"Get the Balance Right" is a single by Depeche Mode originally released on January 31 1983. It is the first Depeche Mode single with Alan Wilder as an official band member, and the first with a song written by both Martin Gore and Alan.
| "Get the Balance Right!" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Track listing
7": Mute / 7Bong2 (UK)
- "Get the Balance Right" (3:12)
- "The Great Outdoors!" (5:01)
12": Mute / 12Bong2 (UK)
- "Get the Balance Right [Combination Mix]" (7:57)
- "The Great Outdoors!" (5:01)
- "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (4:00)
12": Mute / L12Bong2 (UK)
- "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)
CD: Mute / CDBong2 (UK)
- "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)
12": Sire / 0-29704 (US)
- "Get the Balance Right [Combination Mix]" (7:57)
- "The Great Outdoors!" / "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live 1982-10-25 Hammersmith, London, UK]" (9:15) *
- "Get the Balance Right [Edited Mix]" (3:10)**
- "The Great Outdoors!" and "Tora! Tora! Tora! [Live]" are listed as one track though they are two different tracks.
- "Get the Balance Right [Edited Mix]" is the same as the original.
- All songs written by Martin Gore