Category: OMD

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – If You Leave (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

Brand NEW 2019 transfer using a new piece of equipment the Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC which I purchased a couple of days ago. I am still evaluating the GT40a but so far I am very impressed. This piece of equipment has been around for a while and has great reviews and won some awards along the way. Full specs and pictures coming over the weekend.

 

Originally posted March 15, 2012

“If You Leave” is a 1986 song by the British synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). It was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Pretty in Pink (1986), in which it is played prominently during the final scene. Along with 1980’s “Enola Gay”, the track has been described as the band’s signature song.

“If You Leave” is the group’s highest-charting single in the United States, where it reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1986. The song was also a Top 5 entry in Canada and New Zealand and charted at number 15 in Australia. A distinguishing track of the 1980s, it has had an enduring presence on radio.

The band wrote “If You Leave” after John Hughes decided to change the ending to Pretty in Pink after poor test audience reactions. Hughes had asked the band for a song for the new ending two days before they were due to begin a tour, and “If You Leave” was written and recorded in under 24 hours as a result. The song was deliberately written at a tempo of 120 BPM, to match the speed of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, which the dancers in the scene had initially danced to. Despite this, singer Andy McCluskey later noted that an editing error meant the dancing appears out of sync regardless. The original ending featured another OMD song, “Goddess of Love”, which was released on The Pacific Age later in 1986.

** Vinyl appears to be standard black, but is actually pressed on very dark brown, barely translucent vinyl, sometimes referred to as “audiophile” or “virgin” vinyl, possibly unstickered Quiex II pressing, which A&M often used in the 1980s.

SIDE A:
If You Leave (Extended Version) 6:00
Producer – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Tom Lord-Alge

SIDE B:
La Femme Accident (Remixed Version) 5:35
Producer – OMD*Recorded By [Re-recorded By] – OMD*, Tom Lord-Alge

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 If You Leave U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #4
1986 If You Leave U.S. Billboard US Hot Adult Contemporary Chart #24
1986 If You Leave U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #31

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records ‎– SP-12176
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM, R
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Caz Hildebrand
Written-By – OMD*

NOTES:
“If You Leave” Original version appears on the Motion Picture Soundtrack “Pretty In Pink”
“La Femme Accident” Original version appears on the A&M album “Crush”

Find the 12″ at 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 
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
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 USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: 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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Shame (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Shame” is a song by British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released as the third single taken from their 1986 album, The Pacific Age, although it is a re-recording made after the album’s release, presumably in early 1987, and was produced by Rhett Davies (as opposed to the original album version which was produced by Stephen Hague).

“Shame” was scheduled for release as a single whilst OMD were still on tour. The band had suggested “Stay” as a possible single from the album, but label Virgin thought “Shame” had more potential. The band relented, although feeling the album version was too slow, and recruited Rhett Davies to give the song more of a polish.

The B side Goddess of Love was lifted straight from the album The Pacific Age and was the song which was originally intended to be used for the Pretty in Pink movie soundtrack before the group came up with “If You Leave”, which was featured in the movie.

The single reached no. 52 on the UK Singles Chart. It has never been included on any of OMD’s singles compilation albums, making it unique to this release. The 7″ re-recorded version has never had a digital release.

A promotional video was made for the single and is included on the DVD of the CD/DVD release Messages: Greatest Hits.

SIDE A:
Shame (Extended Re-Recorded Version) 6:57
Producer – Rhett Davies

SIDE B:
Shame (7″ Re-Recorded Version) 3:52
Producer – Rhett Davies

Goddess Of Love 4:28
Engineer – Tom Lord-Alge
Producer – Stephen Hague

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin ‎– VS 938 12, Virgin ‎– VS 938-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Artwork By [Cover] – Mick Haggerty
Composed By – O.M.D.*
Photography – Paul Cox

NOTES:
Manufactured in the UK

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

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – So In Love (Special American Dance Mix) (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

BTG Week Of LOVE!

“So in Love” is a song by the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1985 as the first single from the album Crush. The artwork, designed by XL Design, and the promo video were both influenced by the Mexican Day of the Dead festival.

Critic Dave Thompson in AllMusic praised “So in Love” as a “rich and sumptuous number” that is “well in keeping with the group’s signature styling”. Colleague Tom Schulte described the song as being – along with the following year’s “If You Leave” – the “pinnacle” of the band’s musical progression.

Although “So in Love” was the first single from Crush, it was one of the last songs written for the album. It was originally dropped until band member Martin Cooper persuaded Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys to make a demo for the song. Andy McCluskey said it was about the painful end of a relationship. It was their first hit in the United States, after five years of trying to “break” the States.

“So In Love” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 on August 31, 1985. The song remained on the chart for seventeen weeks, peaking at the #26 position. “So In Love” reached #27 in the U.K..

**This 12″ promo was released in the general issue picture sleeve that shows the B-side as being “Concrete Hands (Extended)”. The labels list the mixes on both sides as “Special American Dance Remix” but track durations are different.

SIDE A:
So In Love (Special American Dance Remix) (12″ Version) 5:40

SIDE B:
So In Love (7″ Version) 3:29

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 So In Love U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #26
1985 So In Love U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #16

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records ‎– SP-12143
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Stephen Hague
Sleeve – XL Design
Written-By – OMD*, Steve Hague*

NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP “CRUSH”

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:
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

OMD – Brides Of Frankenstein (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

Hype Sticker

Side A

New 2015 Re-Rip!
Meticulously Remastered!
First time in 24bit Flac!

Originally posted October 19, 2011

“Brides of Frankenstein” is a medley of excerpts from various Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark songs mixed with dance rhythms by Mike “Hitman” Wilson and Steve “Silk” Hurley to promote the compilation The Best Of OMD. It was released as a 12-inch single in 1988 in the United States and Canada. The single debuted on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart on December 3, 1988 peaking at #9 spending seven weeks on the survey.

SIDE A:
Brides Of Frankenstein (Mix) 7:14

SIDE B:
Brides Of Frankenstein (Dub) 6:18

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1988 Brides Of Frankenstein U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #7
1988 Brides Of Frankenstein U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #16

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records ‎– SP-12285
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Acid House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer, Mixed By – Mike “Hitman” Wilson, Steve “Silk” Hurley
Written-By – OMD*

NOTES:
Featuring excerpts of monster hits from Best of OMD:
– Locomotion
– Messages
– Secret
– So in Love
– If You Leave
– We Love You

Produced and Mixed for Real World Productions.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

Side B

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