Curiosity Killed The Cat – Free (UK 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in 1987, “Free” was the fifth and final single taken from the debut album Keep Your Distance by the British sophisti-pop band Curiosity Killed the Cat. Formed in London in 1980, the group consisted of singer Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, guitarist Julian Godfrey Brookhouse, bassist Nick Thorpe, and drummer Migi Drummond. While the band had already scored major UK success with singles like “Down to Earth” and “Misfit,” “Free” would become the closing chapter of an impressive run from their debut LP.

Built around a polished blend of funk-infused pop, soulful vocals, and sleek mid-80s production, “Free” showcased the band’s more reflective side. Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot’s unmistakable vocal style gives the track an emotional pull, while the sophisticated instrumentation perfectly captures the era’s smooth pop aesthetic. Although not as commercially successful as some of the group’s earlier singles, “Free” remains a favorite among fans of the band’s sophisticated sound.

“Free” reached #56 on the UK Singles Chart and climbed even higher in Ireland, peaking at #26. Interestingly, despite Curiosity Killed the Cat gaining some exposure internationally, the single was never released in the United States, making it somewhat of a hidden gem for American fans discovering the band years later through imports and compilations.

The parent album Keep Your Distance, released in 1986, became one of the defining sophisti-pop records of the decade. Produced by Stewart Levine, the LP delivered a string of stylish singles that blended pop hooks with jazz, funk, and soul influences. The album established Curiosity Killed the Cat as one of the standout British acts of the mid-80s scene.

The UK 12” single of “Free” featured a Dub version of the track along with additional versions that highlighted the band’s groove-oriented style. Like many British pop releases of the era, the extended format allowed the band’s musicianship and rhythmic arrangements more room to breathe, making it a sought-after release among collectors of 80s vinyl and extended mixes.

Though Curiosity Killed the Cat’s chart dominance would fade by the late 1980s, “Free” stands as a reminder of the elegance and sophistication that defined much of the UK pop scene during the decade. It remains a beautifully produced single that deserves rediscovery, especially for listeners who appreciate the refined sound of classic sophisti-pop.

SIDE A:
Free (Dub Master) 7:49

SIDE B:
Free 4:02
Free (Instrumental) 4:02

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Curiosity Killed The Cat: *Free* (1987)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
UK Singles Chart	#56	1987
Ireland	#26	1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – CATX 5, Mercury – 888-784-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Management – The Last Laugh Production Co Ltd
Mixed By, Overdubbed By – Paul Staveley O’Duffy
Photography By [Black And White] – Dean Freeman
Producer – Sly Dunbar And Robbie Shakespeare*
Sleeve – The Unknown (20)
Written-By – Curiosity*, Anderson*

NOTES:
Taken From The Album KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, Also Available On CD And Cassette.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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May 12, 2026

Sparks – I Predict (US 12″ Promo) (1982)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in February 1982, “I Predict” was the first single taken from Sparks’ eleventh studio album Angst In My Pants. By this point, brothers Ron and Russell Mael had fully embraced a slick synth-pop and new wave sound while continuing to deliver the eccentric humor and sharp satire that made them one of the most unique acts in popular music.

“I Predict” became Sparks’ first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 60 in May 1982. The achievement marked the duo’s first success on the U.S. singles chart since “Wonder Girl” in 1971, ending an eleven-year absence from the American Hot 100.

Produced by Mack, known for his work with Queen and Electric Light Orchestra, the track perfectly balanced quirky art-pop with polished early 80s production. Driven by sharp synthesizers, pulsing rhythms, and Russell Mael’s unmistakable falsetto, “I Predict” delivered one of Sparks’ most accessible singles while still maintaining their wonderfully bizarre sense of humor.

Lyrically, the song is classic Sparks, absurd, witty, and satirical. The narrator confidently predicts fame, scandal, and strange future events with complete sincerity, creating a surreal commentary on celebrity culture and media obsession years before reality television and viral fame became commonplace.

In the United States, a promotional 12-inch single was issued featuring an exclusive “Club Mix” of “I Predict,” available only on the promo release. The extended mix gave DJs a longer and more dancefloor-friendly version of the track, highlighting the layered synthesizer arrangements and quirky vocal passages that made Sparks stand apart from their contemporaries.

The music video made to accompany the single quickly became infamous during the early MTV era. The clip featured Ron Mael in drag performing a striptease dance routine in a Los Angeles nightclub while Russell lip-syncs the song’s lyrics. Because of the video’s more mature sexual themes and adult content, MTV generally limited airings to late-night hours or around midnight.

Over the years, the video has often been mistakenly credited to filmmaker David Lynch because of its surreal visual style. However, the book Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks credits the video to Steve and Doug Martin, who intentionally created the clip in a style inspired by Lynch’s work.

While “I Predict” was only a modest chart hit at the time, the single has grown into one of Sparks’ defining tracks from their early 80s period. The song perfectly captures the duo’s ability to combine sophisticated pop songwriting, experimental humor, and fearless visual presentation into something completely original. More than forty years later, “I Predict” still sounds daring, strange, and unmistakably Sparks.

SIDE A:
I Predict 2:52

SIDE B:
I Predict (Club Mix) 6;20

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Sparks: *I Predict* (1982)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#60	1982

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic – PR 429
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave

CREDITS:

Lacquer Cut By – GP*
Producer, Arranged By – Mack (2)
Written-By – Ron Mael, Russell Mael
Produced For – Giorgio Moroder Enterprises Ltd

NOTES:
PROMOTIONAL COPY
NOT FOR SALE
From Atlantic LP 19347 “ANGST IN MY PANTS”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
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 Six Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

May 8, 2026

ABC – The Look Of Love (USA Remix – Dub) (US 12″) (1982)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: September 23, 2016

British new wave band ABC released “The Look Of Love” in May 1982 as the third single from their debut album “The Lexicon of Love.” Produced by the legendary Trevor Horn, the track became one of the band’s signature songs, peaking at #4 on the UK Singles Chart and reaching #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. With its sophisticated mix of synth-pop, funk grooves, lush orchestration, and sharp lyrical wit, “The Look Of Love” helped define the sound and style of early ‘80s pop music.

The single itself was an ambitious concept divided into four interconnected sections referred to as “Parts One, Two, Three and Four.” Each segment explored different moods and arrangements while maintaining the song’s sleek and cinematic identity. Martin Fry’s cool, detached vocal delivery paired perfectly with Trevor Horn’s polished production techniques, creating a track that sounded unlike anything else on radio at the time.

For American audiences, Mercury Records issued a special 12″ remix in 1982 featuring a completely different take on the song by Trevor Horn. This exclusive U.S. remix became highly sought after by club DJs and collectors due to its extended structure, added instrumental passages, and deeper dub influences. Included on the U.S. 12″ was the rare “U.S.A. Remix Dub,” also known among fans as “Part Five.”

Although the U.S.A. Remix Dub later appeared on the compilations “Absolutely” and “Look Of Love – The Very Best Of ABC,” both versions were edited. The full-length mix also surfaced on the poorly mastered “Remix Collection” CD, leaving vinyl enthusiasts searching for the original 12″ pressing to experience the remix properly.

After its original release, the 1982 U.S. Remix became increasingly difficult to find, and demand for the record grew steadily among DJs and devoted ABC fans. Original copies of the Mercury Records 12″ often commanded high prices on the collector’s market. Recognizing the ongoing demand, Neutron Records, the band’s UK label, eventually issued a limited-edition promotional 12″ repress of the Trevor Horn remix under the title “Special Remix.” While not considered an official re-release of the single, it gave collectors another opportunity to obtain the legendary mix without paying premium import prices.

Today I am revisiting this classic with a NEW 2026 meticulous audio restoration and transfer from my original U.S. Mercury Records 12″ pressing. Every effort has been made to preserve the warmth, dynamics, and punch of the original vinyl while presenting these rare mixes in the best possible quality.

Whether you remember hearing “The Look Of Love” on MTV, in the clubs, or blasting through late-night radio in 1982, this remains one of the defining singles of the decade and a shining example of Trevor Horn’s groundbreaking studio craftsmanship.

SIDE A:
The Look Of Love (USA Remix – Dub Version) 7:39
Remix [Uncredited] – ABC
Remix [Uncredited] – Trevor Horn

SIDE B:
The Look Of Love (Part 3 – Dance Version) 4:17
Remix [Uncredited] –John Luongo

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – ABC: *The Look Of Love* (1982)
Chart (1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	16
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	4
Ireland (IRMA)	12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	5
Spain (AFYVE)	15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	8
UK Singles (OCC)	4
US Billboard Hot 100	18
US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)	1
US Rock Top Tracks (Billboard)	32
US Cash Box Top 100	9
West Germany (GfK)	36

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – MDS-4023, Mercury – 6400 751
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Stereo, 53
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, New Wave

CREDITS:

Producer [Produced By] – Trevor Horn
Written-By – ABC

NOTES:
From the album SRM-1-4059 “The Lexicon Of Love”

Printed in U.S.A.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.