Tag: Quincy Jones

February 6, 2023

Donna Summer – Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger) (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982

In the name of LOVE week. To celebrate Valentine’s Day all posts up until February 14 will feature LOVE in the title. Additionally, to celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH all through February I will be featuring some great black artists from the decade of excess!

NEW 2023 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!

Originally posted April 14, 2011

“Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)” is a Grammy-nominated single from Donna Summer’s self-titled 1982 album. The single was her 12th top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Summer’s 1980 The Wanderer album — her inaugural release on Geffen Records — had been certified gold in America although it did not enjoy numerous hit singles as some of her ’70s releases had enjoyed. Summer had prepped her next album, which would be released in 1996 as I’m a Rainbow — a double set which continued her association with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, but David Geffen, decided to cancel the project, and assigned Summer to record an album with producer Quincy Jones. Jones was a much sought-after producer at the time, particularly due to his association with Michael Jackson’s album Off the Wall.

“Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)” was the lead single off the Jones’ produced album Donna Summer. It was written by Jones and Rod Temperton (formerly of funk band Heatwave) — who’d also written Jackson’s “Rock with You”. Summer reported that the recording process for this album was challenging, as she was pregnant at the time and unhappy over I’m a Rainbow’ being shelved by Geffen Records.

The single was issued in three different versions: the 7″ single release (3:42), the LP version (4:19), and a 12″ single version (7:04). The 12″ version features a “Dance Remix” on Side One and an “Instrumental Version Featuring Ernie Watts On Sax Solo” on Side Two. Both are remixes by Craig Kostich and Bruce Swedien.

“Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)” became a major hit, peaking at no. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the week of September 25, 1982, giving Summer her sixteenth top 40 hit, and reaching no. 4 on the US R&B Chart. It was Summer’s best R&B showing since “Bad Girls” in 1979—even using police whistles in the song as in “Bad Girls”. Although the parent album was certified gold in the US, it did not produce any more major hits and did not prove the powerhouse album Geffen Records had hoped for.

SIDE A:
Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger) (Dance Remix) 7:04

SIDE B:
Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger) (Instrumental) 7:04
Featuring, Soloist [Sax Solo], Saxophone – Ernie Watts

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1982	Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#10
1982	Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	#4
1982	Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#3

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records – O-29938, Geffen Records – 9 29938-0 B
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, ARC Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Synthpop

CREDITS:
Mastered By [Runout Etching ❀] – Brian Gardner
Producer, Written-By – Quincy Jones
Remix [Remixed By] – Bruce Swedien, Craig Kostich
Written-By – Merria Ross, Rod Temperton

NOTES:
(Instrumental Version Featuring Ernie Watts on Sax Solo)

*Remixed From The Original 4:20 Version
Available On The Geffen Album Donna Summer – Donna Summer

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable:Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
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

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

June 16, 2022

Patti Austin – Rhythm Of The Street/It’s Gonna Be Special (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984

“Rhythm of the Street”/”It’s Gonna Be Special” is a double A-side 12″ single by American R&B, pop, and jazz singer and songwriter Patti Austin. Both songs are taken from her self-titled 1984 album. “It’s Gonna Be Special” was also featured on the John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John film soundtrack “Two Of A Kind”.

“It’s Gonna Be Special” peaked at #15 on the US Billboard R&B chart as well as #5 on the Dance Chart. “It’s Gonna Be Special” failed to reach the Billboard Top 40 only peaking at #82.

“Rhythm of the Street” peaked at #33 on the US Billboard R&B chart as well as #11 on the Dance Chart. The song also reached #96 on the UK singles chart.

SIDE A:
Rhythm Of The Street (Dance Remix) 6:06
Producer – Narada Michael Walden
Written-By –Jeffrey Cohen, Narada Michael Walden, Preston Glass

SIDE B:
It’s Gonna Be Special (Dance Remix) 6:30
Producer – Quincy Jones
Written-By – Clif Magness, Glen Ballard

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	Rhythm Of The Street	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#33
1984	Rhythm Of The Street	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#11
1984	It’s Gonna Be Special	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#15
1984	It’s Gonna Be Special	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#5
1984	It’s Gonna Be Special	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#82

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Qwest Records – 0-20222, Qwest Records – 9 20222-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Funk

CREDITS:
Engineer [Mix] – Michael Hutchinson
Executive-Producer – Ed Eckstine, Quincy Jones
Mixed By –John “Jellybean” Benitez

NOTES:
Original version(s) available on the Qwest album PATTI AUSTIN.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO 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

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

**24bit FLAC only available for seven days!

Password: burningtheground

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

April 13, 2022

Melissa Manchester – Mathematics (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

NEW 2022 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!

Originally posted May ‎10, ‎2011

“Mathematics” was the first single and the title of Melissa Manchesters only MCA Records LP. With this single Melissa collaborated with the legendary Quincy Jones who produced the track and pop star Robbie Nevil who also was a co-producer, writer and did the songs arrangement. The 12″ remix was done by John “Jellybean” Benitez. It seamed that all of the right elements were in place for a hit single, to re-start her career sadly this was not to be, the song only peaked at #74 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was her last chart single. The album “Mathematics” struggled to reach #144 on the US album chart.

The b-side “So Full Of Yourself” is a non-lp track and was co-written by Tom Snow who has written many hits for Olivia Newton-John including “Physical” and “Heart Attack”..

SIDE A
Mathematics (Dance Mix) 7:02
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Matt Brady
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Michael Hutchinson
Executive Producer – Quincy Jones
Mixed By – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Producer [Associate Producer], Arranged By – Robbie Nevil
Producer, Arranged By – Brock Walsh
Written-By – Brock Walsh, Melissa Manchester, Robbie Nevil

SIDE B
So Full Of Yourself 3:30
Arranged By – Greg Mathieson
Producer – Trevor Veitch
Written-By – Melissa Manchester, Tom Snow

Mathematics (Dub Version) 4:57
Executive Producer – Quincy Jones
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Michael Hutchinson
Mixed By – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Producer, Arranged By – Brock Walsh
Written-By – Brock Walsh, Melissa Manchester, Robbie Nevil

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Mathematics	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#74

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23554
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

NOTES:
Special verion of the song taken from the Melissa Manchester LP “MATHEMATICS”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

**24bit FLAC only available for seven days!

Password: burningtheground

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

December 21, 2021

Diana Ross / Michael Jackson – Ease On Down The Road (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1978

NEW 2021 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!

Originally posted November 9, 2012

“Ease on Down the Road” is a song from the 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz, performed in the original production by Stephanie Mills and Hinton Battle. It was also released in 1978 as a duet between Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

The 1978 duet was released as the theme song of the film adaptation of The Wiz (itself an adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), and produced by Quincy Jones. The Charlie Smalls–composed tune was an R&B re-interpretation of both “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard” from the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz. In the song, Dorothy (portrayed in the film by Ross) and the Scarecrow (played by Jackson) dance their way down the Yellow Brick Road and give each other words of encouragement.

“Ease on Down the Road” is performed four times in The Wiz film: once by Dorothy and the Scarecrow, once by the two of them and the Tin Man (played in the movie by Nipsey Russell), by the three of them and the Cowardly Lion (played by Ted Ross), and finally during the end credits. In the album version, Jackson and Ross sing by themselves. The recording was one of Jackson’s first collaborations with Quincy Jones, who became his main producer during the late 1970s and 1980s.

In 1980, Jackson was a guest on Kraft Salutes Disneyland’s 25th Anniversary and, along with Disney characters (Mickey Mouse, The Seven Dwarves, Donald Duck, Pinocchio, Minnie Mouse, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Pluto, Winnie the Pooh, The Three Little Pigs and Goofy), performed the song in a medley with the Disney signature song, “When You Wish Upon a Star”.

It also earned Jackson his first Grammy Award nomination with Ross (previous two with his family group, The Jacksons) in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1979.

Released as a single by MCA Records in late summer 1978, the song missed the U.S. Top 40 by one position, peaking at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached #17 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart the same year.

SIDE A:
Ease On Down The Road (Full Length US Version) 6:04
Performed By – Diana Ross, Michael Jackson
Written-By – Charlie Smalls

SIDE B:
Poppy Girls 3:26
Performed By – The Wiz*
Written-By – Anthony Jackson, Quincy Jones

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	Blue Jean	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#41
1978	Blue Jean	U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles	#17

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – 12 MCA 396
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition
Country: UK
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Producer – Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler

NPTES:
Full length US version from the soundtrack album and the film “The Wiz” over 6 minutes long.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

Password: burningtheground

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