Little 15
| "Little 15" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Depeche Mode | ||||
| from the album Music for the Masses | ||||
| B-side | "Stjärna" | |||
| Released | 16 May 1988 | |||
| Format | Vinyl record (7" and 12"), CD (1991 box set) | |||
| Recorded | February–July 1987 Studio Guillaume Tell,[1] Paris Konk, London Puk Studios, Denmark |
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| Length | 4:15 | |||
| Label | Mute Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Martin Gore | |||
| Producer(s) | Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller, Dave Bascombe | |||
| Depeche Mode singles chronology | ||||
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"Little 15" is a Depeche Mode single, released on 16 May 1988[citation needed], and the fourth single from the album Music for the Masses.
The song was never intended to be a single; in fact, it barely made it onto the album, but a French record label wanted to release the song as a single. The single became a very popular import and became a minor hit in the UK, reaching #60 on the UK Singles Chart (to date the second lowest UK singles placing for the band).[2]
The song's title, as well as its status as a minor release, contributed to its special catalog number "LITTLE15". In this vein, it can be seen as a "little" release between BONG15 ("Behind the Wheel") and BONG16 ("Everything Counts [Live]"). Ironically, "Little 15" didn't chart in France, but finally it was also released as a single in other countries becoming a success: in West Germany, where it hit #16, in Austria where it reached #25 and in Switzerland where it entered the Top 20 at #18.[3]
There was no remix of the song at the time of release (the 12" and 7" versions were the same); however, there are two piano instrumental B-sides, both performed by Alan Wilder. The first is "Stjärna" (mislabelled "St. Jarna"), which is Swedish for 'star', written by Martin Gore. The 12" B-side also contains a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata #14." According to his website, Wilder did not intend for it to be a B-side, as he was merely performing it for fun, but Gore stealthily recorded it. Wilder did not perform the song perfectly (his error occurs near the end of the song).[4]
The music video for "Little 15" was directed by Martyn Atkins, who had done previous design work for the band.[5] The music video was filmed in the Trellick Tower in London.[citation needed]
Contents
Track listings
7": Mute / Little15 (UK)
- "Little 15" – 4:15
- "Stjarna" – 4:28
12": Mute / 12Little15 (UK)
- "Little 15" – 4:15
- "Stjarna" – 4:28
- "Moonlight Sonata No. 14" – 5:37
CD: Mute / CDLittle15 (UK)
- "Little 15" – 4:15
- "Stjarna" – 4:28
- "Moonlight Sonata No. 14" – 5:37
"Little 15" and "Stjarna" are written by Martin L. Gore. "Moonlight Sonata" was written by Beethoven.
