Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982
“Gloria” is a 1979 song written and composed in Italian by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi, and afterward translated to English by Jonathan King. A 1982 cover version by American singer Laura Branigan peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The most successful version of “Gloria”‘ was featured on the 1982 album Branigan, the first album released by Laura Branigan. Although another track, “All Night with Me”, was chosen as the album’s lead single, Branigan also performed the cover song during her promotional television appearances at the time of the album’s release. The track was chosen as the album’s second single in June 1982, first becoming a disco favorite, and gradually accruing radio support to enter the pop charts in July. The single reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 on 27 November 1982, behind Lionel Richie’s “Truly”, and remained there the following two weeks, through 11 December—when Richie had been supplanted by Toni Basil’s “Mickey”.
“Gloria” earned Branigan a nomination for the Best Pop Vocal Performance Female Grammy Award for 1982. The song remained in the Top 40 for 22 weeks, and its total Hot 100 residency of 36 weeks established a new record for a single by a solo female act. The song also topped Cash Box magazine’s chart. Certified platinum for one million sales in the United States alone, “Gloria” was also an international success, most notably in Australia where it held the top position for seven consecutive weeks, from 7 February to 21 March 1983. “Gloria” also reached number one in Canada, number four in Ireland, number six in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and number nine in South Africa.
SIDE A:
Gloria (Vocal Long Version) 5:56
Written-By – Giancarlo Bigazzi, Trevor Veitch, Umberto Tozzi
SIDE B:
Living A Lie (Vocal) 3:39
Written-By – Dick St. Nicklaus, Sue Neal
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Gloria | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #2 |
| 1982 | Gloria | U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | #28 |
| 1982 | Gloria | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/ Club Play | #4 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic – DM 4835
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, SP
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Co-producer – Greg Mathieson
- Mastered By – D.K.*
- Producer – Jack White
NOTES:
Pub., Sugar Song Publications, Inc., BMI
Administered by MCA
From Atlantic LP 19289 “Branigan”
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 3.0 (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
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“Gloria” was one of those ubiquitous pride parade float songs back in ’82-’83-’84 along with ABBA’s “The Visitors”. Thanks for reminding us of the good times and great memories, Paul!
Welcome back, Paul and thank you for the treat 🙂 I confess I was never really into Branigan back in the day, I remember myself saying “another Branigan cover-version…” quite often. The only singles I really enjoyed playing was “Self Control” and this one (I still do). Both songs were covers of the original Italian artists. When RAF’s “Self Control” was out, I bought the 12″, which I ejoyed a lot. Then, listening to the radio, I realized there was also a “female-vocal” version of the same song (LOL). If I remember correctly, there was a period when both versions… Read more »
You’re right: it’s unfair to claim an artist is “a cover version artist”. Frank Sinatra famously covered every great song that fit him. Since the dawning of recorded music, the industry has encouraged their artists to have a successful career doing material from a stable of great songwriters, even if they wrote their own songs. Many artists have jettisoned their flailing careers by recording “outside material” (see: Heart; Jefferson Starship) though they were resistant at first. Others like Tina Turner have made a career re-imagining great songs in their own styles. Though the original Italian version of “Gloria” might have… Read more »
Well said! There are also hundreds of examples where the artist covering the song did a lot better than the original (see PSB with “where the streets…”, “always on my mind”, etc)
As an Italian-American, of course I love the original by Umberto Tozzi, but I would be lying, if I didn’t say that Laura really enhances the song! Thank you for the extended version!
Such an amazing song delivered by such a powerful voice! Crazy that her two biggest hits were covers of Italian hits written by the same guy (Giancarlo Bigazzi). I wish she had teamed up with him for an entire album! Thank you for sharing this superb 12″ in such high quality! Also: Happy Pride Month!!!
I still prefer the italian version, way more powerful
Thank you very much for your work, Paul!
As usual, you guess our wishes. I’ve been wanting to listen to the ‘long version’.
You always reach into the pot of gold and find something good, I’m looking forward to what you find for this month. This one really has that classic Donna Summer sound, I remember a lot of people originally thought it was actually Donna Summer singing. It’s interesting how a song can have a life of it’s own, I have for years associated it with Flashdance. I guess Pres T used it to rally his audience on Jan 6th of all things. It’s just interesting how one song can mean so many different things depending on who is listening.
Love Laura! I ‘created’ a party playlist (but I don’t have parties, LOL) and several LB tracks feature…such an amazing, powerful voice – she could sing those ‘big’ notes without screaming them. Gone WAY too soon.
I’d love to hear more extended/remix versions of her tracks. Most of her singles predated the ‘CD-single’ era. Even her albums are hard to find here in Oz. I tried to buy some through ‘Gold Legion’, but that’s a whole other story…don’t get me started on that!
My Mom was huge Branigan fan. When I was a child she would spin I,II and Self-Control rather often. She may have had had the US 12 in your pic’s as the long version in this upload seem comfortingly familiar. Wish Mom was still here for me to share this w/her.
Thanks Man!
Welcome back! I’ve always loved this song, just dance floor classic from beginning to end. Being an impressionable youth when this was released, this was one of those songs that opened me up to the adult world that was out there, yet still out of reach. Thanks for posting Paul!!
You’re welcome, Retro Hound I am glad to be back. It’s amazing how a certain song can change how we see the world, especially at a young age. 🙂
Classic, worldwide hit from an amazing artist who left us too quickly!
I agree 🙂
it was already an almost worldwide hit with Umberto Tozzi. Apart from the anglophone world the italian version and the spanish versions of Umberto charted in over 45 countries way before laura’s version.
Happy Pride Month!!!!
This is such a classic song, Paul!! I remember buying the 12-inch at the time and my mother soon fell in love with it whenever I played it. It became such a mainstay at weddings and at mobile parties and became unescapable from the radio airwaves! The twelve forgoes the cool explosive intro of the single making the 12-inch easier to mix into it. Gosh, I love it, Paul. Thanks so much for dusting this off as it’s been years since I’ve last heard it!!
I am so looking forward to this month’s selections!!!
Jeff
Happy Pride Month! Jeff
I was too young for the clubs in .82 but I remember “Gloria’ was all over the radio during that period. When I did start going to clubs around 1987/88 this song would still get played and it always filled the floor with people throwing their hands in the air and even a lone whistle-blower. Great times 🙂
What a fantastic recollection, Paul!! I love hearing about your musical memories when it comes to specific songs!!
Jeff
My go-to version was the 4:50 LP “long” version from the US promo 7″ and 12″ that had the “explosive intro”. I could slip cue on the beat out of the peak of another song to make the crowds go wild! I didn’t like that the intro was cut off the 5:56 version, which I feel was too repetitive as people got tired of it after radio burned it out. Some territories used the 4:50 LP version for the stock 7″ single; others used the US edit.
I can just tell, DJ XREY, you are an incredible Jock!!
Have a great weekend!!
Jeff