May 7, 2026

Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm (UK 12″ Limited Edition) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: July 19, 2011

“Don’t Cry It’s Only The Rhythm”…

Few songs in pop history are as daring, theatrical, and sonically adventurous as Slave To The Rhythm by Grace Jones. Released in October 1985, the single was the centerpiece of Jones’ critically acclaimed album of the same name, a record that blurred the lines between pop, art, performance, and avant-garde experimentation.

Produced by the legendary duo of Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson, “Slave To The Rhythm” became one of Grace Jones’ signature recordings. Built around thunderous percussion, dramatic orchestration, layered vocals, and hypnotic grooves, the track remains a striking example of mid-80s studio innovation.

The project originally began as a song intended for Frankie Goes to Hollywood, but Trevor Horn ultimately realized the composition was perfectly suited for Grace Jones’ commanding vocal style and larger-than-life persona. The result was unlike anything else on radio at the time.

The album itself was conceived almost like a concept piece. Different variations and interpretations of the title track appear throughout the LP, weaving together interviews, spoken-word passages, orchestral elements, and dense production techniques that pushed studio technology of the era to its limits. Horn utilized the Fairlight CMI extensively, helping create the album’s futuristic and cinematic soundscape.

“Slave To The Rhythm” was a major international success. The single reached the Top 10 in several countries including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, while also becoming a staple of dance clubs worldwide. In the United States, Grace Jones continued to strengthen her reputation as one of the most fearless and uncompromising artists of the decade.

The unforgettable music video, directed by Jean-Paul Goude, perfectly complemented the song’s surreal atmosphere. Goude, who had previously collaborated extensively with Jones both artistically and personally, created striking visual imagery that further cemented her status as a true icon of style and performance art.

This UK Limited Edition 12″ single contains the full-length “Blooded Version” of the track, running over eight minutes and delivering the complete immersive experience intended for the dance floor. From its dramatic opening narration to its explosive percussion breakdowns, the extended mix remains one of the defining 12-inch releases of the 1980s.

As with many productions from Trevor Horn during this era, the vinyl pressing offers warmth, punch, and dynamic range that many later digital releases struggle to capture fully. The layered percussion, deep bass textures, and atmospheric details especially come alive on a properly mastered 12-inch pressing.

Presented here is a NEW 2026 meticulous audio restoration and transfer, sourced directly from vinyl to preserve the depth, clarity, and power of this groundbreaking recording.

Whether experienced as avant-garde pop, dance music, or pure sonic theater, “Slave To The Rhythm” remains one of the boldest artistic statements of the 1980s. Nearly four decades later, it still sounds futuristic.

SIDE A:
Slave To The Rhythm (Blooded) 8:29

SIDE B:
Junk Yard 5:21
Annihilated Rhythm 3:38

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
Poster: Mint

Chart Performance – Grace Jones: Slave To The Rhythm (1985–1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	20
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	4
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)	18
European Top 100 Singles (Eurotipsheet)	7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	16
France (SNEP)	50
Italy (Musica e dischi)	6
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	5
Spain (AFYVE)	14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	5
UK Singles (OCC)	12
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	20
West Germany (GfK)	4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label:ZTT – 12IS 206, Island Records – 12IS 206
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Poster
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Avant-Garde

CREDITS:

Accompanied By – The Strictly Unreasonable Zang Tuum Tumb Big Beat Colossus
Artwork [Front Cover] – Jean Paul Goude*
Producer – Trevor Horn
Producer [Assistant] – S. J. Lipson*
Written-By – Bruce Woolley, Simon Darlow, Stephen Lipson, Trevor Horn

NOTES:
“The members of the Z.T.T. art AND ACT SERVICE and the strictly unreasonable ZANG TUUM TUMB BIG BEAT COLOSSUS, who accompany Miss Grace Jones, are acknowledged on the cover of the biography.”

Includes a poster – sleeve sealed with a green and silver sticker featuring the wording “Strictly Limited Edition Includes Special Poster”.

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

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 6, 2026

Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (US 12″) (1983)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: May 10, 2017

Certain songs instantly define an era, and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” by Eurythmics is unquestionably one of them. Released in early 1983 as the title track from the duo’s second studio album, the single transformed Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart from underground cult favorites into international pop icons almost overnight.

Built around one of the most recognizable synthesizer riffs ever recorded, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” sounded unlike anything else on radio at the time. Cold, hypnotic, mechanical, yet incredibly infectious, the track helped redefine the direction of pop music in the early 1980s and became one of the signature recordings of the synth-pop movement.

Written and produced by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, the song emerged during a difficult period for the duo following the commercial disappointment of their debut album In the Garden. Working from a modest home studio with limited equipment, the pair created a minimalist electronic masterpiece driven by pulsing synths, drum machine rhythms, and Lennox’s commanding vocal delivery.

Lyrically, the song explores ambition, manipulation, desire, and survival in a world where “everybody’s looking for something.” Annie Lennox delivers the lines with a detached coolness that only adds to the song’s mysterious power.

Of course, the song’s impact was amplified by its unforgettable music video. Annie Lennox’s sharply tailored menswear, cropped orange hair, and androgynous appearance became one of the defining visual statements of the MTV era. At a time when pop culture was becoming increasingly image-driven, Lennox challenged conventions in a way that felt bold, modern, and completely original.

The single became a worldwide smash, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and establishing Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart as major international stars.

This post features a new 2026 Transfer and meticulous audio restoration taken from my US 12-inch pressing. The 12-inch is especially notable because it contains the full-length version of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).” Most LPs, CDs, and 7-inch singles contain the shorter 3:36 edit, making the 12-inch mix the preferred version for many fans and collectors.

Another interesting detail is the B-side, “I Could Give You a Mirror,” which differs from the version found on the Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) album, giving this US 12-inch additional collector appeal.

From a club perspective, the extended 12-inch version is absolutely definitive. The longer runtime allows the hypnotic groove to fully develop, emphasizing the icy atmosphere and relentless electronic pulse that made the song so revolutionary. Even today, it still sounds futuristic blasting from a turntable.

More than four decades later, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” remains one of the most influential and instantly recognizable songs of the 1980s, a landmark recording that continues to inspire artists across pop, electronic, and alternative music.

SIDE A:
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Full Length Version) 4:55
Producer – David A. Stewart

SIDE B:
I Could Give You (A Mirror) (Alternate Version) 3:57
Producer – Stewart, Crash

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (1983)	Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	6
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	9
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	3
Canada (The Record Retail Singles)	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	6
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn)	1
Ireland (IRMA)	2
Japan (Oricon)	89
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	2
South Africa (Springbok Radio)	5
Spain (AFYVE)	3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	8
UK Singles (OCC)	2
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	36
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	2
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)	16
US Cash Box Top 100	1
West Germany (GfK)	4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA Victor ‎– PD-13502
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design [Sleeve] – Laurence Stevens
Photography By – Lewis Ziolek
Written-By – Lennox*, Stewart*

NOTES:
From the album “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)“, AFL1-4681

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.

May 5, 2026

Marilyn – You Don’t Love Me (UK 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: June 21, 2012

By 1984, Marilyn was still navigating the momentum that followed his breakthrough success, but the pop landscape was shifting quickly. Released as the third single from his debut album Despite Straight Lines, “You Don’t Love Me” showed a more reflective side of the singer, trading some of the earlier flash for a deeper emotional pull.

Musically, the track leans into a polished synth-pop sound with a soft, melancholic tone. The production is clean and uncluttered, allowing Marilyn’s soulful and expressive vocal to take center stage. There’s a sense of restraint here that works in the song’s favor, giving it a late-night, almost intimate feel.

Unlike the more immediate, club-oriented energy of his earlier hits, “You Don’t Love Me” feels more introspective. It captures the emotional fallout of a relationship with a quiet intensity, rather than going for obvious drama. That subtle approach is part of what makes the track stand out today.

On the charts, the single had a respectable showing. It reached No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart, while performing even better internationally, breaking into the Top 20 in both the Netherlands and New Zealand. Those placements suggest the song connected strongly outside the UK, even if it did not reach the same heights as his debut releases.

From a vinyl standpoint, the 12-inch format is where this track really opens up. The extended versions give the arrangement more room, emphasizing the groove and allowing the atmospheric elements to fully develop. It is one of those records where the longer mix feels essential, especially for listeners who appreciate the nuances of mid-80s production.

Looking back, “You Don’t Love Me” captures a transitional moment in Marilyn’s career. It reflects an artist trying to expand beyond a carefully crafted image, leaning more into mood and emotion. While it may not be his most celebrated single, it adds an important layer to the Despite Straight Lines era.

As always, this transfer has been given a NEW 2026 Meticulous Audio Restoration and Transfer, preserving the warmth and dynamics of the original vinyl pressing.

SIDE A:
You Don’t Love Me (Dance Mix) 6:08
Producer – Clive Langer And Alan Winstanley*

SIDE B:
Raining Again 5:06
Producer – Roger Jackson

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Marilyn: *You Don’t Love Me* (1984)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
UK Singles Chart	#40	1984
Australia (Kent Music Report)	#57	1984
Belgium (Ultratop)	#26	1984
Netherlands (Top Singles 100)	#18	1984
New Zealand	#16	1984

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Love (6) – MAZ 312, Love (6) – 818 808-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Apr 1984
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Downtempo, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Arranged By, Coordinator – Roger Jackson
Backing Vocals – Claudia Fontaine, Naomi*
Design – Da Gama
Lacquer Cut By – BilBo (3) (tracks: A)
Photography By – Johnny Rozsa
Written-By – Marilyn

NOTES:
from the LP Despite Straight Lines

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.

May 1, 2026

Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora – When The Rain Begins To Fall (US 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

There are songs that define a moment, and then there are songs that feel like an entire movie packed into four minutes. “When The Rain Begins To Fall” lands firmly in the second category. Big, dramatic, and completely committed to its sound, it’s one of those tracks that instantly transports you back to the mid-80s.

Released in October 1984, this duet between Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora was recorded for the soundtrack to the cult sci-fi musical Voyage of the Rock Aliens. Zadora starred in the film, and the song is featured right at the beginning, doubling as the official music video. It sets the tone immediately, glossy, theatrical, and just a little bit surreal.

The song was written by Peggy March, Michael Bradley, and Steve Wittmack. Musically, it leans into that polished mid-80s pop sound, driven by synths, a strong rhythmic pulse, and a soaring chorus. The contrast between Jermaine’s smooth delivery and Zadora’s more dramatic vocal style gives the track its unique character. It shouldn’t work as well as it does, but that tension is exactly what makes it memorable.

Chart-wise, the single had a split story. In the United States it reached No. 54, and in the UK it peaked at No. 68. But across mainland Europe, it was a major hit. The song went to No. 1 in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, and reached the Top 10 in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. It also earned Gold certification in Germany and Platinum in France, making it one of the biggest international successes for both artists.

Because of that momentum, “When The Rain Begins To Fall” was added to later pressings of Jermaine’s 1984 album Jermaine Jackson. In the United States, the album carried that self-titled name, while in the UK and Europe it was released as Dynamite. Including the single helped strengthen the album’s appeal in markets where the song was already a proven hit.

What really makes this track endure is its sense of scale. Everything about it feels larger than life. The arrangement builds with purpose, the chorus hits hard, and the whole production has that cinematic quality that was so popular at the time. It doesn’t hold back, and that’s exactly why it works.

For anyone who remembers it from the charts, the film, or a well-worn 12-inch, “When The Rain Begins To Fall” is a perfect snapshot of 1984. A little bit pop, a little bit movie magic, and completely unforgettable.

SIDE A:
Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora – When The Rain Begins To Fall (Vocal Version With Breakdown) 5:24
Producer – Jack White
Remix – Lonnie Simons*
Written-By – Michael Bradley, Peggy March, Steve Wittmack

SIDE B:
Jermaine Jackson – Come To Me (One Way Or Another) 5:15
Executive-Producer – Clive Davis
Written-By – Jermaine Jackson

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora: When The Rain Begins To Fall (1985)	Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	63
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	42
France (SNEP)	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	1
UK Singles (OCC)	68
US Billboard Hot 100	54
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	61
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	22
West Germany (GfK)	1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – AD1-9317
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop

NOTES:
Side B: Taken from the album Jermaine Jackson
Pia Zadora appears courtesy of MCA/Curb Records

Printed in USA

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.