BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988
Originally posted August 26, 2012
“Soldier of Love” is a 1988 song by American singer Donny Osmond, which became his comeback hit.
A Top 30 hit in the UK in 1988, the track was not initially released in the US as Osmond did not have a record deal there. However, a cassette of the song from a British import was sent by an Osmond fan to Jessica Ettinger, the acting Program Director and Music Director at ABC’s WPLJ-FM New York. Ettinger liked the song but was concerned that Osmond, a former child star, wouldn’t be accepted by the current pop audience.
Ettinger, believing the song to be a hit, up-ended the top 40 music and radio industry by giving it a slot on her playlist. Osmond was not only unsigned by any record label in the U.S., but the song itself was unavailable for purchase in the U.S. at the time. To give the song a chance, she created a “mystery artist” promotion; put the song in rotation, and kept listeners guessing who the artist was for several weeks. Eventually, Ettinger had her air talent reveal that the song was by Donny Osmond, who appeared live on the air at the same time. Osmond was soon signed by Capitol Records, which copied Ettinger’s promotion idea nationwide and released the song as a single. “Soldier of Love” reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989, behind Michael Damian’s “Rock On”; and Osmond credits Ettinger with re-launching his career by listening to the music and not pre-judging whether a song could be a hit based on the name of the artist.
The song is set to a post-disco beat. Songwriters are Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. The music video for the song was by John Scarlett Davis and produced by Nick Verden for Radar Films. Shot on location at London’s Docklands.
SIDE A:
Soldier Of Love (Remix) 5:54
Producer, Written-By – Carl Sturken , Evan Rogers
Remix – Chris Lord-Alge
SIDE B:
Soldier Of Love (Dub Mix) 5:48
Producer, Written-By – Carl Sturken , Evan Rogers
Remix – Chris Lord-Alge
Time Can’t Erase (Non-Lp track) 3:37
Producer, Written-By – D. Osmond*
Written By – P. Ross
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | “Soldier Of Love” | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #2 |
| 1988 | “Soldier Of Love” | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #20 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label:Virgin – 611 784-213
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Europe
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Design – Stylorogue*
Photography By – Dean Freeman
NOTES:
“Soldier Of Love” taken from the LP “DONNY OSMONG“
Find the 12″ at 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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: 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 USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: 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
Username: btg
Password: burningtheground
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That got me checking…actually originally posted…on 3rd January 2011
And then again when upgraded and in 24-bit flac for first time…on 26th August 2012
…sorry typo…’since the 2012 rip’…
Now this is a good one to compare as it has some difficult treble…and as you have changed a few things since the 2017 rip. I have listened to both back to back and then also done some ‘a to b’ing. On balance I do think the old rip is better. Slightly warmer and reproduces the treble (in the backing voices particularly) more clearly and with less sibilance. To be clear neither is perfect as the top end is pushing the limitations of vinyl reproduction so it’s to a big degree the quality of the source not the transfer. And… Read more »
Well, that is not news that I wanted to hear especially since I have spent tons of money on newer equipment since 2011 days. I actually thought it sounded much better than the old rip, especially in the sibilance area. If I may ask what are you using to listen to the files?
Sorry I didn’t mean to be a downer but to my ears that’s what I was getting. I have had my own issues with sibilance on rips so it’s something I do pick up on. I have only listened on laptop thru internal speakers and then with ‘phones so far but it is a Dell XPS L501x (considered the closest thing to a ‘HiFi’ laptop that exists) and Sennheiser over ear headphones…
…had to go home and check the model…’phones are HD435s. Good headphones.
Thanks a lot Paul for this re-rip. I also have the album on CD. My favourite single by Donny Osmond is “I’m in it for love” which is also on the album but in a different mix. The groovy original 1987 mix is so much better. The song begins very softly and quietly and finishes loudly with heavy drums. I was looking for this version for a long time on the web. By chance, on June 2015 I finally found a proper rip of it. It was yours…That was the day when I discovered Burning The Ground. I will never… Read more »
I will do my best Daniel I am wanting to re-rip all of my Donny 12″ singles 🙂
Thanks so much for this one Paul. I did not get a chance to download it before and was terribly sorry I missed it. As you know, I was trying to download your entire discography in 24 flac, but then you had to drop a lot of your entries, of which I perfectly understand. I’m just so happy and excited that it’s back once again. I so love this song and it has that great beat, melody and pizzazz I love so much. I worship your tastes in music Paul. Like I’ve said before, you are a kindred spirit of… Read more »
This is a very guilty pleasure of mine I have the album on CD and all of his 12″ singles most of which I posted in 2012 so they will be getting an upgrade hopefully soon 🙂
You’re the absolute best Paul!! Keep your guilty pleasures coming!!
Jeff
I haven´t had any spare time this week (or so it feels) so I made myself rare again. I just wanted to congratulate you and all of us to this excellent gem. I don´t think I have ever heard this in full and I absolutely love it. I must admit I only knew this song from Ben Liebrand´s “In The Mixes” or “Grand Mixes” (liebrand.nl) and now I cannot stop playing SOL. And it´s getting louder and louder (haha).
Thank you Paul. Have a wonderful weekend. And you too, of course, dearest Jeff.