BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988
“Freemason (You Broke The Promise)” is a song by Australian synth-pop band Boxcar. They rose to prominence after releasing the single “Freemason (You Broke The Promise)” in 1988 after signing with Volition Records, and hit number 8 in the United States Billboard dance music chart. Initially criticized in the local press for being derivative of New Order they nevertheless built a local following, despite a lack of commercial radio airplay for electronic music.
In 1990 the band released their debut album Vertigo. A round of live dates and tours followed including supports for New Order, Depeche Mode, Erasure and Pet Shop Boys.
SIDE A:
Freemason (You Broke The Promise) (Shakedown Mix) 5:59
Edited By – Omar Santana
Remix – Arthur Baker
Freemason (You Broke The Promise) (Free Dub) 6:45
Edited By – Omar Santana
Remix – Arthur Baker
SIDE B:
Freemason (You Broke The Promise) (Radio Version) 3:54
Edited By – Omar Santana
Remix – Arthur Baker
Freemason (You Broke The Promise) (Original Austral Mix) 7:07
Comet 5:40
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Freemason (You Broke The Promise) | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #8 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – AD1-9855, Arista – ADI-9855
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Engineer – Adrian Bolland
Mixed By, Edited By – Robert Racic
Producer – Arthur Baker
Recorded By – Tim Whitten
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: 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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
I have the Canadian Nettwerk 12″ and it’s missing pretty much every one of these mixes, so thank you for this upload! Great track and it will be nice acquainting myself with the new (to me) mixes.
if you have upload it — https://www.discogs.com/es/Boxcar-Insect/master/133260
Paul – thanks for the “Freemason” 12″ and great to hear that the “Insect” 12″ is in your cue. The Boxcar “Insect” 12″ contains the never digitally released “Dubsect” (Insect Dub Mix). This is the track that received the most play at CATWALK Chicago which had a format of the new emerging EBM sound. (Yes, EBM not EDM… Google it) I have actually contacted Boxcar’s main songwriter, guitarist and vocalist David Smith trying to get ahold of a copy of it. Dave was a nice guy to respond back to me, but no luck on getting that cut yet. 🙁… Read more »
There’s a rip of Dubsect on YouTube here, while we all wait. It is pretty EBM, isn’t it …
Wow, so many memories on this one! I actually heard this single being played on a dance radio station many years back. Thank you for doing such a fantastic project!
You’re welcome Gilbert 🙂
Oh wow, the depths of the obscurity pile!
This is from Boxcar’s first album, which wasn’t so great. (I saw them around this time with Severed Heads and Single Gun Theory on the Volition Records package tour, and they weren’t good live either.) Their second is much better. (See if you can get hold of “Universal Hymn”, which may have only been on CD not 12″.) The second album was when Stuart Lawler joined, who shortly after became the musician member of Severed Heads, a position he still holds.
Thanks David Gerard I will look for it 🙂
Here is the video of “Universal Hymn” (dig those Amiga graphics!) and here is my favoured extended mix, “Pure Pandephonium”. The Australian single was a CD, but there was a 12″ released in the UK.
Oh my Gosh Paul!! It’s not even the Olympics yet and you’ve got me doing somersaults and back flips and all sorts of gymnastics!! I LOVE this band!! First heard them on a remix service and then bought the 12-inch, the remix twelve (I love Arthur Baker!!) and soon after, all their singles and CD. I can’t thank you enough for this gift. Especially, with this exquisite quality. Oh Paul, you can make a music fan shed so many tears of joy with what you do. I love how unpredictable you can be with your postings. I had thought it… Read more »
You’re very welcome Jeff. I thought about you the entire time I was working on this twelve. I love it so much it’s such a cool record. Arthur Baker really worked his magic on this one another bonus is they are Australian love my Aussie’s. Hope to hear from you someday 🙂
Man Paul, you really put me in orbit with this one. Thanks so very, very much!! You know, it is interesting, but I looked at your art work scan and the edits on the Arthur Baker mix were done by none other than Oh-Oh-Omar Santana, which is what I thought was the case. I did check out discogs and there is no mention of Mr. Santana’s name. This is curious. What does it say on the record label itself? I know Rob Racic did the edits on the original. I was a big fan of him too. He was on… Read more »
Just went to discogs and saw the record label and there is no mention of Omar’s name. At least he’s on the record jacket though.
Jeff
Yeah whoever made the entry didn’t list all of the credits correctly I usually fix them when I have the time but I didn’t even think about it I am gonna change it on my post though. Thanks for letting me know Jeff 🙂
Hey Paul, thanks for updating the credits on this particular 12-inch. One of the things that contribute to my passion for your site is the splendid credits you apply with each post. I am deeply interested in these sorts of things and I have noticed that when songs do get released on CD there is a lot missing from liner notes, etc. You archive so much in your postings and it’s surely a celebration to be sure.
Thanks Paul!!
Jeff
Nice to see Boxcar here. Well deserved! The 12″ of ‘Insect’ is another great release too.
I just ordered “Insect” recently so hopefully I will be able to post it soon 🙂
Thanks for this post. These guys weren’t very well known in the UK either, but some great singles and remixes followed – hope you post more 🙂
You’re welcome Gerry always loved this band and anything Aussie. I will see what I can do 🙂
Paul, love Boxcar. Loved the remixes of “Insect” which followed the release of their first album – remember it vividly.