a blip in the overall remix goodness from this release. The Beatmasters crafted iconic remixes for both tracks. They provided hard-charging, speedy road trip of a mix for "BTW" riddled with telephone related samples, as they served a sampleriffic slice of Americana with "66", complete with Wolfman Jack and "Name That Tune" clips. Dave Allen gave "Route 66" an even harder and edgier remix lasting over 10 minutes. Even legendary producer and former Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers got into the act with a deconstructed "66" that was released exclusively to the "Earth Girls Are Easy" soundtrack.

But all of those mixes took a back seat to Ivan Ivan's crop of Megamixes. The megamixes are the ultimate DM mashup of both tracks. They were given additional production and were geared to both dance floors and hard rock radio. Mega-single mixes were radio-friendly edits that feature one song more prominently over the other. The "Route 66/Behind the Wheel" megasingle mix served as the US single's B-Side and it was that version, not the regular single remix of "Wheel" that charted at 61 stateside. Then extended versions the megamix and the megadub were used for the US 12" releases. All of the megamixes were featured on an uber rare Sire promotional CD and were only recently made widely available digitally on The Complete Depeche Mode.

The video continues from "Never Let Me Down Again". After being scared to death by the evil lantern carrying WereMartin, Dave finds himself stranded as his brokedown vehicle is towed. But never fear, a lovely woman riding in a Vespa saves the day and takes our hero downtown. There, the rest of the fellas sit around waiting for him. Mart ditches the lantern for an accordion. Fletch serves as the couple's wheelmaster of a wheel that curiously stops on the number 69 when spun. Dave emerges transformed into Don Juan dancing the rest of the video away. There are two versions of this video. One sports the LP mix and the other uses the Shep Pettibone radio remix. The LP mix version contains additional footage, otherwise the videos are identical.

US Releases

	Sire 7" Single 27991-7 Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66/Behind the Wheel (Mega-Single mix)
	Sire Cassette Single 27991-4 Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66/Behind the Wheel (Mega-Single mix)
	Sire 12" Single 20858-0 Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Megamix) Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Megadub) *Behind the Wheel (extended remix) Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Notes: *Same as the Shep Pettibone remix.
	Sire Cassette Maxi Single 20858-4 Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (megamix) Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (megadub) *Behind the Wheel (extended remix) Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Notes: *Same as the Shep Pettibone remix.
	Sire 1992 CD Reissue 40330-2 Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66 Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix) Route 66 (Beatmasters mix) Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Route 66 (Casualty mix) Behind the Wheel (LP mix)
	Sire Promo 12" Single PRO-A-2952 Behind the Wheel (extended remix) *Behind the Wheel (dub) Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Behind the Wheel (DJ remix) Notes: *This is a dub of the Shep Pettibone mix. Unreleased commercially.
	Sire Promo CD Single PRO-CD-2953 Behind the Wheel (remix) Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Mega-Single mix) Route 66/Behind the Wheel (Mega-Single mix) Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (Megamix) Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Behind the Wheel (Extended remix) Notes: *Same as the Shep Pettibone remix.
	EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY SOUNDTRACK 25835-2 One DM track: *Route 66 (Nile Rodgers mix) Notes: *This is an unreleased mix, exclusive to this soundtrack.
	JUST SAY YO! (A Sire Records sampler) 25745-2 One DM track: Behind the Wheel/Route 66 (mega-single mix)
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UK Releases

	Mute 7" Single BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66
	Mute 12" Single 12 BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (remixed by Shep Pettibone) Route 66 (remixed by The Beatmasters)
	Mute Cassette Single C BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66 Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix)
	Mute Limited Edition 12" Single L12 BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Route 66 (Casualty mix)
	Mute 5" CD Single CD BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66 Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix) Behind the Wheel (LP mix)
	Mute 5" CD Single (1992 Reissue) CD BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66 Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix) Route 66 (Beatmasters mix) Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Route 66 (Casualty mix) Behind the Wheel (LP mix)
	Mute Promo 12" Single P12 BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (remixed by Shep Pettibone) Behind the Wheel (LP mix) Behind the Wheel (remix)
	Mute DJ Promo 7" Single DJ BONG 15 Behind the Wheel (DJ remix) Behind the Wheel (LP mix)
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Japanese Releases

	Mute/Alfa 3" CD Single 10SP-3 I Want You Now Behind the Wheel (remix) Notes: "I Want You Now" Japanese release on Alfa Records with unique packaging.
	Mute/Alfa Promo 7" Single ALDJ-104 I Want You Now Behind the Wheel (remix) Notes: "I Want You Now" Japanese promo release.
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German Releases

	Intercord 5" CD Single INT 826.875 (CD BONG 15) Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66 Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix) Behind the Wheel (LP mix)
	Intercord 3" CD Single INT 811.854 (CD BONG 15) Behind the Wheel (remix) Route 66 Behind the Wheel (Beatmasters mix) Notes: Intercord released 2 CD BONG 15's. This one is the rare 3" CD with the Beatmasters Mix on CD for the first time anywhere, as truthfully advertised by the sticker. This is more like a CD version of C BONG 15.
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