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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Single infobox |
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
| Name = Get the Balance Right
{{Infobox song
| Cover = DepecheModeGetTheBalanceRight.jpg
| name = Get the Balance Right!
| Artist = [[Depeche Mode]]
| cover = DepecheModeGetTheBalanceRight.jpg
| from Album = (n/a)
| alt =
| Released = [[January 31]] [[1983]]
| border = yes
| Format = [[Vinyl record]] (7" and 12"), [[CD]] ([[1991]] box set)
| Recordedtype = [[1982]]single
| Genreartist = [[SynthpopDepeche Mode]]
| B-side = The Great Outdoors!
| Length = 7" - 3:13<br>12" - 7:58
| released = {{Start date|1983|1|31|df=yes}}<ref name=dm>{{cite web |url=http://www.depechemode.com/discography/singles/07_getthebalanceright.html |title=Official Depeche Mode web site single information |access-date=4 July 2009 |archive-date=6 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606170223/http://www.depechemode.com/discography/singles/07_getthebalanceright.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| Label = [[Mute Records]]
| recorded = December 1982
| Producer = [[Depeche Mode]] and [[Daniel Miller]]
| studio = [[Blackwing Studios|Blackwing]] (London)
| Chart position = <nowiki></nowiki>
| venue =
* <nowiki>#</nowiki>13 <small>([[UK Singles Chart|UK]])</small>
| genre = [[Synth-pop]]<ref name="Evans 2024">{{cite book|title= Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983|first=Richard|last=Evans|date= August 6, 2024|chapter= 1983.2|page= 424|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|isbn=978-1-915841-45-2
* <nowiki>#</nowiki>31 <small>([[Hot Dance Music/Club Play||US]])</small>
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EID8zgEACAAJ}}</ref>
| Reviews = <nowiki></nowiki>
| length =
* [[All Music Guide|allmusic]] [[Image:3 out of 5.png]] [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:mcen97yjkrkt link]
* 3:12 (7″/single version)
| Last single = "[[Leave in Silence]]"<br />([[1982]])
* 7:56 (12″ version)
| This single = "Get the Balance Right"<br />([[193]])
| label = [[Mute Records|Mute]]
| Next single = "[[Everything Counts]]"<br />([[1983]])
| writer = [[Martin Gore|Martin L. Gore]]
| producer =
* Depeche Mode
* [[Daniel Miller (music producer)|Daniel Miller]]
| prev_title = [[Leave in Silence]]
| prev_year = 1982
| next_title = [[Everything Counts]]
| next_year = 1983
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|zfiISFiozg8|"Get the Balance Right!"}}}}
}}
 
"'''"Get the Balance Right"!'''" is athe seventh single by the English [[Electronic music|electronic]] band [[Depeche Mode]] originally, released on 31 January 1983.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Christopher |first1=Michael |title=Depeche Mode FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Finest Synth-Pop Band |date=2020-12-28 |publisher=[[JanuaryRowman 31& Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1-4930-5400-8 |page=94 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UKgKEAAAQBAJ&dq=Get+the+Balance+Right!+depeche+mode+single&pg=PA94 |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Recorded at [[1983Blackwing Studios]]. Itin December 1982, it is the first Depeche Mode single with [[Alan Wilder]] as an official band member,; andWilder thealso firstco-wrote withthe aB-side songtrack written"The byGreat bothOutdoors!" with [[Martin Gore]] and Alan.
 
==Background and recording==
"Get the Balance Right" has the main single version, which was not included on the following album ''[[Construction Time Again]]'' but does appear on the American compilation ''[[People are People (album)|People are People]]'' and the compilation ''[[The Singles (81-85)]]''. The "Combination" mix isn't much like the original song but more of a distorted mix in general.
Depeche Mode had released their previous album ''[[A Broken Frame]]'' in September 1982 and had followed up with a tour which started in October of that year.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=421}} During the UK leg of the tour, in November 1982, the band went into the studio to record a new song, and for the first time included newly-inducted band-member [[Alan Wilder]] in the recording process.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}} According to authors Dennis Burmeister and Sascha Lange in their ''Monument'' chronology, "Balance" represented a "beefier" musical sound that was a departure from the lighter sound of ''A Broken Frame'', despite only being a few months removed from that album's release.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}} "Get the Balance Right" is one of the first Depeche Mode songs to feature guitar; according to [[Andy Fletcher (musician)|Andy Fletcher]], the guitar was processed through a synth and phased out of time to make it sound more interesting.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Jonathan |title=Stripped: The True Story of Depeche Mode |publisher=[[Music Sales Group|Omnibus Press]] |year=2004 |isbn=1-84449-415-2 |pages=245}}</ref>
 
Wilder created the 12" remix for the single, noting that it was an effective way to market the single, by having a new mix available for sale on the single.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}} For the remix, Wilder had to chop up the physical tape and splice pieces back together, as the release predated any serious digital tools like existed later in their careers.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}} A white label promotional copy of "Get the Balance Right!" found its way to influential Detroit DJ [[Derrick May (musician)|Derrick May]], who put the song on rotation and helped Depeche Mode begin to get a foothold in the underground club scene in the US.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}}
The B-side is "The Great Outdoors!", an instrumental written by both Martin Gore and Alan Wilder. There is no remix of the song, though the song is already over five minutes long. It was the first Depeche Mode song not to be played live.
 
The B-side is "The Great Outdoors!", an instrumental written by Gore and Wilder.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}}
Included on the 12" releases is "Tora! Tora! Tora! (Live)", the first live song on a Depeche Mode single. This is the first DM single to have a Limited Edition version, which features more live tracks.
 
==Release==
The video for "Get the Balance Right" has one of the most famous blunders among Depeche Mode fans. At the beginning of the video, Alan sings the first verse of the song. The director, who is unknown, did not know the band and simply assumed Alan was the singer. The band were too scared to point out that [[David Gahan]] was the singer. The music video wasn't included on the VHS compilation "Some Great Videos", likely for this reason.
"Get the Balance Right!" was released at the end of January 1983 on both 7" and 12" singles by Mute records in the UK, with catalogue numbers [[Depeche Mode discography#Chronology|7BONG2]] and 12BONG2, respectively.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}} In Germany, label Intercord released the single on 7" and 12" red vinyl as well as the first "[[cassingle]]" release for a Depeche Mode song (catalogue number 426.810).{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=64–66}} Also for the first time for a Depeche Mode single, there was a 'limited edition' single release (UK catalogue number L12BONG2), with the b-side containing live tracks from their 25 October 1982 show.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=82}} The cover art was notable for being a departure from their previous singles' style and the hammer became a form of iconography that continued in the band's albums and singles artwork for the next few years.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=66}} Despite the visual continuity, "Get the Balance Right!" was not included on Depeche Mode's following album, ''[[Construction Time Again]]'' (1983), because the band felt that there was little in common with the songs and sound of their newer material.{{sfn|Burmeister|Lange|2017|pp=70}} The 7" version was later released on the American compilation ''[[People Are People (album)|People Are People]]'' (1984), the UK compilation ''[[The Singles 81→85]]'' (1985), and the 12" was included on the remix compilation album ''[[Remixes 81–04]]'' (2004).
 
==Track listingMusic video ==
In the music video, Wilder lip-syncs the first lines of the song, even though [[Dave Gahan]] is the lead singer; video director Kevin Hewitt made the assumption that Wilder was the singer and the band was too embarrassed to point out his mistake.<ref>{{cite book |title=Stripped: Depeche Mode |last=Miller |first=Jonathan |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84772-444-1 |___location=London |pages=151}}</ref> The video went unreleased for many years, due to the band's dislike of it, until it was included on the band's ''[[Video Singles Collection]]'' (2016).
 
== Track listings ==
=== 7": Mute / 7Bong2 (UK)===
All songs written by Martin L. Gore, except "The Great Outdoors!" which was written by Gore and Alan Wilder.
 
=== 7″ vinyl single ===
# "Get the Balance Right" (3:12)
'''UK: Mute / 7Bong2'''
# "The Great Outdoors!" (5:01)
 
{{Track listing
===12": Mute / 12Bong2 (UK)===
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Get the Balance Right!
| length1 = 3:12
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title1 = The Great Outdoors!
| length1 = 5:01
}}
 
=== 12″ vinyl single ===
# "Get the Balance Right [Combination Mix]" (7:57)
'''UK: Mute / 12Bong2'''
# "The Great Outdoors!" (5:01)
# "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (4:00)
 
{{Track listing
===12": Mute / L12Bong2 (UK)===
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Get the Balance Right!
| note1 = Combination mix
| length1 = 7:56
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title1 = The Great Outdoors!
| length1 = 5:01
| title2 = Tora! Tora! Tora!
| note2 = live, recorded 25 October 1982 at [[Hammersmith Odeon]] in [[London]]
| length2 = 4:00
}}
 
'''UK: Mute / L12Bong2 (Limited edition)'''
# "Get the Balance Right [Combination Mix]" (7:57)
# "My Secret Garden [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (7:28)
# "See You [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (4:11)
# "Sattelite [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (4:28)
# "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (4:00)
 
{{Track listing
===CD: Mute / CDBong2 (UK)===
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Get the Balance Right!
| length1 = 3:12
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title1 = My Secret Garden
| note1 = live, recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London
| length1 = 7:28
| title2 = [[See You (Depeche Mode song)|See You]]
| note2 = live, recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London
| length2 = 4:11
| title3 = Satellite
| note3 = live, recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London
| length3 = 4:28
| title4 = Tora! Tora! Tora!
| note4 = live, recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London
| length4 = 4:00
}}
 
'''US: Sire / 0-29704'''<br>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.<ref name=dm/>
# "Get the Balance Right" (3:12)
# "The Great Outdoors!" (5:01)
# "Get the Balance Right [Combination Mix]" (7:57)
# "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (4:00)
 
{{Track listing
===12": Sire / 0-29704 (US)===
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Get the Balance Right!
| note1 = Combination mix
| length1 = 7:56
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title1 = The Great Outdoors!
| length1 = 5:01
| title2 = Tora! Tora! Tora!
| note2 = live, recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London
| length2 = 4:00
| title3 = Get the Balance Right!
| note3 = edited mix [same as the original version]
| length3 = 3:12
}}
 
=== CD single ===
# "Get the Balance Right [Combination Mix]" (7:57)
'''UK: Mute / CDBong2'''<br>Released 25 November 1991, from the Singles Box Set #2.<ref name=dm/><br>
# "The Great Outdoors!" / "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (9:15) *
'''US: Sire/Reprise 40295-2'''<br>Released 26 November 1991, from the Singles Box Set #2.<ref name=dm/><br>
# "Get the Balance Right [Edited Mix]" (3:10)**
'''US: Reprise CD BONG 2 (R2 78890A)'''<br>Released 30 March 2004, from the Singles Box Set #1 reissue.<ref name=dm/>
 
{{Track listing
* "The Great Outdoors!" and "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live]" are listed as one track though they are two different tracks.
| title1 = Get the Balance Right!
** "Get the Balance Right [Edited Mix]" is the same as the original.
| length1 = 3:12
| title2 = The Great Outdoors!
| length2 = 5:01
| title3 = Get the Balance Right!
| note3 = Combination mix
| length3 = 7:56
| title4 = Tora! Tora! Tora!
| note4 = live, recorded 25 October 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London
| length4 = 4:00
}}
 
==Charts==
*All songs written by [[Martin Gore]]
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Get the Balance Right!"
! scope="col"| Chart (1983)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|16|song=Get the Balance Right|rowheader=true|access-date=4 May 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|13|artist=Depeche Mode|artistid=20192|rowheader=true|access-date=4 May 2022}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[UK Independent Singles and Albums Charts|UK Indie]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |chapter=Depeche Mode |chapter-url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/d.htm |title=Indie Hits 1980–1989: The Complete U.K. Independent Charts (Singles & Albums) |publisher=[[Cherry Red Books]] |year=1997 |isbn=0-95172-069-4 |access-date=4 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605132747/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/d.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|31|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=4 May 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|38|songid=19023|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Get the Balance Right!|rowheader=true}}
|}
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Burmeister | first1=Dennis | last2=Lange | first2=Sascha | title=Depeche Mode: Monument | ___location=New York | publisher=[[Akashic Books]] | year=2017 | isbn=978-1-61775-593-4}}
{{Refend}}
 
==External links==
* [http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/07_getthebalanceright.html Single information from the official Depeche Mode web sitewebsite]
* [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r171463|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]
 
{{Depeche Mode}}
{{authority control}}
 
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:Depeche1983 Mode singlessongs]]
[[Category:Depeche Mode songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Martin Gore]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Daniel Miller]]
[[Category:Mute Records singles]]
[[Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_the_Balance_Right!"