Brenda K. Starr – Pickin’ Up Pieces (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

“Pickin’ Up Pieces” is the lead single from Brenda K. Starr’s debut album, I Want Your Love, released in 1985 by Mirage Records. The song was produced by Arthur Baker, who co-wrote it with Lotti Golden. The single, released in 1985, was a sizable hit on the Dance/Club Songs chart. It reached a peak of #9 on that chart the same year, and also managed to chart on the R&B chart at the time – reaching a peak of #83.

The single was an early Freestyle release – marked with syncopated rhythms and intense synthetic production. Lyrically, the song is about “Picking up the pieces” and moving on after a failed relationship.

SIDE A:
Pickin’ Up Pieces (Vocal / Long Version) 6:38

SIDE B:
Pickin’ Up Pieces (Dub Mix) 6:28

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Pickin’ Up Pieces U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #9
1985 Pickin’ Up Pieces U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop #83

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mirage (2) – 0-96873
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Electro

CREDITS:
Design [Generic Atlantic Jacket] – Lynn Dreese Breslin
Lacquer Cut By –  sf
Producer, Executive-Producer, Written-By – Arthur Baker
Written-By – Lottie Golden

NOTES:
Special version of Mirage LP 90284 – “BRENDA K. STARR”
Printed in U.S.A.

This variation is for the Specialty pressing.

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
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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Jeff
Jeff
January 7, 2023 4:48 pm

Forgot to mention, but I forgot how awesome the dub is!! All those rockin’ edits and killer orchestra hits!!

Thanks so much, Paul!!!

Jeff

bruno n
bruno n
January 7, 2023 12:57 pm

hi, thanks !
there is a “blank” (rip/coding error) at 3:24… could you fix this, please ? regards… all the best for 2023

Toxicaudio
Toxicaudio
January 6, 2023 9:51 am

Thx Paul, fantastic track.
Any chance to get Brenda K.Starr : Suspicion?

Marco
Marco
January 6, 2023 9:08 am

Arthur Baker is one of my favourite producers and remixers. I don’t recall hearing this before though.

Thanks Paul 🙂

Grant
Grant
January 6, 2023 6:53 am

Thanks for this Paul!

Nicki
Nicki
January 5, 2023 6:03 pm

Happy New Year Paul and Thank You for the great music.!!

Fred
Fred
January 5, 2023 1:35 pm

Thanks for the great rip, Paul! This is one of handful of songs that I’ve heard OF and yet probably only heard no more than 2 minutes of. 🙂 For some reason it just was never played on the radio (even the weekend club radio shows) in CT. I’ll give it a proper listen tonight. Thanks again for your hard work and bringing back memorable artists and songs!

pedro
pedro
January 5, 2023 1:34 pm

thanks paul. please up What you see is what you get

CAPankow
CAPankow
January 5, 2023 11:56 am

many thanksfor another Arthur Baker track!

Jeff
Jeff
January 5, 2023 11:53 am

OMG!!! Thanks a ton, Paul, for this phenomenal track!! Anything with Arthur Baker’s name on it is a time for celebration!! The beats are tough and hard and BANGING!!! Thanks so much Paul!!

Jeff

Tom
Tom
January 5, 2023 11:34 am

Thank you Paul for the ace transfer! I love all things Freestyle

DJ Mike Brady
January 5, 2023 10:37 am

Sounds PERFECT Paul!! And what a bangin’ tune!