OMD – Sailing On The Seven Seas (US 12″ Promo) (1992)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in the UK on 18 March 1991, “Sailing on the Seven Seas” was the lead single from OMD’s eighth studio album, Sugar Tax. It marked a new chapter for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, as founding member Andy McCluskey carried on the band name as a solo venture following the departure of co-founder Paul Humphreys.

Bold and unexpectedly bombastic, the track blends OMD’s pop-electronic roots with glam rock swagger. With lyrical nods to Sister Ray by The Velvet Underground and My Generation by The Who, McCluskey described the sound as “OMD goes glam rock.” The result is a hook-heavy, dancefloor-ready anthem that injected new life into the band’s career.

The single was a major success, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart, their biggest hit since “Souvenir” in 1981. It also found favor on U.S. dance floors, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Dance Chart—despite not receiving a full commercial release in the States. In the U.S., “Sailing on the Seven Seas” was issued only as a 12” promotional vinyl and a cassette single, making its chart success there even more impressive.

A powerful reinvention and a statement of resilience, “Sailing on the Seven Seas” proved that OMD could navigate the shifting tides of the early ’90s music scene—and still come out riding high.

SIDE A:
Dancing On The Seven Seas 4:44
Engineer [Engineered By] – Phil Coxen*

Sailing On The Seven Seas (Larrabee Mix) 3:55
Remix [Remixed By] – Alan Meyerson

Sailing On The Seven Seas (Original Mix) 3:45

SIDE B:
Sailing On The Seven Seas (Extended Mix) 5:45
Floating On The Seven Seas 4:45

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1982	Sailing On The Seven Seas	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – DMD 1802
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Engineer [Engineered By] – Guy Forrester (tracks: B1 to B2)
Producer [Produced By], Written-By – OMD*
Written-By – Kershaw*

NOTES:
Sticker:
Orgasmic Musical Delights
Here’s 3 uptempo and 2 sleaze remixes of Sailing On The Seven Seas
Get Ready To Dance!

Promotional Copy – Not For Sale

Original version available on Sugar Tax on Virgin Cassettes and Compact Discs. 91715

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
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
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
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 25 (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 donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

May 23, 2025

Happy Memorial Day Weekend USA

Hey BTG friends,

I hope you’re ready to enjoy a long, relaxing, music-filled Memorial Day Weekend! Whether you’re firing up the grill, heading to the lake, digging through crates at your favorite record store, or just kicking back with a classic 12″ on the turntable, this weekend is all about slowing down and appreciating the good things in life.

Memorial Day is also a time to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It’s a powerful reminder of the freedoms we enjoy—and the price that’s been paid to protect them. So while we celebrate, let’s also take a moment for reflection and gratitude.

Just a quick note—I’m taking today off from posting to recharge and enjoy the weekend myself. But don’t worry, Burning the Ground will be back very soon with more rare mixes and extended gems from the ’80s and ’90s that you won’t want to miss.

Until then, stay safe, spin something loud, and keep the music alive. 💿🔥

Happy Memorial Day!
– Paul

May 22, 2025

Robert Palmer – Simply Irresistible (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In the summer of 1988, Robert Palmer stormed back onto the charts with “Simply Irresistible,” a bold, brash, and unapologetically confident anthem that became one of the defining hits of his career. Taken from his platinum-selling ninth studio album, Heavy Nova, the track showcased Palmer’s sleek fusion of hard rock swagger and dancefloor sheen — a formula he’d perfected since his Riptide days and the smash success of “Addicted to Love.”

Produced by Palmer himself, “Simply Irresistible” features an explosive horn section, stomping drums, and his signature vocal coolness, delivered with razor-sharp precision. The song’s infectious chorus, underscored by a wall of sound production, became an instant earworm that dominated radio and MTV alike.

The 12″ mix expands on the already high-octane energy of the single, giving DJs and fans a longer dose of that irresistible groove. Clocking in at just over six minutes, this extended version retains all the bombast of the original while giving the arrangement more breathing room — emphasizing the pulsing basslines, pounding percussion, and layers of synth and guitar that made the track a dance-rock juggernaut.

Visually, “Simply Irresistible” was immortalized by a striking music video directed by British fashion photographer Terence Donovan, featuring a cadre of identically styled women in black dresses and red lipstick, moving in mechanical precision. It was a continuation of the stylized aesthetic from “Addicted to Love” and helped cement Palmer’s image as the epitome of 80s cool.

Commercially, the single was a major success:

#2 on the US Billboard Hot 100

#1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart

Top 20 in Canada, Australia, and several European countries

Though some critics at the time were divided, accusing Palmer of recycling the formula that brought him success in 1986, fans embraced it wholeheartedly, and decades later, it’s still celebrated as a quintessential late-80s power pop anthem.

If Addicted to Love made Robert Palmer a superstar, “Simply Irresistible” proved it was no fluke — he truly had an irresistible formula.

SIDE A:
Simply Irresistible (Extended Version) 6:33

Simply Irresistible (7″ Version) 4:15

SIDE B:
Simply Irresistible (Instrumental) 4:46

Nova 2:56

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Simply Irresistible	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#2
1988	Simply Irresistible	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI-Manhattan Records – V-56095
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Executive-Producer – David Harper (4)
Mixed By – Eric “ET” Thorngren*
Producer – Robert Palmer

NOTES:
Produced for Remlap Co. Inc., Direct Metal Mastering.

The album version can be heard on Heavy Nova.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for 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 donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

May 21, 2025

Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark (US 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: December 5, 2012, December 11, 2020

Released in May 1984 as the lead single from Born in the U.S.A., “Dancing in the Dark” marked a major turning point for Bruce Springsteen. With its sleek production, driving synths, and radio-ready polish, the song ushered in a new era for The Boss—one where blue-collar rock met MTV pop stardom.

The track was born out of frustration. Springsteen’s manager and producer, Jon Landau, famously insisted the album still lacked a hit. Annoyed but determined, Springsteen wrote “Dancing in the Dark” in a single night. Ironically, the song—about creative blocks and personal discontent—became the breakthrough single they needed.

Musically, it’s a tight blend of new and familiar. Clarence Clemons’ signature saxophone peeks through layers of punchy drum machine beats, sharp guitar lines, and Roy Bittan’s shimmering keyboards. It’s a prime example of Springsteen evolving with the times while keeping his emotional core intact.

Lyrically, the song channels a deep sense of restlessness and yearning. Lines like “I ain’t nothing but tired / Man, I’m just tired and bored with myself” tap into a quiet desperation, while the anthemic chorus urges action: “You can’t start a fire without a spark / This gun’s for hire / Even if we’re just dancing in the dark.”

The music video, directed by Brian De Palma, became instantly iconic—featuring Springsteen pulling a then-unknown Courteney Cox from the audience to dance on stage. The clip’s heavy rotation on MTV helped launch the single to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and solidified Springsteen’s crossover appeal in the video age.

“Dancing in the Dark” earned Springsteen his first Grammy (Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male) and remains one of his most enduring hits—a testament to how artistic pressure can ignite a creative spark.

In select markets like the U.S. and Europe, the 12″ single offered something different: the “Blaster Mix,” remixed by Arthur Baker. Stripping the original down to its rhythmic bones, Baker infused the track with funkier basslines, extended synth breaks, and a club-ready pulse. Stretching over six minutes, the remix reimagines the song as a dancefloor burner rather than a stadium anthem.

The 12″ version even made a splash on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart, peaking at #7—a rare feat for Springsteen and a reflection of 1984’s genre-blending moment when rock met the remix.

For fans of ’80s extended mixes, Arthur Baker’s rework is a bold and electrifying gem—proof that even The Boss could ignite a dancefloor.

This marks the third time I’ve transferred this 12″, but with the benefit of time, experience, and cutting-edge tech, I truly believe the third time’s the charm. This brand-new 2025 transfer was done using my latest high-end setup, including the phenomenal Ortofon Concorde Music Black cartridge. The result? A deep, vibrant, and dynamic listening experience that brings out the full punch of the remix like never before. This isn’t just another rip—it’s a resurrection.

SIDE A:
Dancing In The Dark (Blaster Mix) 6:09

SIDE B:
Dancing In The Dark (Radio) 4:40
Dancing In The Dark (Dub) 5:26

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	Dancing In The Dark	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#2
1984	Dancing In The Dark	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#1
1984	Dancing In The Dark	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#7

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44 05028, Columbia – 44-05028
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo, Pitman Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Design – Andrea Klein
Engineer [Remix] – Chris Lord-Alge
Lacquer Cut By [Runout Etching ⚾︎] – Greg Calbi
Mixed By – Bob Clearmountain
Photography By – Annie Leibovitz
Producer [Based On Original Production By] – Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Plotkin, Jon Landau, Steve Van Zandt
Recorded By – Toby Scott
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Arthur Baker

NOTES:
Special versions from the Columbia LP: “BORN IN THE U.S.A.” QC 38653

Printed in U.S.A.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
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 donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.