Category: Mel & Kim

Mel & Kim – That’s The Way It Is (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

“That’s the Way It Is” is a hit single by British pop duo Mel and Kim that was featured on the soundtrack album of Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. The single peaked at #10 in the UK, becoming their fourth consecutive top 10 hits.

By the time of the single’s release, Melanie Appleby had been diagnosed with cancer and had withdrawn from the public eye in mid-1987. Appleby discharged herself from the hospital to record the vocals for the track. The sisters made Mel’s illness public at the time of the release of this single, and both appeared on the Wogan show in April 1988 while Mel was still undergoing treatment, as part of European Cancer Week.

“That’s the Way It Is” would be the last release of the duo, as they disappeared from the public eye again while Mel Appleby continued her cancer treatment. She succumbed to pneumonia in January 1990, her immune system weakened by chemotherapy. Some of the songs she co-wrote with Kim Appleby during the last 2 years of her life were later released on Kim’s solo album released in late 1990.

SIDE A:
That’s The Way It Is (Acid House Remix) 7:34

SIDE B:
That’s The Way It Is (Club Mix) 6:39
That’s The Way It Is (Special Mix) 6:45

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ATCO Records – 0-96613
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – Mark McQuireYo Yo
Programmed By [Remix] –  Ian Curnow
Remix – Mixmaster Pete Hammond*
Written-By, Producer – Stock, Aitken, Waterman*

NOTES:
Remixed from Atco LP Original Motion Picture Soundtrack “Coming to America”

Remix programming and remix for P.W.L..

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp:
Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning
: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans
: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi


Password: burningtheground

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Mel & Kim – Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend) (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)” is the debut single released by sister duo Mel and Kim in 1986.

The single’s B-side, “System”, was originally intended to be the duo’s debut release, but after getting to know the sisters, Pete Waterman felt that the song was too soft for their personalities, and halted the single’s pressing. Mike Stock then wrote “Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)” for the duo, influenced by the Chicago garage house sound.

The single peaked at #3 in the UK in November 1986, and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry for sales exceeding 250,000 copies. “Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)” reached #1 in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium.

In the United States the single reached #78 on the Billboard singles chart while hitting the #1 position on the Billboard Dance chart. In addition “Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)” peaked at #23 om the U.S. R&B chart.

SIDE A:
Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) (Vocal / Edit) 4:52
Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) (Vocal) 7:16

SIDE B:
System (Vocal / Garage Mix) 9:01

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #78
1986 Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
1986 Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop #23

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic – 0-86755
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Garage House

CREDITS:
Drums – A. Linn
Engineer – Karen Hewitt, Mike Duffy
Guitar – Matt Aitken
Keyboards – Matt Aitken, Mike Stock
Management – Alan Whitehead
Mixed By [Master Mixer] – Phil Harding
Photography By – Chris Edwick
Producer – Stock Aitken Waterman*
Written By – Senzavoce (tracks: B)
Written-By – Stock / Aitken / Waterman* (tracks: A1 to A2)

NOTES:
Recorded at P.W.L. Studios 1 & 2

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Ferry Aid – Let It Be (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

Although this single was recorded to help victims of a 1987 tragedy. Today we pray for those affected in Manchester, England.

Ferry Aid were a British-American ensemble group, brought together to record the song “Let It Be” in 1987. The single was released following the Zeebrugge Disaster, which had occurred on 6 March 1987 involving the capsizing of the MS Herald of Free Enterprise ferry, which killed 193 passengers and crew. All proceeds from sales of the single were donated to the charity set up in the aftermath of the disaster. The recording was organised by The Sun newspaper, after it had sold cheap tickets for the ferry on that day. “Let It Be” was written by Lennon–McCartney and originally recorded by The Beatles in 1969.

Garry Bushell, then with The Sun newspaper, organised the recording of the song by recruiting record producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman. They then put an invitation out to the music industry for artists to contribute their vocals to the song. Although many stars were initially reluctant to join forces with the newspaper, eventually artists such as Boy George, Kate Bush, Gary Moore and Mark Knopfler agreed to take part. Original writer, Paul McCartney also contributed to the song, although his performance (and section in the accompanying video) were recorded independently in his own studios. In fact, it was later revealed that McCartney used his voice of the original recording of the 1970 Beatles track and added it to the Ferry Aid recording. The song was recorded over three days between 14 and 16 March 1987 and the single was released on Monday 23 March 1987. The first artist to record his part was Mark King (who also played bass guitar on the song) on the Saturday morning, while the last was Paul King on Monday evening.

In the original Beatles recording George Harrison did the guitar solo but for the purposes of this song – as shown in the video – the solo was divided with Gary Moore first, then Mark Knopfler, then back to Gary Moore with Moore’s parts being more ‘rock’ and Knopfler’s being more laid-back.

“Let It Be” reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart in its first week on 4 April 1987, and remained at that position for three weeks. It was the 13th best selling single of the year in the UK; it was certified gold for shipping over 500,000 copies. The single was also a number one hit in Norway and Switzerland, and reached the top 10 in several European countries.

Artists to have contributed and performed solo spots on the song are as follows:

Paul McCartney
Boy George
Keren Woodward and Nick Kamen
Paul King
Mark King
Jaki Graham
Taffy
Mark Knopfler (guitar solo)
Andy Bell
Pepsi & Shirlie
Mel and Kim
Gary Moore (guitar solo)
Kim Wilde and Nik Kershaw
Edwin Starr
Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot
Ruby Turner
Kate Bush

The closing choruses of the song feature an ensemble choir featuring many of the above performers as well other recording artists. The back-up chorus consisted of:

The Alarm, John Altman, Debee Ashby, Al Ashton, Rick Astley, Bananarama, Simon Bates, Alison Bettles, Jenny Blythe, Errol Brown, Miquel Brown, Bucks Fizz, Jay Carly, The Christians, Nick Conway, Linda Davidson, Hazell Dean, Anne Diamond, Difford and Tilbrook, Doctor and the Medics, The Drifters, Drum Theatre, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Roy Gayle, Go West, Carol Hitchcock, Felix Howard, Gloria Hunniford, Imagination, Jenny Jay, Ellie Laine, Annabel Lamb, Stephanie Lawrence, Loose Ends, Linda Lusardi, Ruth Madoc, Bobby McVey, Suzanne Mizzi, The New Seekers, Sadie Nine, The Nolans, Hazel O’Connor, Mike Osman, Su Pollard, Tim Polley, Pamela Power, Maxi Priest, Princess, Jimmy Pursey, Suzi Quatro, Mike Read, Sally Sagoe, Nejdet Salih, Ray Shell, Mandy Smith, Neville Stapleton, Alvin Stardust, Steve Strange, Sylvia Tella, Terraplane, Bonnie Tyler, Maria Whittaker, Working Week.

SIDE A:
Let It Be 6:30
Engineer – Mark McGuire
Mixed By – Burni Adams, Jamie Bromfield

SIDE B:
Let It Be (Mega Message Mix) 6:11
Mixed By – Jamie Bromfield

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Profile Records ‎– PRO-7147
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Pop
Style: Pop/Rock

CREDITS:
Bass – Mark King
Drums – A. Lynn
Guitar – Gary Moore, Mark Knopfler
Keyboards – Matt Aitken, Mike Stock
Producer – Stock/Aitken/Waterman*
Written-By – Lennon/McCartney*

NOTES:
Recorded at PWL Studios.
Special thanks to: Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Mel & Kim – Respectable (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

A. Front

“Respectable” is a Mel and Kim song written and produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman that became a UK number one single for one week in March 1987. It was the second UK number one single produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman, following Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” in 1985, and the first UK number one single that Stock/Aitken/Waterman had written themselves. The single also topped the charts in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Australia and New Zealan in 1987. The single was also a #1 dance hit in the United States.

SIDE A:
Respectable (Vocal / Club Mix)

SIDE B:
Respectable (The Tabloid Mix)
Remix – Mix Master Phil Harding*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Respectable U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic ‎– 0-86703, Supreme Records (3) ‎– 0-86703
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro, Euro House, Garage House

CREDITS:
Producer, Arranged By – Stock Aitken Waterman*

NOTES:
From the LP “F.L.M.”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi