Category: Madonna

May 5, 2015

Madonna – La Isla Bonita (US 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“La Isla Bonita” (English: The Beautiful Island) is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released as the fifth and final single from her third studio album, True Blue, on February 25, 1987, by Sire Records. The instrumental version of the song was first offered to Michael Jackson before Madonna both accepted it and wrote the lyrics and melody. “La Isla Bonita” is noted for being the first Madonna song to have a Latino influence in it, with arrangements of Cuban drums and Spanish guitar, maracas, harmonicas and a mix of synthesized and real drumming. The lyrics of the song tell about a beautiful island and was a tribute to the beauty of the Latin people according to Madonna.

Following its release, “La Isla Bonita” received positive appreciation from critics. It also achieved worldwide popularity, topping the record charts in countries such as Austria, Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland. It became Madonna’s fourth number-one single in the United Kingdom, giving her the record for most number-one singles among female artists. In the United States, it reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

SIDE A:
La Isla Bonita 3:59

SIDE B:
La Isla Bonita (Instrumental Remix Edit) 4:24
Remix – Chris Lord-Alge

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	La Isla Bonita	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#4
1987	La Isla Bonita	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks	#1
1987	La Isla Bonita	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#10

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 7-28425
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Latin, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer – Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Written-By – Bruce Gaitsch, Madonna, Patrick Leonard

NOTES:
From the Madonna album “TRUE BLUE”

Find the 7″ 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

December 19, 2014

Madonna – Angel (US 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Angel” is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her second studio album Like a Virgin. It was released on April 10, 1985 by Sire Records as the third single from the album.

After its release, “Angel” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 48 on the issue dated April 27, 1985, while her previous single “Crazy for You” was at number-two on the chart. After ten weeks, “Angel” reached a peak position of five on the chart. The song tied Madonna with Olivia Newton-John, as the female artist with the most consecutive top-five hits on the Hot 100 at that time. “Angel” debuted on the Adult Contemporary chart for the issue dated May 11, 1985, and reached a peak of five. The song debuted at number 40 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart on June 1, 1985, and reached the top after three weeks. It also charted on a number of Billboard charts, such as reaching the top of the Hot Dance Singles Sales and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at position 71.

SIDE A:
Angel 3:42

SIDE B:
Angel (Dance Mix Edit) 4:57
Remix – James Farber, Nile Rodgers

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Angel	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#5
1985	Angel	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks	#5
1985	Angel	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 7-29008, Sire ‎– 9 29008-7
Format: Vinyl, 7″
Country: US
Released: Apr 1985
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Power Pop, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Nile Rodgers
Written-By – Madonna, Steve Bray*

NOTES:
From the album “LIKE A VIRGIN”

Find The 7″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
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 Removeal: 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

July 28, 2014

Madonna – Who’s That Girl (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Who’s That Girl” is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from the soundtrack album of the motion picture of same name. It was released on June 30, 1987, by Sire Records as the first single from the album. While shooting for the film, then called Slammer, Madonna had requested Patrick Leonard to develop an uptempo song that captured the nature of her film persona. She later added the lyrics and vocals to the demo tape developed by Leonard, and decided to call both the song and the movie “Who’s That Girl”.

Featuring instrumentation from drums, bass, and stringed instruments, “Who’s That Girl” continued Madonna’s fascination with Hispanic culture by incorporating Spanish lyrics and using the effect of double vocals. Although it received mixed reactions from reviewers, the song became Madonna’s sixth single to top the Billboard Hot 100, while peaking atop the charts in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium. It was also nominated for “Best Song From A Motion Picture” at the 1988 Grammy Awards and “Best Original Song” at the 1988 Golden Globe Awards.

SIDE A:
Who’s That Girl (Extended Version) 6:31
Keyboards – Ed Terry
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Steve Thompson And Michael Barbiero*

SIDE B:
Who’s That Girl (Dub) 5:11
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Steve Thompson And Michael Barbiero*

White Heat (LP Version) 4:41

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Who’s That Girl	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1987	Who’s That Girl	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	#5
1987	Who’s That Girl	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	#44
1987	Who’s That Girl	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop	#78

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20692, Sire ‎– 9 20692-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer, Written-By – Madonna, Patrick Leonard

NOTES:
Made in USA

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
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

July 24, 2014

Nick Kamen – Tell Me (Ltd. Edition UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“Tell Me” is a 1988 single by English singer Nick Kamen it was the first single from Kamen’s secon album “Us” produced by Patrick Leonard. Madonna again made an appearance as a backing vocalist on “Tell Me”, this time without contributing to the songwriting or production.

“Tell Me” debuted on the UK singles chart on May, 28, 1988 peaking at #40.

The “Dub Mix” only appears on this limited edition poster bag 12″.

SIDE A:
Tell Me (Dub Mix) 5:31
Producer, Composed By – David Williams (4), Patrick Leonard
Remix – Michael Hutchinson
Backing Vocals – Madonna

SIDE B:
Tell Me (Extended Mix) 5:58
Producer, Composed By – David Williams (4), Patrick Leonard
Remix – Michael Hutchinson
Backing Vocals – Madonna

Tell Me 4:21
Producer, Composed By – David Williams (4), Patrick Leonard
Remix – Michael Hutchinson
Backing Vocals – Madonna

Better Be Good Tonite 3:31
Producer, Composed By – Geoff Gurd, Martin Lascelles

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Poster Bag: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: WEA ‎– YZ 184TW, WEA ‎– (247 916-0)
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Poster Bag
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Lyrics By – Nick Kamen
Photography By – Carlos Reynosa

NOTES:
From the LP: “Us”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
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