Peter Murphy – Final Solution (Remix) (UK 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

“Final Solution” is one of those records that does not politely enter the room. It arrives like a warning signal, all nerves, shadows, and sharp edges.

Originally recorded by Cleveland art-punk band Pere Ubu in 1976, “Final Solution” was already a strange and unsettling piece of post-punk before Peter Murphy got anywhere near it. Pere Ubu’s version had that raw, almost damaged sound that made it feel as if it was broadcasting from some broken radio tower in the middle of a city no one wanted to admit existed.

Peter Murphy took that chaos and turned it into something theatrical, colder, and strangely danceable.

Released as a single in 1985, before appearing on his 1986 debut solo album Should The World Fail To Fall Apart, “Final Solution” found Murphy stepping out from the long shadow of Bauhaus while still keeping one polished black boot firmly planted in the dark. This was not the more romantic, mystical Peter Murphy that would later emerge on songs like “Cuts You Up” or “A Strange Kind Of Love.” This was Murphy in a more dangerous space, taking a song already loaded with unease and pushing it further into the club.

The 12-inch Club Mix stretches the track into a tense, mechanical workout. The guitars snarl, the rhythm pounds, and Murphy’s vocal performance is pure command. He does not simply sing the song; he stalks through it. Every phrase feels like it is being thrown against a wall just to see what breaks first.

What makes this version so compelling is the way it sits between worlds. It is post-punk, goth, industrial, and club music all at once, but never fully settles into any one of them. It has the grit of the original, but the 12-inch format gives it space to breathe, sweat, and menace the dancefloor.

The B-side, “The Answer Is Clear,” offers a fitting companion piece. Less immediate but just as moody, it captures Murphy during that early solo period when he was still experimenting with what his voice could become outside the Bauhaus frame.

“Final Solution” may not be one of Peter Murphy’s biggest hits, but it remains one of his most arresting early solo singles. It is tense, dramatic, and a little unhinged in all the right ways.

This is the sound of an artist stepping into the spotlight alone, not with comfort, but with intent.

SIDE A:
Final Solution (Third & Final Mix) 5:51
Lacquer Cut By – Timtom
Remix – Ivo, John Fryer
Written-By – Bell*, Pere Ubu

SIDE B:
Final Solution (Club Mix) 5:30
Lacquer Cut By – TY
Mixed By – Stephane Gerbier
Remix – The Latin Rascals
Written-By – Bell, Pere Ubu

The Answer Is Clear (Version) 3:14
Lacquer Cut By – TY
Written-By – Hughes, Murphy*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Peter Murphy: *Final Solution* (1985)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
UK Singles Chart	#92	1985

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Beggars Banquet – BEG 143TP
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Industrial, Goth Rock

CREDITS:

Photography By – Antoine Giaccomoni*
Producer – Ivo*, Howard Hughes*

NOTES:
Recorded at Blackwing Studios in the summer of ’85.
B1. 12″ mix [Club mix] at Unique Studios, New York City
B2. Mixed at Blackwing Studios

Made in England

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

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

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June 30, 2026

Bronski Beat – Why? (Remix) (UK 12″ Limited Edition) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

As Pride Month comes to a close, I can’t think of a better record to finish my “Soundtrack Of Pride” series than Bronski Beat’s “Why?”

Released in 1984, “Why?” followed the band’s stunning debut single “Smalltown Boy,” and together the two songs form one of the most powerful one-two punches in LGBTQ+ pop history. Where “Smalltown Boy” tells the painful story of leaving home to survive, “Why?” turns that pain outward. It asks the question directly. Why the hate? Why the fear? Why should anyone have to hide who they are or who they love?

Jimmy Somerville’s voice is one of the great voices of the 1980s. Fragile one moment, fierce the next, he could turn a dance record into a protest song without losing the beat. “Why?” is pure Hi-NRG fire, but it is also angry, wounded, and unafraid. The record moves with urgency, driven by sharp synths, pounding percussion, and that unmistakable cry in Somerville’s vocal. It is a song built for the dance floor, but it refuses to be background music.

The charts also showed just how far Bronski Beat’s message traveled. “Why?” reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK Airplay chart, while also finding success across Europe, Australia, and the U.S. dance charts. “Smalltown Boy” had already made an even bigger impact, reaching No. 3 in the UK and No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. For music this direct, this emotional, and this openly queer to travel that far in 1984 still feels remarkable.

That was the power of Bronski Beat. They were not hiding behind suggestion or coded language. Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbachek, and Jimmy Somerville made music that spoke openly about gay life at a time when that was still a radical act in pop music. Their debut album, The Age Of Consent, carried its message right in the title, referring to the unequal age of consent laws in the United Kingdom at the time. This was pop music with a purpose.

My limited edition UK 12” single makes this release even more special because the flip side contains the 12″ version of “Smalltown Boy.” Having “Why?” and “Smalltown Boy” together on one 12” feels almost too perfect. One song is the escape. The other is the confrontation. One is the heartbreak of being pushed away. The other is the demand to be seen, heard, and respected.

“Smalltown Boy” remains one of the most moving LGBTQ+ anthems ever recorded. Its story of rejection, loneliness, and the search for a place to belong has touched generations of listeners. Even now, four decades later, it still feels deeply personal. It is not just a song about leaving. It is a song about surviving.

“Why?” is just as important. It reminds us that Pride is not only a celebration. It is also a protest. It is history. It is memory. It is the sound of people refusing to disappear.

For the final entry in this year’s “Soundtrack Of Pride,” Bronski Beat feels essential. These songs are not just dance classics. They are documents of their time, and they still speak loudly today. They remind us why the dance floor mattered, why visibility mattered, and why music could become a lifeline.

Pride has always had a soundtrack. Sometimes it is joyful. Sometimes it is defiant. Sometimes it hurts. Bronski Beat gave us all of that, wrapped in synths, rhythm, and one of the most unforgettable voices pop music has ever known.

Happy Pride, and as always, thank you for listening.

SIDE A:
Why? (Remix) 5:11
Engineer [Mixing Engineer] – Julian Mendelsohn
Mixed By [Uncredited] – Laz, Steve

SIDE B:
Smalltown Boy (12″ Version) 9:02

Cadillac Car 3:52
Engineer [Mixing Engineer] – Harvey Goldberg
Guitar – Steve*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Weekly chart performance for Bronski Beat’s “Why?” and “Smalltown Boy”
Chart	“Why?” Peak Position	“Smalltown Boy” Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	10	8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	N/A	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	3	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	31	9
Europe (Airplay Top 50)	4	N/A
Europe (Europarade Top 40)	4	3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	5	15
France (SNEP)	8	8
Germany Airplay Top 15	10	N/A
Ireland (IRMA)	6	4
Italy (Musica e dischi)	5	1
Italy (Discografia Internazionale)	N/A	2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	2	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	6	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	11	5
South Africa (Springbok Radio)	7	N/A
Spain Airplay	2	N/A
Spain (AFYVE)	10	N/A
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	7	2
UK Airplay Top 20	1	N/A
UK Singles (OCC)	6	3
US Billboard Hot 100	N/A	48
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)	27	1
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)	20	4
US Cash Box Top 100	N/A	32
West Germany (GfK)	5	3

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Forbidden Fruit – BITEX 2, Forbidden Fruit – 882 014-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design [Sleeve Design] – Robert McAulay
Engineer [Recording Engineer] – Dominick Maita
Keyboards – Laz*, Steve*
Mastered By – Aaron Chakraverty*
Music By – Bronski Beat
Producer – Mike Thorne
Programmed By – Laz*
Vocals – Jimmy*
Words By – Jimmy*
Written-By – Somerville*, Steinbachek*, Bronski*

NOTES:
Why?: Dedicated To The Memory Of Drew Griffiths.

“SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION WHY? REMIX WITH BONUS TRACK SMALLTOWN BOY”

Recorded at R.P.M. Studios, New York
Why?: Mixed at The Town House, London
Cadillac Car: Mixed at Right Track Recording, New York
Mastered at The Master Room, London

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

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

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

I appreciate your help.

June 26, 2026

Erasure – Drama! (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

For today’s entry in my “Soundtrack Of Pride” series, I wanted to feature one of synth-pop’s most beloved duos, Erasure.

Released in 1989, “Drama!” was the first single taken from the English duo’s fourth studio album, Wild!. Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the single became another major hit for Erasure, reaching #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #10 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart.

By this point, Erasure had already built a colorful world of electronic pop, one where heartache, humor, camp, and pure dance floor release could all live in the same song. “Drama!” is a perfect example of that magic. It is theatrical, sharp, and joyfully over the top, but beneath all the sparkle there is something much more serious going on.

The song takes aim at judgment, gossip, shame, and the way people love to point fingers from a safe distance. Throughout the track, the shouted “Guilty!” gives the record one of its most memorable hooks. That uncredited exclamation was provided by Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain, who were recording in the studio next door. It is one of those wonderfully odd pop music moments that sounds almost too good to be true.

That “Guilty!” also gives the song an extra bite. It turns the record into a kind of courtroom drama on the dance floor, with Andy Bell refusing to stand quietly while the world passes judgment.

That is where “Drama!” fits so beautifully into Pride.

Andy Bell’s voice has always carried a special kind of strength. He can sound wounded, funny, romantic, and defiant all at once. On “Drama!” he does not sound like someone begging to be accepted. He sounds like someone calling out the absurdity of being judged in the first place.

The line “We all have the ability, our freedom is fragile” lands especially hard. For LGBTQ+ people, freedom has never been something to take for granted. It has been fought for, danced for, marched for, and sometimes protected in the dark safety of a club while the outside world kept shouting its own accusations.

Erasure understood that pop music could be more than catchy. It could be a lifeline. Their records gave queer listeners joy without apology. They made emotions feel huge, colorful, and worth celebrating. In a time when LGBTQ+ lives were still too often framed by fear, silence, or scandal, Erasure gave us songs that were loud, proud, and full of feeling.

“Drama!” is not just a great pop single. It is also a reminder that the people who scream “guilty” the loudest are often the ones who should take a closer look at themselves.

The 12-inch versions gave the song even more room to strut, with “Drama! (Act 2)” and the “Krucial Mix” stretching the track into full club territory. The B-sides, “Sweet, Sweet Baby” and “Paradise,” added even more value to an already essential Erasure single.

For me, “Drama!” remains one of those records that could only come from Erasure. It is clever, camp, emotional, and completely danceable. It turns judgment into theater and shame into release.

And really, what is Pride without a little drama?

SIDE A:
Drama! (Krucial Mix) 7:07
Mixed By – Bob Kraushaar

Sweet, Sweet Baby (Medi-Mix) 4:22
Engineer – Mike Spencer
Mixed By – Dave Randall

Paradise (Lost & Found Mix) 5:48
Remix – George Holt

SIDE B:
Drama! (Act 2) 5:38
Mixed By – Mark Saunders

Sweet, Sweet Baby (The Moo-Moo Mix) 5:13
Mixed By – Mark Saunders

Paradise 4:10
Mixed By – Mark Saunders

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Erasure: Drama! (1989)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	157
Austria (Hitradio Ö3)	13
Denmark (IFPI)	3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	15
Ireland (IRMA)	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	35
Spain (AFYVE)	18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	15
UK Singles (OCC)	4
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)	11
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) with “Sweet, Sweet Baby”	10
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard) with “Sweet, Sweet Baby”	13
West Germany (GfK)	12

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-21356, Reprise Records – 0-21356, Sire – 9 21356-0, Reprise Records – 9 21356-0, Mute – 0-21356, Mute – 9 21356-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design [Designed By] – Me Company
Photography By – Pierre Et Gilles
Producer – Erasure, Gareth Jones (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B3), Mark Saunders
Written-By – Clarke/Bell

NOTES:
Specially-Priced Maxi-Single

“Drama” and “Paradise” recorded at The Church/Swing Studios.
“Sweet, Sweet Baby” recorded at Swing Studios.
A1 mixed at Sarm Studios.
A2 mixed at Arcantide Studios.
A3 remixed at Konk Studios.
B1, B2, B3 mixed at Konk Studios.

Original version of “Drama!” available on the Sire/Reprise album “Wild!“.

Made 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

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

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

I appreciate your help.

June 25, 2026

Anything Box – Jubilation (This Thing Called Life) (US 12″) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

As Pride Month continues, I wanted to shine a light on a song filled with hope, reflection, and the kind of emotional release that feels right at home on the dance floor. Released in 1990, “Jubilation (This Thing Called Life)” by Anything Box captures the feeling of moving through pain, rising above judgment, and choosing joy anyway.

Anything Box is an electronic/synth-pop group originally from Paterson, New Jersey, and now based in Long Beach, California. Led by Claude S., the group arrived at the start of the 1990s with a sound that carried the spirit of synth-pop into a new decade. Their music paired bright electronic melodies with lyrics that often reached for something more personal.

“Jubilation (This Thing Called Life)” was released as the second single from the band’s debut album Peace. The single became a club favorite, reaching #16 on the U.S. Dance chart.

While the song was not written as an explicitly LGBTQ+ anthem, its message fits beautifully within the spirit of Pride. The lyrics speak to memory, regret, survival, and the difficult process of moving forward. In the opening lines, the narrator closes their eyes and hides behind “blackened lies” that follow them through history. It is a striking image of someone carrying the weight of the past, yet still trying to find a way toward happiness.

That feeling is something many LGBTQ+ listeners can understand. Coming out and living openly often means facing old fears, old wounds, and the judgment of others. It can mean leaving behind parts of life that once felt safe, even when they no longer allowed you to be fully yourself.

One of the most powerful moments in the song comes with the repeated reminder, “When you feel stranded, don’t take for granted this thing called life.” It is simple, but it lands with force. The line feels like a call to hold on, even when the world feels cold or uncertain. For Pride Month, that message feels especially meaningful. Pride is not only about celebration. It is also about survival, self-acceptance, and finding the courage to keep going.

The lyric “Moving on was hard to do, to leave the things that I once knew” also carries a deep emotional pull. It speaks to the loss that can come with growth. Childhood, innocence, and familiar places do not always come back to us. For many, finding your true self means stepping into the unknown and trusting that there is joy waiting on the other side.

Then comes one of the song’s most personal lines: “My name is all I have for an offering.” That lyric feels especially tied to identity. A name can be history, selfhood, and declaration all at once. In the context of Pride, it becomes a reminder that living truthfully is an offering in itself. To stand in your name, your truth, and your life is a beautiful act of defiance.

Musically, “Jubilation (This Thing Called Life)” is pure early 1990s synth-pop bliss. Its bright keyboards, pulsing rhythm, and soaring melody create the kind of uplifting energy that has filled LGBTQ+ clubs for decades. It is danceable, but never empty. Beneath the beat is a song about pain, release, and choosing happiness even after the hard parts.

Over the years, “Jubilation (This Thing Called Life)” has remained a favorite in underground LGBTQ+ clubs, retro dance nights, and synth-pop sets. It brings people together through positivity and shared emotion, reminding us that the dance floor has long been a place of release, connection, and chosen family.

For many fans, Anything Box represents one of those treasured acts whose music found a devoted audience through club play, word of mouth, and emotional connection. “Jubilation” continues to stand as one of their most beloved songs because it speaks to something simple but powerful: life can be hard, but joy is still worth fighting for.

More than three decades later, “Jubilation (This Thing Called Life)” still feels like a celebration of self, community, and the courage to live out loud. That makes it a perfect addition to The Soundtrack Of Pride.

Update: Claude S. of Anything Box kindly shared some additional background about the song’s music video history. Although no official video was ultimately filmed for “Jubilation (This Thing Called Life),” plans had been made to create one. Sadly, the director who had worked with the band on their first video for “Living In Oblivion” passed away from AIDS-related complications around 1990-1991. At the time, the band felt there was no one else they wanted to work with, so the video was never made.

SIDE A:
Jubilation (This Thing Called Life) (K.C.’s Camp Pendleton Mix) 6:33
Remix – Keith “K.C.” Cohen*

Jubilation (This Thing Called Life) (The F Neosubtomic Mix) 5:59
Remix – Keith “K.C.” Cohen*

SIDE B:
Jubilation (This Thing Called Life) (Upstairs At Claudes) 4:38
Producer [Additional] – Michael Eckart
Remix – Jon St. James

Jubilation (This Thing Called Life) (The Face Mix) 5:00
Producer [Additional] – Michael Eckart
Remix – Jon St. James

Jubilation (This Thing Called Life) (Petite Filet Of Percapella) 4:21
Remix – Keith “K.C.” Cohen*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Anything Box: *Jubilation (This Thing Called Life)* (1990)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#16	1990

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 49 73357
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Edited By [Special] – Steve Beltran (tracks: A1, A2, B3)
Engineer [Assistant] – Andy Batwinas (tracks: A1, A2, B3)
Executive Producer – Chris Lawmaster
Keyboards [Additional] – David Frank (tracks: A1, A2, B3)
Mastered By – Brian Gardner
Other [Management] – Formula 1 Music Group
Other [Personality] – Dania Morales
Other [Vision] – Paul Rjinders
Performer [Machinery], Written-By – Claude S., Dania Morales, Paul Rijnders*
Producer – Jon St. James
Producer [Additional] – Keith “K.C.” Cohen* (tracks: A1, A2, B3)
Vocals, Artwork By [Illustration] – Claude S.

NOTES:
Produced for Formula 1 Music Group.
Recorded at Formula 1 Studios, La Habra, California.
Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California.
Tracks A1, A2 & B3 remixed at Larrabee Sound Studios, West Hollywood, California.
Tracks B1 & B2 remixed for Formula 1 Music Group.

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

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

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

I appreciate your help.