Month: May 2017

May 5, 2017

The Men A.K.A. The Human League – I Don’t Depend On You (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1979

“I Don’t Depend on You” is a disco-influenced song by the British synthpop group The Human League released under the pseudonym The Men. It was released as a single in the UK in February 1979, but failed to chart. It was written by Philip Oakey, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh; was produced by Colin Thurston and featured guest backing vocalists Katie Kissoon and Lisa Strike (who later worked with Pink Floyd ).

After hastily signing the Human League in 1978 it became apparent to Virgin Records that the band were not very profitable, with none of their releases under Fast Records making any impact on the charts. Virgin began putting pressure on the group to justify their large advance signing fee. Pressure was put on Ware, Oakey and Marsh to abandon their no traditional instruments rule and use conventional instruments in an attempt to be more commercial and sell more records. Ware reluctantly agreed but insisted that any material recorded this way should be released under a pseudonym to ensure that it wasn’t confused with the pure electronic sound of The Human League. “I Don’t Depend on You” was the only product of this compromise with Virgin. It was recorded with the addition of session musicians and was released under the name The Men. The song also features the synth riff from debut single Being Boiled towards the end of the track. Afterwards the band were able to record tracks in their original style for Virgin. Before any further conventional style records could be recorded, the original Human League had split; Oakey then took the new reformed band down a different commercial and pop route.

Later, it would be commented on that in recording “I Don’t Depend on You” – two years prior to the arrival of schoolgirl vocalists Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall – Oakey, Ware and Marsh had already produced a Human League Mk 2-style track complete with commercial pop sound: Oakey’s vocal with female backing (with Katie Kissoon and Lisa Strike providing the backing vocals).

The B-side, titled “Cruel”, is simply a remix of “I Don’t Depend on You” without Oakey’s vocals. “I Don’t Depend on You” received little promotion or airplay and did not chart. Re-releases on albums now credit the track as The Human League aka ‘The Men’.

SIDE A:
I Don’t Depend On You 4:31

SIDE B:
Cruel (Instrumental) 4:41

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 26912
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1979
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop, Disco, Funk

CREDITS:
Management – Tunenoise Ltd*
Photography By – Mackertich*
Producer – Colin Thurston, The Men
Written-By – Marsh*, Ware*, Oakey*

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
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
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

May 4, 2017

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Shame (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Shame” is a song by British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released as the third single taken from their 1986 album, The Pacific Age, although it is a re-recording made after the album’s release, presumably in early 1987, and was produced by Rhett Davies (as opposed to the original album version which was produced by Stephen Hague).

“Shame” was scheduled for release as a single whilst OMD were still on tour. The band had suggested “Stay” as a possible single from the album, but label Virgin thought “Shame” had more potential. The band relented, although feeling the album version was too slow, and recruited Rhett Davies to give the song more of a polish.

The B side Goddess of Love was lifted straight from the album The Pacific Age and was the song which was originally intended to be used for the Pretty in Pink movie soundtrack before the group came up with “If You Leave”, which was featured in the movie.

The single reached no. 52 on the UK Singles Chart. It has never been included on any of OMD’s singles compilation albums, making it unique to this release. The 7″ re-recorded version has never had a digital release.

A promotional video was made for the single and is included on the DVD of the CD/DVD release Messages: Greatest Hits.

SIDE A:
Shame (Extended Re-Recorded Version) 6:57
Producer – Rhett Davies

SIDE B:
Shame (7″ Re-Recorded Version) 3:52
Producer – Rhett Davies

Goddess Of Love 4:28
Engineer – Tom Lord-Alge
Producer – Stephen Hague

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin ‎– VS 938 12, Virgin ‎– VS 938-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Artwork By [Cover] – Mick Haggerty
Composed By – O.M.D.*
Photography – Paul Cox

NOTES:
Manufactured in the UK

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

May 3, 2017

Leisure Process International – A Way You’ll Never Be (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982

“A Way You’ll Never Be” is a 1982 single by British new wave duo Leisure Process also known as Leisure Process international. The 12″ was issued as double A side with “Love Cascade” both tracks were produced by Martin Rushent and feature Mark King and Phil Gould of Level 42 on bass and drums. The duo released four singles before splitting in 1983.

Martin Rushent produced artists like The Human League, The Associates, Altred Images, Pete Shelley among others.

SIDE A:
A Way You’ll Never Be 6:44
Producer – Leisure Process International*

SIDE B:
Love Cascade (Dance Mix) 5:16
Mixed By – Martin Rushent

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic ‎– Epic ‎– EPC A13 2478, Epic ‎– EPCA 13-2478
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Bass – Mark King
Design [Sleeve] – M. Garrett*
Drums – Mark King, Phil Gould
Keyboards, Tenor Saxophone, Saxophone [Electric] – Gary Barnacle
Photography By [Rear Cover] – Panny Charrington*
Producer – Martin Rushent
Vocals, Guitar – Ross Middleton
Written-By – Barnacle*, Middleton*

NOTES:
Mastered at Townhouse.
Made in England

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

May 2, 2017

Adam & The Ants – Antmusic (UK 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980

“Antmusic” is a song by Adam and the Ants, released as the third single in the UK in 1980 from the album Kings of the Wild Frontier (released 3 November 1980).

“Antmusic” peaked at No. 2 in the UK in January 1981, being held off the top by the re-release of John Lennon’s “Imagine” after his murder in New York City on 8 December 1980.

The music video to “Antmusic” featured the group playing in a discothèque with a giant juke box, and persuading the young audience to turn away from disco music and dance to the new-styled ‘Ant-Music’. The music video was directed by Steve Barron.

The single spent five weeks at No. 1 in Australia, and earned the band platinum certification for sales of over 100,000. Adam and the Ants toured Australia in 1981 and appeared on influential TV pop show Countdown.

Although some overseas singles include the 3:36 album version, the original UK vinyl 7″ single is 3:15. This short version has never appeared on CD to date.

SIDE A:
Antmusic 3:17
Written-By – Adam Ant And Marco Pirroni*

SIDE B:
Fall-In 2:08
Written-By – Adam Ant, Lester Square

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS ‎– S CBS 9352, CBS ‎– 9352
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 28 Nov 1980
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave

CREDITS:
Other [Clothes By] – Eve
Other [Make Up] – Jayne Vincent
Other [Styled By] – Jordan
Performer [Made By] – Adam Ant, Kevin Mooney, Marco*, Merrick, Terry Lee Miall
Producer – Chris Hughes
Words By, Music By – Ant/Marco*

NOTES:
B-side is listed as “Fall In” on the cover.
“Unplug the jukebox
and do us all a favour
that music’s lost its taste
so try another flavour
-ANTMUSIC!”

“Antmusic” from LP
“Kings Of The Wild Frontier”

Find the 7″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi