Year: 2019

The Human League – Empire State Human (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980

“Empire State Human” is a song by the British synthpop group The Human League. The song was written by Philip Oakey, Martyn Ware, and Ian Craig Marsh. It was co-produced by The Human League and Colin Thurston and recorded at Monumental Studios in Sheffield.

The song was the third single to be released by the original line-up of the Human League, and the first and only single from the band’s 1979 debut album Reproduction. Upon its first release in October 1979, the single failed to chart. However, it was re-released in June 1980 and fared slightly better, reaching number 62 in the UK Singles Chart. For the re-release, Virgin Records included a free copy of the single “Only After Dark” with the first 15,000 copies as a sweetener.

Lyrically, “Empire State Human” is a song about becoming powerful using the analogy of size, with Oakey declaring that he wants to be “tall” a total of 60 times in 3 minutes. The uncut magazine drew a comparison with Oakey’s own personal ambition:

“ “I wanna be tall, tall, tall, as big as a wall, wall, wall”. Oakey’s Nietzschian pop fantasy reflected his own burgeoning full-on pop ambitions… ”

The B-side, “Introducing”, is an instrumental produced by The Human League. Oakey sang on the original recording but the vocals were not used on the released version.

The open-shirted man on the cover artwork is band member Ian Craig Marsh’s father.

SIDE A:
Empire State Human 3:11
Producer – Colin Thurston, The Human League

SIDE B:
Introducing 3:14
Producer –The Human League

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin ‎– VS 351-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: Jun 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Other [Clothes] – Colley
Written-By – Marsh*, Ware*, Oakey*

NOTES:
Reissue as 12″ with the same tracks as the original 7″ VS 294 (released 12 October 1979)

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Front 242 – Masterhit (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Masterhit” is a 1987 single by the Belgian electronic music group Front 242 that came into prominence during the 1980s. Pioneering the style they called electronic body music, they were a profound influence on the electronic and industrial music genres. Released by Wax Trax! Records, “Masterhit” appears on the band’s third studio album “Official Version”.

The sample saying “You know me and I sure know you, everyone” is from the surreal 1983 sci-fi movie “Videodrome” written & directed by David Cronenberg.

SIDE A:
Masterhit (Part I – Masterblaster) 7:07

SIDE B:
Masterhit (Part II – Hypnomix) 4:35
Masterhit (Part III – LP Edit Version) 4:59

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Wax Trax! Records ‎– WAX 036
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: EBM

NOTES:
Jacket Made in Canada

Side A: runs on 45 rpm
Side B: runs on 33 ⅓ rpm

MASTERED BY TRUTONE -9-87

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Alphaville – Dance With Me (Empire Remix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Dance with Me” is the first of five singles from Alphaville’s second album, Afternoons in Utopia. It was released in March 1986, ahead of the album. The track was a top 10 hit in Europe.

In the United States, the single reached #22 on the Billboard Dance Chart.

SIDE A:
Dance With Me (Empire Remix) 8:11
Producer – Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero

SIDE B:
The Nelson Highrise Sector 2: The Mirror 3:42
Producer – Alphaville
Ba The Other Side Of U
Bb Airlines
Bc T.O.S.O.U. (Reprise)

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Dance With Me U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #22

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: WEA ‎– X8747 T, WEA ‎– 248747-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Written-By – Lloyd*, Gold*, Echolette*

NOTES:
Manufactured in the UK

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Gladys Knight And The Pips – Love Overboard (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Love Overboard” is a Grammy Award-winning 1987 single by Gladys Knight and the Pips. The single was significant because it was the first Top 40 hit for the group in over a decade, and their final Pop Top 40 release as well.

“Love Overboard” was the group’s last of ten #1 hits on the Hot Black Singles chart. It crossed over to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well. The single was also successful on the dance charts, peaking at number four. It also peaked at #59 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart.

Knight performs the song in a dream sequence on the episode “Three Girls Three” of A Different World, with Whitley and Jaleesa singing background for her (instead of the Pips).

SIDE A:
Love Overboard (Extended Version) 5:58

SIDE B:
Love Overboard (Instrumental) 5:56

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Love Overboard U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #13
1987 Love Overboard U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #1
1987 Love Overboard U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/ Club Play #4

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records ‎– MCA-23803, MCA Records ‎– MCA 23803
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Soul

CREDITS:
Executive-Producer – Bubba Knight, Gladys Knight
Management – Sidney A. Seidenberg, Inc.*
Producer – Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway
Written-By – Reggie Calloway

NOTES:
Recorded at QCA Studios, Cincinnati, OH
Original version appears on the MCA LP, “ALL OUR LOVE”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.