BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982
“Love Is a Stranger” is the fifth single by the British rock/pop duo Eurythmics. Originally released in late 1982, the single was commercially unsuccessful, but it was rereleased in 1983 when it became a hit, reaching the UK Top Ten. The single was re-released again in 1991, to promote Eurythmics’ Greatest Hits album.
Originally released in November 1982 in the United Kingdom, the song reached a disappointing #54 on the singles chart. Following the huge success of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” the following year, the song was re-released and reached #6 in April 1983. In the United States, the song was the second single from the Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) album and it was released just as the title track reached number one. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #81 on 17 September 1983 and peaked at #23 on 12 November of that year. The song was in the charts for thirteen weeks.
The b-side for the 12″ release “Let’s Just Close Our Eyes” is a newly recorded version of “The Walk” with a more synth-oriented instrumentation and is exclusive to vinyl. The song blends into another non-LP track “Monkey, Monkey” therefore I made an artistic decision not to seperate the tracks in keeping with the original 12″ continuity. There is pleny of audio editing software if you want to seperate them yourself.
SIDE B:
Love Is A Stranger 3:36
SIDE B:
Let’s Just Close Our Eyes/Monkey, Monkey 9:30
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Love Is A Stranger | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #23 |
| 1983 | Love Is A Stranger | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #7 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA – DAT 1, RCA – PC 5525, RCA – PB 5525
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Nov 1982
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Mastered By – BilBo (3)
Other [Special Thanks To] – Alan Harrison
Photography By – Lewis Ziolek
Producer, Engineer – Adam Williams, David A. Stewart
Sleeve – Laurence Stevens
Written-By – Lennox*, Stewart*
NOTES:
“Let’s Just Close Our Eyes” (Special 12″ Bonus Track), appears on back of sleeve.
“Love Is A Stranger” from the LP “SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This)”.
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
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
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: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/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
Oh, I caught my breath when I saw this post 🙂 To hear “Let’s just close our eyes” with no crackle is just pure bliss 🙂 Many, many thanks. xo
LIAS is probably my all time favourite Eurythmics track. I can’t wait to hear the b/side!
a little fyi for you… Boy George did a GREAT cover of LIAS. Hard to find, but it’s fun!
Thanx for not ripping apart this b-sides’ rip !
Besides, this is one of those songs – when I hear it think,
what where why que pourquoi warum.. there is no official full length version,
or even an original extended?
You’re welcome Dirk 🙂
Many thanks for posting this, Paul. Looking forward to listening to the B-Side.
Was there a 12″ version of Love Is A Stranger?
SaNdMaN no there was never an official 12″ version released in the 80s. In 1991 the song was remixed on 12″ to promote the Greatest Hits album.
does anyone know from which year the Hot tracks version is? I have this on very best of hottracks 5 from 1995 but I do not know if the tracks on that cd are much older than the release date or not.
It was mixed by Steve Bourasa and titled “Love Is A Stranger (Dr. Strangelove CD Edit”. I think it originally appeared on The Best Of Hot Tracks Vol. 2 released in 1988.
He did a good job of extending it
Thank you Paul!!!
You’re welcome Guss 🙂
@ Jeff and Paul, you two crack me up!!! Hilarious! One of the reason’s I come to this site is to read what Jeff is going to say next, and then to read what Paul’s response is, LMAOOOOO, now THIS is entertainment. Thanks you two for keeping this site extra entertaining. x0x0x0x0x0x
We do our best to keep things light around here memoryboy 🙂
@ Joey, I actually have a 12″ Extended Remix of ‘Love Is A Stranger’ on Vinyl, and it’s pretty amazing. It appears to be released by the Eurythmics record company. Not sure 100% if it’s official. But it’s basically the original song but extended.
Are you sure it isn’t the 1991 remix?
YES!!!! Can’t go wrong with Eurythmics. And I have to say that posting single’s, 45’s, 7″ versions etc.. are all just as valuable and exciting as the 12″ singles. As I’ve said before vinyl is like Gold to me, the sound is so perfect in quality, and to have these singles and 12″ remixes ripped from vinyl is very valuable. Often much better than any digitally remastered version released. Thanks Paul again for posting some great classics. And this single is most certainly an 80’s Classic. Synth-pop at it’s finest.
Thank you memoryboy. I love the vinyl sound too 🙂
I agree with all of you, especially with Omar – an iconic single by an iconic band. Have we really realized how important they were and are for music itself?
One of the most important bands in music history 🙂
An iconic Eurythmics single. Thanks Paul . Maybe you could post Sweet Dreams (ext.) next ?
We’ll see Omar 🙂
Thank you again Paul. Love this 12″ though when I got it I was surprised that they did not do an extended mix or dub of this record, but perhaps they just realized it didn’t need anything extra. I remember thinking how futuristic and alien they sounded. That alternate version of The Walk is great. I really think they were at their best when they were an experimental new wave band (first 3 records + 1984 soundtrack).
I agree Joey the first three albums were amazing. This version always leaves me wanting just a bit more 🙂
Love Is A Stranger is to me one of the better tracks of the 80s (even though MANY tracks actually make that list), still!
I agree Martijn I think it is a masterpiece 🙂
Now I think of it, it remains a mystery how this rather mysterious melody did not end up in one of the later Miami Vice episodes which were known for a mood that had shifted to a more gloomy feel. Tastes differ but that series hosted a very large list of some of the best but obscure music (from the 80s) ever made. Love Is A Stranger was actually made for it but somehow Michael Mann overlooked it.
I’ve been hoping for ages that you’d post this someday. What a marvelous treat. Thank you so much Paul.
You’re welcome Kurt 🙂
OBSESSION!!! Paul, massive thanks for this, especially the B-side! To me, I love the Eurhythmics when they were strictly a synth band. I loved the icy machines paired with the cat-like purr of Annie Lennox vocals layered on top. It’s like the way I love Yazoo with the warm voice of Alison over Vince’s keyboards. There’s such a haunting quality to this record; an obsession. Dream-like and ethereal, but driving too. Definitely, one of my favorites by them along with “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” and “Paint A Rumour” and “Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)”. Oh Paul, you… Read more »
Thank you Jeff I am at a loss for words my friend. I am just glad you have Karen to drive you home lol 🙂