Category: Shirley Bassey

Yello Featuring Billy Mackenzie – The Rhythm Divine (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“The Rhythm Divine” is a 1987 song by Yello, and Billy Mackenzie. MacKenzie, lead singer of new wave band The Associates, who had previously worked with Yello on several occasions, provided lyrics and backing vocals. A 12″ was released in the UK featuring Mackenzie on lead vocals.

Internationally the single was released by Yello featuring Shirley Bassey with Billy Mackenzie on backing vocals. Dieter Meier of the Swiss Electro-group Yello, approached Shirley Bassey in 1987 regarding a possible collaboration. “The Rhythm Divine” was said to have been written especially with her voice in mind. The track was produced by Yello with Hubertus Von Hohenlohe as co-producer.

Bassey’s vocals were recorded at Yello’s studio in Zurich. The song blends the electro-pop sound of the 1980s with a classic big Bassey ballad and introduced Shirley Bassey to a younger generation.

SIDE A:
Yello Featuring Billy MackenzieThe Rhythm Divine (Version Two) 5:50
Composed By, Arranged By – Boris Blank
Engineer – Steve Williams (6)
Featuring – Billy Mackenzie
Mixed By – Ian Tregoning
Written-By – B. Mackenzie*, B. Blank*, D. Meier*

SIDE B:
YelloDr. Van Steiner (Instrumental) 4:00
Written-By – B. Blank*

Yello Featuring Shirley Bassey – The Rhythm Divine (Original 7″ Version) 3:34
Backing Vocals – Billy Mackenzie
Featuring – Shirley Bassey
Written-By – B. Mackenzie*, B. Blank*, D. Meier*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– MERXR 253., Mercury ‎– MERXR 253
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve] – Me Company, Yello
Photography By – C. Jungwirth*
Producer – Yello

NOTES:
Track A mixed in August 1987.
Billy Mackenzie appears courtesy of WEA Records Ltd.

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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
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 USED:
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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