BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
“Burning Up” is a song by American singer Madonna from her 1983 eponymous debut album. It was released as the album’s second single on March 9, 1983, in some countries as a double-A side single with “Physical Attraction”, another song from the album. The song was presented as an early recorded demo by Madonna to Sire Records who green-lighted the recording of the single after the first single “Everybody” became a dance hit. Madonna collaborated with Reggie Lucas, who produced the single while John Benitez provided the guitar riffs and backing vocals. Musically, the song incorporates instrumentation from the bass guitar, synthesizers and drums, and the lyrics talk of the singer’s lack of shame in declaring her passion for her lover.
Released with “Physical Attraction” on the B side, the song was given mixed reviews from contemporary critics and authors, who noted the song’s darker, urgent composition while praising its dance beats. The single failed to do well commercially anywhere, except the dance chart in the United States, where it peaked at #3, and the Australian charts, where it was a top 20 hit. After a number of live appearances in clubs to promote the single, it was added to the set-list of the 1985 Virgin Tour. An electric guitar version was performed on the 2004 Re-Invention World Tour and the 2015–2016 Rebel Heart Tour.
The accompanying music video of the song portrayed Madonna in the classic submissive female positions while writhing in passion on an empty road, for her lover who appeared to come from her behind on a car. The video ended showing Madonna driving the car instead, thereby concluding that she was always in charge. Many authors noted that the “Burning Up” music video was a beginning of Madonna’s depiction of her taking control of a destabilized male sexuality.
FAST SIDE:
Burning Up (12″ Version) 5:55
Written-By – Madonna
SLOW SIDE:
Physical Attraction (Album Version) 6:36
Remix – John Benitez*
Written-By – Reggie Lucas
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Burning Up | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #3 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-29715, Sire – 9 29715-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 09 Mar 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Design [Art Design] – Martin Burgoyne
Engineer – Jim Dougherty
Producer – Reggie Lucas
NOTES:
From the Sire LP “MADONNA”
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: Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold 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
Great 12″!
And thank you BE.D12” for confirming what I was always frustrated with…that Physical Attraction was NOT actually remixed for You Can Dance. Why?! Why!? Why?! I’ll never understand.
Thank you for the great rip, Paul. I agree, your rips are far superior to the Madonna remasters. Your “Open Your Heart” rip from awhile back was pure perfection too! THANK YOU!!
Sometimes I find myself reading the comments on here and it puts a smile on my face, including the post you get to share with all of us. What can I say other than thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙂
Thank you musicdivaSF. You have been a supporter of my work for years and I appreciate it so much 🙂
Many thanks DJPaul!
I always loved “Phisical attraction”
and when “You Can Dance” came out in 1987,
I thought that the song was finally remixed.
But it wasn’t…a second missed opportunity!
Cool cover
Regards
You’re welcome BE.D12” 🙂
What a treat to start the new week. Both tracks are sublime imo.
Cheers Paul 🙂
Thank you Mark 🙂
Madonna week Madonna week!! 😉😂
Many thanks for this gem!
You’re welcome Neil 🙂
Both of these songs were everywhere on dance station WKTU when I was growing up. I’m so glad my exposure to Madonna was there and in dance clubs before she really hit mainstream. She was my special secret. When “Holiday” came out and everyone was talking about Madonna, I knew here from these songs and “Everybody.” Dance music is so very important with its exposure to new trends and sounds. Paul, you really take me back to such a happier time. I can see my record collection materialize before my very eyes (and ears!). And you have certainly exposed me… Read more »
Thank you, Jeff. The “Jack The Lad” post from Friday is a brilliant 12″ and every bit as good as this Madonna offering in my opinion. I always thought that they could have done more with “Burning Up” as a remix and “Physical Attraction” could have had a great mix too 🙂
I hope you don’t mind if I make a comment to say that what you wrote here is written with such eloquence. It pretty much covers so much of what I want to say to Dj PaulT but maybe couldn’t really write it the way it’s been written by you. I too get to relive that time with great fondness of the music, additionally, also get to be exposed to music that I may have missed. Really glad to have someone like him, one who has opened his world of music to all of us. 🙂
MusicdivaSF, I truly believe that our DjPaulT brings out the very best in people. I absolutely love the camaraderie on Burning The Ground. I get such an emotional high coming here everyday and I still continually make discoveries too. I so admire Paul’s dedication to such quality for a space that allows the world to come together to check out old favorites, make new favorites and revel in dance music’s diversity and culture. It is such a legacy of huge magnitude that I am overwhelmingly in awe over the beauty of this “aural gallery” in Cyberspace. Paul certainly makes Earth… Read more »
What a surprise !
I loved this song since very first time I listened to it.
I already owned this mix, from the remaster of “Madonna – The First Album”. Too bad the remaster was so severely brickwalled and doesn’t deserve even a second casual listening.
As usual, your rip is vastly superior than the official release. I can feel the love you put on the careful treatment you did on this 12″ vinyl.
This rip sounds beautifully and it’s full of details. On my Hi-Res Walkman it’s truly amazing.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Alberto. I agree with you the Madonna remasters sound awful I just can’t figure out what the labels are thinking when they do such poor mastering on most occasions 🙂
Thanks, Paul! The instrumentation of Physical Attraction has always stuck in my head and think the song, overall, deserves a lot more credit than it gets. Just a classic song.
I always like “Physical Attraction” to Fred. I think it could have been a hit but the labels did not release it as an A-side single.