Category: Arcadia

Arcadia – The Promise (Extended Remix) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

“The Promise” was the third single released by Arcadia, the Duran Duran offshoot band. Issued by Parlophone in 1986 as their second UK single, it reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.

The track features uncredited backing vocals from Sting. During Arcadia’s recording sessions for “So Red the Rose” in Paris, the band attended a Sting concert and decided to invite him to contribute to their album. They were particularly intrigued by the vocal chemistry between Sting and lead singer Simon Le Bon, first heard on Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Sting graciously accepted, resulting in a collaboration that became one of the group’s favorite moments on the record. Enhancing the track further, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour delivered expressive guitar work that added a haunting and ethereal quality, especially in its climactic sections.

The single version of “The Promise” was trimmed significantly from the album’s original 7:28 runtime to a more radio-friendly 4:50. Even the “extended remix,” produced by Alex Sadkin and Ron Saint Germain, ran slightly shorter than the album cut, clocking in at 7:05. The B-side of the single featured an extended mix of the album track “Rose Arcana.”

While “So Red the Rose” didn’t reach the commercial success of Duran Duran’s biggest albums, it earned critical praise and has since developed a devoted fanbase. “The Promise” stands out as a highlight, celebrated for its ambitious artistry and the rare collaboration of such iconic talents. For fans of Duran Duran and 1980s art-rock, the song remains an underrated gem and a testament to the creative freedom Arcadia embraced during this transitional period in their careers.

Although Roger Taylor, the drummer for Arcadia, appeared in only a few promotional photos and the music video for Election Day, his primary focus was on the recording side of the project. Taylor also contributed percussion to The Power Station, another Duran Duran offshoot.

SIDE A:
The Promise (Extended Remix) 7:05
Mixed By – Alex SadkinRon Saint Germain
Performer, Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Sting
Written-By – Rhodes
TaylorLe Bon

SIDE B:
Rose Arcana (Extended Mix) 5:35
Mixed By – Alex SadkinLarry Alexander
Written-By – RhodesLe Bon

The Promise (7″ Mix) 4:50
Mixed By – Alex SadkinRon Saint Germain
Performer, Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Sting
Written-By – Rhodes
TaylorLe Bon

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Parlophone Odeon Series – 12 NSR 2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Gold Sleeve
Country: UK
Released: Jan 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
The version of “Rose Arcana” on this single is much longer than the album version (So Red The Rose), but it does not have a unique title.

Manufactured in the UK by EMI Records Limited.

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 25 (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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Arcadia – Goodbye Is Forever (Extended Remix) (Japan 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Goodbye Is Forever” is the second single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia. The song achieved success only in the United States, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1986. It also was released by Capitol Records in January 1986 in many regions around the world except the UK.

The B-side of Goodbye Is Forever was the mid-tempo ballad “Missing” which was released only as a promo track in the U.S and Canada.

SIDE A:
Goodbye Is Forever (Extended Version) 6:43
Remix – Francois Kevorkian*, Ron Saint Germai*

Goodbye Is Forever (7inch Remixed Version) 4:11
Remix – Alex Sadkin, Walter Samuel

SIDE B:
Goodbye Is Forever (Dub Version) 5:14
Remix – Francois Kevorkian*, Ron Saint Germai*

Missing 3:40
Mixed By – Larry Alexander
Mixed By [Assistant] – Billy Miranda

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
OBI: Near mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Goodbye Is Forever U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #33

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ‎– S14-130
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: Japan
Released: 05 Mar 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Liner Notes [Lyrics Translation] – 山本安見*
Photography By [Arcadia] – Norman Parkinson
Photography By [Staircase] –Tansy Spinks
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Arcadia (3)
Sleeve – Assorted Images
Written-By – Rhodes*, Taylor* (tracks: A1, A2, B1), Le Bon*

NOTES:
Taken from the album “SO RED THE ROSE”

2-digit numeric code on back cover reads:
40 32 52 52 32 42 28 00 =
M I S S I N G _
00 28 44 44 22 18 12 24 32 52 26 44 50 24 06 24 50 =
_ G O O D B Y E I S F O R E V E R

2-digit numeric code on A-side label reads:
02 30 24 46 50 44 40 32 52 24 =
T H E P R O M I S E

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
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


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Arcadia – The Flame (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“The Flame” is the fourth single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia. It was released by Parlophone Records in 1986 and was the group’s third UK single. It reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S. the single was released on Capitol Records and did not chart.

The campy, slapstick video was made in the retro style of an Edwardian-era drawing room murder mystery, à la Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock. The storyline revolved around a series of comic disasters that befall an awkward, nerdish character (played by Simon Le Bon) and his girlfriend while visiting a haunted house. Nick Rhodes plays the debonair host of the dinner party at the house, and he frequently uses Le Bon as his comic stooge for a number of macabre and mildly sadistic sight gags. Various unsavory bits of business ensues with revolving walls, trapdoors and mysterious assassins hidden behind paintings and within exotic taxidermied animals. The slapstick comic interplay between Rhodes and Le Bon is faintly reminiscent of Abbott and Costello.

At one point, John Taylor (at the time a member of The Power Station, the other Duran Duran side project) comes out of the closet with a contract for the band to sign. This is an especially pointed inside joke, as it was around this time that the three remaining Duran Duran members were preparing to write and record their next album, Notorious, while in legal negotiations with their now-estranged guitarist Andy Taylor.

The video’s treatment is said to have been written by Rhodes and the various near-fatal pratfalls that occur to Le Bon’s character was intended as punishment for his decision to enter the Fastnet yachting race that almost cost him his life in August 1985.

In fact, Le Bon was in the middle of the South American leg of the 1986 Whitbread Round the World yacht race when he had to fly to Spain in April to shoot the video. He then flew straight back to rejoin his team in Uruguay.

The video was directed by longtime collaborator Russell Mulcahy.

SIDE A:
The Flame (Extended Remix) 7:16
Mixed By – Nile Rodgers

SIDE B:
Flame Game (Yo Homeboy Mix) 2:48
Mixed By – Nile Rodgers

Election Day (Early Rough Mix) 9:05
Mixed By – Larry Alexander

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Parlophone Odeon Series ‎– 12 NSR 3
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – James Farber
Engineer [Second Engineer] – Knut Bohn*
Photography By – Dean Chamberlain (2)
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Arcadia (3)
Sleeve [Sleeve Produced By] – Assorted Images
Written-By – Rhodes*, Taylor*, Le Bon*

NOTES:
2-digit numeric code on front sleeve reads:
52 02 24 46 00 32 42 02 44 00 40 12 00 26 38 16 40 24
= S T E P _ I N T O _ M Y _ F L A M E

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 
Phono Pre-amp:
Schiit Mani
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Arcadia – Say The Word (Theme From “Playing For Keeps”) (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Say The Word” was the fifth and final single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia. Recorded for the soundtrack of Playing for Keeps, it was released as a single in the US by Atlantic Records.

Various session musicians perform the other instruments, including bass (likely Mark Egan), guitar, and possibly drums, as it is unclear whether Roger Taylor had already left the band prior to the song’s recording.

This record was only released as a promotional 12 inch in the United States. No stock copies were ever made.

SIDE A:
Say The Word (Theme From “Playing For Keeps”) (Vocal/Extended Remix) 6:30

SIDE B:
Say The Word (Theme From “Playing For Keeps”) (Instrumental Extended Remix) 5:45

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic ‎– PR 939
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Hutchinson
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Arcadia (3)
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – Rhodes*, Lebon*

NOTES:
Additional Production & Remix for Mastermix Productions.
Extended Remix Version of the Original Soundtrack of the Universal Picture “PLAYING FOR KEEPS”

Promotional Copy – Not For Sale

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 
Phono Pre-amp:
Schiit Mani
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.