BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982
“Dance Hall Days” is a single by English band Huang Chung originally released in October 1982 on Arista Records. This early version failed to have any chart success. The band then left arista and was signed to American based Geffen Records, making the group the second UK-based act to be signed to Geffen worldwide after Asia (not counting then-New York-based John Lennon in 1980).
At this juncture, and at Geffen’s suggestion, the band changed their name to Wang Chung, allegedly to make pronunciation easier for English-speakers. In 1984 the band re-recorded “Dance Hall Days” making it the hit version that we are all familiar with (No. 16 US, No. 21 UK).
This rare 12″ contains the original 1982 dance mix.
SIDE A:
Dance Hall Days (Dance Mix) 5:25
Producer – Tim Friese-Green*
SIDE B:
China (American Extended Remix) 6:58
Producer – Roger Bechirian
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – Arista – ARIST 12493, Arista – ARIST 12 493
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Oct 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Performer [Huang Chung Are] – Darwin*, Hogg*, Jack Hues, Nick*
Written-By – Jack Hues
NOTES:
Track B remixed from the album “Huang Chung”
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
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: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series 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
Thanks for posting this & the other Wang Chung 12″s.Great hearing these again.
Great early version. And,while you mentioned John Lennon in the write up,Elton John was also on Geffen (I think John, Elton and Donna Summer were the first three artists who signed to Geffen followed by Asia and Wang Chung,amongst others,with Donna Summer being the first to release – although the first single actually bore a modified Warner Brothers label,which had a simple box reading “Geffen Records”.)
Wow!
Thanks for this one.
It’s interesting to hear but reveals that the hook that made it a hit isn’t quite there yet but all the elements are there. It’s not the first nor the last time that a tune just needed a little producer’s magic to bring it to life.
Air Supply’s ‘Lost In Love’ comes to mind as a prefect example of this. Clive Davis knew the hit qualities were there & it just needed a little more work The result is night & day to the original version.
Strange how things can go, isn´t it? As Synth said above, all the elements are there. It´s all in the right mix at the right time. The rerecorded version went to no 5 over here in Germany. I bought the 12inch back then, of course. The follow-up singles could not match the success of Dance Hall Days but I LOVED “Wait”, their final single from their 1984 album, Points on the Curve. “Wait” failed totally, though, and there is no promo video for that single! The 12inch includes a strange and interesting “part 2” version of Dance Hall Days, by… Read more »
I posted the “Wait” single a while ago great 12″ 🙂
Often, when band releases a re-recorded version, it’s far superior to the original (e.g. a-ha’s “Take on Me” from 1985 is so much better then the original 1984 version). This one is just as good as the more popular one. Thank you!
I agree John I like it just as well maybe because it seems new 🙂
correction: I meant “a better musical arrangement”
Hi Paul,
While listening to this version, that I only heard once a millenia ago, I couldn’t stop thinking.. How important is getting a good arrangement, definitely the most know version became a hit for simply having a more music arrangement (to my ears), another song that comes to mind is “lawnchairs” by My Daughters Wedding.
Thank you!
Rickie
Love “lawnchairs” Ricki posted it a while back 🙂
One of my favourite 80’s tracks but never heard this version before. I think i’m gonna like it though. Such a cool song!
Thanks Paul 🙂
You’re welcome Junior 🙂
I knew Huang Chung — I think I have that first LP somewhere — but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t contain this early version of “Dance Hall Days.” Thanks so much for sharing.
You are correct VanceMan “Dance Hall Days” did not appear until their second album re-recorded.
Thank you for this one … I like it much , nice Choise
You’re welcome MAN 🙂
Damn, nice find and rip, Paul! Thank you for this rare treat. I have the original Huang Chung CD on ‘China’ records, but I don’t think I have ever seen this. Looking forwarding to hearing this early version. Thanks again for this and everything!
My pleasure RA 🙂
And here is another slice of nirvana for me Paul!! Just think, we were just talking about the band the other day and here you deliver a truly wonderful surprise!! I am so looking forward to hearing this version. So interesting what Synth had to say about it. I so agree with him that the later version really had a “mystical quality that songs rarely do.” The later version was so hypnotizing, to say the least. Thank you for expanding their discography for us all. You are momentous in your approach to picking songs. I swoon over your talents as… Read more »
Thank you Jeff hope you like this version 🙂
Huang Chung? Well i never knew that! Many thanks not heard this original version at all then judging by your write up
You’re welcome Neil 🙂
Wow. Thanks Paul for these gorgeous rarities . Keep the 12″ new wave singles coming.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
Great find. Just goes to show you how important the right mix can be. All of the elements of Dance Hall Days are there, but it doesn’t grab you like the re-recorded version that we all know and love does. The re-recorded Wang Chung version is one of my favorite songs from the 80’s and has a mystical quality that songs rarely do. That song was very influential on me as a songwriter/musician and just on my personal musical tastes. Great to hear this example of how drastically the right mix of a song can completely change its fortunes.
I agree with you Synth. Pretty much the same thing happened with “Take On Me” by a-ha.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard this original version before, certainly not the dance mix of it. Thanks!
You’re welcome David 🙂