Behind the Wheel


"Behind the Wheel" is Depeche Mode's twentieth UK single, released on 28 December 1987, and the third single for the album Music for the Masses. Peaking at #21 in the UK charts, it hit #6 in West Germany.
In 1989, the single was ranked #30 on Spin magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Singles of All Time".

Track listings

"Behind the Wheel" was written by Martin Gore. "Route 66" was written by Robert William Troup Jr..

7": Mute / 7Bong15 (UK)

  1. "Behind the Wheel" – 4:03
  2. "Route 66" – 4:11

    12": Mute / 12Bong15 (UK)

  3. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:56
  4. "Route 66" – 6:19

    12": Mute / L12Bong15 (UK)

  5. "Behind the Wheel" – 8:00
  6. "Route 66" – 10:40

    CD: Mute / CDBong15 (UK)

  7. "Behind the Wheel" – 4:03
  8. "Route 66" – 4:11
  9. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:56
  10. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:19

    CD: Mute / CDBong15 (UK)

  11. "Behind the Wheel" – 4:03
  12. "Route 66" – 4:11
  13. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:56
  14. "Route 66" – 6:19
  15. "Behind the Wheel" – 8:00
  16. "Route 66" – 10:40
  17. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:19
  1. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:56
  2. "Route 66" – 6:19
  3. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:19

    7": Sire / 7-27991 (US)

  4. "Behind the Wheel" – 4:03
  5. "Route 66/Behind the Wheel" – 4:13

    12": Sire / 0-20858 (US)

  6. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" – 7:48
  7. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" – 6:10
  8. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:56
  9. "Behind the Wheel" – 8:00

    12": Sire / PRO-A-2952 (US promo)

  10. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:56
  11. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:53
  12. "Behind the Wheel" – 8:00
  13. "Behind the Wheel" – 3:48

    CD: Sire / PRO-CD-2953 (US promo)

  14. "Behind the Wheel" – 4:03
  15. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" – 4:29
  16. "Route 66/Behind the Wheel" – 4:12
  17. "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" – 7:48
  18. "Behind the Wheel" – 8:00
  19. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:56

    Music video

The music video was directed by Anton Corbijn and included on the Strange compilation. Shot entirely in black and white, the video depicts Dave Gahan's car from the Never Let Me Down Again video being towed away while he waits on crutches, only to discard those crutches as he rides on the back of a Vespa SS180 driven by a female companion to a local southwestern village, where the rest of the band play the song while Gahan and the woman dance.
The video features the 7" remix of the song, although an alternative video also exists set to the original album version.

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Finland 15
-
Germany 6
Spain 19
-
-
-
US Dance Music/Club Play Singles 3
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 10
US Billboard Hot 10061

Behind the Wheel 2011

"Behind the Wheel 2011" is a US-only promotional CD single, released 2011. The title track is a remix made by former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke for the band's album. The single was promotional only, and not for sale. It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 2011.
Track list:
  1. Behind The Wheel 2011 – 6:42
  2. Behind The Wheel 2011 – 6:44
  3. Behind The Wheel 2011 – 3:36