BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
REQUEST
“Be Near Me” is a song by the British band ABC. It was released in March 1985 as the second single from the band’s album How to Be a … Zillionaire! It peaked at #26 on the UK singles chart in 1985, and was the only single from the album to reach the UK Top 40. It was more successful in the United States where it reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also went to #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart in September of that year, remaining on top for two weeks.
The “Ecstasy Mix” is exclusive to North American releases of “Be Near Me” 12″.
SIDE A:
Be Near Me (Munich Mix) 5:30
SIDE B:
Be Near Me (Ecstasy Mix) 4:45
What’s Your Destination? 3:38
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Be Near Me | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #9 |
| 1985 | Be Near Me | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – 884 052-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Artwork By [Sleeve Art] – ABC, David Levine, Keith Breeden
Engineer – Martyn Webster
Performer – David Yarritu, Eden (15)
Written-By, Producer, Arranged By, Performer – Mark White
Written-By, Producer, Performer – Martin Fry
NOTES:
From the Mercury album “How To Be A Millionaire”
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
My favorite song by ABC! I love the Munich Mix version the most. Thanks, Paul
ABC’s “Be Near Me”! One of my ALL TIME Favorite songs from the 80’s, and the “Munich Remix” is considered one of the greatest Classic mixes from the 80’s, at the time it was considered from what I remember a new high for Remixes, just the way it incorporated Disco in to the mix, and it was also considered pretty cutting edge at the time. I remember recording this Munich Mix and also OMD’s “If You Leave” Remix off the radio on to a cassette tape back in 1986 and playing those over and over on my stereo. They blew… Read more »
Wonderful!
Love this song!
Thanks again.
Hey Paul, great rip! Over the years, I found a 9 minute mix that sounds similar to the this Munich mix. I later found out it was the Hot Tracks Mix. I think a video with the track is available on Youtube. I always wondered if this version was just edited, and the longer version was the Hot Tracks mix, but now I know for sure it wasn’t. Thanks!
Yes Paul, you did a bang-up job on this twelve!! I love those stabs of strings/orchestra hits and the piano and bells!! The songs from the album had such a wonderful producer sheen over everything and your rip is gorgeous. Thank you for introducing me to the “Ecstasy Mix” as I think it’s a fabulous version. You are flat-out amazing with your mad skills. Many, many thanks!
Jeff
Great post. I love this song, it is what initially introduced me to ABC way back in the day. I was lucky enough to see ABC play in Santa Cruz a couple of years ago, I honestly never thought I would get the chance to see them live, it was a fantastic show by the sea, the band sounded great and Martin Fry is a real star in person. I’m wondering if you have the UK 7″ of How to be A Millionaire, from what Ive read it is a unique mix unavailable elsewhere.
Yes, this is absolutely lovely – thanks, Paul. 🙂
The single mix of millionaire is on the 12″ that . The almost instrumental flip side, … Billionaire, is exclusive to the 7″ though. 🙂
Oooops, screwed up the tag…. you’ll get it anyway. ;9
Jam!
Thank you SOOOO much! I have extremely fond memories of this song, 12″, and just everything about it! Every time I see the 12″ cover I am instantly transported back to a very fond day in 1985!! I am, however, greatly confused on why ABC has never released the Ecstasy Mix on cd. If anyone knows of it’s existence, I would love to buy it. It’s the first 9 seconds that, even on this great rip, a lot of background noise can still be heard…boy would it be nice to have those seconds in pristine cd quality. 🙂 Thanks so… Read more »
I have three copies of this 12″ Fred they all sound the same. I think it’s supposed to be there or it’s in the master. 🙂
Funny…I was going to say the same thing in my original post as I have 2 copies of this 12″ and they are in amazing condition. I’m wondering it it’s just due to the first 9 seconds being so quiet and it’s at the beginning of the record…or just a bad vinyl cut when it was mastered. Maybe someday it will be released on CD and I can finally solve the mystery! 🙂 Thanks again for the amazing rip!
Thanks very much. The Ecstasy Mix also appears on the UK/EU 12″ of Ocean Blue.
You’re welcome 🙂
The Ecstasy Mix also appeared on Vanity Kills, https://www.discogs.com/ABC-Vanity-Kills/release/110574. But that inno way diminishes my love of this song or Paul’s work 🙂
Thank you Christian 🙂
Thanks Paul. Love Abc. Do you have the The Night You Murdered Love (7″ edit)?
Just the 12″ Omar.
Another thrilling post Paul!!!! Sometimes, I don’t know how my heart can take it. You just have all these favorites of mine. I see this is a request too. Your readers have exquisite tastes as well. This is a fantastic record and I’m looking forward to some of the mixes I’m not familiar with. This makes your postings so welcome. So much is lost, but we champion and celebrate you dear Paul, because you bring back so much and more. I am really pumped when it comes to you. As I said earlier today, whenever I hear music from the… Read more »
Thank you Jeff. I love this 12″ so much and remember when this was all over US radio. I still hear it even now 🙂
Yes, me too. Great music should never be lost and if it is we ALWAYS have you to come to the rescue!!
Jeff