The Singles 86>98 is a greatest hits album by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 28 September 1998 by Mute Records. It serves as a follow-up to the band's previous compilation, The Singles 81âÂÂ85, which was also reissued in the same year. The compilation covers the band's seven-inch single releases spanning five studio albums (from 1986's Black Celebration to 1997's Ultra), while including the new song "Only When I Lose Myself". It also includes "Little 15" from Music for the Masses, which was released as a single in France only, but charted in the UK based on import sales, and the live version of "Everything Counts" from the live album 101, which was released as a single in 1989. All the tracks on The Singles 86>98 were newly remastered, as was the case with the re-release of The Singles 81âÂÂ85.
The band decided to release the album as a close follow-up to Ultra, Depeche Mode's first studio album after Alan Wilder's departure and Dave Gahan's drug addiction and resulting health problems, to maintain interest in the band. The four-month The Singles Tour that followed marked the first time Depeche Mode had toured since the 1993âÂÂ1994 Devotional/Exotic Tour, since they had declined to tour Ultra a year earlier, playing only a few songs at a handful of shows instead.
The Singles 86>98 has sold 500,000 units in the United States (double albums count as two units), achieving platinum certification. The album was also listed on Blender magazine's "500 CDs You Must Own: Alternative Rock" list.
The tour began with a European leg, kicking off in Tartu, Estonia in early September 1998 and culminating in San Sebastián, Spain in mid-October. Later in the month, the band commenced a tour of North America, beginning in Worcester, Massachusetts. The eight-week jaunt included an appearance at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas concert in Los Angeles. Billy Corgan, lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, performed the song "Never Let Me Down Again" with Depeche Mode at this concert. The tour eventually wrapped up in Anaheim, California in late December.
The tour marked the debut of the two group's backing musicians: keyboardist Peter Gordeno, who replaced Wilder, and drummer Christian Eigner, who previously performed with the band in 1997 for two Ultra Parties concerts.
To coincide with the release of The Singles 86>98, the band released a VHS/DVD called The Videos 86>98 featuring the music videos for all of the songs, and more. In 2002, the DVD was re-released as Videos 86>98 +, which included more videos and bonus material.
In 2001, The Singles 86>98 and the 1998 version of The Singles 81>85 were made available together in one box set called The Singles 81>98 (under the LCD MUTE L5 catalogue number).
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Singles 86>98.