Love, in Itself

"Love, in Itself" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 19 September 1983 as the second and final single from their third studio album, Construction Time Again (1983).^[2] The song peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3][4][5]

"Love, in Itself"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Construction Time Again
B-side	"Fools"
Released	19 September 1983
Genre	Synth-pop^[1] new wave^[1]
Length	4:00 (7″/single version) 7:18 (12″ version) 4:29 (album version)
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin L. Gore
Producer(s)	Depeche Mode Daniel Miller Gareth Jones
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Everything Counts" (1983) "Love, in Itself" (1983) "People Are People" (1984)
Music video
"Love, in Itself" on YouTube

The "Love, in Itself" single contains three mixes of the song. "Love, in Itself • 2" is the single edit of "Love, in Itself". "Love, in Itself • 3" is the 12-inch version. "Love, in Itself • 4" is a Lounge-inspired version of the song that features piano prominently. The B-side is "Fools", which was written by Alan Wilder.

Music video

The video for "Love, in Itself" was directed by Clive Richardson. It features Martin Gore playing acoustic guitar.

Formats and track listings

7-inch: Mute/7Bong4 (UK)

1. "Love, in Itself • 2" – 4:00
2. "Fools" – 4:14

12-inch: Mute/12Bong4 (UK)

1. "Love, in Itself • 3" – 7:18
2. "Fools" (Bigger) – 7:39
3. "Love, in Itself • 4" – 4:38

12-inch: Mute/L12Bong4 (UK)

1. "Love, in Itself • 2" (original 7 inch mix) – 4:18
2. "Just Can't Get Enough" (live)¹ – 5:35
3. "A Photograph of You" (live)¹ – 3:21
4. "Shout!" (live)¹ – 4:39
5. "Photographic" (live)¹ – 3:56

Note: The "original 7 inch mix" is a slightly longer version of "Love, in Itself • 2".

CD: Mute/CDBong4 (UK)²

1. "Love, in Itself • 2" – 4:00
2. "Fools" – 4:14
3. "Love, in Itself • 3" – 7:18
4. "Fools" (Bigger) – 7:39
5. "Love, in Itself • 4" – 4:38

Notes

• ¹ Live tracks recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London.
• ² The CD single was released in 1991 as part of the singles box set compilations.
• "Love, in Itself" and "A Photograph of You" were written by Martin Gore.
• "Fools" was written by Alan Wilder.
• "Just Can't Get Enough", "Photographic", and "Shout!" were written by Vince Clarke.
• "Just Can't Get Enough" became a hit of its own in the Netherlands and Belgium in early 1985. It wasn't released as a separate single, so it was the 12-inch single (L12Bong4) that entered the Dutch chart. Officially it was not allowed in the singles charts as the 12-inch had been sold (and priced) as a mini-LP in the weeks before that. But due to its popularity on the radio, "Just Can't Get Enough (live)" was allowed to enter and duly became Depeche Mode's biggest Dutch hit of all time.

Charts

Chart performance for "Love, in Itself"

Chart (1983–1985)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)^[6]	27
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[7]	5
UK Singles (OCC)^[8]	21
UK Indie (OCC)^[9]	3
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[10]	28

References

1. Raggett, Ned. "Love in Itself – Depeche Mode". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
2. Miller, Jonathan (5 November 2009). Stripped: Depeche Mode. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-026-7. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
3. Lazell, Barry (1989). Rock Movers & Shakers. Billboard Publications, Incorporated. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-8230-7608-6. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
4. Christgau, Robert (1990). Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the '80s. Pantheon Books. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-679-73015-6. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
5. Rees, Dafydd (1991). Rock Movers & Shakers. ABC-CLIO. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-87436-661-7. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love in Itself". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Depeche Mode" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
8. "Depeche Mode: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
9. Lazell, Barry (1997). . Indie Hits 1980–1989: The Complete U.K. Independent Charts (Singles & Albums). Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-95172-069-4. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Depeche Mode – Love in Itself" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

External links

• Single information from the official Depeche Mode website