BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
“Baby Talk” is a 1985 dance/pop single by Alisha. Originally recorded and released by Gregg Brown in 1984, Alisha’s version was popular in the dance clubs and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart in December 1985.
Alisha’s version was produced by Mark S. Berry and released on Vanguard Records in September 1985 as the third single from her debut album Alisha. “Baby Talk” became Alisha’s most successful single to date, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance charts in the final week of December 1985. The single crossed over to the Hot 100 charts reaching No. 68 in February 1986, and on the Hot Black Singles chart, peaking at No. 75. It was also released in the UK on Total Control Records, and reached No. 67 on the UK Singles Chart.
The b-side “Instrumental Dub” and “Vocal Dub” are listed on the label as two seperate songs, however they are pressed as one continuous track on the vinyl. To keep the integrity of the original vinyl I chose not to seperate the songs into two individual tracks.
SIDE A:
Baby Talk (Special Remix) 6:42
SIDE B:
Baby Talk (Instrumental Dub) 10:09
Baby Talk (Vocal Dub)
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Baby Talk | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #68 |
| 1985 | Baby Talk | U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | #74 |
| 1985 | Baby Talk | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Vanguard – SPV 89
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Electro, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Arranged By – Michael Rudetsky
Executive-producer – Jeff Zaraya
Producer – Mark Berry
Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – Greg Brown (8), Logankoya
NOTES:
From the LP “ALISHA”
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
I have been on vacation and just started to catch up with all the 80s “goodies” you have been posting. Alisha and ‘Baby Talk’ was and still is one of my fave tracks. I remember that this hit the airwaves at the time when Madonna was making her mark in the pop music scene and then after that, a similar sound ‘Baby Love’ by Regina made its debut in 1986. It does make me wonder if people felt that they all sounded alike and probably dissed these types of songs. I on the other hand, loved them all! While on… Read more »
Do you have the original Gregg Brown version?
This was a mega club stomper, some of the finest work by Shep, only annoying thing is the somewhat distorted kick drum, which can be heard especially at the beginning of each mix when the kick drum comes in. And no, it’s not distorted only on the vinyl, but also on the CD releases, it’s produced that way, they recorded it much to loud! LOL
There’s also this Swedish 12″ from 1986 with an equally great mix of Baby Talk, called Baby Mix.
http://www.discogs.com/Alisha-Baby-Talk/release/236766
Thanks DJ Paul!!!
(You promised it few days ago and you did it).
Finally the return of Shep Pettibone on your site!
I think that this is one of his best Remix,
with a little bit of editing in the middle
that makes this production one of his best ever.
Respect to the Mad Vinyl Scientist!!!
more Shep Pettibone, please…
but all your choices are incredible!
Thank you BE.D12” I an sure there will be more Shep 🙂
Can i hope for a third Body Talk installment, this time by Imagination?
Peter I just ordered that one this morning hopefully I will have it to post soon 🙂
That’s wonderful news Paul, thank you very very much!
A nice surprise to see this release. I recall hearing it alot in 85 when living in NY.
Thanks Paul 🙂
you’re welcome Junior 🙂
Great post today! Very nice to have the dub in Paulity. Thanks!
thank you Stefano 🙂
Here you can listen to the Brand New Baby Mix, remixed by Fredrik Ramel. The link is available till 11 November. And no worries, the link is absolutely free of spam and other nasty things.
http://we.tl/VCERHaYVPu
Well this is a great surprise! Thank you very much for posting the B-Side Dub Versions.
(I remember back in 1985 that everyone thought this was Madonna) LOL
I’m hoping you will post “All Night Passion” & “Too Turned On” for their B-Sides as well. 😉
Ooh! Please don’t forget “Stargazing” too!
Jeff
Yes of course “Stargazing”. 🙂
I mentioned the other two mainly because my vinyl 12 inches I bought back in 1985 are so old and full of crackling. It would be amazing to hear them again given the DjPaulT treatment!
I fully agree to what you said. That Paul is AMAZING!!!!!
Jeff
Thank you Tony 🙂
I didn’t have “All Night Passions” or “Stargazing” but just ordered them today so hopefully I can have them for you guys next week or so 🙂
Tip for you Paul,
The Ben Liebrand remix of All Night Passions is better then the original extended. You can find it on the white cover 12″ with the title “new mix”.
Oh Paul, you really are the best. I just am overwhelmed and can not wait for an Alisha spotlight series. “Baby Talk” sounded so, so terrific after you got through with it. I had almost forgot about those great edits Shep put in. And that B-Side is fantastic. I couldn’t be anymore happier. Alisha really should have been a lot more well known. Mark Berry was a fantastic producer on her records. Thank you for this preservation.
Always,
Jeff
Flat-out surprised and delighted Paul!! Wow, it’s Alisha!!! I love her so very, very, VERY MUCH!! It’s so sad that her back catalog is really missing from label releases on compact disc, but, and EVER SO THANKFULLY!!, there is you DjPaulT. I love this record, which I do have on a couple of compilations, but you always get to those most coveted B-Sides. Wow and Whoa Paul. This is tremendous of you. And you are such a dear because someone just casually mentioned this song in a comment for another record. You always listen and make wishes come true Paul.… Read more »
You always make me smile with pleasure Jeff. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for clearing the issue with the B side. Since purchased back in the 80s I always questioned the absence of the break between both dubs.
You’re welcome Sergio 🙂