BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
NEW 2019 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!
Originally posted October 8, 2012
“(Whisper to a Scream) Birds Fly “, given the reversed title “Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)” in some markets, is a song by the British band The Icicle Works. It was released in 1983 as the first single from the band’s 1984 debut eponymous album The Icicle Works. The song was written by Ian McNabb, the band’s lead singer, and produced by Hugh Jones.
The recording initially was released as a single in Britain in June 1983 as “Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” on the Situation Two label. This initial release hit #2 on the UK independent charts and scraped the lower reaches of the overall UK national charts at #89.
After The Icicle Works’ next UK single “Love Is a Wonderful Colour” hit #15 on the UK charts in late 1983 and early 1984, Beggars Banquet Records re-released “Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” on March 1984 with a new cover and B-side. This re-release climbed to #52 in the UK.
The group’s U.S. label Arista Records refused to release the record unless some changes were made. The track was remixed slightly in order to remove a brief spoken-word overdub on the opening bars of music. (The woman performing this intro was identified only as “Mariella” on the original Situation Two single sleeve.) Also, the song title was reversed, becoming “Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)”. Finally, Arista shortened the band’s name to Icicle Works. With changes, the song reached #37 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #34 on Cashbox’s singles chart in the summer of 1984. The song also reached #18 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #15 on Radio & Records Album Oriented Rock chart.
SIDE A:
Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) (European Version) 5;21
Remix – Hugh Jones
SIDE B:
Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) (Extended Club Remix) 5:27
Engineer [Assistant] – Rick Kerr
Engineer [Remix] – Jack Nuber
Remix – Steve Thompson
Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) (Single Version) 3:49
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #37 |
| 1984 | Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #18 |
| 1984 | Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | #13 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – ADP-9187
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, New Wave
CREDITS:
Producer – Hugh Jones
Written-By – McNabb*
NOTES:
Promo that comes in a white generic die-cut sleeve with a black info sticker on it.
From the debut album “ICICLE WORKS”
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: 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 USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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
Username: btg
Password: burningtheground
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Thanks for ALL of the great tracks you have shared over the years, and especially this one, for me at least. One of my favorite tracks of all time. I didn’t know the history of this song which you have set out, can’t wait to hear the various versions here.
Such an emotive track. I don’t think i remember the US remix, but Steve Thompson is one of my fave 80’s remixers.
Cheers Paul 🙂
Gracias, este es un single muy bueno paul.
Oh wow! Thanks for posting this. The Icicle Works were up there during my formative years. Even better, I have subsequently got to know Ian McNabb (one of the most underrated Singer Songwriters out there). He still lives in Liverpool (at home with his Mum) and his solo material from the early 90s onwards has been even better than the Icicle Works. His last 2 albums – Star, Smile, Strong and Our Future In Space – are sublime and I implore you guys to check them out. Ian was so happy when this song featured in season 2 of Stranger… Read more »
I don’t have any of his solo material, but I’ll get some based on this comment!
http://www.ianmcnabb.com
Hey Paul,
I just love it when there are a lot of responses to a post of yours. Especially the New Wave kind. This music really defines you and I’m so glad I’ve found you. You’re a terrific human being in every sense.
Have a nice day,
Jeff
Wow Paul! I knew that song but I didn’t know who played it. So that’s a great found for me. The remixes are awesome too and the lyrics fit with the Halloween theme. Gonna check their other stuff and maybe purchase some CD’s. Thank you so much Paul for introducing me to Icicle Works 🙂
My favorite song ever !!! And believe it or not, I do not have these remix versions, so this is AMAZING. I’ve bought all the Icycle Works reissue CDs that I’ve found, plus most of it on original vinyl, but didn’t have this. Thank you sooooo much!
You’re welcome, Grant. 🙂
Thank you for this song. It brings back memories of a simpler time, just like all of your posts. 🙂
The 80s were really great and music videos were king. I remember watching this video but not on MTV. Some people (me) didn’t have it, so you had to find other ways to watch.
Friday Night Videos, anyone old enough to remember?
“Some things take forever
But with building bricks of trust and love
Mountains can be moved”
You’re welcome, Fred. Times were so much simpler in the 80s. I remember watching Friday Night Videos we did not have MTV either loved it when Simon and Nick from Duran Duran hosted it. Great memories 🙂
Oh man…Friday Night Videos. Me too! I miss those simpler times too. But what a blessing for us to have that history in our lives!
Hey Fred, I had to get my videos from “Friday Night Videos” too and “New York Hot Tracks” because my Dad didn’t think we needed cable and MTV. I missed a lot of cool ones and could only see them on friends’ television sets. I saw “Voices Carry” and Yazoo’s “Don’t Go” and Thomas Dolby’s “Hyperactive”. It was such a great time in my life. I was always drawn to the different and the weird and videos that were something strange. So cool that you, a person I hold a high respect for, didn’t have their MTV either. So cool,… Read more »
Hey Jeff, Thanks for the kind words, but that was actually my first post. 🙂 I believe that you are thinking of another Fred who frequents this forum. The Fred I am thinking of seems to be very knowledgeable and a true music connoisseur. I enjoy reading all of his posts and stories. I have known about this site for a long time. I used to check in every few months. Now, I am coming in more often. It’s kind of exciting to see what DJpaulT will pick next. These songs are timeless and some of these versions are not… Read more »
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry. I really thought you were the “Fred” that comes here regularly to comment. Cool that you stopped by though. Yes, I remember those days of the milk crates of 12-inch vinyl. I still have some and they were great because they came up above the record so I could stack one on top of the other. I loved my records, but the storage situation can be crazy. I don’t know how Paul does it. His collection is massive and he knows so much about music and DJ culture as well. We are all… Read more »
Boy, I haven´t heard this in ages and I have to wonder why. Marvellous song. Can´t help singing along and tapping my feet. What a great song to start my ten-day vacation. I´m just copying WTAS to the hard drive for my car´s surround system. GREAT!
EDIT: I don´t even know the singer´s name (shame on me!) but his voice reminds of that of the singer of China Crisis.
Enjoy your vacation Song And Dance. Play this loud! 🙂
Ian McNabb was the lead singer – and his post Icicle Works material is even better. Still touring – amazing if you can get to see him.
Hi Paul, Thanks for another great track. I love reading all the details about the release, and its always strange to see the things that get changed sometimes when bands release tracks in the US. Did changing the name of the band or song have an impact at all, i doubt it. Yes, remixing a track can definitely help out though. These guys weren’t quite up to Modern English, or Psychedelic Furs level, but I did enjoy this song. I still hear it being used in commercials on TV even now, especially for insurance. (along with saved by zero). Must… Read more »
Both bands are indeed kings of the TV commercial you are probably right they get tons of royalties. I need to check out more of the Icicle Works catalog. 🙂
Sadly Ian doesnt make that much from any Royalties during the Icicle Works days..
Thanks! The 16-bit FLAC is for a New Order download. The 24-bit FLAC on MEGA is correct.
Thanks for letting me know Greg, it is corrected now 🙂
I attempted to download the flac version, and I got New Order doing True Faith and Paradise. Tried a second time, and got the same thing.
It’s fixed now 🙂
This song ROCKS!! And you ROCK, Paul!! Wow, what a great way to start the week! One of my all time favorite songs. It still sounds fresh and epic today as it did then. I am so appreciative of you Paul for your tastes and hard work. Gee, I am overwhelmed with emotion!!
Grateful!!!!
Jeff
Thank you as always Jeff 🙂
Estimado, lo molesto, cuando lo intento decargar en la opción flac aparece el tema de new order true faith, por favor si es posible arreglar. gracias
Hola, ya está arreglado. Gracias
Muchas gracias y disculpa las molestias, saludos
Thank you thank you! One of the best singles of the era.
You’re welcome Dean 🙂