BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
“Sun City” is a 1985 protest song written by Steven Van Zandt, produced by Van Zandt and Arthur Baker and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to the South African policy of apartheid. The primary means of that opposition is to declare that all the artists involved would refuse any and all offers to perform at Sun City, a resort which was located within the bantustan of Bophuthatswana, one of a number of internationally unrecognized states created by the South African government to forcibly relocate its black population.
“Sun City” only reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1985. Only about half of American radio stations played “Sun City”, with some objecting to the lyrics’ explicit criticism of President Ronald Reagan’s policy of “constructive engagement.” (Joey Ramone’s line in the song criticizes Reagan. Ramone also expressed open discontent and criticism towards him with the Ramones song “Bonzo Goes to Bitburg”.) The song was banned in South Africa itself.
The song did somewhat better overseas, reaching #21 on the UK Singles Chart, #4 in Australia and achieving chart action in a number of other European countries, becoming a substantial hit in The Netherlands. It was also a top ten single in Canada in December 1985 and January 1986.
“Sun City” was picked as record of the year by many of the most influential music critics, topping the prestigious international Pazz & Jop Critics Poll for best single of the year.
The album and single raised more than a million U.S. dollars for anti-apartheid projects. It premiered at the United Nations, thanks to the Special Committee Against Apartheid and UN officers such as Aracelly Santana.
Featuring – Afrika Bambaataa, Anthony Williams, Big Youth, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Bobby Womack, Bonnie Raitt, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Clarence Clemons, Darlene Love, Daryl Hall, David Ruffin Jr, Duke Bootee, Eddie Kendricks, Fat Boys, George Clinton, Gil Scott-Heron, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Herbie Hancock, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Cliff, Joey Ramone, John Oates, Kashif, Kurtis Blow, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Little Steven, Lou Reed, Malopoets, Michael Monroe, Miles Davis, Nona Hendryx, Pat Benatar, Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel, Peter Garrett, Peter Wolf, Ray Barretto, Ringo Starr, Ron Carter, Ruben Blades, Run-DMC, Scorpio (3), Shankar, Sonny Okosun, Stanley Jordan, Stiv Bators, Tina B, Via Afrika, Will Downing, Zak Starkey
Producer – Arthur Baker, Little Steven
SIDE A:
Sun City (Last Remix) 9:36
SIDE B:
Not So Far Away (Dub Version) 12:32
Tracking By [Emulator Overdubs] – Keith Le Blanc*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Sun City | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #38 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Manhattan Records – V-56013
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: October 25, 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Edited By – Albert Cobrera*, Aldo Miran
Engineer [Mix] – Frank Filipetti
Engineer [Mix], Remix – Jay Burnett
Producer – Little Steven
Producer, Remix – Arthur Baker
NOTES:
The artist royalties from this record are going to The Africa Fund, a charitable trust based in New York City and registered with the United Nations. The income will benefit political prisoners and their families in South Africa, educational and cultural needs of South African exiles, and educational work of anti-apartheid groups in the United States.
Mixed at Electric Lady, NYC.
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
Oh Paul, you have so made my day, week, month, year!! After pretty much exhausting my efforts to find these versions (after realising that I’d never find the Dub on CD) I really thought that I would never own a ‘pristine’ copy of Sun City. I’ve always loved the ‘edit’ style of mixing and this 12″ just blew me away when I first heard it all those years ago. The sheer power of the song, the trickery in the editing, the construction of these two mighty mixes were a pinnacle of their time and, to me, they’ve not aged at… Read more »
I have never heard this mix so thank you very much for this killer track.
THANK, YOU, SO, MUCH!! I for one AM gonna play Sun City, and play it loud!
Thank you very much for this maxi-single.
Sound is so clear, you have done a great job again.
I have been few times in Sun City and liked it a lot.
(It was one of the first Western music videos ever shown by the Soviet TV, in late 1985)
very interesting thanks for the info 🙂
Not at all, Paul))
I was 4 years old.
Thank you very much! I’ve been searching for this song for ages!
you’re welcome Vlad 🙂
Is this the same Bono that wants to invests in Africa, to uhm, only gain more money for uhm, you tell me? Because he, the One, could not tell us where it went.
Thanks so much Paul. One of my fave Arthur Baker, Latin Rascal dubs. Do you have the Let Me See Your I.D. 12? Cheers
you’re welcome Andrew. Sorry I do not have that one at this time 🙂
This sounds like an interesting 12″. Many thanks!
you’re welcome Neil 🙂
Wow! I just thought about this song and looked through the listing last night to see if you ever posted this. I have the full length CD of Sun City, so I have The Last Remix, but the Not So Far Away (Dub Version) wasn’t included on it. I did find it on another blog somewhere, but it sounded terrible. Can’t wait to finally hear it in good quality sound. Thanks Paul!
you’re welcome Pat 🙂
I am floored Paul!! Wow! and OMG!!! Now, this is a record!! Powerful and pounding with strong vocals and production that pushes its message loud and clear!! Mr. Baker created the perfect anthem here with Little Steven. I have the album on CD which includes its INTENSE remix, but with you, you’ve given us the incredible dub mix on the flip. I am so grateful to you for making Arthur Baker’s discography available to us with all the bells and whistles attached!!! I always think that the dub versions give the opportunity for the producer/remixer to put their unique stamp… Read more »
Oh, I see that only one Rascal, Albert Cabrera participated with Cutting Records head president Aldo Marin. Mr. Marin used to do fantastic custom music mixes for 92KTU in the 80’s. Aldo also created the wonderful electro single “Al Nayfish (sic)” with Hashim. Wow, such memories. Loved Mr. Marin’s crazy KTU radio mix for C-Bank’s (aka John Robie) “One More Shot.” It included Yazoo’s “Don’t Go” in it. Man Parrish’s “Hip Hop Be Bop (Don’t Stop)came in it too. Oh Boy! You’ve got me waxing nostalgically for the old days! Thanks Paul!!!
Jeff
Jeff I knew you would be over the moon and back for this one. I do listen to you guys when you comment. Sometimes it takes me a while to get things posted but I try to do it if I can. I appreciate you and the rest of the BTG gang so much. Enjoy 🙂
Oh Paul, you are just so generous. I know you listen to our comments very much and I for one, am so appreciative of all the hard work it takes to bring our audio dreams to fruition. This jam must have taken you quite awhile to bring it up to your high standards. And I, have to admit, that I was a bit over-zealous with my comment about Aldo Marin. I checked, and it’s Aldo Miran who is credited for the editing. Maybe it is just a typo, but I really thought it might/should be Aldo Marin. Either way, this… Read more »
Wooooooow!
thanks,thanks,thanks.
you’re amazing, DjPaulT.
as I told you some time ago, I’ve been waiting so many times to have this one,
(and now I’ve got it in your quality sound, fantastic!).
have you got also Duran Duran “Notorious” (Latin Rascals mix)?
Yes I do have that one BE.D12” 🙂