Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987
“Meet El Presidente” is the 16th single from Duran Duran and the third single from the Notorious album.
According to a studio report in Star Hits magazine, one of the early drafts of this song was called “One of the Faithful.” A demo version by that name can be found on several bootlegs.
The album version of the song is considerably different from the single and video versions, and from all the remixes. The former’s original key and tempo are maintained, but mixes elements of the master to differing degrees for the single release, the main ones being a more emphatic, up-front mix for the percussion, brass, and backing vocal tracks, throughout the song.
“Meet El Presidente” was backed by the album track “Vertigo (Do The Demolition)”. This was the second single from Notorious to have an album track as a b-side.
“Meet El Presidente” peaked at #24 in the UK on April 25, 1987, in the United States the song reached #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart on May 2, 1987.
SIDE A:
Meet El Presidente (The Presidential Suite) 7:12
Edited By – Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana
Meet El Presidente (Meet El Beat) 5:30
Edited By – Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana
SIDE B:
Meet El Presidente (45 Mix) 3:40
Edited By – Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana
Vertigo (Do The Demolition) 4:43
Engineer, Mixed By – Daniel Abraham
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Meet El Presidente | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #70 |
| 1987 | Meet El Presidente | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #40 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-15294
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Pop Rock
CREDITS:
Design – Frank Olinsky
Edited By – The Hit Squad (2) (tracks: A1 to B1)
Engineer – Eric Calvi (tracks: A1 to B1)
Keyboards [Additional] – Ed Terry (tracks: A1 to B1)
Percussion – Bashiri Johnson (tracks: A1 to B1)
Photography By [Cover Photo] – Matthew Rolston
Producer – Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers
Remix, Producer, Engineer – Mark S. Berry (tracks: A1 to B1)
Written-By – Taylor, Rhodes, LeBon
NOTES:
Additionally produced and remixed for MSB Records. Ltd.
Recorded in England.
Original version can be heard on the album, NOTORIOUS
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
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
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
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
Password: burningtheground
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You keep making my day, Paul! I love this song and I love this EP. I bought the 12″ single of it, of course, but it was the CD single that I played over and over and over. CD singles were still fairly uncommon in the U.S. in 1987, so finding the import of this CD was very, very exciting. I bought the 7″ single as well — didn’t it fold out into a poster or something like that? (I never understood singles that folded out into a poster; like, who would put that up on the wall? Your single… Read more »
Hi David,
Yes, the 7″ did come in a limited poster sleeve and a regular sleeve. I bought the poster sleeve many years after it was released just for a collector item “The Reflex”, Skin Trade” & “All She Wants Is” all had one too.
We (that is, me and my Evil Twin) love Duran Duran. Please don’t stop. Until you have to.
Thanks!
You’re welcome, Muff Diver 🙂
I’m loving all these Duran Duran posts!! Thanks a million Paul!!
You’re welcome, Retro Hound 🙂
Another fantastic Duran Duran post Paul…..“Meet El Presidente” was a great 3rd release and just like “The Reflex” was different from the album. I never had this on 12″ vinyl as I bought the CD single, which was the very first Duran Duran UK CD single release. I loved the gatefold cover too! This Saturday Duran Duran will be on Global Citizen Live. Do you please have The Style Council – Promised Land 12″ A1 Promised Land (Longer Version) 7:04. A2 Promised Land (Pianopella Version) 3:45. B1 Can You Still Love Me? (Dub) 4:18. B2 Can You Still Love Me?… Read more »
I will see what I can do.
El Presidente hooked me up with a banana and some cargo cult goods!
I kid, it is more fun to have HQ FLAC from the DJ Paul archive than any milk and honey.
Danke, Merci, Spasiba, Gracias, Grazi, Thank you.
Lol you’re welcome 🙂
Hi mate. This is amazing. Of course you posted ‘The Presidential suite’ in 2012 which has a very different tracklist! Many thanks!!
You’re welcome, Neil 🙂
Thanks, Paul! Anything remixed by Omar is bound to have some cool edits and breaks!!
-Fred
You’re welcome, Fred 🙂
Let the Edit Extravaganza Begin!!!! Oh Paul, you are a darling for bringing this back to our ears after being missing from your site for a bit. When I first discovered you and Burning The Ground all those years ago, I couldn’t help but marvel at all the records we both had and celebrated. Especially the tracks that had these huge and intricate Edit Solos in them. “Meet El Presidente” has always been a favorite of mine because it showcased the talents of The Hit Squad: Omar Santana and Carlos Berrios. These two guys really used a razor blade to… Read more »
I had originally posted the US 12″ Promo back in 2012 November 5 to be exact. I decided this time to just rip the retail 12″ single which adds Vertigo on the flip side while the promo had the unreleased “Skin Trade” mixes Parisian Mix and SOS Dub which I do have plans to rip as part of the Master Mixes release. 🙂
You are a GOD!!! Love you Paul!!
Jeff