Category: Wham!

Wham! – Club Tropicana (Japan 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“Club Tropicana” is the fourth single taken from the debut album FANTASTIC by British duo Wham! released in July 1983.

The single peaked at #4 in the UK, going on to become the 39th best selling single of 1983.

The “Edited Version” of “Club Tropicana” is exclusive to this Japan 7″ release and is basically the album version with the fade intro removed. This release also comes in a unique poster bag picture sleeve.

SIDE A:
Club Tropicana (Edited Version) 3:47

SIDE B:
Blue (Armed With Love) 3:54

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic ‎– 07・5P-241, Inner Vision ‎– 07・5P-241
Format: Vinyl, 7″, Single, Poster Bag
Country: Japan
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – George Michael, Steve Brown (tracks: A)
Written-By – Andrew Ridgeley (tracks: A), George Michael

NOTES:
Housed in a unique Poster Bag.

Find the 7″ on 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 
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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

George Michael – Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Remix) (Canada 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Hard Day” is a song by English singer George Michael from his debut studio album, Faith (1987). It was released on 30 October 1987 as the album’s third single. The song was written and originally produced by Michael, and was released solely in the United States and Australia. No music video was made for the song.

“Hard Day” reached the top five on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart and the top 40 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

This Canada 12″ promo includes the 6:30 Shep Pettibone remix on both sides. As a bonus I have included the “Special Remix” and “Radio Edit” which I transfered from the U.S. 12″ promo (Columbia ‎– 44 07466). The “Radio Edit” has never appeared on CD.

SIDE A:
Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Remix) 6:30
Remix – Shep Pettibone

SIDE B:
Hard Day (Special Remix) 9:03
Edited By – The Latin Rascals, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Shep Pettibone

Hard Day (Radio Edit) 4:09

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Hard Day U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #5
1987 Hard Day U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #21

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia ‎– 12CDN 397
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: Canada
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop
Style: RnB/Swing, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer, Arranged By – George Michael

NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP “FAITH”

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

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

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

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