Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984
NEW 2023 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!
Originally posted May 10, 2011
“The Medal Song” was the second single released from the 1984 album “Waking Up With The House On Fire” by British new wave band Culture Club. “The Medal Song” is about the 1930s American actress Frances Farmer, who was featured on the sleeve of the single. The single was only released in Europe, Japan, and Australia. “The Medal Song” peaked at #32 in the UK, #14 in Ireland, and #50 in New Zealand.
The b-side “Don’t Go Down That Street” features Japanese chatting by Miko, Boy George’s friend at the time. That song was recorded especially to be a B-Side after the other songs were made for the Waking Up album. There are two versions of the track: one short for the single in Japan, and another, around six minutes long, which can be found as the B-Side of various singles.
Even though the song was available as a B-side in most countries (it was also the B-side of “Mistake No. 3” in Canada and the U.S.), it still received a separate release in Japan as a single in 1985 for the Japan-only “Love Is Love EP”, where it peaked at number 69.
“The Medal Song (Extended Mix)” was omitted from the remastered re-issue of “Waking Up With The House On Fire”.
SIDE A:
The Medal Song (Extended Mix) 6:23
SIDE B:
Don’t Go Down That Street 6:30
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 730-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Poster
Country: UK
Released: Nov 19, 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Backing Vocals – Derek Green (tracks: A), Helen Terry (tracks: A), Mo Birch (tracks: B), Ruby Turner (tracks: B)
- Illustration [Frances Farmer] – John Geary (2)
- Keyboards [Additional] – Phil Pickett (tracks: A)
- Mixed By – Jon Moss, Steve Levine
- Photography By [B/w] – David Levine (11), Stevie Hughes
- Photography By [Colour] – André Csillag*
- Producer – Steve Levine
- Saxophone – Steve Grainger (tracks: A)
- Sleeve [Produced By] – Assorted iMaGes*
- Voice [Japanese Talk Over] – Miko (12) (tracks: B)
- Written-By – Culture Club
NOTES:
includes a Limited Edition Poster.
Produced for Do Not Erase Productions.
Taken From The Album “Waking Up With The House On Fire”
Manufactured in the UK
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 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
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Culture club is one of those bands that never quite grabbed my attention. I loved (and still do) Karma Chameleon, but never paid much attention to the rest of their releases. I think I was already too much into Depeche, The Cure, etc. and this sound was “too happy” … lol … I only went back to exploring them after Boy George reinvented himself with “Jesus Loves You” and later released “The Crying Game” (great song!). So, with less prejudice than “real” Culture Club fans, I have to say, I really like this song! Maybe it’s because it reminds me… Read more »
Thank you very much Paul. It’ a shame that this mix doesn’t appear in the two expanded editions of “Waking with the House on fire” album. Nevertheless, your rip it’s top notch (as usual). I hope in the future you can rip the 12″ of “Miss Me Blind”. Cheers!
Ah the difficult third album! I liked The War Song and this one is pretty catchy… but I don’t think the Calypso beat caught on. I suppose you can only write so many Karma Chameleons! Any rarities from Culture Club are always welcome, especially with exclusive B-sides. Thank you Paul and have a great weekend, you too Jeff, Song and Dance and all the rest of you chameleons!
I think they were just in a rush to get a new album out feeling pressure from their label to live up to their previous offerings. Maybe poor single choices, either way, the end was near for Culture Club. Have a great weekend 🙂
It’s unusual for a Australia-only release to chart in New Zealand. Perhaps a lot of importing across the Tasman Sea.
I agree Suzy.
Hi Paul, I love Culture Club, as you know, and I am so sorry that I have always regarded this as a terribly, terribly weak song. Maybe my least favourite CC single. It didn´t chart over here at all, and this after the “War Song” hit single. “Waking Up..” accordingly was the first CC lp I did not buy back then. Never mind – the follow-up “From Luxury to Heartache” rekindled my love. Funnily enough, “Luxury” did much worse over here, chart-wise. Have a great weekend, Paul and Jeff and all you music lovers around. Keep on humming, keep on… Read more »
This was just a bad choice for a follow-up to “The War Song” As I mentioned in another comment I prefer the B-Side. Have a great weekend 🙂
We broke Culture Club on L.A. top 40 radio, yet this wasn’t released here. Not sure how we overlooked this one since we played the import B-side “Colour By Numbers” that wasn’t released here…and a very cool mid-tempo ballad that should have been on the LP.
I like the song but honestly, it doesn’t have a radio feel to me there is no hook. I prefer the B-side.
I agree Paul. With 3 albums released in such a short time I think Virgin UK rushed things.
We played “The War Song” briefly, but it was a stiff related to their other monster hits.
Even though the parent album went platinum here and the UK, it too was considered a stiff based on expectations.
Our preferred B-sides were both better radio candidates; now they’re just bonus tracks on 2003 CD reissues.
Enjoy your weekend!
Again, Paul, I really appreciate you going deep into your archives for these vinyl gems. You’re giving me all the feels for vintage Culture Club!! Many, many thanks!!
Have a fabulous weekend Paul, Song And Dance, Retro Hound, Martika, ING, Daniel and the entire gang!!
Jeff
You’re welcome, Jeff. Have a fantastic weekend 🙂