Only When I Lose Myself

"Only When I Lose Myself"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album The Singles 86>98
B-side	"Surrender", "Headstar"
Released	7 September 1998
Format	12", CD
Recorded	1997–98
Length	4:41 (album version) 4:34 (single version) 3:52 (radio edit)
Label	Mute Records
Writer(s)	Martin Gore
Producer(s)	Tim Simenon
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Useless" (1997) "Only When I Lose Myself" (1998) "Dream On" (2001)

"Only When I Lose Myself" is Depeche Mode's thirty-fifth UK single, released on 7 September 1998, exclusive to The Singles 86>98. It is the first non-album studio single since "It's Called a Heart" in 1985, and is also one of the rare singles to have two limited editions ("L12/LCD Bong" and "XL12/XLCD Bong" - the others being "Enjoy the Silence" and "In Your Room").

There are two B-sides -- "Surrender" was the first exclusive vocal B-side since "My Joy" in 1993 from the "Walking in My Shoes" single, and the other is an instrumental titled "Headstar". A rare remix of "Painkiller" from 1997 was re-released as a B-side on some versions. The release also includes a new remix of World in My Eyes.

The music video for "Only When I Lose Myself" was directed by Brian Griffin, who had previously worked with Depeche Mode as a photographer, and did the cover art for Depeche Mode's first five albums. The soundtrack to the video is a unique version of the song, fading out at the last chorus and omitting the instrumental outro (like the radio version), but including the instrumental intro (which is missing from the radio version).

Track listings

12": Mute / 12Bong29 (UK)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Subsonic Legacy Remix)" (7:00) (remixed by Danny Briottet)
2. "Only When I Lose Myself (Dan the Automator Remix)" (4:45)
3. "Headstar (Luke Slater Remix)" (5:47)

12": Mute / L12Bong29 (UK)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play Mix)" (11:21)
2. "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix - DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode)" (6:34)
3. "Surrender (Catalan FC Out of Reach Mix)" (6:55)

CD: Mute / CDBong29 (UK)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself" (4:35)
2. "Surrender" (6:19)
3. "Headstar" (4:23)

CD: Mute / LCDBong29 (UK)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Subsonic Legacy Remix)" (7:00)
2. "Only When I Lose Myself (Dan the Automator Remix)" (4:47)
3. "Headstar (Luke Slater Remix)" (5:47)

CD: Mute / XLCDBong29 (UK)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play Mix)" (11:21)
2. "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix - DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode)" (6:34)
3. "Surrender (Catalan FC Out of Reach Mix)" (6:55)
4. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Short Play Mix)" (5:06)
5. "World in My Eyes (Safar Mix)" (8:30)

CD: Mute / CDBong29X (EU)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself" (4:35)
2. "Surrender" (6:19)
3. "Headstar" (4:23)
4. "Only When I Lose Myself (Subsonic Legacy Remix)" (7:00)
5. "Only When I Lose Myself (Dan the Automator Remix)" (4:45)
6. "Headstar (Luke Slater Remix)" (5:47)
7. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play Mix)" (11:21)
8. "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix - DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode)" (6:34)
9. "Surrender (Catalan FC Out of Reach Mix)" (6:55)
10. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Short Play Mix)" (5:06)
11. "World in My Eyes (Safar Mix)" (8:30)

• This CD is the 2004 re-release

Promo 12": Mute / P12Bong29 (UK)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Dan the Automator Remix)" (4:45)
2. "Only When I Lose Myself (Subsonic Legacy Remix)" (7:00)
3. "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix - DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode)" (6:34)
4. "Headstar (Single Version)" (4:23)

Promo 12": Mute / PL12Bong29 (UK)

1. "Headstar (Luke Slater Remix)" (5:47)
2. "Surrender (Catalan FC Out of Reach Mix)" (6:55)
3. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play Mix)" (11:21)

Radio Promo CD: Mute / RCDBong29 (UK)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Radio Edit)" (3:53)
2. "Only When I Lose Myself (Single Version)" (4:35)

2x12": Reprise / 44562-0 (US)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Dan the Automator Remix)" (4:45)
2. "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix - DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode)" (6:34)
3. "Headstar (Luke Slater Remix)" (5:47)
4. "Surrender (Catalan FC Out of Reach Mix)" (6:55)
5. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play Mix)" (11:21)
6. "Headstar" (4:23)
7. "Only When I Lose Myself (Subsonic Legacy Remix)" (7:00)
8. "Surrender" (6:19)

CD: Reprise / 44546-2 (US)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Dan the Automator Remix)" (4:45)
2. "Headstar" (4:23)
3. "Surrender" (6:19)
4. "Only When I Lose Myself (Subsonic Legacy Remix)" (7:00)
5. "Headstar (Luke Slater Remix)" (5:47)

• Released 15 September 1998

CD: Reprise / 44562-2 (US)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play Mix)" (11:21)
2. "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix - DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode)" (6:34)
3. "Surrender (Catalan FC Out of Reach Mix)" (6:55)
4. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Short Play Mix)" (5:06)
5. "World in My Eyes (Safar Mix)" (8:30)

• Released 13 October 1998

Promo 2x12": Reprise / PRO-A-9362 (US)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Dan the Automator Remix)" (4:45)
2. "Painkiller (Kill the Pain Mix - DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode)" (6:34)
3. "Headstar (Luke Slater Remix)" (5:47)
4. "Surrender (Catalan FC Out of Reach Mix)" (6:55)
5. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play Mix)" (11:21)
6. "Headstar" (4:23)
7. "Only When I Lose Myself (Subsonic Legacy Remix)" (7:00)
8. "Surrender" (6:19)

Promo CD: Reprise / PRO-CD-9362 (US)

1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Radio Edit)" (3:53)
2. "Only When I Lose Myself" (4:34)

• All songs written by Martin L. Gore

Charts

References