Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984
“Rock Hard” is a single by the Beastie Boys, released by Def Jam Records on 12″ in 1984. The track contains samples from the AC/DC song “Back in Black”, which was used without obtaining legal permission, causing the record to be withdrawn. When the group planned to include the out-of-print song on their 1999 compilation, Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds of Science, AC/DC refused to clear the sample. Mike D spoke to AC/DC’s Malcolm Young personally on the phone when their lawyers refused to clear the sample, and later said that “AC/DC could not get with the sample concept. They were just like, ‘Nothing against you guys, but we just don’t endorse sampling.'” Ad-Rock then added, “So we told them that we don’t endorse people playing guitars.”
John Leland of Spin noted the song’s, “parodic extremes. I mean, no one has a beat this big and this wet. While this platter delivers ample boasts for the buck, the Beasties never take themselves or their genre too seriously.”
THIS SIDE:
Rock Hard 4:57
Party’s Getting Rough 6:03
THAT SIDE:
Beastie Groove 3:37
Beastie Groove (Instrumental) 3:34
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Def Jam Recordings – DJ002
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: Dec 1984
Genre: Hip Hop
CREDITS:
- Edited By – Latin Rascals*
- Mastered By – Herb “Boom Boom” Powers*
- Mixed By – Jay Burzootie*, Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons
- Producer – Beasties*, Rick Rubin
- Recorded By [Original Tracks] – Mark Kamins
NOTES:
Release in a maroon Def Jam sleeve, with die-cut on one side only.
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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I’ve never even heard of this before, let alone heard it! Thank you so much DJPaul!! It is indeed classic Beastie Boys.
This is pure gold, thank you Paul for the transfer!
Jay Burnett is the man who made the beat so incredibly fat, and he used the same technique on other tracks, such as Nuance’s Loveride and Animotion’s Let Him Go.
On a side note, the Pet Shop Boys asked Ron Dean Miller to produce them because they loved the beat on Loveride (Miller was the producer), but not much came of it – I only know of Opportunities (Ron Dean Miller & The Latin Rascals Remix). Little did they know they should have asked Burnett instead!
I taped this from radio on a late night show that played ‘underground’ music back in ’85, mostly new dancehall and hip hop. Listeners were encouraged to send homemade mixes, mashing up different genres and styles. This tune introduced me to the Beasties, and together with Run DMC’s Rock Box and later King Of Rock, and KRS-One’s Dope Beat were to me the epitome of mid-80s Rap/Rock crossover, tunes that i still enjoy to this day. Always found it a pity they could not re-release it on their compilations, so i’m extra grateful to get a rip in your immaculate… Read more »
You’re welcome, Don Julian. Peace
As a Rap & Hip-Hop radio fanatic [Latin Rascals WKTU], this 12″ was a HUUUUGE deal to me back in 86 when I picked it up…..the edits and the concrete vibrating production on those beats has been magical [and on repeat] for almost 4 decades. That’s bananas! But this super-fresh transfer is much appreciated as ever, thanks Paul.
What’s that ? You are planning more
gold school doozies ? Okay, if you must.NB. This was one of my 1st experiences of hearing [and recording] Beastie Boys music on UK radio…
https://randomrapradio.com/2020/05/22/mike-allen-capital-radio-22-may-1987-run-dmc-interview-remastered/
I love your enthusiasm for this post, Craig. I am going to do my best to incorporate more old gold-school doozies in the future my hip-hop/rap collection is not that vast but I am trying to get more. Thank you for the link too.
I love that you listened to WKTU for the Latin Rascals’ music mixes and heart palpitating edits. These guys are my Heroes!!!
Jeff
Wow Paul, this put a big smile on my face!! First, welcome back, I hope you had a nice and restful break. Of course the big beat and AC/DC sample (more like backbone of the song) is right up my alley. I hadn’t heard the backstory to this… mind-blowing! And I didn’t know they had to pull this single. No wonder it’s unavailable on the Beastie’s compilations, albums, etc. Like others mentioned, I did not expect to see this here!! Thank you as always for keeping it interesting and keeping it real!!
You’re welcome, Retro Hound you were on my mind while working on this one. I hope I can continue to keep it real. 🙂
Love it!
Paul, this absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!! Only you would be able to go away fro a week and come back with such a BANG!!!! THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES!!!! I’ve always loved this single, but I never had it in decent quality; and now I have it SUPERB DJPaulT QUALITY!!!! I’m so excited right now! And that story is hilarious. I never quite understood why any musician would be opposed to being sampled. It doesn’t take away from the original, and in fact, it might turn new listeners onto that band. That first Beastie Boys album is a wet dream come true… Read more »
You are so right Martika!!
Not a request – just wishful thinking: It would be awesome if you also shared Fight For Your Right (Junkie XL Remix) and Cookie Puss one day!
Thank you, Martika. See what some rest and a break can do LOl I have both of the records you mentioned below in my want list hopefully I can grab copies during the up-coming fundraiser. 🙂
As a Beasties fan, this really made my day, Paul!
I had read the story about the personal phone call to Malcolm Young, and still getting turned down. I didn’t expect to hear this single ever.
So, many, many thanks to you!
You’re welcome, David S. 🙂
Latin Rascals! Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome, Tom 🙂
I HAD this 12 inch when it was released. I heard it on the Las Vegas University non profit radio station.
I then haunted the local used record store until it showed up.
The flip side has a 3 or 4 song collection of samples from LED ZEPPELIN made into a song.
I wore out my original cassette recording fromy 1st listen from that station !
I did not expect to see this here, thanks Paul, this rocks! This is a difficult record to find especially in good condition.
You’re welcome, Joey. You’re right it is a hard record to find especially at a reasonable price.
Thanks for the cool track, Paul! I was wondering why a 1984 song had sample issues and I’m sure it’s because 1)this was released December 1984 as sampling really started to pick up and 2)Beastie Boys really sampled the hell out of Back In Black. I bet if the song didn’t 100% revolve around the sample, it would have likely slipped by or maybe AC/DC wouldn’t have cared. Also, folks, Jay Burzootie’s real name is Jay Burnett who was the master mixer for this incredible 1986 jam: https://www.discogs.com/master/631828-Hoyt-Curtin-The-Jetsons-Main-Title-Jane-Get-Me-Off-This-Crazy-Thing Thanks again for this unique track, Paul!
You’re welcome, Fred. Maybe AC/DC was and still is just closed-minded to sampling. Many artists got into trouble in the 80s for sampling. I don’t see the issue all it does is promote the original differently.
Hey Fred, Very cool Info on “Jay Burzootie” which you shared. Jay Burnett did awesome things on a lot of records. And thanks for reminding those about that Jetson’s record, of which Paul did a meticulous job on mastering it for BTG!! Various Artists – The Jetsons Main Title / Jane, Get Me Off This Crazy Thing! (Canada 12″) – Burning The Ground: DjPaulT’s 80’s and 90’s Remixes Interesting also to note of Mark Kamin’s involvement on the Beasties’ record. He was Madonna’s first producer. Madonna even had the Beastie Boys opening up for her on an early tour. I… Read more »
PAUL!!! This is a sonic wet dream for me come true!!! This is a record I’ve coveted since my college days! My great friend, Kevin, introduced it to me! I knew of the Beastie Boys because of their classic, “Cookie Puss” which was a funny song about an ice cream cake. Anyway, this record you posted had me salivating from every orifice!! I love AC/DC and this “Rock Hard” record is the jam!! The drum machine pounds like a MoFo! Coupled with the guitar samples, it was like a derm skin peel! WOW and OMG! But, then, there is the… Read more »
This is a great record, Jeff but I don’t advise listening to it with a headache LOL. However, if you want to piss off the neighbors play it LOUDLY! The Beasties were in great form here too bad not many got to hear these tracks when originally released. 🙂
Forever grateful to you, Paul, for generously sharing this EAR-GASMIC piece of vinyl!! My body and ears are blushing in bliss!!
Hug!
Jeff
So great to see you here too Jeff!! You are so right! Such a big backbeat, not for the faint of heart! I need to get familiar with the b-sides again, especially if they sample Led Zeppelin. The best part is, as Martika said, having this in ‘Paulity’!! Your euphoria is rubbing off on all of us and making us ROCK HARD!! Excuse the pun.
Well-placed pun, Retro Hound! And I love the portmanteau “Paulity”!
I love the pun, Retro Hound!!! Again, I kept on thinking of you specifically when Paul posted it!!! I love your tastes!!
Stay Hard!!
Jeff
Jeff, I love how excited you are about this record. I feel the same way. I can hardly contain myself. I only have MP3 versions of this EP and Cookie Puss, so I’m mega excited to blow some speakers tonight!
Ah, Martika, I am thrilled that you were aware of this record!! You are like an encyclopedia of musical knowledge!! I get so fired up whenever you and Retro Hound comment!! It’s awesome!!
Jeff
The astounding thing is that they never thought of re-recording the riff like they did for “Fight For Your right”. Slayer was recording their 3rd album (Reign In Blood) in the studio next door and Rick Rubin (who produced both artists at the same time) asked Kerry King to quickly play a riff similar to “Smoke On The Water” so they could avoid having the same issue as on Rock Hard [and then Kerry King also quickly recorded a guitar solo for No Sleep Til Brooklyn … lol]. You would think that this would have inspired Rick Rubin to also… Read more »
Hey Martika,
Thanks for your wonderful and astute observation about the record. This makes perfect sense to me. I wish Mr. Rubin re-recorded the riff. It’s so sad this record was pulled because it does draw attention to both bands.
Love your stellar insight again, Martika!!
Jeff
What a treat, thanks Paul!
You’re welcome, Tim 🙂