Burning The Ground Exclusive -1986
NEW 2025 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!
I originally shared this record on July 17, 2017, but I’ve revisited it with a fresh, meticulously updated transfer for those who may have missed it. This time, I used upgraded audio gear that wasn’t available during the original transfer back in 2017.
Canadian rock band Glass Tiger made waves in January 1986 with the release of their hit single “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” the lead track from their debut album, The Thin Red Line. Featuring backing vocals by iconic rock singer Bryan Adams, the song became a chart-topping success, reaching number one in Canada and peaking at number two in the United States.
In 1985, Glass Tiger enlisted Jim Vallance to produce their debut album. At the time, Vallance was primarily known as a prolific songwriter, often collaborating with Bryan Adams, though he had also produced albums for Doug and the Slugs, CANO, and Adams himself. According to Glass Tiger’s lead vocalist Alan Frew, Vallance’s approach to production allowed the band to explore their creative sound while providing guidance when necessary. “It worked out great because we were all at the same stage of development,” Frew recalled. “He didn’t change the sound of the band at all. He let us experiment but wasn’t afraid to get heavy-handed when he had to.” Vallance collaborated with the band to compose “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” while Adams lent his distinct voice to the backing vocals.
The song’s creation was inspired by an ice-breaking moment during the band’s first meeting with Vallance. Frew shared: “On the very first day that we met Jim Vallance, he picked us up at the airport and, to break the ice, asked us what we were listening to. One of the answers was Tears for Fears. We went to his house and drank tea while listening to some tunes. ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ came on, and we really liked the shuffle beat. So we went into the studio and, based on that shuffle beat, we wrote ‘Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).’ First day, first song.”
“Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” enjoyed tremendous commercial success. The track topped the Canadian Singles Chart in March 1986, spending two weeks at number one, and earned platinum certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association by July. In the United States, the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 in July and peaked at number two in October, held back from the top spot by Janet Jackson’s “When I Think of You.” It spent an impressive 24 weeks on the chart, reaching number one on the Singles Sales chart, number six on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, number 17 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and number 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also placed at number 34 on the Billboard Year-End singles chart of 1986. Internationally, it achieved top 15 status in Australia and charted in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Frew attributed the song’s global appeal to the band’s ability to create strong, memorable melodies. “We aren’t rewriting musical history by any means,” he explained, “but our melody lines are strong and mature enough to appeal to the English-speaking world.” The song’s success was bolstered by “solid record company involvement” and culminated in winning the 1986 Juno Award for Single of the Year. It was also named the top Canadian single in the Rock Express magazine readers’ poll awards in 1987. A decade later, the Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) recognized the track for being played more than 100,000 times on Canadian radio.
For fans of rare cuts, the “Death Mix” of “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” remains a vinyl-only treasure, absent from the deluxe CD reissue of The Thin Red Line. This exclusive version adds an intriguing layer to the legacy of a song that defined Glass Tiger’s debut and continues to resonate with audiences decades later.
SIDE A:
Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) (Extended Version) 6:31
SIDE B:
Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) (Death Mix) 5:51
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #2 |
1986 | Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #17 |
1986 | Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary | #30 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Manhattan Records – 1C K 060 20 1330 6
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
CREDITS:
- Producer – Jim Vallance
- Producer [Additional] – George Black, Victor Flores
- Remix – Victor Flores
- Written-By – Glass Tiger, Jim Vallance
NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP “THE THIN RED LINE”
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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
You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.
Thank you, Paul!
I loved this song back in the day! I had forgotten about it and am SO glad to have it in my collection now. Thank you Paul!
excelente gracias por tu gran trabajo
WOW!!! Thank you, Paul! I love that it features a vinyl-only remix, and now we have it in superb DjPaulT quality! I’ll never understand how these types of rare remixes are left off Deluxe editions, especially when they are 2xCD re-releases. I love the back story to this track, particularly how the band gave credit to Jim Vallance and emphasized the synergy of their collaboration. I just read an article about Bon Jovi and how they immediately distanced themselves from Max Martin after him writing one of their biggest hits, “It’s My Life”. Apparently, they were embarrassed that their fans… Read more »
on a side note, I saw Bryan Adams about 15 years ago in a small venue doing a solo acoustic set, and he talked a lot about Jim Vallance and how grateful he was for him contributing to his success.
I’m glad you recognize the outstanding team of Vallance & Adams…they are probably Canada’s equivalent to Lennon/McCartney, though not as well recognized. Their compositions for other artists as well as Bryan is quite impressive if you have time to look at Jim’s website, which also lists the lyrics to all their songs.
BonJovi shouldn’t be embarrassed at all since many rock acts have needed to retain recording contracts by releasing a “hit song” to keep an album selling. Aerosmith’s career was on thin ice until they recruited outside writers like Diane Warren who gave them their biggest hits. Otherwise had they continued on their own course Geffen or Columbia would have dropped them as their creative juices had pretty much dried up while on booze & drugs.
Interesting, back in the day, I used to think of this song in the Mr.Mister/OMD/Tears For Fears category, but a bit more rock/commercial. With Bryan Adams, it gives it the feel of a band of all-stars just goofing off and making a hit song during lunch.
The Victor Flores Death Mix is simply SUBLIME! Thank you so much for sharing this treasure.
I’m so excited you brought this back Paul! Such a massive hit and deserving of its success. Being a huge Bryan Adams fan and big fan of Jim Vallance’s songwriting genius, I’m especially looking forward to the Death Mix which, believe it or not, I’ve never heard. Big thank you Paul!!
Great track! As usual I have to recommend the complete album Thin Red Line, top notch from start to finish. There was a 2 CD anniversary edition released in 2012 but it doesn’t have this Death Mix so thanks for that Paul!
Oh, Paul!! I celebrate you bringing this classic back into our lives. This song so reminds me of my college days, as it was really huge on the radio at the time. Thanks so much for this new rip. There is so much of your “Paul-ography” I’ve missed and/or lost, so I am thrilled for these re-rips!!! You’re positively kicking butt on the sound quality these days!!
Jeff
The Tears for Fears influence makes so much sense!