Tag: Steve Strange

January 18, 2023

Visage – Mind Of A Toy (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1981

“Mind of a Toy” is the third single by the British pop group Visage, released on Polydor Records in March 1981. It was taken from the band’s eponymous debut album, following up their international hit “Fade to Grey”. The song reached #13 on the UK singles chart.

The music video for the single was directed by former 10cc members Godley & Creme, who had branched out into video production by that time. The theme of the video was Steve Strange’s idea, who decided on a Little Lord Fauntleroy look. In his autobiography, Blitzed!, Strange claimed that the video was banned by the BBC’s Top of the Pops as it was considered to be “frightening for children”, however it was actually screened on the show on 19 March 1981.

SIDE A:
Mind Of A Toy (Dance Mix) 5:15

SIDE B:
We Move (Dance Mix) 6:30
Frequency 7 (Dance Mix) 5:05

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – POSPX 236
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Mar 2, 1981
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Alwyn Clayden, Visage
Musician – Billy Currie, Dave Formula, John McGeoch, Midge Ure, Rusty Egan, Steve Strange
Photography By – Peter Ashworth
Photography By [Retouching] – Alwyn Clayden
Producer – Midge Ure, Visage

NOTES:
Thanks to Vivien
A Morrison-O’Donnell Production

A: Remixed from the Polydor LP “Visage”

Made in England

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

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January 24, 2018

Visage – Fade To Grey (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980

“Fade to Grey” is the second single by the British pioneers of the New Romantic movement Visage, released on Polydor Records in 1980.

The song was the band’s most successful single. It entered the singles charts in late 1980, peaking at no. 8 in the UK Singles Chart and reaching no. 1 in Germany and Switzerland. Steve Strange was on lead vocals; the French lyrics were spoken by Rusty Egan’s Belgian girlfriend Brigitte Arens.

The music video became one of the first video clips that Kevin Godley and Lol Creme directed before they became known for their works with the Police, Duran Duran, and Herbie Hancock.

The song features the same lyrics in two languages, English and French. The English lyrics are sung, whereas the French lyrics are spoken by a female voice. Steve Strange and Midge Ure both claimed to have been the one who came up with the idea for the French vocal in the track. On the finished track, the French vocal was performed by Brigitte Arens, a young student from Luxembourg who was Rusty Egan’s girlfriend at the time. On the album, the song is credited to Billy Currie, Chris Payne, and Midge Ure. In his 2002 autobiography, Strange said it was not fair to credit the song to Ure, Currie, and Payne only since his input was significant and he was “the focal point of the group”.

Currie and Payne worked on the instrumental part of the sound checks on Gary Numan’s 1979 tour. Cedric Sharpley, the drummer of Numan’s backing band, was also heavily involved. In those days it was called “Toot City”. While setting the track listing of the Visage album, Midge Ure suggested the use of the melody and wrote the song’s lyrics.

SIDE A:
Fade To Grey 6:15
Written-By – Currie*, Payne*, Ure*

SIDE B:
The Steps 3:15
Written-By – Currie*, Formula*, McGeoch*, Ure*, Egan*, Strange*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor ‎– 2141 318
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Visage
Producer – Midge Ure, Visage

NOTES:
Made in West Germany

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 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

October 23, 2017

Visage – The Damned Don’t Cry (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982

“The Damned Don’t Cry” is a song by the British pop group Visage, released as a single by Polydor Records in 1982.

It was the first single from Visage’s second album, The Anvil. “The Damned Don’t Cry” was a chart success, becoming Visage’s second highest-charting single in the UK (#11) and the band’s last international hit.

“The Damned Don’t Cry” was the second Visage video directed by Midge Ure. It was shot in Tenterden, Kent, at the Tenterden Town railway station and recreates the 1930s atmosphere and mood of the Orient Express. The clip was included on band’s 1986 video release, Visage. The model and singer Nick Kamen appears in this video.

SIDE A:
The Damned Don’t Cry (Dance Mix) 5:44
Producer – Midge Ure
Written-By – B. Currie*, D. Formula*, M. Ure*, R. Egan*, S. Strange*

SIDE B:
Motivation 3:46
Written-By – Visage

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor ‎– POSPX 390, Polydor ‎– 2141 488
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Backing Vocals – Lorraine (4), Perry*
Bass – Barry Adamson
Design – Grafica Industria, Peter Saville (2)
Musician – Billy Currie, Dave Formula, Midge Ure, Rusty Egan, Steve Strange
Photography By – Helmut Newton
Producer – Visage

NOTES:
Midge Ure & Billy Currie courtesy of Chrysalis Records.
Made In England.

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: Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

February 13, 2015

Visage – Visage (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

RIP Steve Strange 1959-2015

Sadly last night we learned that Visage frontman and new romantic pioneer Steve Strange died from a heart attack in Egypt at age 55.

Strange, one of those at the forefront of the New Romantic movement, rose to fame with Visage, who were best known for their smash hit Fade to Grey, which peaked at No 8 in the UK charts in 1980. It topped the charts in Germany and Switzerland.

Strange also managed the Blitz club in Soho, central London, which became the pulse of the New Romantic movement. The likes of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Boy George’s Culture Club all got their start there before enjoying international success.

May he rest in peace.

“Visage” is the fourth single by the British pop group Visage, released by Polydor Records on 29 June 1981. It is the title track from Visage’s eponymous debut album. The single peaked at no.21 in the UK Singles Chart.

The music video for the single was the first of two Visage videos directed by Midge Ure. The video includes footage shot at the infamous Blitz nightclub in London’s Covent Garden, which was the focal point of the New Romantic scene in the early 1980s. It was included on the Visage video album in 1986.

SIDE A:
Visage (Dance Mix) 6:03

SIDE B:
Second Steps 5:28

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor ‎– POSPX 293
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: June 29, 1981
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Alwyn Clayden, Visage
Other [Clothes] – Darlajane Gilroy
Other [Hair] – Ricci Burns
Other [Make Up] – Carolyn Cowan
Photography By – Robyn Beeche
Producer – Midge Ure, Visage
Written By – Strange / Ure / Currie / McGeoch / Egan / Formula
Written-By – Currie*, Formula*, McGeoch*, Ure*, Egan*, Strange*

NOTES:
Version From The Polydor Album “VISAGE”

Find the 12″ On DISCOGS

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 Removeal: 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