BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“(How to Be a) Millionaire” is a song by the British band ABC. It was the first single taken from their 1985 album How to Be a…Zillionaire!.
The single peaked at a modest #49 on the UK Singles Chart, though it fared better in the US where it reached #20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
The music video shows a cartoon Martin Fry and Mark White being overwhelmed by their luxury goods, which are continually growing in size. The other two band members make a brief appearance in cartoon form.
SIDE A:
How To Be A Zillionaire (Wall St. Mix) 7:33
SIDE B:
How To Be A Millionaire 3:31
How To Be A Millionaire (Accapella) 3:30
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | How To Be A Millionaire | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #20 |
| 1984 | How To Be A Millionaire | U.S. Billboard Dance Club Plays | #4 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Neutron Records
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Nov 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Arranged By – Mark White
Artwork By [Art] – ABC / Best Films / Design KB
Engineer – Martyn Webster
Performer – David*, Fiona*, Mark*, Martin*
Producer, Written-By – Mark White, Martin Fry
NOTES:
Mastered at the Town House Studios, London
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
A re-up would be wonderful — even without an upgrade. Even the old rips sound gread compared to CD. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Hi Paul, I am wondering if you ever go back read the new comments for older posts? Is it possible that you ever consider this and “Be Near Me” to be rip you would re-rip with your new stylus? I am just curious, do you think these older rips are lower-sound quality? Is that why you re-rip some vinyl? I am just curious. This song is such an important one for me, had such an impact on me back on the 80’s, among other key tracks. (Depeche Mode’s “People Are People” was one) as well as so many others… (Eurythmics… Read more »
Thanks very much, Paul.
Damn, this takes me back to my early days as a radio announcer – third shift in my co-announcer and I playlisted this song. I’ve lost count of the amount of ABC releases I’ve pawed through since to find a pristine copy of the original 7″ single… and here it is in all its Polygramaticaly polarizing glory!
Love your work Paul – hats off to you. Looking forward to you digging out a bunch more memories the majors have seen fit to bury.
Great stuff. Thanks!
Hey! Thankyou very much for all your efforts and uploads, it really is appreciated. I don’t know as much about vinyl and analog sound as much as I do digital formats, So I was hoping you might be able to help me, some of your rips, like, the look of love, dr. beat and I think a few of the commadores tracks, all have a peaky/crackling sound that comes from vocals or sounds that are in a similar register. Is this something during caused during the ripping process like something from the needle or the preamp? I don’t really understand… Read more »
My copy of this went missing years ago. Nice to hear it again.
thank you! 🙂
Thank you!
WOW! A classic early 80s New Romantics group that cross over to the Synth Pop genre in the mid 80s.
Didn’t enjoy the Beauty Stab phase, Zillionaire would have been the perfect followup to The Lexicon Of Love.
Love all the singles released from this album, despite its gimmicky lineup during this era and the cartoon video for this.
Thanks Paul!
I absolutely LOVED this record! thx so much!
I absolutley LOVED this record! thx so much!
thanks once again, my favorite song from one of my favorite 80s bands! you rock!! also, i’m with omar – any more 80’s new romatic posts will be much appreciated!
YAY! The original mixes of the song – Polygram deemed the synth-guitar too polarizing (that’s why the US version omitted it in lieu of the rhythm guitar break US audiences are familiar with – despite that the video looked much better with the original!) – such a Liggett/Barbosa sonic tip on this too! Thanks brother Paul, you never disappoint!
Thank you, Paul! Another great choice 🙂
I always felt this was ‘the one that got away’, from ABC.
An absolutely brilliant album too!
The ‘Wall Street Mix’ by Martyn Webster is available on ‘The Remix Collection’ CD.
The ‘Bond Street Mix’ by Martyn Webster (is available on the ‘Zillionaire’ 1998 Remaster CD)
The ‘Harajuku Mix’ by Julian Mendelsohn is available on the ‘Zillionaire’ 2005 Remaster CD
The only mixes that haven’t ever appeared on CD (to my knowledge) are ‘Nickel & Dime Mix’ by Julian Mendelsohn, and the ‘Acappella’.
Has the “How To Be A Billionaire” instrumental from the 7″ appeared on CD?
Pounds Dollars Millionaire! I love this song and love this Blog. Thanks for all that you do!
Love ABC (Martin Fry is such a great guy) and this track is a wonderful reminder from my high school days. Thanks for posting it Paul!
You’re welcome Wayne.
Paul Thanks so much. I Luv this mix . Please post more Uk New Romantic stuff.
Ok Omar new New rontics coming soon.
Booya!! Now this is what I’m talkin’ about!! Thanks so much!
you’re welcome Chris.