Category: The Associates

September 11, 2015

The Associates – Breakfast (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Breakfast” was the third single taken from the fourth studio album Perhaps by Scottish post-pun/new wave band The Associates. The single debuted on the UK singles chart on January 19, 1985 peaking at #49.

The epic string laden drama of “Breakfast”. It is possibly Billy Mackenzie’s greatest single moment, the melancholic piano motif setting the scene for an entire film noir in five minutes with its widescreen dramatics and mournful tension.

SIDE A:
Breakfast 5:28
Keyboards [Uncredited] – Howard Hughes
Producer – Martin Rushent
Vocals [Uncredited], Written-by – Billy MacKenzie

SIDE B:
Breakfast Alone 5:44
Keyboards – Howard Hughes
Producer – Martin Rushent
Written-By – Billy MacKenzie

Kites 5:51
Arranged By – Alan Rankine, Billy MacKenzie
Producer, Vocals – Billy MacKenzie
Written-By – Hal Hackady, Lee Pockriss

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: WEA ‎– YZ 28T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Jan 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Photography By – Richard Haughton

Find the 12″ 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

September 9, 2015

The Associates – White Car In Germany (UK & Ireland 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

“White Car In Germany” was a single by Scottish post-punk/new wave band The Associates. The single was released on December 5, 1981 from the bands second album Fourth Drawer Down. The swirling electronics, cold atmosphere and treated percussion were intended to sound as un-American as possible. The lyric “Aberdeen’s an old place – Düsseldorf’s a cold place – Cold as spies can be” accurately captured post-war tensions under the spectre of the bomb. “White Car In Germany” failed to have any chart success in the UK.

SIDE A:
White Car In Germany (12″ Version) 5:26

SIDE B:
The Associate 4:59
Composed By [Uncredited] – Michael Dempsey

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Situation Two ‎– Sit11t
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK & Ireland
Released: 05 Dec 1981
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Post-Punk, New Wave

CREDITS:
Composed By – Rankine*, Mackenzie*
Photography By [Uncredited] – Antoine Giacomoni
Producer – Associates*, Hedges*

NOTES:
The labels says “MADE IN FRANCE”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

September 4, 2015

The Associates – 18 Carat Love Affair/Love Hangover (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982

“18 Carat Love Affair/Love Hangover” was a 1982 double A side single by Scottish post punk/new wave band The Associates released on July 23, 1985. The single was backed with a cover of the Diana Ross hit “Love Hangover”. “18 Carat Love Affair/Love Hangover” debuted on the UK singles chart on August 7, 1982 peaking at #21.

Described by Billy Mackenzie in Smash Hits as a “quasi-Neil Sedaka song”, ’18 Carat Love Affair’ was ASSOCIATES’ most commercial offering and a fine example of their supreme avant pop. Martha Ladly’s girlie shrill went hand-in-hand with the incessant synth riff in this tale about a gay affair that Mackenzie was trying to hide.

“18 Carat Love Affair” and “Love Hangover” were not included on the original UK issue of the album “Sulk” but were included on the US version of the original LP.

SIDE A:
18 Carat Love Affair 3:51
Producer – Associates*, Hedges*

Voluntary Wishes, Swap It Production 3:22
Producer – Associates*, Hedges*

SIDE AA:
Love Hangover 5:55
Producer, Arranged By – Associates*, Mark Arthurworrey
Remix – Mark Arthurworrey
Written-By – Marilyn McLeod, Pam Sawyer

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Associates ‎– ASC3T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 23 Jul 1982
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve] – Macdonald*, Walsh*, Mackenzie*
Photography By – Alan Macdonald
Written-By – Rankine* (tracks: A1, A2), MacKenzie* (tracks: A1, A2)

NOTES:
Track A2 is written “Swap It” on the label and written as one word “Swapit” on the back cover.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

September 3, 2015

The Associates – Waiting For The Loveboat (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“Waiting For The Loveboat” was a 1984 single by Scottish post punk/new wave band The Associates. Front man Billy Mackenzie loved The Human League so as well as working with Martyn Ware, he roped in “Dare” producer Martin Rushent to handle producing duties. “Waiting For The Loveboat” was released on August 17, 1984 and debuted on the UK singles chart on August 25, 1984 peaking at #53.

The b-side contains a dramatically different arrangement of “Waiting For The Loveboat” taken from the John Peel sessions.

SIDE A:
Waiting For The Loveboat (Extended Version) 8:18
Producer – Martin Rushent

SIDE B:
Waiting For The Loveboat (Peel Session) 5:00
Producer – Dale Griffin

Schampout (Extended Version) 5:59
Producer – Billy MacKenzie, Dave Allen*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: WEA ‎– YZ 16T, WEA ‎– 249306-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Layout [Sleeve] – Caryn Gough
Photography By – Richard Haughton
Written-By – Billy MacKenzie

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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