Category: Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet – Fight For Ourselves (Extended Remix) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

“Fight for Ourselves” is a song by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released as the lead single from their 1986 album Through the Barricades. In the UK, the track reached number 15 on the Singles Chart, but it was met with largely negative reviews.

Background
While touring to promote their 1983 album True, Spandau Ballet noticed a newfound synergy in their live performances and sought to replicate that energy in their next studio effort. However, their attempt to achieve this with True co-producers Tony Swain and Steve Jolley on 1984’s Parade left the band dissatisfied. Guitarist and songwriter Gary Kemp later admitted, “We were afraid to take a big leap after True. The problem was that Parade didn’t reflect the live energy we had. People were disappointed with the record.” Kemp emphasized, “We’re a rock band now.”

Determined to evolve their sound, the band decided to part ways with Swain and Jolley. They brought in recording engineer Gary Langan, whom they had met while working with Trevor Horn, to co-produce a single track as a test before committing to him for the full album. The chosen song, originally titled “Everybody (We’ve Got to Fight for Ourselves)”, was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich during the winter of 1986. The experiment proved successful, and Langan co-produced the entire album.

Release and Commercial Performance
“Fight for Ourselves” was released in the UK on July 14, 1986, and peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, marking the band’s first lead single from an album to miss the top 10. The track fared better internationally, reaching number 5 in Italy, number 7 in Ireland, and number 10 on the European Hot 100. It also charted in other countries, including Spain (11), Australia and the Netherlands (16), Belgium (20), Switzerland (23), West Germany (32), and New Zealand (33).

Despite its moderate success, lead singer Tony Hadley reflected in his 2004 autobiography To Cut a Long Story Short that the single’s performance “hardly squared with our hopes of global success.”

Music Video
The music video for “Fight for Ourselves,” directed by Simon Milne, features a playful storyline in which two young women—one played by Paul Young’s then-girlfriend Stacey Smith—sneak into a Spandau Ballet concert. Using powers of invisibility, they interact with band members during the performance. Chroma key effects were employed for the disappearing and reappearing sequences. The exterior shots of the concert venue were filmed at 43 King Street, Covent Garden, London.

+De-notes vinyl-only

SIDE A:
Fight For Ourselves (Extended Remix) 7:30

SIDE B:
Fight For Ourselves 4:22
Fight … The Heartache+ 4:12

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Reformation – TA7264Reformation – TA 7264CBS – TA7264CBS – TA 7264
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: Jul 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Packaging by Movat/ Assorted Images
Made In England

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.



Spandau Ballet – She Loved Like Diamond (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982

“She Loved Like Diamond” is a song by the English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released on 11 January 1982 as the third single from what would be their second album, Diamond. The music video and cover art for the single focused on the sexual themes in the lyrics and the allure of the title character. In writing the song, their guitarist/songwriter Gary Kemp was influenced by American Jewish music with an eastern European flavour that he had heard in movie themes and musicals. Most reviews singled out lead singer Tony Hadley’s performance as the main problem with the recording, which only mustered a number 49 peak position on the UK Singles Chart. The poor showing prompted the idea to release another song from the album, but the band realized that getting a new single to succeed would require a remix of the disappointing work of their current producer and decided to discontinue their association with him in doing so.

“She Loved Like Diamond” was released on 11 January 1982, and only got as high as number 49 on the UK Singles Chart. The number 30 showing of “Paint Me Down” meant that the studio performance of that song that they filmed for the British music chart television programme Top of the Pops went unaired, so it was clear that an appearance there to promote “She Loved Like Diamond” was not going to happen.

SIDE A:
She Loved Like Diamond (Re-Mix) 3:39

SIDE B:
She Loved Like Diamond (Instrumental) 2:56

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Reformation – CHS 12 2585, Chrysalis – CHS 12 2585
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Jan 25, 1982
Genre: Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Composed By – Gary Kemp
Design [Graphics] –Graham Smith (5)
Producer – Richard James Burgess

NOTES:
Side A is not credited as a Re-Mix on the labels or sleeve.
From the LP “DIAMOND”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable:Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Elite
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

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



Spandau Ballet – Be Free With Your Love (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1989

  • NEW 2022 Transfer!
  • NEW Meticulous Restoration!

Originally posted April 6, 2012

Sending Love & Light to Ukraine

“Be Free with Your Love” was the second single taken from the sixth studio album “Heart Like A Sky” by English new wave band Spandau Ballet. The single did well in Italy, and Netherlands reaching the top 10. In the band’s native UK the single peaked at #52. Two more singles were released from the album before the group disbanded.

SIDE A:
Be Free With Your Love (Extended Dance Mix) 6:39
Remix – Justin Strauss

SIDE B:
Be Free With Your Love (Dub Mix) 5:09
Remix – Justin Strauss

Be Free With Your Love 4:26

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS – SPANS T4
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By [Brass] – Gary Barnacle
Backing Vocals – London Community Gospel Choir
Brass – Phantom Horns
Co-producer – Gary KempGary Langan
Engineer – John Brough
Mixed By – Tom Lord-Alge

NOTES:
Original version appears on the Spandau Ballet album “Heart Like A Sky”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
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

**24Bit FLAC only available for seven days!


Password: burningtheground

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

Spandau Ballet – Paint Me Down (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1981

“Paint Me Down”, released November 2, 1981, was the second single taken from the album Diamond by British New wave band Spandau Ballet. “Paint Me Down” broke the band’s run of UK top 20 hits by stalling at No.30.

SIDE A:
Paint Me Down 7:05

SIDE B:
Re•Paint 6:54

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Reformation – CHS 12 2560, Chrysalis – CHS 12 2560
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Nov 1981
Genre: Electronic
Style: New wave

CREDITS:
Composed By – Gary Kemp
Design [Sleeve Design] – Graham Smith (5)
Producer – Richard James Burgess

NOTES:
From the LP “DIAMOND”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
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