Tag: UK

May 20, 2016

Van McCoy – The Hustle (Disco Mix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1979

“The Hustle” is a disco song by songwriter/arranger Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. It went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts during the summer of 1975. It also peaked at number 9 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report) and number 3 in the UK. It would eventually sell over one million copies and is one of the most popular songs of the disco era. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1976.

While in New York City to make an album, McCoy composed the song after his music partner, Charles Kipps, watched patrons do a dance known as “the Hustle” in the nightclub Adam’s Apple. The sessions were done at New York’s Media Sound studio with pianist McCoy, bassist Gordon Edwards, drummer Steve Gadd, keyboardist Richard Tee, guitarists Eric Gale and John Tropea, and orchestra leader Gene Orloff. Producer Hugo Peretti contracted piccolo player Philip Bodner to play the lead melody.

According to producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, who owned the Avco record label that originally released “The Hustle”, McCoy met with them shortly before his death in 1979 to discuss ideas for a new, longer version of the song, in order to appease Avco’s UK and German affiliates who were clamoring for a 12″ disco single release. The new version, clocking in at just under 6-and-a-half minutes, was assembled posthumously as a remix, using parts of the original recording plus new parts, including drum, Syndrum, and a “little” Moog synthesizer. It was credited to Van McCoy alone or with an unnamed orchestra, mixed by “The Mix Masters”, identity unknown.

The b-side “Love Is The Answer” is also an extended “Disco Mix” but not credited as such on sleeve.

SIDE A:
The Hustle (Disco Mix) 6:27

SIDE B:
Love Is The Answer (Disaco Mix) 8:12

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1976	The Hustle	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1976	The Hustle	U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: H & L Records ‎– 9198 436
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1979
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Disco Mix By – The Mix Masters
Arranged By – Van McCoy
Conductor – Van McCoy

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
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: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series 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 6, 2016

Chaka Khan I Feel For You (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“I Feel for You” is a song written by Prince that originally appeared on his 1979 self-titled album, one of two songs on that album (along with “I Wanna Be Your Lover”) written as demos for Patrice Rushen, though neither appeared on any Rushen album. The most successful and well known version was recorded by female R&B singer Chaka Khan, appearing on her 1984 album, I Feel for You. Prince, as songwriter, won the 1985 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.

Khan’s version featured an all-star supporting cast, with rapping from Melle Mel Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, guitar, drum programming, bass guitar, keyboards and arrangement by Reggie Griffin, bass synthesizer and programming by The System’s David Frank and chromatic harmonica playing by Stevie Wonder. The song also uses vocal samples from Wonder’s “Fingertips”. The repetition of Khan’s name by Melle Mel at the beginning of the song was originally a mistake made by producer Arif Mardin ), who then decided to keep it.

This version of the song became a million-selling smash in the U.S. and UK, and it helped to relaunch Khan’s career. The song hit No. 1 on the Cash Box singles chart and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November-December 1984. The song remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 26 weeks and became one of Billboard’s five biggest pop songs of the year for 1985. The single reached No. 1 on both the U.S. dance and R&B charts in late 1984, remaining atop both for three weeks each. In addition, the song also reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. While touring with Prince in 1998 in support of her collaborative album, Come 2 My House, Khan and Prince performed “I Feel for You” as a duet.

The Pointer Sisters recorded the song in 1982, two years before Khan’s version was a hit, on their album So Excited!.

Rebbie Jackson recorded it for her 1984 debut album Centipede.

SIDE A:
I Feel For You (Remix) 7:12
Arranged By – Arif Mardin, Reggie Griffin
Edited By [Special Edits] – Arif Mardin
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Michael O’Reilly
Written-By – Prince

SIDE B:
I Feel For You (Edit) 4:03
Arranged By – Arif Mardin, Reggie Griffin
Edited By [Special Edits] – Arif Mardin
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Michael O’Reilly
Written-By – Prince

Chinatown 4:34
Arranged By – Philippe Saisse
Lyrics By – Chaka Khan, Rhoda Roberts
Music By – Philippe Saisse

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	I Feel For You	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#3
1984	For Youe Jean	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#1
1984	I Feel For You	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records ‎– W 9209 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Funk / Soul

CREDITS:
Producer – Arif Mardin
Recorded By, Mixed By – Lew Hahn

NOTES:
Produced for Deniz Productions.
From the forthcoming Warner Bros. album “I Feel For You”

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, 2016

Sheila E. – Special Medley (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Special Medley” is a 1985 12″ single released only in Europe and Australia to help promote Sheila E.’s debut album Romance 1600 it features a medley of “The Glamorous Life”, “Sister Fate” and “A Love Bizarre.

The b-side “A Love Bizarre” was the last single taken from the album and was Sheila E.’s last major hit and her second biggest behind her debut single “The Glamorous Life”. The song was performed in the film Krush Groove, in which Sheila E. also had a major supporting role. The song was a major hit and reached #1 on the Urban radio airplay and Dance/Club play charts. On other American charts, “A Love Bizarre” went to #2 on the U.S. R&B charts and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Pop radio airplay charts. “A Love Bizarre”was written by Prince and Sheila E.. The song is a duet between both singers.

SIDE A:
Special Medley Of 7:04

a) The Glamorous Life
Producer [Directed (Produced) By] – Sheila E., The Starr Company*
Written-By – Sheila E.

b) Sister Fate
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By – Sheila E.

c) A Love Bizarre (Pt. I)
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By – Prince, Sheila E.

SIDE B:
A Love Bizarre (Pts. I And II) 7:13
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By – Prince, Sheila E.

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985/56	A Love Bizarre	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#11
1985/86	A Love Bizarre	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1985/86	A Love Bizarre	U.S. Billboard Hot Black singles	#2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records ‎– W8890 TX
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Partially Mixed
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mastered By – Tone* (tracks: A1 to A3)

NOTES:
Made in UK

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

April 26, 2016

Sheila E. – The Glamourous Life (8 Minute Version) (UK 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

Originally posted August 11, 2011

“The Glamorous Life” is a song written by Prince in 1984 and first recorded by singer/percussionist Sheila E. The dance song has lyrics which reflect a cynicism for the decadence and materialism of the song’s protagonist, referred to in the third person, who “wants to lead a glamorous life”, although she is aware that “without love, it ain’t much”.

“The Glamorous Life” was originally intended to be recorded by the short-lived replacement act for Vanity 6, girl group Apollonia 6. Prince allegedly had several tracks lined up for the trio to record for their 1984 debut album (and by some accounts, their follow up album as well), but abandoned the idea when he learned that lead singer Apollonia Kotero had no desire to stay in the group beyond her contractual obligations as designed for her movie role in Purple Rain.

Prince decided to give the song to Sheila E. who was fresh off her duet on Prince’s “Erotic City”. “The Glamorous Life” would be recorded by Sheila E. and go on to launch her solo career.

“The Glamorous Life” was the title track and closing song on Sheila E.’s debut solo album, and reached number 7 on the U.S. pop charts, as well as number 1 on the U.S. dance charts, and earned a Grammy Award nomination. Internationally the song reached number 2 on the Dutch Top 40 and number 76 on the U.K. Singles Chart.

Sheila E.’s live performances of the song became memorable events, most notably for her percussion solo towards the end of the song. Depending on the occasion, she would either spin around several times while drumming without missing a beat during the rigorous solo, place one highly elevated foot on a snare while standing on the other leg mid-solo, or perform with glow-in-the-dark drumsticks. While the solo featured in the song helped to bolster Sheila E.’s fame, all subsequent versions of this song have no drum solo.

SIDE A:
The Glamorous Life (8 Minute Version) 9:02

SIDE B:
The Glamorous Life (Part II) 3:15

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	The Glamorous Life	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#7
1984	The Glamorous Life	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1984	The Glamorous Life	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Music UK Ltd. ‎– SAM 196
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Funk

CREDITS:
Co-producer – Jamie Starr
Directed By – Starr * Company, The
Producer, Directed By – Sheila E.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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