Author: DjPaulT

February 26, 2020

Den Harrow – Bad Boy (Belgium 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Bad Boy” was the second single taken from the debut album “Overpower” by Den Harrow (born 4 June 1962 as Stefano Zandri) an Italo disco artist and fashion model. The name Den Harrow was conceived by producers Roberto Turatti and Miki Chieregato, who based it on the Italian word Denaro (money).

After years of fame and popularity, it was revealed by frontman Stefano Zandri and his producers that Zandri did not actually sing any of the songs credited to Den Harrow; he was essentially a character who lip-synched to vocals recorded by a number of other singers.

“Bad Boy” was actually sung by American vocalist Tom Hooker, also known as Thomas Barbey, who was residing in Italy during the Italo disco era and had several hits under his name. “Bad Boy” charted in several European countries including #3 Italy, #17 France, #20 Germany, #10 Spain and #11 Switzerland becoming one of Den Harrow’s biggest hits.

SIDE A:
Bad Boy (12″ Version) 5:47

SIDE B:
Make Ends Meet (12″ Version) 5:33

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Baby Records (2) ‎– BRD 1250348
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Belgium
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Italo-Disco

CREDITS:
Photography By – De Ligio*
Producer – Miki Chieregato, Roberto Turatti
Written-By – H.T. Beecher*, M. Chieregato*, R. Turatti*

NOTES:
From the album: Overpower.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: 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 USED:
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

February 25, 2020

Al Corley – Square Rooms (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!

Originally posted April 18, 2012

“Square Rooms” is a song by American singer and actor Al Corley. It was the first single from his debut album of the same name. First released in 1984, the song was a hit in some European countries and had moderate success in the United States in 1985.

After two seasons playing one of the first gay leading characters an American TV series, Dynasty, Al Corley left the nighttime soap opera to become a singer. With Harold Faltermeyer and Peter John Woods, he composed the lyrics of his first song, “Square Rooms.”

The media-savvy singer affected the brooding look and attitude popular among pop stars and GQ models at the time: pouty, dark glances and tousled hair. His choice of the image worked best in France, where his television performances elicited the unbridled enthusiasm of teenage girls. However, according to Elia Habib, a French chart specialist, his success was not only based on his physical appearance. Indeed, “Square Rooms”‘ music had a large popular appeal and had a production designed for the dance floor. It was produced and composed by the German musician Harold Faltermeyer, who had previously arranged “Self Control”, a worldwide pop and dance-floor smash for Laura Branigan in 1984 which featured a similar vocal hook. Faltermeyer would achieve his greatest personal success later the same year, composing, performing and producing the score to Beverly Hills Cop, a 1984 film directed by Martin Brest, including its hit instrumental theme, “Axel F”.

“Square Rooms” was released first in Switzerland, where it was a hit, peaking at number 6 on 21 October 1984, and staying in the top 30 for ten weeks. The single debuted at no. 47 in the French Singles Chart on 5 January 1985. It climbed quickly and was no. 1 for five nonconsecutive weeks, from 9 March to 13 April 1985. After its peak, it lingered on the charts until its 27th week, on 20 July 1985. The song also achieved success in Italy (no. 12), Germany (no. 13) and Austria where it reached no. 15 in April 1985. “Square Rooms” was released last in Corley’s native US, where the single was only a minor pop hit, reaching no. 80 on the Hot 100 on 1 June 1985. American dancefloors were more receptive than its airwaves; Corley reached no. 26 on the Billboard dance chart the week of 22 June 1985.

The 12-inch (long) version includes an entire additional verse prior to the first chorus. This verse is excised in both the single and album versions of the song.

SIDE A:
Square Rooms (Long Version) 8:02
Written-By – Al Corley, Harold Faltermeier*, Peter Woods*

SIDE B:
Square Rooms (Single Version) 3:40
Written-By – Al Corley, Harold Faltermeier*, Peter Woods*

Don’t Play With Me 4:20
Written-By – Al Corley

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Square Rooms	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#80
1985	Square Rooms	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#26

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– 822 241-1, Mercury ‎– 822 241-1 Q
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Management – Alex Grob
Producer – Harold Faltermeier*

NOTES:
Made in West Germany

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

February 24, 2020

Eddy Huntington – U.S.S.R. (Italy 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“U.S.S.R.” is the debut single by British singer Eddy Huntington. He released it in 1986. The song reached number 23 in Germany and number 6 in Switzerland.

The song would later appear on Eddy Huntington’s only studio album, Bang Bang Baby, which would be released by ZYX Records in 1989.

SIDE A:
U.S.S.R. (Long Version) 5:53

SIDE B:
You (Excess) Are 5:20

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Esquire Records (3) ‎– SQ 87503
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Italy
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Italo-Disco

CREDITS:
Engineer [Sound Engineer] – Cedric Beatty
Lacquer Cut By –DD*
Producer, Arranged By, Written-By – M. Chieregato*, R. Turatti*
Written-By – T. Hooker*

NOTES:
Made in Italy

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

February 21, 2020

Carol Hitchcock – Get Ready (Extended Remix) (Australia 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Get Ready” is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson, which resulted in two hit records for the label: a U.S. No. 29 version by The Temptations in 1966, and a U.S. No. 4 version by Rare Earth in 1970.

In mid-1987 Australian singer and actress, Carol Hitchcock had a top 20 hit on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with her cover version of the song7. It also peaked in the top 60 in the United Kingdom and top 50 in New Zealand. In 1985 Hitchcock had acted in the TV series, Prisoner.

According to Hitchcock Stock Aitken Waterman recommended the track for her and she felt that “they were so wonderful to work with.”

As a bonus track, I have added the Australian only “Earth To Moonbase Mix” which was released on a separate Australia 12″.

SIDE A:
Get Ready (Extended Remix) 7:40
Remix [Mixmaster] – Phil Harding
Written-By – W. Robinson*

SIDE B:
More Than Words Can Say 3:59
Mixed By – Mark McGuire
Written-By – Stock-Aitken-Waterman*

BONUS TRACK:
Get Ready (Earth To Moonbase Mix) 8:12
Remix [Mixmaster] – Phil Harding
Written-By – W. Robinson*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mushroom ‎– X-13281
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: Australia
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design –John Warwicker
Engineer – Jamie Bromfield, Mark McGuire
Lacquer Cut By – W*
Photography By – Nick Knight
Producer – Stock Aitken Waterman*

NOTES:
A Stock Aitken Waterman Production
Recorded at PWL Studios, London, UK
Made in Australia

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.