"Get the Balance Right!" is the seventh single by English

electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...

band

Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher (musician), Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists ...

, released on 31 January 1983. Recorded at Blackwing Studios in December 1982, it is the first Depeche Mode single with

Alan Wilder Alan Charles Wilder (born 1 June 1959) is an English musician, composer, arranger, record producer and member of the electronic band Depeche Mode from 1982 to 1995. After his departure from the band, the musical project Recoil became his pri ...

as an official band member; Wilder also co-wrote the B-side track "The Great Outdoors!" with

Martin Gore Martin Lee Gore (born 23 July 1961) is an English musician and songwriter. He is one of the founding members of the electronic music band Depeche Mode and is the band's main songwriter. He is the band's guitarist and keyboardist, and occasiona ...

. It is also one of the first Depeche Mode songs to feature guitar; according to

Andy Fletcher Andrew Fletcher may refer to: Government * Andrew Fletcher, Lord Innerpeffer (died 1650), Scottish judge * Andrew Fletcher (patriot) (1655–1716), Scottish writer, politician and patriot * Andrew Fletcher, British Member of Parliament for Haddin ...

, the guitar was processed through a synth and phased out of time to make it sound more interesting. "Get the Balance Right!" was not included on the following album ''

Construction Time Again ''Construction Time Again'' is the third studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 22 August 1983 by Mute Records. It was the band's first album to feature Alan Wilder as a member, who wrote the songs "Two Minute ...

'' (although it appears on the deluxe edition of the album), but does appear on the American compilation ''

People Are People "People Are People" is a song by British electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 12 March 1984 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''Some Great Reward'' (1984). Recorded at Hansa Mischraum in West Berlin, it was the ban ...

'' and the compilation '' The Singles 81→85''.

B-sides

The B-side is "The Great Outdoors!", an instrumental written by Gore and Wilder. It was featured on the Broken Frame Tour as the introduction theme for selected shows, after an incident with their Revox machine that destroyed almost all of their previous intro, "Oberkorn (It's a Small Town)". Included on the 12″ releases is "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (live), the first live recording released on a Depeche Mode single. A limited edition 12″ of the single was released, which features more live tracks: "My Secret Garden", " See You", and "Satellite". It was the first Depeche Mode single to have a limited edition.

Music video

In the music video, Wilder lip-syncs the first lines of the song, even though

Dave Gahan David Gahan ( ; né Callcott; born 9 May 1962) is an English singer best known as the lead singer of electronic music band Depeche Mode since their formation in 1980. Noted for his commanding stage presence and unique baritone voice, Gahan was ...

is the lead singer. The director Kevin Hewitt made the assumption that Wilder was the singer and the band was too embarrassed to point out his mistake.

Track listings

All songs written by Martin L. Gore, except "The Great Outdoors!" which was written by Gore and Alan Wilder.

7″ vinyl single

UK: Mute / 7Bong2

12″ vinyl single

UK: Mute / 12Bong2 UK: Mute / L12Bong2 (Limited edition) US: Sire / 0-29704
Released 7 September 1983. The first two tracks on side two are listed as one track on the sleeve, when they are actually two separate tracks.

CD single

UK: Mute / CDBong2
Released 25 November 1991, from the Singles Box Set #2.
US: Sire/Reprise 40295-2
Released 26 November 1991, from the Singles Box Set #2.
US: Reprise CD BONG 2 (R2 78890A)
Released 30 March 2004, from the Singles Box Set #1 reissue.

Charts

References

External links

Single information from the official Depeche Mode website
*

AllMusic review AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the data ...

{{authority control 1983 singles 1983 songs Depeche Mode songs Songs written by Martin Gore Song recordings produced by Daniel Miller Mute Records singles UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles