Year: 2019

April 23, 2019

Madonna – Like A Virgin (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

Originally posted October 27, 2011

“Like a Virgin” is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on October 31, 1984, by Sire Records as the album’s lead single. The song was written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and produced by Nile Rodgers; Steinberg said that the song was inspired by his personal experiences of romance. “Like a Virgin” was chosen for Madonna by Michael Ostin of Warner Bros. Records after listening to a demo sung by Kelly. Rodgers initially felt that the song did not have a sufficient hook, but subsequently changed his opinion after the song was stuck in his head.

Musically, “Like a Virgin” is a dance-oriented song, composed of two hooks. Madonna’s voice is heard in a high register while a continuous arrangement of synths is heard along with the bassline. The lyrics of the song are ambiguous and consist of hidden innuendo, interpreted in different ways. “Like a Virgin” received positive reviews from music critics, who frequently called it as one of the defining songs for Madonna. It became her first number-one single on the record charts in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States, while reaching the top ten elsewhere.

The song’s music video portrayed Madonna sailing down the canals of Venice in a gondola, as well as roaming around a palace wearing a white wedding dress. With the video, scholars noted Madonna’s portrayal of a sexually independent woman, the similarity of a man wearing lion’s mask to that of Saint Mark, and the link between the eroticism in the video and the vitality of Venice. Madonna has performed the song in seven of her concert tours. Most of the time, her performances of “Like a Virgin” were associated with strong reaction and uproar from the media.

“Like a Virgin” has been covered by a number of artists and has appeared in or been referenced in feature films such as Reservoir Dogs, Moulin Rouge! and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Family groups sought to ban it as they believed the song promoted sex without marriage. On the other hand, Madonna’s public persona of an indomitable, sexually unashamed, supremely confident woman was widely accepted by the younger generation who emulated her style and fashion. Scholars have credited “Like a Virgin” as the song which cemented her position as a pop culture icon.

SIDE A:
Like A Virgin (Extended Dance Remix) 6:07
Engineer [Additional] – Melanie West
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Hutchinson
Written-By – Billy Steinberg/Tom Kelly*

SIDE B:
Stay 4:04
Written-By – Madonna, Steve Bray*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Like A Virgin	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1985	Like A Virgin	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1985	Like A Virgin	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20239, Sire ‎– 9 20239-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Photography By – Larry Williams (9)
Producer – Nile Rodgers

NOTES:
Original version of “Like A Virgin” and “Stay” from the Sire album “Like A Virgin”

Made in U.S.A.

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

April 22, 2019

Culture Club – The War Song (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“The War Song” is a 1984 song by the British band Culture Club which features background vocals by Clare Torry. It was the lead single from the band’s third album Waking Up with the House on Fire. The song became the group’s seventh top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two. In the U.S. the single peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit the top ten in many countries including Canada (#7), Ireland (#1), Italy (#3) and Australia (#2). While very popular at the time, it was not appreciated by some music critics for some weakness in the lyrics and less original arrangements.

The song was assisted by a popular music video, directed by Russell Mulcahy, which features hundreds of children dressed as skeletons. Lead singer Boy George is shown with his new flame-red hair, and also employs four wigs in black, white, yellow and blue.

In many countries, the single was released with a B-Side consisting of a native-language version (Spanish, French, Japanese or German) of the song. It was available in two different extended versions, a first in Culture Club discography. Its 7″ picture disc was shelved, and the only remaining copies are very rare.

It was Culture Club’s last UK top 5 hit before 1998’s “I Just Wanna Be Loved”.

The record labels list the album title as “Waking Up In A Burning House”.

SIDE A:
The War Song (Ultimate Dance Mix) 6:50

SIDE B:
The War Song (Shriek Mix) 6:17
La Cancion De Guerra 4:05

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	The War Song	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#17
1984	The War Song	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#87
1984	The War Song	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#7

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic ‎– 49-05107
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Artwork [Sleeve Produced By] – Assorted iMaGES
Backing Vocals – Alanda Marchant, Alice Kemp (2), Andriana Loizou, Imogen Exton, Tara Thomas
Mixed By – Jon Moss
Mixed By, Producer – Steve Levine
Other [Styling] – Kim Bowen
Photography By, Other [Make Up] – Stevie Hughes
Voice [Primal Scream] – Clare Torry
Written-By – Culture Club

NOTES:
Special Version from the Virgin / Epic LP “Waking Up In A Burning House”

Produced for Do Not Erase Productions.
Mastered at Sterling.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.

April 19, 2019

Carol Douglas – “I Got Your Body”/”Got Ya Where I Want Ya” )France 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“I Got Your Body”/”Got Ya Where I Want Ya” is a 1983 single by American singer Carol Douglas whose hit “Doctor’s Orders” (1974) was a pioneering track in the disco genre. “I Got Your Body”/”Got Ya Where I Want Ya” was a single taken from Carol Douglas sixth album “I Got Your Body”. In the US the album was renamed “Love Zone” which became her last studio album to date.

SIDE A:
I Got Your Body 4:49
Mixed By – Mark Berry
Producer – Eddie O’Loughlin
Producer, Mixed By, Arranged By – Andy Barret*

SIDE B:
Got Ya Where I Want Ya 3:59
Mixed By – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Producer, Mixed By, Arranged By – Richard Sher*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Carrere – 8256
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: France
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Disco

NOTES:
1983 Savoir Faire Records, Paris

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.

April 18, 2019

Belouis Some – Let It Be With You (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Let It Be with You” is a single by British musician Belouis Some, from his 1987 self-titled second album, Belouis Some. The song reached #53 on the UK Singles Chart, and #13 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Two music videos were filmed to promote the single, with the UK and European version being shot in London. The North American version was shot in New York, directed by Willie Slax and produced by Julian Ludlow for 4-D Productions. It achieved breakout rotation on MTV.

Upon release, Cash Box listed the single as one of their “feature picks” during June 1987. They described the song as a “danceable, feverish single”.

SIDE A:
Let It Be With You (Twilight Mix) 7:05
Remix – ‘Mix Master’ Phil Harding*

Let It Be With You (Drive Time Mix) 3:33
Remix – ‘Mix Master’ Phil Harding*

SIDE B:
Let It Be With You (Midnight Mix) 6:53
Remix – John Robie

Let It Be With You (Dawn Dub) 7:10
Remix – John Robie

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Let It Be With You	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#13

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records ‎– V-15310
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Accident (8)
Photography By – Eric Watson (3)
Producer – Gary Langan
Written-By – Belouis Some

NOTES:
Original version can be found on the LP “BELOUIS SOME”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.