Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
I first shared Ellie Warren’s “Satellites” on Burning The Ground on September 24, 2012, when a reader requested it. Fourteen years later, I’ve put this Scottish Hi-NRG singer back on the turntable. Columbia Records released the UK 12-inch in 1986, and its 40th anniversary felt like a good time to give both sides a fresh listen. If you remember “Satellites” from the clubs, the mix you heard may well have been on the flip.
For this 2026 edition, I went back to the original vinyl and recorded both sides from the beginning using my current setup. I played the record on my Technics SL-1200MK7 with the Ortofon Concorde Music Black and captured it in Adobe Audition at 96 kHz in 32-bit float. Those fresh recordings were the starting point for a completely new audio restoration.
There’s a lot going on in both mixes. I wanted the drums to keep their punch and the bass to retain its depth, especially when the bright synths and Ellie’s voice come in together. Keeping the sound open and clear mattered most in those busy passages. I wanted you to be able to follow the detail in her vocals and still feel the beat underneath.
Some of you may already know Ellie’s voice from “Shattered Glass.” She recorded the song in 1980, several years before Laura Branigan had a hit with it. Ellie had sung with big bands, worked as a backing vocalist in London, and performed in the States with Gloria Gaynor and Edwin Starr. One of the best stories about her early solo career, though, comes from a pub in the north of England.
DJ Peter Oddy recalled finding a promo copy of “Shattered Glass” at Celia’s record shop in Huddersfield. He took it back to the White Hart in Castleton and played it several times a night. The bar staff worked out a tambourine routine to go with it. According to Oddy, other DJs picked up the idea, and soon people were asking for the record across Yorkshire. I love that detail. Imagine getting to know a song so well that the sight of the staff reaching for their tambourines told you what was coming.
The two singles share a name in the songwriting credits. Bob Mitchell co-wrote “Shattered Glass” with Steve Coe and went on to write “Satellites,” with Nick Glennie-Smith producing. Columbia backed the UK 7-inch with an instrumental, but the 12-inch gave each side to a different remixer. John Gallen handled “The Club Mix” on side A, which runs 5:39. Turn the record over and Tony Atkins gets nearly eight minutes with his 7:48 “Euro ’86 Mix.”
That B-side had quite a summer. On July 19, 1986, Record Mirror listed “Satellites (Remix)” at No. 9 on its Eurobeat chart. A week later it climbed to No. 5, right between Sparks’ “Music That You Can Dance To” and Evelyn Thomas’ “How Many Hearts.” The August 2 issue filled in a small but welcome detail for collectors. It identified the version by name as the “Euro ’86 Mix” and showed its previous position as No. 5.
I’m glad someone asked for “Satellites” back in 2012. If you picked it up here the first time around, I hope you enjoy hearing both mixes again with this new transfer. And if you danced to Ellie in 1986, I’d love to hear where you heard her. Sometimes all it takes is putting on one record to remember a whole night. Enjoy!
SIDE A:
A1. Satellites (The Club Mix) 5:39
Remix – John Gallen
SIDE B:
B1. Satellites (Euro ’86 Mix) 7:49
Remix – Tony Atkins
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 12DB 9132
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Executive-Producer – Jean Claude Alves, Marvin Howell
- Photography By – Leo Lyons (2)
- Producer – Nick Glennie-Smith
- Sleeve – The Snap Organisation
- Written-By – Bob Mitchell
NOTES:
D stamped in runouts indicates that the plant received a copper plate, not a lacquer.
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
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Love this one, it has that mid 80’s hopeful pop sound that is reminiscent of several other songs of the era. Another fun post-Halloween track. So wild that Ellie only released singles. I suppose in a way that makes her more successful than other artists for percentage of hit songs!
Two great mixes here, I particularly enjoy the Euro Mix and how it strips back the instrumentals near the end.
Great selection Paul, thanks so much as this is yet another I wasn’t around for the first time!
This is so great Paul! I missed your original post and I think this is new to my ears. But it has all the qualities that made the post-disco dance/club scene so great. I suppose the comparisons to Laura Branigan are inevitable – Self Control and Spanish Eddie come to mind. This really holds its own and it’s a real treat you brought this back in a meticulous new restoration. Big thank you!
Thank you, Retro Hound! I can see why “Self Control” and “Spanish Eddie” came to mind. Ellie really makes this one her own, though. I’m glad bringing it back gave you a chance to hear it. I put a lot of care into this new restoration, so your appreciation means a lot. Enjoy both mixes!
This is a nice surprise, especially since all of her singles have been out of print for decades. Too bad she never released a full-length. I hope you have a few more of her singles.
Once again, this is why your site is so indispensable! These treasures would be lost forever without you!
Axel F80,
Very well said! I couldn’t agree more. Paul deserves so many accolades for what he does. He’s responsible for so many song introductions I wouldn’t have heard without him and his site! He is a dream come true with his musical tastes!!
Jeff
If these artists and labels were smart, they would pay Paul to restore some of these old records, so they can put them on streaming services and earn some royalties.
Amen 🙏
Jeff
Thank you, Axel! It means a lot to know these posts are appreciated. A full album from Ellie would have been lovely. I’ll have to check my shelves to see what else I have by her. Hearing the response to “Satellites” makes me glad I gave it another spin!
Thank you Paul for the great rip!
You’re very welcome, Dino! Glad you enjoyed the new transfer. It was a pleasure revisiting this one!
Paul, I really love how you’re looking back on your archives of posts, also known as your, “Paul-ography!” The fan who gave it that name is a genius. Thank you to whomever gave it that name! I do remember how one of your fans once complimented you for this single. I’m grateful too because I thought it was quite impressive. I’ve actually heard of her before with a monumental song called, “Primitive Love” which appeared on a Razormaid! compilation series called, “How Slow Can You Go?” which focused on lower tempo tracks from an eclectic selection of artists. “Primitive Love”… Read more »
Thank you, Jeff! “Paul-ography” still makes me smile. With so many years of posts, it’s fun to revisit a record and hear what everyone remembers about it.
Your description of “Primitive Love” gave me a chuckle! I appreciate you sharing that Razormaid! connection too. You’ve certainly made me curious about that mix.
After all our darker Halloween selections, “Satellites” felt like a good excuse to get back on the Hi-NRG dancefloor. Knowing it brings you this much happiness makes the time spent on the new transfer worthwhile. Thank you for always sharing your enthusiasm, my friend!