Burning The Ground Exclusive 1994
“Girls & Boys” is a song by English rock band Blur, released in March 1994 by Food Records as the lead single from the group’s third studio album, Parklife (1994). The frontman of Blur, Damon Albarn wrote the song’s lyrics with bandmembers Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, while Stephen Street produced it.
Charting at number five on the UK Singles Chart, “Girls & Boys” was Blur’s first top-five hit and their most successful single until “Country House” reached number one the following year. In the United States, the track reached number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Kevin Godley produced the music video for the song. “Girls & Boys” was named single of the year by NME and Melody Maker and was nominated for best song at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
Damon Albarn was inspired to write the song while on holiday in Magaluf, Spain, with then-girlfriend Justine Frischmann, lead singer of Elastica. According to Albarn, the city had “really tacky Essex nightclubs” and a rampant sexual scene among visitors, with “All these blokes and all these girls meeting at the watering hole and then just copulating. There’s no morality involved, I’m not saying it should or shouldn’t happen.” The music has a convergence of various pop and dance styles, summed up by bassist Alex James as “Disco drums, nasty guitars and Duran Duran bass.” Drummer Dave Rowntree admitted that he is not playing on the track, being replaced by a drum machine he programmed. He said it was his favourite song on Blur: The Best Of (2000) because he “isn’t really in it. It’s cool not being in your own song.” The vocals were recorded with a demo featuring only the keyboards. This song is written in the key of G minor.
Pet Shop Boys, provided a remix of the track for the single release. The single’s front cover was taken from a pack of Durex condoms.
The accompanying music video for “Girls & Boys” was directed by English singer, songwriter, musician and music video director Kevin Godley. It features Blur performing the song against a bluescreen backdrop of documentary footage of people on Club 18-30 package holidays. Godley branded the video as “Page 3 rubbish”, while Blur found it “perfect”.
SIDE A:
Girls & Boys (PSB 12″ Mix) 7:15
Programmed By – Pete Gleadall
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Pet Shop Boys
SIDE B:
Girls & Boys (Album Version) 4:18
Girls & Boys (PSB 7″ Mix) 4:04
Programmed By – Pete Gleadall
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Pet Shop Boys
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
Poster: Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Girls & Boys | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #59 |
| 1994 | Girls & Boys | U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay | #4 |
| 1994 | Girls & Boys | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs | #21 |
| 1994 | Girls & Boys | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales | #23 |
| 1994 | Girls & Boys | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40 | #40 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: SBK Records – Y-58155
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition, Orange
Country: US
Released: 1994
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Synth-pop, Indie Rock, Britpop
CREDITS:
- Producer – Stephen Street
- Written-By – James*, Albarn*, Rowntree*, Coxon*
NOTES:
Pressed on transparent orange vinyl.
Contains a 20″ x 30″ fold-out poster.
From the LP “PARKLIFE”
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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Great tune! I really loved this entire album as well as the follow up to it, probably my two fave LP’s from Blur! And I really love the PSB mix here. Thank you, Paul!
Thanks for posting this Paul. I have this on my blur 10th Anniversary Singles Box Set, but I always like the quality of your vinyls to flac and especially in 24 bit format. blur always created that perfect britpop song, with images of London life, which I just love and The Pet Shop Boys really added the perfect dance remix. Alex James really gives the song that Duran Duran style bass line, very catchy chorus!
I like the 2nd “official video” remix best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UolKGZseZ5U
The Hoxton Whores remix is pretty good; the “Underground remix” sounds like it came from a Robin S album. PSB rules!
Thanks for digging this one up, Paul. KROQ played the PSB version that opens with the “Ooh ooh ooh” part flown in from the middle of the tune. I haven’t heard it anywhere so far with the current ’90s music radio revival. “Song 2” was always a great candidate for a sanctioned remix, but fans had to do that one. Somehow I never saw the video until now, and I’m surprised Kevin Godley produced it. No wonder he dislikes it. It’s just not his style at all. I’m shocked it didn’t tank Blur’s career because it’s so over-the-top gay, though… Read more »
thank you! i discovered this song back in the early 2000s in the NYC punk clubs. fell in love with it.
When I first heard this, it reminded me of Duran Duran, it was almost more Duran Duran than DD were by 1994. It really invigorated Blur, they were seen as passe before this and then this song came out and boom: indie club anthem. Both versions are great.
That reminded me of the same, Joey. This song never tires for me.
Thanks for this Paul!
You’re welcome, Grant 🙂
Paul, you are hitting the ball(s) out of the park with this Pride Month selections!! The songs you’re posting so far are phenomenal. And they are such a different variety as opposed to other Pride Month’s playlists!! There’s this edge which I am eating up with my ear holes!! I love this version of the song the best (from the video) but I do admire the Pet Shop Boys’ remix a lot!! I love when Neil and Chris get involved with other artists!! I hope they continue with doing this more and more. The video is great!! It reminds me… Read more »
Thank you, Jeff. I try to open my mind I wish more people would do that. 🙂
Thank you, Paul. This is such a good song! I used to play the PSB remix every night, often mixing it with The Hed Boys – Girls + Boys. It wasn’t until years later (after hearing “Song 2”) that I ever heard the original version of that song. IMHO, they should have stuck to the more danceable sound. It suited them well.
I had that same record with the same bright orange colored vinyl. I’m so glad that you decided to share it in your meticulous quality!
You’re welcome, Martika. I love the PSB remixes but I prefer the album version I love that nasty Duran Duran-inspired bass line. I agree with you this sound suited them very well. 🙂
Thank you Paul!
You’re welcome 🙂
Happy Pride, Paul. Thank you so much for sharing this! I lost my copy of this promo in a cross-country move and am thrilled to listen again.