Spirit Of The Forest – Spirit Of The Forest (US 12″)
Posted by DjPaulT on April 22nd, 2011
BTG EARTH DAY EXCLUSIVE 1989
To celebrate Earth Day 2011 I thought it would be great to dig out this gem from 1989 I really hope that you like it and that you get it’s message.
The first-ever collaboration of top musical artist to help rescue the Earth’s fast disappearing tropical rainforests. “Spirit of the Forest”, conceived, written, and produced by the English environmentalist band, Gentlemen Without Weapons, is a heart-wrenching anthem designed to draw international attention to this unparalleled global environmental crisis.
Over the course of several recording sessions in Los Angeles, New York, London, Rio, and the Brazilian rainforest itself (with native Caraja Indians), the final version of the song was completed. Among the artists heard on the record are David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Olivia Newton-John, Belinda Carlisle, Ringo Starr, Thomas Dolby, Mick Fleetwood, Brian Wilson, Kate Pierson of the B-52′s, Donna Summer, Taylor Dayne, Deborah Harry and Joni Mitchell. In addition, Brazilian artists Ivan Lins, Gilberto Gil, and Djavan have also joined in.
Although covering just 7% of the world’s land surface, the equatorial rainforest belt contains half of all known species of plants and animals, and acts as a global atmospheric regulator. As third world nations, like Brazil, continue to burn, harvest, and plough under the forests for short-term human corporate gain, the Earth faces increasing danger from global greenhouse warming and desertification. Additionally, deforestation drives indigenous peoples from their ancestral homes. Scientists around the world agree that destruction of the rainforest is a planetary catastrophe of the first magnitude. The aim of “Spirit of the Forest” is to alert people everywhere that this is an issue of utmost importance to all life on earth.
Every minute, an expanse of rainforest the size of twenty football fields is destroyed. That equals an area the size of the state of New Hampshire every day! The release of “Spirit of the Forest” is designed to raise both the voices and funds in this unprecendented challenge to all life on Earth.
The power of music is very strong – the message of this record is very direct:
LET IT BE HEARD.
SIDE A:
Spirit Of The Forest (12″ A) 5:18
Solo Vocals:
- Chris Rea
- Mr. Mister
- XTC
- Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
- Brian Wilson
- Joni Mitchell
- Ringo Starr
- Fish
- Belinda Carlisle
- Deborah Harry
- Bonnie Raitt
- Kate Bush
- Little Steven
- Jon Anderson
- Sam Brown
- The Escape Club
- Olivia Newton-John
- Louise Goffin
SIDE B:
Spirit Of The Forest (12″ AA) 5;11
Solo Vocals:
- Iggy Pop
- Ramones
- Donna Summer
- Chris Rea
- Thomas Dolby
- Was (Not Was)
- Kim Wilde
- Taylor Dayne
- Brother Beyond
- Richie Havens
- Louise Goffin
- Jon Anderson
- Rita Coolidge
- Lacy J. Dalton
Theme To Spirit Of The Forest (12″ Mix) 5:46
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Sirit Of The Forest | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | Did Not Chart |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin
Catalog#: 796551-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 33 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Vocal
Credits: Producer – Gentlemen Without Weapons
Backing Vocals: Africa Bambaata, Amy Sky, Andy Fairweather-Lowe, B-52′s, The, Big Country, Bruce Foxton, David Clayton-Thomas, Dolette McDonald, Fleetwood Mac, Gentlemen Without Weapons, It Bites, Johnnie Warman, Jungle Brothers, LL Cool J, Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Bonet, Marc Jordan, Michael De Barre, Plasmatics, Raging Hormones, Shikisha
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super 20
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 16bit 44kHz using Adobe batch processing
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi PNG format, resized to JPEG format for posting.
PW: burningtheground
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April 22nd, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Wow – I never knew about this recording. What a great project for an important cause. I always appreciate your holiday posts but this goes above and beyond Halloween and Xmas. Thank you for observing Earth Day, Paul. Let’s all do the same.
[Reply]
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Go many great bands and for a good cause too. I also have never heard this one. Thanks for sharing Paul!
[Reply]
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:26 pm
I have completely forgotten about this single, bought this charity record at a sale in 1990.
Strange that it didn’t chart at all given the cause and the artist roll.
[Reply]
April 23rd, 2011 at 3:34 am
Thanks, DJPT – I haven’t heard this before
[Reply]
April 23rd, 2011 at 1:18 pm
“As third world nations, like Brazil, continue to burn, harvest, and plough under the forests for short-term human corporate gain…”
Maybe we should remember that nations are not responsible for doing that bad to the jungle. Most people of their own country, like Brazil, DO NOT want to harm the jungle in any way, but very few, but powerful people, usually NOT Brazilians, not even South Americans, are responsible for this. They are the bad guys of this movie and the ones that we must put the blame on. We should never forget that.
Thanks DJPT for your great posts! Keep up the good work!
[Reply]
Andrew Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
look to the east my friend
Sad but True
Many Countries are sitting on Goldmines of Resource’s
And thanks to Shady Characteurs in Politics IN THE COUNTRY
NOT ALL THE PEOPLE
It’s them that are to blame for Sucking Profits out of the ground
For Themselves
And the 90% of ordinary folk will never get to THAT Top Table
It’s LAZY writing
Or are ALL American’s OBESE ?
yOU sEE ?
tHERE’S SOME Folk out there that ‘might’ say to all these Famous Names
Give a Quarter of 1 per cent of your ‘Royalties’
And lets Not Bother with A record =The Single
Waste of Tree’s [the Paper sleeve]
And Plastic [the record]
How long does Vinyl take to De-grade I wonder ?
[Reply]
April 24th, 2011 at 1:31 am
I have been looking and looking for this! Thanks so much. Happy Earth Day!
[Reply]
April 24th, 2011 at 1:41 am
Happy Earth Day indeed! Thanks for another obscurity Paul. I have yet to hear this – looking forward to downloading later.
[Reply]
April 24th, 2011 at 7:06 am
Thanks for this one. I’ve been looking for it quite some time, too.
What is really a shame, is that despite of the great names involved with this project, the music comes completely from a computer.
Great post anyway!
Cheers
1980-F
[Reply]
May 1st, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Oh! This is new for me!
Brazilian artists that I could identify: Renato Russo (“Legião Urbana” band), Djavan
Rita Lee, Ney Matogrosso, Gal Costa, Sandra de Sá, Gilberto Gil and Ivan Lins.
Thank you Paul!
[Reply]