BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986
“Running” is the debut single by American band Information Society. This 12″ is the third released by the band after they were signed to Tommy Boy Records. Producer Joey Gardner heard the song and brought it to Tommy Boy Records, a forward-thinking label that specialized in rap and freestyle. Gardner remixed the track for Tommy Boy, which released the song as a single in 1986. The song did well in dance clubs and on radio, earning the group an album deal with Tommy Boy. That self-titled album was released in 1988 and included the track.
Group founder Paul Robb wrote this song with Murat Konar, who was associated with Information Society for just a short time but was key in putting together Creatures Of Influence. Like most of the songs on the album, Konar handled the lead vocals. When Tommy Boy Records remixed the track they replaced Konar’s vocals with Kurt Harland’s, since Harland had emerged as the lead singer and Konar had moved on to other pursuits.
The longing lyric finds the singer in real pain and feeling very alone. In an interview with Paul Robb, he explained: “It’s basically someone who is in a relationship where it’s not working, and you have a sense of things falling apart. You’re doing your best to keep it together, but it doesn’t seem to be working.
There’s also a certain level of nostalgia in that song, too – that’s what really hooked a lot of people. It does have that monstrously huge dance beat, the electro feel, but the song that’s laid over the top is very romantic and nostalgic sounding.”
After being remixed the re-issue of “Running” peaked at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart on July 21, 1986, after spending nine weeks on the survey.
**The 12″ was housed in the same picture sleeve as the previous 1985 release except with an orange Tommy Boy Records hype sticker added.
SIDE A:
Running (Vocal Remix) 7:42
Running (Percappella) 3:56
SIDE B:
Running (Instrumental) 5:27
Running (“The Nest” Remix) 7:44
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Running | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #10 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Tommy Boy – TB 877, Wide Angle – TTW 8547
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Electro
CREDITS:
Edited By – Albert Cabrera, The Latin Rascals, Tony Moran
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Eric Calvi, Jon Smith
Engineer [Recording Engineer] – “Chopper” Black*
Mastered By – Herb Powers, Jr.*
Producer, Arranged By – Paul Schwitters
Remix – Joey Gardner, “Little Louie” Vega*
Written-By – P. Schwitters*
Vocals – Kurt Harland
NOTES:
Housed inside Wide Angle jacket for TTW 8547 release “Running”, with an orange Tommy Boy sticker promoting the Gardner and Vega remix.
Jacket Made in Canada
Jacket contains different track and credit information. The information shown is taken from labels.
Produced and Arranged for Wide Angle Productions
Mixed at Tommy Boy, NYC
Mastered at Frankford-Wayne, NYC
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
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Mullard 12AX7 Preamp Vacuum Tube Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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, 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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
the best song!!
Dude, every time I can’t find a flac of a 12″ I used to have I always end up being directed here. You are golden!
Not to stir the pot, but I’m pretty sure the vocals on the newer versions are not Kurt. It’s just not the same vocal style if you listen to it closely and compare to the other tracks on that first album. I always assumed it was Murat, even back when the album was released, until I heard what he really sounds like on the first version. (I feel the same way about the female vocals on The Human League’s ‘Don’t You Want Me’, BTW.) 😉
The instrumental is the best 🙂
The titles of the tracks on side B were swapped. The shorter mix is the “The Nest” Remix (The Devil’s Nest was a freestyle club in New York). The longer one with all the keyboard parts is the Instrumental. The mistake was corrected on some releases, including some original-era 12″s, as well as on the 1990s CD reissues.
I’m loving these remixes. Such a great song already but these versions really add something special.
Cheers Paul 🙂
This is the version of the song I’m most familiar with. Paul, this song was everywhere on NYC’s dance radio mix shows and in the clubs at the time. So much layering on other tracks with the percapella, like on Noel’s “Silent Morning.” Ah, such memories! Anyway, Information Society made me really take notice with their “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” track. Dance music from this time was fantastic! The Freestyle and Electro genres had awesome people producing/mixing/remixing tracks and ideas were so creative. Too bad that later records became cheap with bad vocalists and poor production. I’m so… Read more »
Freestyle is not my favorite genre but I do love Information Society they put out some great remixes in their hey day 🙂
Whoa Paul, you’re on fire once again. I am so in awe of you. And Karen just loves Information Society too, so we are besides ourselves with glee!!
Jeff (and Karen)
I always thought InSoc to be Synthpop first, with their entry into Freestyle being more crossover as a secondary genre due to promotion and mixes.
I wonder if most feel the same.
Thanks, Paul! I have to say, the main reason why I love remixes is because it can (but doesn’t have to) completely change the feel of the song and possibly make it a chart success. This is a perfect example.
Thanks for the hard work! Maybe you’ll be Walking Away from this song soon. 🙂 In fact, maybe you’ll be Walking Away with Shep Petibone, Gail Sky King, and Bob Rosa. 🙂
-Fred
You’re welcome Fred I will see what I can do I never make promises until I listen to the record and decide it’s good enough to transfer 🙂