The standalone single wasn’t a phenomenon birthed in the 80s, it was pioneered in the 60s by the likes of The Beatles and The Kinks, whose writing and recording prolificacy was matched by their paymasters’ insatiable appetite for new product. In the punk era and beyond, many acts duly followed in their stead, offering fans material exclusive to the single, a practice that in a notoriously fickle marketplace was often necessary to keep them in the public eye in between their album releases. Our countdown includes singles that weren’t included on the vinyl versions of the period-relevant studio LPs. We have also discounted tracks written to order for soundtracks, and singles used to promote hits compilations.
20 DEPECHE MODE GET THE BALANCE RIGHT! (1983)