5 Key Facts About Depeche Mode's Debut Album Speak & Spell
- Speak & Spell was released on October 29, 1981, by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the US.
- It is the only Depeche Mode album to feature founding member Vince Clarke, who wrote most of the songs.
- The album’s sound is lighter and more synth-pop oriented compared to the band’s later, darker work.
- Clarke left the band shortly after the album’s release to form Yazoo and later Erasure.
- Despite its commercial success, the band rarely performs songs from this album live today.