Category: Village People

Village People – Livin’ In The Wildlife (Australia 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“Livin’ in the wildlife” is a 1988 Australia only single released by American disco group Village People. The single did not appear on a Village People album and was only released in Australia where it became a top ten single.

SIDE A:
Livin’ In The Wildlife (Dance Mix) 7:20
Remix – Roger Moutenot

SIDE B:
Livin’ In The Wildlife (Club Mix) 10:20
Edited By – Bob “The Blade” Miller*
Remix – John P. Allen

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS ‎– CBS 652826 6
Format: Vinyl, 33 ⅓ RPM, 12″
Country: Australia
Released: 1988
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Coordinator [Project Consultant] – Clark Enslin
Engineer – John P. Allen
Engineer [Additional] – Chris Cavallaro
Engineer [Assistant] – Eoin McMahon
Guitar – Adam Falcon, Tim Boyce (3)
Keyboards, Programmed By – David Ray, John Drymon
Management – Howard Silverman
Mixed By – Roger Moutenot
Percussion [Additional] – John P. Allen
Performer [Village People] – Alex Briley*, David Hodo, Felipe Rose, Glenn Hughes (2), Randy Jones, Ray Simpson
Producer – D. Ray*, M. Anthony, Michael Berardi, Richard Berardi
Written-By – M. Anthony, M. Berardi*, R. Berardi*

NOTES:
Produced by for Chalet Productions.

Management: David Fishof Prod.
888 Seventh Avenue, Suite 402, New York, NY 10019.

Special thanks to: Charlie Sicurella & Jerry Cernero for all support. Village People International Fan Club, P.O. Box 15158, 1001 MD, Amsterdam, Holland. Chalet Productions, 2323 Highway 34, Manasquam, NJ 08736.

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
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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Village People – I Am What I Am (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1978

“I Am What I Am” is a song written by Victor Willis, Henri Belolo, Peter Whitehead and Jacques Morali that was first released by the Village People on their 1978 album Macho Man. It was also released as a single with “Key West,” also from Macho man, as the b-side in some countries including Germany and the UK. It did not chart in those countries, but it reached #4 on the Billboard Dance Chart in a medley with “Key West” and “Macho Man.” It has since been released on several Village People greatest hits compilation albums. It was also included on the soundtrack for the 1978 film Thank God It’s Friday.

Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider described “I Am What I Am” as a “human-rights anthem.” Village People singer Randy Jones describes the song as “a gay liberation statement, aimed directly at gays and lesbians who were standing up without apology for their lifestyle” and as the group’s “first gay liberation song.” He says that the theme of the song is the virtue of being yourself, and not just if you’re gay or transgender but even just if you want to dress in an unusual manner, as long as you don’t hurt anyone else. Author Michael DeAngelis describes the theme as being “pride and faithfulness to the individual and authentic self.” DeAngelis notes that this theme had particular resonance at the time, when the gay community was in the process of “coming out” and a general cultural obsession was finding healthy ways to feel good about oneself. Author Frédéric Martel identifies “I Am What I Am” as one of five Village People songs that were touchstones to the gay movement in France when they came out (“San Francisco (You’ve Got Me),” “Macho Man,” “Y.M.C.A.” and “In the Navy” being the others).

Author Judith A. Peraino described “I Am What I Am” as a “hit single” while Boze Hadleigh described it as a “pre-hit.” Author Sharon Davis claimed that lyrics are “so camp they have to held down with tent pegs.” But Billboard described it as “provocative,” describing it as a “gay pride anthem with its activist lyrics and basic theme.” Billboard also praised the rhythm and percussion and horn arrangements. Allmusic critic Amy Hanson described it as “a well-constructed slab of groove,” despite lacking subtlety. Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider regarded “I Am What I Am” as the best song on Macho Man stating that Willis’ voice is “full of anger and delight” on the song and concluding that “because the song seems so committed, it makes the rest of the material sound downright pointless.”

The song’s title was later reused by Jerry Herman for a 1983 hit song performed by Gloria Gaynor, which also had gay pride as a theme. Reebok later used the title phrase for a successful sneaker advertising campaign.

SIDE A:
I Am What I Am 5:28

SIDE B:
Macho Man 5:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Telefunken ‎– 6.20 011, Telefunken ‎– 6.20011
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Composed By, Producer – Jacques Morali
Written-By – Whitehead*, Belolo*, Morali*, Willis*

NOTES:
Made in Germany

Special Edits from the LP “MACHO MAN”

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 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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

Village People – Ready For The 80’s (UK 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1979

Side A

“Ready for the 80’s” is a song recorded by American disco group the Village People. It was released in 1979 as the lead single from the group’s fifth album Live and Sleazy. It peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.

The song featured the debut of Ray Simpson as lead singer of the group, replacing Victor Willis (who appears on earlier tracks on the album).

SIDE A:
Ready For The 80’s (Disco Mix With Special Christmas Message) 6:53

SIDE B:
Ready For The 80’s (Disco Mix Without Message) 6:53

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1979 Ready For The 80’s U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #52

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– 9198 505/DJ
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Promo
Country: UK
Released: 1979
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Executive Producer – Henri Belolo
Lead Vocals – Ray Simpson
Producer – Jacques Morali

NOTES:
Promotional Only Not For Sale
From the LP “LIVE AND SLEAZY”

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

Victor Willis – Physical (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

Side A

DISCO FRIDAY!

In 1983 Victor Willis original lead singer of The Village People released his one and only solo single an disco funk cover of Olivia Newton-John’s mega hit “Physical”. Originally released in 1981 Newton-John’s version spent an incredible ten weeks at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The Victor Willis version did not chart and was only released as a 12″ single in the United States on Sutra records.

SIDE A:
Physical 5:05

SIDE B:
Physical (Instrumental) 4:40

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sutra Records ‎– SUD 019
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco, Funk

CREDITS:
Engineer – Mike Theodore
Executive Producer – Hank Talbert
Producer – Jon Grossbard, Mike Theodore
Written-By – Stephen A. Kipner*, Terry J. Shaddick*

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

Side B

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
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 Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
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