Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988
NEW 2023 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Originally posted October 14, 2013
“Heart” is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, Actually (1987). It was released as the album’s fourth and final single on 21 March 1988. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in April 1988, becoming the duo’s fourth and final chart-topper to date in the United Kingdom. The group had initially written the song for Madonna, though they never asked her to record it, instead keeping it for themselves.
Written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, “Heart” was the fourth and final single from the duo’s second studio album, Actually. A new mix different to the album version was released as a single in March 1988, ascending to the top of the charts to become the duo’s fourth—and, to date, last—UK number-one single. It was also successful across Europe.
The genesis of the song goes back to the sessions for the duo’s first album Please in early 1986 with Shep Pettibone. Originally, the duo had planned to offer it to Hi-NRG singer Hazell Dean or—more notoriously—Madonna, but they ultimately kept it for themselves. The duo’s version of the song was intended to be used in the Steven Spielberg-produced film Innerspace, but the dance sequence it was intended for was at the wrong tempo for the song. The song was originally called “Heartbeat”, but was changed after Culture Club drummer Jon Moss announced the formation of a group named Heartbeat UK.
The lyrics are more traditional than most Pet Shop Boys songs, being a straightforward declaration of love—a characteristic common in many pop songs. On the commentary of the Pet Shop Boys’ live video album Cubism, Tennant reveals that the “oh – ah – oh’oh ah” refrain which repeats throughout the song features the vocals of himself, Pavarotti, and Wendy Smith (of Prefab Sprout).
According to Tennant, they were inspired by the song I Like You by Phyllis Nelson, which was produced by Shep Pettibone, who did a remix of Heart.
The song was re-recorded for Actually with producer Andy Richards and was mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. The single remix is an edit of the Richards’ version with the use of wah-wah guitar, giving the song more of a 1970s sound.
Despite topping the UK chart for three weeks and being a worldwide success, the duo themselves tend to dismiss it, with Lowe stating in 2001: “It just shows that chart positions aren’t the be-all and end-all. ‘Heart’ isn’t in the same league as ‘Being Boring’.” However, many fans regard the song highly and Pet Shop Boys like it enough to have performed the song on their 1989 tour, the Fundamental world tour in 2006 and 2007, and their Pandemonium tour in 2009–2010.
When included in the retrospective PopArt: The Hits collection, the album version of the track was used for the UK release rather than the hit single mix, the reason for this is unknown. The single mix was included in the US release.
Directed by Jack Bond, director of the band’s 1987 film It Couldn’t Happen Here, the music video for “Heart” is based on the 1922 film Nosferatu. The video opens with Tennant and his bride (played by model Danijela Čolić Prižmić) being driven to a castle with Lowe as his chauffeur. As he goes to bed with his bride, the vampire, played by Ian McKellen, spies on them. Later, he seduces the bride and bites her. Finally, Lowe drives Nosferatu and his bride away, leaving Tennant to stare bitterly after them from a castle window. The video was shot in Mokrice Castle, Slovenia, then one of the Yugoslavia republics.
The “Heart” Remix is the second of two 12″ releases in the UK. The 12″ Remix, and Dub Mix were omitted from the Actually Further Listening 1987–1988 (bonus disc) released in 2001 and again in 2018.
SIDE A:
Heart (12″ Remix) 8:57
Engineer – Tony Phillips
Guitar – J.J. Belle
Producer – Andy Richards, Pet Shop Boys
Remix – Julian Mendelsohn
Written-By – Tennant/Lowe*
SIDE B:
Heart (Dub Mix) 5:16
Edited By – Junior Vasquez
Engineer – Dave Meegan
Keyboards [Additional] – Adrien Cook
Producer – Pet Shop Boys, Shep Pettibone
Remix – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – Tennant/Lowe*
I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too) 4:53
Engineer – Mark Stent
Guitar – Steve Lipson*
Producer – Pet Shop Boys
Programmed By [Fairlight], Organ [Hammond] – Blue Weaver
Vocals [Additional] – Dee Lewis, Shirley Lewis
Written-By – Lowe/Tennant*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Parlophone – 12RX 6177
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: Apr 4, 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Design – Mark Farrow, Pet Shop Boys
- Mastered By – Nick Webb
- Photography By – Eric Watson (3)
NOTES:
Dee Lewis courtesy of Phonogram
Manufactured in the U.K.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: 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)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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