BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982
“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” is a song written and recorded by the British new wave band Culture Club. Released as a single in September 1982 from the group’s platinum-selling debut album Kissing to Be Clever, it was the band’s first UK #1 hit. In the United States, the single was released in November 1982 and also became a huge hit, reaching #2 for three weeks.
“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” was the third single released in Europe by Culture Club and their debut release in the United States and Canada. The song was picked up by BBC Radio 2 and became a UK #1 single for three weeks in October 1982. The song entered the American Pop chart the week ending December 4, 1982. It hit #1 in Cash Box magazine and held at #2 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March and April 1983 (kept from the #1 spot by Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”). The single achieved sales of 900,000 US copies and also hit #1 in Canada. It was also number one in Australia.
This was Culture Club’s first success, after their first two releases, “White Boy” and “I’m Afraid of Me” charted in the UK at #114 and #100 respectively. According to Boy George, it was their last chance to get an album deal.
The song rose rapidly in the UK charts after the group’s first appearance on Top of the Pops, which resulted in George’s androgynous style of dress and sexual ambiguity making newspaper headlines. The group were only asked to appear on Top of the Pops the night before the show, after Shakin’ Stevens pulled out.
In a retrospective review, Allmusic journalist Jose F. Promis described “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” as “a simple masterpiece, resonating with an ache that harked back to the classic torch songs of yesteryear.”
In 2007, Boy George said that the song was “not just about Culture Club’s drummer Jon Moss, my boyfriend at the time. It was about all the guys I dated at that time in my life.”
The B-side was a dub version featuring Pappa Weasel in many countries and “You Know I’m Not Crazy” on the US release. On the 12″ version of the record, the track “Love Is Cold (You Were Never No Good)” was also included.
SIDE A:
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me 4:22
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me (Dub Version) 3:39
SIDE B:
Love Is Cold (You Were Never No Good) 4:24
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Do You Really Want To Hurt Me | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #2 |
1983 | Do You Really Want To Hurt Me | U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | #39 |
1983 | Do You Really Want To Hurt Me | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary | #8 |
1983 | Do You Really Want To Hurt Me | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #21 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 518-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Sep 1982
Genre: Reggae, Pop
Style: Reggae-Pop, Dub
CREDITS:
Bass – Michael Craig
Design [Cover] – Jik Graham
Drums, Percussion –Jon Moss
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Gordon Milne (tracks: A1, A2), Richard Lengyel (tracks: B1)
Featuring, Vocals [Additional Vocals] – Papa Weasel* (tracks: A2)
Guitar, Keyboards, Piano – Roy Hay
Mastered By – JA*
Mixed By – Jon Moss (tracks: A1, A2)
Photography By – Mark LeBon
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Steve Levine
Vocals – Boy George
Vocals [Additional Vocals] – Helen Terry
Written-By, Performer – Culture Club
NOTES:
The debut album “KISSING TO BE CLEVER”
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
Hi,
Fab Site
Do you have the 12” version of ‘The War Song’ please
You are doing a great job on the ripping, they sound Fantastic
Again Thank You
Patrick
Luv this song! Hate the video! Keep up the good work, DjPaulT. [:
A classic selection. Always loved the dub version as well. Thanks for the share.
Awesome – thanks Paul. That debut Top Of The Pops episode is going to be repeated on BBC Four in the coming months. Not sure if you’re able to watch them on iPlayer from the states? I’m not sure if it was this performance or the one after that was the first time I’d seen Boy George, but I remember it so vividly. For some reason we were watching it at school, I don’t know why were still at school at 7.30pm, I think we were rehearsing a play or something and it TOTP was on in the background. We… Read more »
Great! Thank You My Vinyl Master 🙂
Big hit and sweet memories. Despite the lack of vocal intonation of the intro is a good song.
Thanks Paul for that incredible work on that track ( i’ve two 12inches of this song, you can be sure they doesn’t sound as good as you did !) Always great job!
You’re welcome Ludo-CT 🙂
Saw them again last year. Awesome! Still no sign of ‘Tribes’ so after 18 months on order i finally cancelled in June! Many thanks for this!
I just saw them for the first time a month or so ago still great 🙂
That bass… that hook.. I was hooked. After decades, it is even more poppier than I remembered, but still, the vibe hasn’t changed. Too bad they did not let the engineers go loose on an extended dub.
Totally agree Dirk. I think that the vinyl really let’s the vibe shine through 🙂
Boy George and this wonderful achingly awesome torch song!! Paul, you really mesmerize me with your song choices. I can’t wait to luxuriate in the sonic bliss of your rip. Karen and I are such huge fans of this song and I’m so excited that you have showcased it on your most beautiful site.
Grateful!!
Jeff
Thank you Jeff 🙂
Thanks Paul. I love Culture Club related stuff. Anything by Boy George etc is great. Hope they release their new album Tribes before the year ends!
I think we are all hoping 🙂