BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987
Although this single was recorded to help victims of a 1987 tragedy. Today we pray for those affected in Manchester, England.
Ferry Aid were a British-American ensemble group, brought together to record the song “Let It Be” in 1987. The single was released following the Zeebrugge Disaster, which had occurred on 6 March 1987 involving the capsizing of the MS Herald of Free Enterprise ferry, which killed 193 passengers and crew. All proceeds from sales of the single were donated to the charity set up in the aftermath of the disaster. The recording was organised by The Sun newspaper, after it had sold cheap tickets for the ferry on that day. “Let It Be” was written by Lennon–McCartney and originally recorded by The Beatles in 1969.
Garry Bushell, then with The Sun newspaper, organised the recording of the song by recruiting record producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman. They then put an invitation out to the music industry for artists to contribute their vocals to the song. Although many stars were initially reluctant to join forces with the newspaper, eventually artists such as Boy George, Kate Bush, Gary Moore and Mark Knopfler agreed to take part. Original writer, Paul McCartney also contributed to the song, although his performance (and section in the accompanying video) were recorded independently in his own studios. In fact, it was later revealed that McCartney used his voice of the original recording of the 1970 Beatles track and added it to the Ferry Aid recording. The song was recorded over three days between 14 and 16 March 1987 and the single was released on Monday 23 March 1987. The first artist to record his part was Mark King (who also played bass guitar on the song) on the Saturday morning, while the last was Paul King on Monday evening.
In the original Beatles recording George Harrison did the guitar solo but for the purposes of this song – as shown in the video – the solo was divided with Gary Moore first, then Mark Knopfler, then back to Gary Moore with Moore’s parts being more ‘rock’ and Knopfler’s being more laid-back.
“Let It Be” reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart in its first week on 4 April 1987, and remained at that position for three weeks. It was the 13th best selling single of the year in the UK; it was certified gold for shipping over 500,000 copies. The single was also a number one hit in Norway and Switzerland, and reached the top 10 in several European countries.
Artists to have contributed and performed solo spots on the song are as follows:
Paul McCartney
Boy George
Keren Woodward and Nick Kamen
Paul King
Mark King
Jaki Graham
Taffy
Mark Knopfler (guitar solo)
Andy Bell
Pepsi & Shirlie
Mel and Kim
Gary Moore (guitar solo)
Kim Wilde and Nik Kershaw
Edwin Starr
Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot
Ruby Turner
Kate Bush
The closing choruses of the song feature an ensemble choir featuring many of the above performers as well other recording artists. The back-up chorus consisted of:
The Alarm, John Altman, Debee Ashby, Al Ashton, Rick Astley, Bananarama, Simon Bates, Alison Bettles, Jenny Blythe, Errol Brown, Miquel Brown, Bucks Fizz, Jay Carly, The Christians, Nick Conway, Linda Davidson, Hazell Dean, Anne Diamond, Difford and Tilbrook, Doctor and the Medics, The Drifters, Drum Theatre, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Roy Gayle, Go West, Carol Hitchcock, Felix Howard, Gloria Hunniford, Imagination, Jenny Jay, Ellie Laine, Annabel Lamb, Stephanie Lawrence, Loose Ends, Linda Lusardi, Ruth Madoc, Bobby McVey, Suzanne Mizzi, The New Seekers, Sadie Nine, The Nolans, Hazel O’Connor, Mike Osman, Su Pollard, Tim Polley, Pamela Power, Maxi Priest, Princess, Jimmy Pursey, Suzi Quatro, Mike Read, Sally Sagoe, Nejdet Salih, Ray Shell, Mandy Smith, Neville Stapleton, Alvin Stardust, Steve Strange, Sylvia Tella, Terraplane, Bonnie Tyler, Maria Whittaker, Working Week.
SIDE A:
Let It Be 6:30
Engineer – Mark McGuire
Mixed By – Burni Adams, Jamie Bromfield
SIDE B:
Let It Be (Mega Message Mix) 6:11
Mixed By – Jamie Bromfield
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Profile Records – PRO-7147
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Pop
Style: Pop/Rock
CREDITS:
Bass – Mark King
Drums – A. Lynn
Guitar – Gary Moore, Mark Knopfler
Keyboards – Matt Aitken, Mike Stock
Producer – Stock/Aitken/Waterman*
Written-By – Lennon/McCartney*
NOTES:
Recorded at PWL Studios.
Special thanks to: Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
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
A rare Pepsi & Shirlie’s lp single, many thanks ~
Oh that sent shivers thru me when I logged in to your page today…my mother, my father and my sister were amongst the 193 that didn’t return that day 🙁
Ian, I am so sorry for your loss. I was a bit hesitant to post this record yesterday because I know I have many readers from England. I certainly did not want to be insensitive to the victims of either tragedy. I don’t want any of us to forget the innocent lives lost yesterday or in 1987.
Been listening to it all day (now 2pm here) as I don’t actually have a copy. So first time I have ever heard the b-side.
Good old Sam Fox on said b-side…”First of all I wanted to say how sorry I was…” To here of the tragic loss of life? No that she missed out on singing on the A-side! Even Timmy Mallett recorded a more genuine and heartfelt message…and everyone over this side of the pond knows him to be a prize pr*ck!
Thanks for posting this Paul. After 2 days I have got it out of my system and stopped constantly playing it. Such a shame I didn’t ever buy it and discover the message mix on the back as I met Errol Brown in the mid-nineties and I would have thanked him for the message on the b-side and got him to sign my copy. Not an opportunity that will ever come again as he is no longer with us.
A welcome rarity for any Visage fan, though I honestly can not spot the part where Steve Strange sings.
You wouldn’t…he’s in the chorus.
Nice tribute. There is no way to understand the mind of a psychopath and the means they use to justify their hate; people can use religion as an excuse, but the hate and desire to inflict pain and suffering is something that goes beyond any doctrine in a book or ideology. What takes a lifetime can be destroyed in seconds, and that is the nature of destruction, the fruit of hate. One must be weary to not become a monster to fight a monster, yet one cannot be blind to the fact that there are sick people out there with… Read more »
Thank you for this post Paul. It is fitting for what has happened. Tuesday 23 May 2017 I am so utterly heartbroken about a human being detonating a nail bomb and deliberately murdering at least 25 children and teenagers in Manchester who were innocently enjoying an Ariana Grande concert.This is an absolute dark manifestation of an out of bound Mars opposite implacable Saturn… (In Astrology terms) I will say, I have not heard this song before as far as I know. I will light a candle tonight and have a listen, as I send positive energy and love out to… Read more »
Thanks so much for this fantastic post Paul. Had meant to request/suggest it for its own 30th Anniversary, but totally missed the date. Sad but glad you posted it afterall for different reasons.
A suitable post for such a sad day. A perfect choice Paul. Thanks.
Thank you for this. Also on behalf of my second cousin who used to live in Manchester and with whom I went to many a concert in the good old Hacienda days. He’ll be going to his old haunts to see Erasure in Albert Hall on Sunday, if they press on, as I would be were I not still recovering from surgery.
Osc
We Shall Overcome.
That´s all I have to say on a day like this. Those degenerates are only a dirty pebble on our beach of gold. Time will brush them aside like a fly from your breakfast table.
This post is just perfect for this sad day. This music helps us through to stand this deep pain. My thoughts go to the victims in Manchester. Thank you so much Paul.
Thanks so very, very much for this Paul. This is an extremely fitting post and it’s very much appreciated. It’s been an awful day here seeing it on the news and Manchester being not a million miles away from me makes it even more distressful and unsettling. My heart bleeds so much for all the poor innocent souls that were murdered and injured in this so cowardly barbaric act and my thoughts and love goes out to all their families and friends. The evil people who commit these hideous crimes can make us cry out loud in pain but they… Read more »
You are always so sensitive to world events Paul and you choose wonderful songs to go along with. It was such a tragedy with what happened in Manchester, England and it is so important that we all come together and express our feelings of love, compassion and healing for the ones that have suffered. Thank you for being who you are and your great big heart.
Jeff