Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984
NEW 2022 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!
Originally posted August 14, 2012
++ Of note the original transfer in 2012 was the USA 12″ of “The Reflex” which was pressed at 33 ⅓ RPM it also did not include the live b-side track. For this NEW 2022 Transfer, I decided to use the UK 12″ which is pressed at 45 RPM for better sound fidelity along with the addition of “Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)” recorded live on the b-side.
“The Reflex” is the eleventh single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released in 1984. The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third studio album Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983). The single became the band’s first to reach the top of the US singles chart and their second to top the UK singles chart.
“The Reflex” became the band’s most successful single, topping the UK chart on 5 May 1984. It was their second UK No. 1, after 1983’s “Is There Something I Should Know?”, and would prove to be their last. The single entered the charts in America on 21 April 1984 at no. 46, became Duran Duran’s first of two singles to hit no. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (for 2 weeks) on 23 June 1984 , and was a huge hit internationally. (Their only other single to hit no. 1 in the US was the title song to the 1985 James Bond film “A View to a Kill”.) It was also the first of two songs that kept “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen out of the top spot (the other one being Prince’s “When Doves Cry”). The band wanted it to be the lead single from Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983), but their label did not like the warbling singing during the “why don’t you use it” segments, thinking this would hinder its success as a stand-alone single track.
The remixes for both the 7″ and 12″ singles were created by Nile Rodgers, of Chic fame. It was his first work with the band, and he would later go on to produce “The Wild Boys” single as well as the album Notorious (1986) and several tracks on Astronaut (2004).
Producer Ian Little recalled the sound Nick Rhodes came up with on his Roland Jupiter-8 keyboard: “…whenever I hear that steel-drum part it always brings a smile to my face because it’s so out of tune. Steel drums always are, but it was exactly right in terms of rhythm and tone. So a wood-block sound was mixed in to make it even more percussive and, successfully, it did the job.”
The live B-side “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)” is a cover version of a Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel song, recorded 16 November 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon in London, with lead Rebel Steve Harley joining the band onstage.
SIDE A:
The Reflex (Dance Mix) 6:34
Mixed By – Jason Corsaro, Nile Rodgers
Written-By – Duran Duran
SIDE B:
The Reflex (Dance Mix Edited) 4:22
Mixed By –Jason Corsaro, Nile Rodgers
Written-By – Duran Duran
Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) 4:55
Mixed By – Ian Little
Written-By –Steve Harley
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHARTS HISTORY
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | The Reflex | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
1984 | The Reflex | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #15 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI – 12DURAN 2, EMI – 12 DURAN 2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Apr 28, 1984
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Lacquer Cut By – Arun*
Producer – Alex Sadkin (tracks: A, B1), Duran Duran (tracks: A, B1), Ian Little (tracks: A, B1)
NOTES:
Track B2 recorded live in November 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon.
Manufactured In The UK By EMI Records Limited.
From the LP “Seven And The Ragged Tiger”
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO 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
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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VERY good
Thank you, Paul.
Thanks a bunch for the great rip, Paul, it was one of my favorites back in 1984.
Thanks for this. This song was always played at teen discos in the mid 80s in GDR while all girls were in love with made-up Simon LeBon and posters from DD taken from west-german magazines were traded like gold here (-;
Thank you – this takes me right back to junior year of high school. I was able to go on a trip to Europe with schoolmates, and this song was the one we heard the most on the tour bus. Good times !!
You’re welcome, Grant I am right there with you I have great memories of this song too. Thanks for shaering yours 🙂
Another fantastic post Paul…..Love the 12″ of The Reflex and the way Nile Rodgers totally changed the mix from 7 & The Ragged Tiger version.
1984 was a great year for music!
I’m hoping Duran Duran release “A Hollywood High” on Blu-ray etc, I’ve not seen it yet in the cinema.
I haven’t seen the film yet either hoping it gets a Bluray too 🙂
Thanks, Paul, IMHO, your 2012 remaster sounds warmer and better.
There is one thing I really can’t understand, with no disrespect but there are so many 80’s tracks selections to choose from yet why do you keep repeating the same tracks over and over again? I Do appreciate everything you do here, however, every week I wait in anticipation of new 12″s and I get disappointed with repeated tracks. please understand and don’t get upset about my complaining. thank you.
Absolutely one of the most danceable songs of the 80s. Both the 12″ and 7″ cuts are such an incredible upgrade over the original album version! What a classic in pristine form, Paul. Thank you!
Thank you dugn 🙂
One of my favourite Duran Duran singles. Thanks Paul for this transfer from the 45rpm UK 12” 🙂
You’re welcome, Marco 🙂
Wonderful, and there he is, the not-to-be-forgotten Jason Corsaro!
Jason Corsaro = Legend 🙂
Fabulous! Just fabulous!! Thanks so much Paul for this updated rip of a classic song!! Karen is so excited as am I. Duran Duran is the best!!
Jeff
You’re welcome, Jeff 🙂