BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!
Originally posted December 3, 2011
“Cruel Summer” is a song recorded by the English girl group Bananarama. It was written by Steve Jolley, Tony Swain and Bananarama and produced by Swain and Jolley. Released as a single in 1983, it was initially a stand-alone single but was subsequently included on their self-titled second album which was released a year later, thus it is considered the album’s first single. The song reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart in 1983, and after its inclusion in the 1984 film The Karate Kid it reached number nine on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Bananarama singer Sara Dallin said the song “played on the darker side (of summer songs): it looked at the oppressive heat, the misery of wanting to be with someone as the summer ticked by. We’ve all been there!” It was ranked number 44 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’80s. Billboard named the song #13 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
SIDE A:
Cruel Summer (Extended Version) 4:54
Written-By – Bananarama, Jolley, Swain*
SIDE B:
Summer Dub (Special C.B. Mix) 5:13
Written-By – Bananarama, Jolley, Swain*
Cairo 3:46
Written-By – Sandosa*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Cruel Summer | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #9 |
| 1984 | Cruel Summer | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #44 |
| 1984 | Cruel Summer | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | #11 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: London Records – NANX 5
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Cover – Peter Barrett (3)
Lacquer Cut By – tone*
Producer – Tony Swain And Steve Jolley*
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
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Fun tune, and yet bittersweet. Thank you, Paul.
Pondering on the quote, “misery of wanting to be with someone as the summer ticked by.” I could say the same about myself; I just never met someone in the summer, so never found out! This sounds like of the lesser known rama tracks.
No worries, the Tulsa rally was a DISASTER LOL.
Thanks for the remaster of this Ramabanana hit Paul!
I’m glad you remastered this and posted it again. One of my favourite singles from this era.
Cheers Paul 🙂
Thank you, DjPaulT! This is one of my favorite Bananarama songs!
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
I love this Nanas song. So gloomy but still uptempo. Thanks Paul
Just clocked the potential political motivation of this post Paul. xx
You no me well Jermajesty it’s sad that my city (Tulsa) has to go through this madness . Saturday will defiantly be a Cruel start to summer.
Sending hearts to you today, Paul. And thank for the amazing rip. I should also say I adore the excellent front a & back cover scans you provide. It may have been how I stumbled onto the site a decade ago. Grateful.
Brings back the happiest of memories. Loved that they used it in “The Karate Kid.” We were jamming in the theater with the audience. Such fun. Thanks Paul.
Jeff
You’re welcome, Jeff 🙂
Thank you Paul. I had this on a vinyl 12-inch single once oh say . . . a couple of years ago, not digitally restored by you of course, and it was a U.S. 33 1/3 version and had a plain cover, I love the covers you have on your 12” that I didn’t see on a lot of the 12” singles sold in U.S. stores. The Yazz and the Plastic Population 12” you restored a couple days ago, “The Only Way is Up,” I used to have also, your cover is just like the one I had. I also… Read more »
Hi Nathan yes this is a NEW 2020 Transfer I had originally posted this one in December 2011. Thanks for sharing your story and thoughts on the records I have posted. Hope you like this new transfer.