Category: George Michael

January 4, 2017

Wham! – Summer Fun Mega Mix (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1990

I originally posted this fun 12″ on George’s birthday way back in 2012. At that time I was still using ClickRepair and the old stylus this 12″ was way over due to have a new meticulous re-rip and 2017 remaster. Also created a new picture sleeve to go along with it!

On this 12″ we have the Wham! “Summer Fun Megamix”. A really nice mix featuring some of Wham!’s biggest hits including “Wham! Rap”, Freedom, I’m Your Man” and more. On the filip side is a megamix of early 80’s disco/funk/r&b tracks, including “Love Come Down” by Evelyn King, “Get Down Saturday Night” by Oliver Cheatham, and “You’re The One For Me” by D-Train.

Black Wax was an an early 1990s bootleg remix label which put out remixes and megamixes of music covering everything from ’50s to ’90s music. Many of the single artist remixes have new production under them making them very unique.

SIDE A:
Wham! – Wham Summer Fun Mega Mix 5:44
A.1 Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do)
A.2 Club Tropicana
A.3 Young Guns (Go For It)
A.4 Bad Boys
A.5 I’m Your Man
A.6 Freedom
A.7 I’m Your Man (Extended Stimulation)

SIDE B:
Various – Classic Grooves 3:13
B.1 Unique (5) – What I Got Is What You Need (Vocal Mix)
B.2 Sharon Redd – Never Give You Up (West End Girls)
B.3 Evelyn King – Love Come Down
B.4 Phil Fearon & Galaxy – Dancing Tight
B.5 Terri Wells – I’ll Be Around
B.6 Oliver Cheatham – Get Down Saturday Night
B.7 D-Train – You’re The One For Me
B.8 D-Train – Music (Get Dancin’)
B.9 D-Train – Keep On

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Black Wax‎– BW4
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Unofficial Release
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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: 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

January 3, 2017

George Michael – Killer/Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (P.M. Dawn Remix) (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1993

I originally posted this 12″ on June 25, 2013 which was George’s birthday. I would have never guessed that three years later we would be mourning his death and celebrating his music. I was never happy with my original transfer so I am happy to be able to give this single a brand new 2017 remaster.

“Killer/Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” is a 1993 single by British pop singer George Michael. The “P.M. Dawn Remix” was the version released as a single to promote the EP “Five Live” recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, held on 20 April 1992, at Wembley Stadium. “Killer” was originally a song by British acid house producer Adamski. Written by Adamski and Seal. “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” is a psychedelic soul song, written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as a single for Motown act The Undisputed Truth in 1971 and later that year The Temptations. Both songs were blended into a mash-up by George Michael becoming “Killer/Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone”.

George Michael’s version peaked at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 24, 1993 after spending seven weeks on the survey.

This Side
Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (P.M. Dawn Remix) 4:30

That Side
Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (P.M. Dawn Remix) (Extended Version) 9:15

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1993	Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#69
1993	Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#5

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Hollywood Records ‎– HR-66289-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1993
Genre: Electronic
Style: House

CREDITS:
Guitar, Keyboards – Herbie Tribino
Remix – P.M. Dawn
Written-By [Killer] – Tinley*, Seal
Written-By [Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone] – Norman Whitfield

NOTES:
Printed on info label:
“All artists royalties and record company net profits from this single will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust for the distribution to AIDS charities worldwide in memory of the incomparable Freddy Mercury”.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

January 2, 2017

George Michael – Killer/Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (Bonzai Mixes) (US 121″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1993

In 1991, George Michael performed “Killer” live at the Wembley Arena in a version that was released on the 1993 EP Five Live. “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” was also recorded and released on the same album. The two songs were blended together in the live performance, then remixed several times. In the U.S. the single peaked at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 dance. In Canada the single reached #19 on the RPM Singles Chart.

George Michael shot a video for the release, in which he did not appear personally. It was during the time when Michael refused to exploit his outward look, which he thought would distract the audience from the music, his main concern. The video was directed by Marcus Nispel.

This U.S. 12″ promo contains exclusive remixes.

SIDE A:
Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (N.Y.C. Club Mix) 6:59
Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (Very Vocal Club Mix) 6:27
Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (Killer Papa Dub) 6:10

SIDE B:
Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (Killer Techno!) 5:15
Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (X-Tended Mix) 6:32

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1993	Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#69
1993	Killer / Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#5

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Hollywood Records ‎– ED-10329
Format: Vinyl, Promo, 12″
Country: US
Released: 1993
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: House, Techno

CREDITS:
Keyboards [Additional] – Andy Marvel
Producer, Vocals – George Michael
Remix – “Bonzai” Jim Caruso*
Written-By – Tinley*, Seal, Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong*

NOTES:
Original version can be heard on “FIVE LIVE”.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

December 25, 2016

George Michael 1963-2016

I am so saddened and shocked that we have lost one of the true greats in music history. George Michael was an inspiration to many of us 80s kids that grew up with his music. George also helped us to be who we are. Rest In Peace George Michael.