Burning The Ground Exclusive
Today’s feature takes us back to 1986 with one of Eurythmics’ most defiant and infectious singles—”Thorn In My Side.” Pulled from their sixth studio album Revenge, this track showcases the duo’s pivot from icy synths toward a more guitar-driven, rock-infused sound, without losing an ounce of their signature edge.
Released in August 1986, “Thorn In My Side” was a UK smash, reaching #5 on the Singles Chart. While it didn’t make as big of a splash stateside (peaking at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100), it became a staple of Eurythmics’ live setlists and remains a fan favorite for its blistering lyrics and triumphant tone. This isn’t a heartbreak song—it’s a take-your-power-back anthem.
Annie Lennox delivers a vocal performance that walks the line between controlled disdain and cool detachment, spitting lines like:
“You gave me such a bad time / Tried to hurt me, but now I know…”
Backed by Dave Stewart’s guitar and slick production, it’s pure Eurythmics: sharp, stylish, and unafraid.
The Extended Mix on this UK 12″ vinyl release opens things up with an expanded intro and instrumental passages, giving the track more groove and weight—perfect for the dancefloor or just a dramatic solo strut across your apartment.
On the B-side, we get the live recording of “In This Town”. It’s a muscular, politically tinged performance that captures the raw, charged energy of the band at their mid-’80s peak.
Thorn In My Side” endures not just as a great single, but as a statement of resilience. A glittering middle finger to heartbreak, dressed up in hooks and eyeliner.
Now—a quick collector’s note for the completists out there:
Yes, I am aware of the sought-after “Houston Mix” of “Thorn In My Side.” It’s an ultra-rare pressing that’s reportedly identical to this standard UK 12″ mix, with one crucial difference: the run-out groove etching reads DAT 8 A1 rather than the common DAT 8 A3 —and that’s the only known distinguishing mark. I’ve never personally come across a copy, and believe me, I’ve looked. If I ever do get my hands on one, you better believe I’ll post it here.
SIDE A:
Thorn In My Side (Extended Mix) 6:57
Engineer – Gary Moon
Keyboards – Patrick Seymour
Keyboards, Drum Programming, Backing Vocals – David A. Stewart
Lead Vocals – Annie Lennox
SIDE B:
Thorn In My Side (Album Version) 4:15
Backing Vocals – Bernita Turner
Bass Guitar – John McKenzie
Drums – Clem Burke
Guitar – David A. Stewart
Keyboards – Patrick Seymour
Lead Vocals – Annie Lennox
Saxophone, Harmonica – Jimmy Z
In This Town 3:45
Backing Vocals – Bernita Turner, Joniece Jamison
Drums – Clem Burke
Keyboards – Patrick Seymour
Lead Vocals – Annie Lennox
Saxophone – Jimmy Z
Vocals, Guitar – David A. Stewart
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Thorn In My Side | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #68 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA – DAT 8
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Sep 6, 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Coordinator [Creative Co-ordination] – Billy Poveda
- Design – Timothy Eames
- Engineer [1st Assistant] – Fred Defaye (tracks: B1, B2)
- Engineer [2nd Assistant] – Serge Pauchard (tracks: B1, B2)
- Engineer [Mixing] – Jon Bavin (tracks: B1, B2), Manu Guiot (tracks: B1 B2)
- Engineer [Recording] – Jon Bavin (tracks: B1, B2)
- Photography By – Jeff Katz (2)
- Written-By – Lennox*, Stewart*
NOTES:
Recorded at Conny’s Studio Cologne & Studio Grand Armée Paris.
Track A remixed at Studio Grand Armee Paris.
Track B2 recorded at Manu’s Party.
Manufactured in the U.K.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
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 25 (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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Speaking of obscure remixes of famous 80s songs, would you by any chance also have Pretty Poison Featuring Jade Starling – Catch Me I’m Falling 1998https://www.discogs.com/release/1451234-Pretty-Poison-Featuring-Jade-Starling-Catch-Me-Im-FallingI used to have the 12″ with a few of the remixes, and they were outstanding.
I think these remixes were pulled as soon as they hit the shelves, because Jade never received permission from the rest of the band. Good luck finding this rarity. I’ve been after them for years!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for finding this ultra-rare version. Someone just requested it on another site I follow, so that’s why I went looking for it.
Love this song and album! Wow I never realized all the history behind this Extended Mix. So if I’m understanding it correctly this is the Houston Mix which was re-recorded. This song and album rock! I know many people prefer their icy synth period, but I love how they went for an all-out rock sound on this album. From what I read, this album, Revenge, was for Dave and the next album, Savage, was for Annie. This single and When Tomorrow Comes are some of my favorite singles from Eurythmics. Thank you Paul!!
You’re welcome, Retro Hound.
I totally agree — while their synthpop beginnings are iconic, there’s something really bold and refreshing about how they embraced guitar-driven pop rock on this album. And you’re spot on about the Revenge/Savage split — Revenge really showcases Dave’s influence, and Savage feels much more experimental and Annie-led. Both are brilliant in their own way. So glad to hear you’re enjoying these tracks — they’re absolute standouts in their catalog!
Hello, I am new here and I am enjoying the amazing quality and the memories of these 12 inch and club versions of the greatest decade for music in my opinion. What is your email address for a request. Thank you
Welcome, William. You can use the contact form here on the website.
Am going to dive in and also say that THIS is the Houston mix. The 2005 remaster of revenge contains this version with the note ‘Except track 12 Recorded in Houston, Texas on 16th August between 3pm and 7pm during the Revenge Tour of America’. Further the other shorter extended mix appears on A1 and A2 so the earlier pressings and picture cover released copies had the original sleeve saying ‘remixed at Studio De La Grande Armee’ so they are logically the original extended mix. Clearly some of the ‘Houston’ copies got shipped with the incorrect original sleeve but that… Read more »
Thanks for your input. We will never know until Annie or Dave tells us the story in their own words.
Ok, so the “Houston Mix” appears on a UK White Label release, with a run-time of 5:49. The run-out is etched with DAT-8A2. It’s quite confusing.
Full info here: https://eurythmics-ultimate.com/the-eurythmics-thorn-in-my-side-houston-mix-puzzle-finally-solved/
So, when you listen to the audio files on that website, it’s clear that the version Paul posted here is the actual HOUSTON WHITE LABEL REMIX! Thanks for sharing that site!
I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY HERE!!! Especially when so many offers up details/facts/discussions amongst adorations! Thank you, Paul, for another Eurythmic’s gem from your treasure trove of twelve-inch tremendousness!! What you do needs and deserve to be heralded!! I so love this duo. Their sound has meant so much to me ever since their huge hit, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Although I do prefer the more synthy side to band, I really love their entire discography!! You totally hit the sweet spot, Paul!! Forget about the “thorns” I only hear “roses!” With this particular post, you’ve jogged my memory… Read more »
Jeff, your words truly mean the world — thank you! I’m so glad you’re part of this community; it’s the shared love, memories, and deep dives like yours that make this space so special. I’m right there with you — Sweet Dreams was a gateway into the incredible world of Eurythmics for so many of us, and their ability to evolve while staying uniquely them is something rare. Whether it’s icy synths or roaring guitars, they always brought passion and artistry. I absolutely look forward to your email and would be honored to help with your request — no worries… Read more »
the Thorn In My Side (Extended Mix) gives me Kate Bush Running Up That Hill vibes… haunting 🙂
I agree with you, Buzz. 🙂
So by my count this is your 23rd Eurythmics transfer… someone has a soft spot! At this point they should just make you the official remaster for their mid-80’s vinyl catalog since you have touched almost all of it. See my note in reply to Steven regarding the “Houston Mix”. It is a very basic extended mix, and given the changing nature of more and more sophisticated remixes at the time, it was never going to get much club play. They should have put both versions on the 12″ with the shorter, basic extended mix in place of the album… Read more »
River, you caught me — guilty as charged! 😄 Eurythmics have always held a special place in my heart, and their 12″ singles are such a fascinating mix of experimentation, evolution, and style. It’s been a real joy tracking down and preserving these releases, especially the lesser-known or harder-to-find mixes like the “Houston Mix.” You’re absolutely right about the simplicity of that mix — it doesn’t follow the more complex or club-focused structure that many remixes were leaning into by ’86. It’s more of a straight-up re-record with some added punch, which makes it sonically interesting but not necessarily club-ready.… Read more »
Love this song. Clem 🙁
Love it! But now I need the other version! Lol. Didn’t know this & I’ll have to check my collection when I get home! I had stopped listening to the radio by this time and had no clue it wasn’t a bigger hit as it seemed to be everywhere… maybe that was just cassettes and videos??? 🤔
Thanks, 😊
Cool to see another Eurythmics post. You already posted a great collection of their 12″ back catalogue in previous years.
Thanks Paul 🙂
You’re welcome, Mark 🙂
Another classic 80s track! And ripped with your usual superb attention to detail, of course.
Do you – or any of your “listeners” – know whether U.S. 12″ singles have always been 33rpm? Here in the UK, 12″ singles were almost always 45rpm until the twilight years of vinyl in the late 80s/early 90s, when we started seeing 12″ singles cut at 33rpm. However, all the U.S. imports I’ve got are 33rpm, even going back to the 1970s. Did you guys ever have big platters that span at 45rpm?
Yes, in the USA every other one I ever bought was a different RPM! It was most frustrating! But 45 rpm 12”’s do exist in the USA
Thanks, I didn’t know that. Must’ve been a nightmare for club DJs!!
Sire Records in the USA pretty much released all of theirs at 45 RPM.
I wonder if this was true for all Warner/Elektra/Atlantic titles?
It was nightmare for me I’m sure it was challenging for legit DJs! ESPECIALLY since some seemed to not label the speed anywhere!
can never get enough of Annie Lennox! thanks!!
If you’ve never listened to her solo album Bare, it’s awesome… probably her best non- Eurythmics thing!
I have enjoyed that one, but not in a while, thanks for the reminder!
Top notch start to finish! Love her liner notes explaining the cover art and their relationship to Touch… wonder if her notes could explain the cover to Peace 🤔
You’re welcome, Raymond.
Just to confuse things more!! Copied from Discogs… Thorn in my side 12″ “henrik.l 4 Aug 2019 The fact that the matrix number of this is “A1” is yet another puzzle piece that shows that this version is the original extended mix, and that the “regular” one (A3) is the Houston mix. To me, it’s clear that the released version (featured on A3 etc) is a re-recording while this version (from A1) is a remix of the original track. Hence the A3 version is the one, if any, that should be called “houston mix” since that version was recorded in… Read more »
I have an MP3 copy of the so-called “Houston Mix” which runs 5:42. It is a very standard extended mix of the album version with about 30 seconds of typical slow build intro, some extra run-run-run’s in the bridge, and the typical extended outro. At the time it would have been considered the normal “Extended Mix”. It seems very likely that what Paul has posted here has become the official extended version by default because it replaced the original one during the manufacturing process (even the vinyl label run time for side A showed 5:43 on early batches of the… Read more »
Actually, I just checked the Revenge remaster with this as a bonus track, and in the credits it says the same thing as the Canadian 12″ with a bit more info: Track 12 recorded in Houston, Texas on 16th August 1986 between 3PM and 7PM during the Revenge Tour of America. Lead vocals Annie Lennox. Keyboard arrangement/drum programming/backing vocoder vocals David A. Stewart. Keyboards Patrick Seymour. Recorded at Digital Services, Houston, Texas. Produced by David A. Stewart. Engineered by Gary Moon.
Another tidbit: According to Shep Pettibone’s remixography on Discogs in January 1987, Shep Pettibone was working at Shake Down Sound Recording doing edits on “Thorn In My Side”. It is thought that there may be an unreleased Shep mix
That would be pure fire, DJPaul! I’d love to hear his takes on it.