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A Question of Time

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For the Jack Bruce album, see A Question of Time (album). For the book of Tolkien criticism, see A Question of Time (book).

"A Question of Time"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Black Celebration
B-side"Black Celebration" (live)
Released11 August 1986 (1986-08-11)[1]
GenreIndustrial, new wave
Length4:04 (7" single version)
6:38 (12" version)
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)Martin L. Gore
Producer(s)
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"A Question of Lust"
(1986) 		"A Question of Time"
(1986) 		"But Not Tonight"
(1986)
Music video
"A Question of Time" on YouTube

"A Question of Time" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 11 August 1986 in the UK as the third and final single from their fifth studio album, Black Celebration, following the similarly titled "A Question of Lust".

It was a top 20 hit in several European countries.

Background and recording

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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.[2]

Release and promotion

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Depeche Mode released Black Celebration in mid-March 1986,[3] 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.[4]

In the UK, commercial releases included a 7", a 12" and a limited 12" vinyl single, given catalogue numbers 7BONG12, 12BONG12 and L12BONG12, respectively.[5] Mute also released the 7" and both 12" singles promotionally,[5] with a unique mix on the 7" release.[6] 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.[7] In addition, Dischi Ricordi released a rare promotional 7" in Italy (catalogue number BONG12) that included a unique cover.[7]

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.[8]

Music video

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The music video for "A Question of Time" is the first Depeche Mode video to be directed by Anton Corbijn.[9] Shot 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.[10] 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."[10] 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."[9] Wilder appeared a lot in the video, mostly because he was the only member of the band willing to get up early enough to make the video shoot and commit a day to it.[10][11]

The video was later included on the video collection Strange, The Videos 86>98, the DVD of The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 and on Video Singles Collection.

Critical reception

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When reviewing the single, Lesley O'Toole of Record Mirror said the song is "not quite as alluring as 'A Question of Lust', but the rabid, sequenced throb is better programmed for radioland".[12]

Other releases

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Remixes of "A Question of Time" have appeared on various best-of compilations, such as The Singles 86–98 (1998), The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (2006) and Remixes 2: 81–11 (2011). Live versions appear on 101 (1989), and releases of Recording the Angel (2006) and Recording the Universe (2010).

Track listings

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All tracks written by Martin L. Gore.

7″: Mute / 7Bong12 (UK)

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  1. "A Question of Time" (remix) – 4:04 (remixed by Phil Harding)
  2. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05

12″: Mute / 12Bong12 (UK)

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  1. "A Question of Time" (extended remix) – 6:38 (remixed by Phil Harding)
  2. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05
  3. "Something to Do" (live) – 3:50
  4. "Stripped" (live) – 6:21

12″: Mute / L12Bong12 (UK)

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  1. "A Question of Time" (New Town mix) – 6:59 (remixed by Rico Conning)
  2. "A Question of Time" (live remix) – 4:10
  3. "Black Celebration" (Black Tulip mix) – 6:32 (remixed by Rico Conning)
  4. "More Than a Party" (live) – 5:05

CD: Intercord / Mute INT 826.850 (West Germany)

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  1. "A Question of Time" (extended remix) – 6:38
  2. "Stripped" (live) – 6:22
  3. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05
  4. "Something to Do" (live) – 3:50
  5. "A Question of Time" (remix) – 4:04

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 August 1986. p. 8. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  2. ^ Bell, Max (22 February 1986). "Depeche Mode Interview". Number One. pp. 8–11. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  3. ^ Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 138–139.
  4. ^ Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 145–147.
  5. ^ a b Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 146.
  6. ^ "Depeche Mode: The Archives: A Question of Time". Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 147.
  8. ^ Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 145–146.
  9. ^ a b Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 145.
  10. ^ a b c "SHUNT : The Official Recoil Website : Q&A Vault : Depeche Mode". Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  11. ^ Depeche Mode: 1986: The Songs Aren't Good Enough, There Aren't Any Singles and It'll Never Get Played on the Radio (DVD). Mute Records. 2006.
  12. ^ O'Toole, Lesley (16 August 1986). "Singles reviewed by Lesley O'Toole" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 8. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 6 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 36. 13 September 1986. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  15. ^ "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Question of Time". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time – Remix" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  19. ^ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts D". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  20. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  21. ^ "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Depeche Mode: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Top Indie Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 30 August 1986. p. 9. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  25. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Depeche Mode – A Question of Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
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