Get the balance right - Depeche Mode

My obsession with red vinyl editions of early Depeche Mode singles was a new one this year, and just before the year ends I need to enter the two remaining purchases of that subcollection. 

'Get the balance right' was a unique single for the band, because it wasn't included on any album (except obviously compilation albums that were released a few years later). For the first time the new band member Alan Wilder was involved in the recording process. '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. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7754
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 6 September 2025
Tracks: 'Get the balance right' / 'The great outdoors' 

Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord - Boney M

I have a few different versions of this single, all of them bought at the same place in 2019. But this French version approaches the design differently, which made it interesting for me to buy this one as well. It was a steal, anyway, at just 1 euro.

Contrary to the different versions released in the Netherlands and Germany, this version comes with a dark blue background, while most of the design remains the same. The Christmas song on the A-side remains a yuletide classic, of course.

My collection: 7" single no. 7889
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 15 November 2025
Tracks: 'Mary's boy child / Oh my Lord' / 'Dancing in the streets'

Xmas - Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue seems to be one of the hardest working women in the music business, with a successful album Tension to her name, followed by an equally successful Tension II last year and now this Christmas single. She got the UK Christmas number one with this last weekend, and that seems well deserved. 

Unfortunately I have to say that whoever designed the sleeve of this single deserves to be slapped on the wrists for a day or two. It's quite possibly the ugliest christmas single sleeve design I've ever seen. As for the song, it's a catchy tune, perhaps not entirely in tune with most of the Christmas repertoire you'd hear in December - and personally I prefer the B-side. But I've always had a different taste to most people, of course. The gold-coloured vinyl is a nice touch!

My collection: 7" single no. 7909
Found: Kylie webstore, received 23 December 2025
Tracks: 'Xmas' / 'Office party'

Hij was maar 'n neger - Zangeres zonder naam

'Hij was maar 'n neger' was written by Johnny Hoes with lyrics by Fred van Dam. The song, which opposes racism, is a modern take on the Christmas story and tells the story of a black man who is not allowed anywhere because he is black. The title could cause offense these days, especially when people don't care to listen to the entire song. 

The sleeve of this single proclaims that the song was performed by 'Mary', but the label mentions 'Zangeres zonder naam' ('Singer without a name'), which is the name Mary Servaes would use throughout her career. The single has become a rarity, so it was especially pleasing to finally find a copy of it earlier this year.

My collection: 7" single no. 7610
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 March 2025
Tracks: 'Hij was maar 'n neger' / 'Het kerstkindje wilden ze zien' 

It's gonna be a cold cold Christmas - Dana

Dana was the sweet innocent Irish singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 with 'All kinds of everything'. In 1977 she released 'Fairytale', the song I remember from my childhood and which I bought back in 1992. 

In between, there was this seasonal hit: the wistful 'It's gonna be a cold cold Christmas'. When I say 'hit', I don't mean in the Netherlands, because the single didn't chart over here. But in the UK it reached number 4. Dana went on to become a politician in Ireland, saying all kinds of unfortunate things about abortion. She was also vocal for her opposition to divorce and same sex marriage, along with a Eurosceptic line on the EU. She may have a good singing voice, but I'd rather she'd keep her mouth shut to be honest.

My collection: 7" single no. 7612
Found: Discogs.com, 17 March 2025
Tracks: 'It's gonna be a cold cold Christmas' / 'The goodbye song' 

Love in itself - Depeche Mode

While Depeche Mode are releasing yet another live album (with four new studio tracks, unfortunately, because that means I will have to buy it!) I am going back to almost the beginning of the band's singles output. 

'Love in itself' came out in 1983 and as per usual the Germans were treated to a red vinyl version. This is one of their finest singles, because not only is the A-side very good, the B-side is almost as catchy as their best work during this period. Their music would turn out much darker in the second half of the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 7755
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 6 September 2025
Tracks: 'Love in itself' / 'Fools' 

Komm, komm, komm - Monique Melsen

How do you translate a song called 'Pomme, pomme, pomme' into German? German producer and songwriter Fred Wyrich came up with 'Komm, komm, komm', and wrote the lyric for this Eurovision song for the German market.

Monique Melsen performed her song at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 for Luxembourg, with medium success. She could have scored higher if she hadn't worn a red blouse, red stockings and rather strange dungarees, I think.

My collection: 7" single no. 7903
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 December 2025
Tracks: 'Komm, komm, komm' / 'Fa-fa-fa'