Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986
“Sweet Freedom” is a song by Michael McDonald, and his last Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single’s music video directed by Leslie Libman featured McDonald, along with actors Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines, in the film Running Scared.
In addition to being featured on Running Scared’s soundtrack, the song was featured on the 1986 re-release of McDonald’s 1985 album No Lookin’ Back. The song also features backing vocals by Siedah Garrett.
The track peaked at #7 in the US, #12 in the UK, and #14 in Canada.
The US 12″ contains exclusive mixes “Instrumental” and “Club Mix Edit”.
SIDE A:
Sweet Freedom 8:27
Remix – Bruce Swedien, Dick Rudolph*, Rod Temperton
Sweet Freedom (Instrumental) 9:34
Remix – Bruce Swedien, Dick Rudolph*, Rod Temperton
SIDE B:
Sweet Freedom (Freedom Mix-Extended Club Version) 10:07
Engineer [Remix] – Taavi Mote
Remix – Louil Silas, Jr.*
Sweet Freedom (Child Of Freedom Mix-Radio Edit) 6:45
Engineer [Remix] – Taavi Mote
Remix – Louil Silas, Jr.*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986/87 | Sweet Freedom | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #7 |
| 1986/87 | Sweet Freedom | U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | #4 |
| 1986/87 | Sweet Freedom | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | #17 |
| 1986/87 | Sweet Freedom | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #8 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23641
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Arranged By [Horns] – Larry Williams, Rod Temperton
Lacquer Cut By [Runout Etching ❀] – Brian Gardner
Producer –Dick Rudolph*, Rod Temperton
Producer, Mixed By, Recorded By – Bruce Swedien
Written-By, Arranged By – Rod Temperton
NOTES:
Theme from the Motion Picture “Running Scared”
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
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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Thanks for bringing this one out Paul. Great track. I didn’t know it had that many mixes.
Thank you so much for this. Memories: I grew up in the Bay Area, with three older brothers that were big Doobie Brother fans in the 70s. My very first concert was Michael McDonald teamed with David Pack (of Ambrosia), in like 1987. Soon after this came out, in fact – I remember Pack singing along with McDonald on this track. As others pointed out, this song was written and produced by English keyboardist Rod Temperton, who wrote so many incredible hit songs in the 70s and 80s, first with Heatwave and then on to MJ and others. Just a… Read more »
One of my favorite songs – made so much better by extended versions and Paul’s fantastic transfer!
I absolutely love the 12″, and recorded it myself recently before I sold all my vinyl. But my attempt isn’t nearly as good as your fantastic sounding rip – thanks a LOT!
Excellent sounding rip, your new rig is really shining here. Thank you.
Great song and slick production. These mixes sound good and to have them in this quality is a thrill.
Thanks Paul 🙂
Ah Paul, you make me extremely happy when you pick a 12 inch which isn’t available on CD or digitally. This one is a very good example. Thanks a lot!
Thank you SO MUCH for this one! I absolutely love this song — one of my favorites of the ’80s. I bought this 12″ back when the song came out but my transfer from vinyl to digital isn’t anywhere near as good as your work, Paul, so I truly appreciate this one!
I never knew the artist or song name, but I’ve always loved this track. Thank you for properly introducing it to me after all these years. ❤️
I bought this 12″ as an import back in the days, the VOICE of Michael McDonald! Another post Doobie Brothers gem is the Yah Mo Be There track together with James Ingram. Great posting, thanks Paul.
Great single, I remember hearing this all of the time on the radio when it was new. I was just listening to Heatwave, and then I see this…. Rod Temperton really was a master songwriter. I’m surprised this was not a #1 hit, maybe it would have if at the time it had been produced by SAW. However I agree with others that this song has aged pretty well.
I never really appreciated this song at the time, which was wrong of me. It’s a perfectly crafted mature pop song, without any real flaws. It doesn’t have any major era sound dating either, so it has held up over 30 years very well don’t you think?
I agree with you the song is timeless.
Love it – thanks a ton for this Paul!
You’re welcome, Grant 🙂
Tremendous performer, with many hits since the seventies, like not remembering “Long Train Runnin’, among many others, thanks Paul for this eighties classic.
You’re welcome 🙂
Thank you so much Paul! Another great 12-inch single containing a bunch of mixes, which means countless hours of hard work for you. I love this song 🙂
You’re welcome.
Absolutely, terrific Paul!! Thank you very much, on a couple of levels. One because it is Michael McDonald and two, I have never heard these mixes before! I can’t wait to listen. This twelve, I bet, took you a long time as I see that these are epic mixes. I wonder, which version do you like the best? Paul, thanks again for a beloved song in a “club remix” which I can’t wait to sink my ears in!!! You are just incredible!!!
Jeff
I like the first mix on the A-side the best 🙂
Thanks! Nice track that I remember well.
You’re welcome 🙂
Love this single and love the Rod Temperton groove (a la Thriller)! Thanks Paul for this pristine rip!!
You’re welcome Retro Hound 🙂
Love me some Michael McDonald… love me some Rod Temperton!!!
But that cover art! Ouch that’s some serious pre-photoshop literal cut (with scissors) and pasting going on.
Love it!
I agree that cover is 80s awesomeness 🙂
Yes. Kids today just don’t know the physicality of things back then. We literally cut tape for audio editing, we literally cut out pictures and glued them… we had to hit play-record-pause … I guess the vinyl resurgence gives them a taste!(?)
Amazing Single TYVM””👍🏻🎶
You’re welcome 🙂