BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Act Of War” is a duet from legend Elton John and soul singer Millie Jackson, written by Elton with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Originally “Act Of War” was released only as a single, but later it was added to Elton’s “Ice on Fire” CD, having been recorded the same year. The song also features guitar by Nik Kershaw. “Act Of War” was a top 40 hit in the UK reaching #32 but failed to chart in the US. The song’s music video was directed by Russell Mulcahy.

SIDE A:
Act Of War (Part 3) (Extended Remix) 8:32

SIDE B:
Act Of War (Part 4) (Instrumental) 5:04

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records – 0-20347
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Bass – Deon Estus
Drums – Mel Gaynor
Engineer – Stuart Epps
Guitar – Davey Johnstone, Fred Mandel, Nik Kershaw
Piano – Elton John
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Written-By – Bernie Taupin, Elton John

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
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 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using  iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PW: burningtheground

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BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1989

“Healing Hands” was the final hit single of the 1980s for British pop-star Elton John, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and recorded on his million-selling 1989 album Sleeping with the Past. The single was released during the late-summer of 1989, and was a top-twenty hit in the US. It was paired as a double A-side single with Sacrifice”, which became Elton’s first solo number 1 single in the UK. The song was inspired by the Four Tops song “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”. Produced by Chris Thomas, it was the first of three singles released from the album, with the follow-ups being “Sacrifice” and “Club at the End of the Street”.

“Healing Hands” did moderately well as a single in the United States, climbing to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart the week of October 21, 1989 (dislodging Madonna’s “Cherish” from the #1 position). The song failed to make the UK Top 40 on its initial release, as did the follow-up, “Sacrifice.” However, after Steve Wright of BBC Radio One added “Sacrifice” to his station’s playlist, “Sacrifice” was re-released in the UK with “Healing Hands” as the flip side. The double A-side record topped the UK chart for five weeks starting June 23, 1990, becoming the first solo #1 UK hit of Elton John’s career.

Musically, the song is complex, with the verses in the key of B flat, and the chorus in the key of D major. An instrumental solo, in the related minor key of G minor, serves as a bridge.

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint

SIDE A:
Healing Hands (Extended Re-Mix)  5:05
Edited By – Tony Shimkin
Engineer – Goh Hopola
Remix, Producer [Additional], Edited By – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – Elton John/Taupin*

SIDE B:
Healing Hands (7″ Version)  4:22
Written-By – Elton John/Taupin*

Dancing In The End Zone 3:52
Written-By – Davey Johnstone , Elton John/Taupin*

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: The Rocket Record Company
Catalog#: EJS 1912
Format: Vinyl, 12″
Country: UK
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Pop, Rock
Style: Soft Rock, Pop Rock
Credits: Lyrics By – Taupin*
Producer – Chris Thomas
Recorded By – David Nicholas

NOTES:
“Healing Hands (7″ Version)” taken from the forthcoming album ‘SLEEPING WITH THE PAST’

DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 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 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PW: burningtheground

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BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

REQUEST

“I’m Still Standing” is a song on English pop-rock performer Elton John’s 1983 album, Too Low for Zero. He sings about making a comeback despite problems in daily life. The video, directed by Russell Mulcahy, was shot in Cannes and Nice on the Côte d’Azur in France and features the colours of the French flag. Bruno Tonioli, a judge on the hit shows Strictly Come Dancing for BBC (UK) and its American adaptation, Dancing with the Stars for ABC in the US, appears as one of the dancers in the video.

The song became a big hit for John on both sides of the Atlantic, peaking at #4 in the UK, reached #1 in Switzerland and #12 in the US.

The b-side “Earn While You Learn” is an instrumental piece performed by Lord Choc Ice which is one of Elton John’s aliases. The song did appear as a bonus track on the 1998 remastered CD version of “Too Low For Zero” which is now out of print.

SIDE A
I’m Still Standing (Extended Version) 3:46

SIDE B
Earn While You Learn 6:42
Performed By – Lord Choc Ice

RELEASE/PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Label: The Rocket Record Company
Catalog#: EJS 112
Format: Vinyl, 12″
Country: UK
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock
Credits: Producer – Chris Thomas (tracks: A) , Clive Franks (tracks: B) , Elton John (tracks: B)
Recorded By – Bill Price
Written-By – Elton John & Bernie Taupin (tracks: A) , Lord Choc Ice (tracks: B)

NOTES
Original sound recording made by Rocket Records
Big Pig Music LTD.

DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 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 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PW: burningtheground

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BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

Front Cover

REQUEST

In 1981, when new wave and punk were the movement of the day, Elton John released his first album for Geffen Records, “The Fox”.  Not a “party” album, but a very stately, majestic album.

The first single, “Nobody Wins”. Is a magnificent, soaring piece of electronic-pop that was sweeping and dramatic. It soundeds like the title track to a James Bond film. It was also released in Europe, with EJ singing the vocals in French, under the name of “J’Veux De La Tendresse”.

“Nobody Wins” peaked at #21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #23 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song did not do as well in Elton’s home country and only peaked at #42 on the UK singles chart.

This US 12″ contains both the “Extended Version” of the song as well as the “French Version”. Both tracks are exclusive to this release.

DISCOGS LINK

RELEASE/PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Label: Geffen Records
Catalog#: PRO-A-948
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits:  Producer – Chris Thomas
Recorded By – Bill Price
Written-By – Gary Osborne , Jean-Paul Dreau

NOTES
“Nobody Win” from the Geffen Records album Elton John/The Fox (GHS 20002)

Published by Inntersong Music – ASCAP
℗ 1981 Sackville Productions, ILtd

SIDE A
(A) Nobody Wins (Extended Version) 5:20

SIDE B
(B) Nobody Wins (French Version) 5:09

Back Cover

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 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 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PW: burningtheground

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BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

1984 Front Cover

REQUEST

“Sad Songs (Say So Much)” is a song by Elton John from the 1984 album Breaking Hearts. It is the closing track. It reached the number 5 position on the U.S. chart. The lyrics describe how you sometimes need to listen to old radio blues classics when you’re feeling down, or when someone beloved has left you. In the years since then it has had modest radio airplay compared to some of the bigger 1980s singles from John.

The music video, shot on a street in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, featured John in which he did not wear glasses for portions nor did he play a piano although he did when this was recorded.

DISCOGS LINK

RELEASE/PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Label: The Rocket Record Company
Catalog#: PH 712, 822 087-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Pop, Rock
Style: Soft Rock
Credits:  Producer – Chris Thomas

NOTES
(P) 1984 Happenstance Ltd. England.
Published by Big Pig Music.
Original Sound Recording Made By Phonogram Ltd. (London)
Made In Britain

SIDE A
(A) Sad Songs (Say So Much) (Extended Version) 4:50
Recorded By – Renate*
Written-By – Bernie Taupin , Elton John
This version does not appear on the new album ‘Breaking Hearts’

SIDE B
(B) A Simple Man 3:48
Recorded By – Bill Price
Written-By – Elton John , Gary Osborne
Does not appear on the new album ‘Breaking Hearts’

Back Cover

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 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 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PW: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE
1985

1989 German Front Cover

“Wrap Her Up” is a song on English pop-rock performer Elton John’s 1985 album, Ice on Fire. George Michael duets on the song. The song reached #20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and #12 in the UK.

The song is notable for the number of famous women’s names dropped towards the end of the song, including Kiki Dee, who had duetted with Elton on the hit song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” in 1976, and also provided background vocals for “Wrap Her Up”. Dee also appears near the end of the music video in which John smashes her in the face with a cream pie. Other notable “appearances” include Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe and Billie Jean King. Elton does not play piano nor keyboards on this song.

The 12″ version is an Epic 10 minute remix.

DISCOGS LINK

RELEASE/PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Label: The Rocket Record Company
Catalog#: 884 387-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop, Rock
Style: Synth-pop

NOTES
Sleeve containd 1986 German tour dates listed on back cover.
George Michael is also featured on vocals but not credited.

SIDE A
A Wrap Her Up (Extended Remix) 10:08
Engineer – Stuart Epps
Mixed By – Graham Dickson
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
SIDE B
B1 Restless (Live At Wembley Stadium 1984) 4:23
Engineer – Mike Robinson
Mixed By – Clive Franks

Back Cover

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 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 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PW: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.