BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
“Power and the Passion” is the second single from Midnight Oil’s 1982 album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (following “US Forces”). The song is one of the band’s most famous, and it was performed on every Midnight Oil tour since the issue of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 as well as at the WaveAid concert.
The lyrics mention former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam and his dismissal in 1975, as well as the Pine Gap spy base, which remains controversial issues in Australia to this day. The song also makes reference to the McDonald’s Big Mac and paraphrases Emiliano Zapata with the line “It’s better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
The song includes a drum solo by Rob Hirst; it is the only studio recording by Midnight Oil to feature a drum solo.
n May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named “Power and the Passion” as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. It was the second Midnight Oil song in the list with “Beds Are Burning” declared third behind the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind” and Daddy Cool’s “Eagle Rock”.
It was performed by the band at the 2009 Sound Relief concert in Melbourne.
The US 12-inch single release features a little-known specially remixed version, mixed by Francois Kevorkian and Dominic Malta at RPM Sound Studios specifically for the North American market. This special version, which runs for 6:42, did not appear on the 12-inch single as released elsewhere in the world, including in Australia, whose 12-inch single featured the standard album version which runs for 5:38. The remix features echo effects added to Peter Garrett’s vocals and a continuation or reprise of Rob Hirst’s drum solo after the nominal ending of the song.
SIDE A:
Power And The Passion (Special Version) 6:42
Engineer, Mixed By – Dominic Maita*, François Kevorkian
Mixed By [Assistant] – Mike Krowiak
Written-By – Moginie*, Garrett*, Hirst*
SIDE B:
Glitch Baby Glitch (Power And The Passion Dub) 4:44
Engineer, Mixed By – Dominic Maita*, François Kevorkian
Mixed By [Assistant] – Mike Krowiak
Remix – François Kevorkian
Written-By – Moginie*, Garrett*, Hirst*
Wedding Cake Island 3:08
Engineer, Mixed By – Nick Launay
Written-By – Midnight Oil
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44 04976
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, New Wave
CREDITS:
Producer –Midnight Oil, Nick Launay
NOTES:
Special version from the Columbia Lp: “10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1”
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
Thank you very much for this one Paul.
REALLY interesting. Didn’t know about either of these P&P mixes. The Kevorkian mix does… kind of odd things with the drum solo which is kind of the centrepiece of the song. And completely different mix of Wedding Cake Island? Amazing stuff.
thanks for this and all the great stuff !
It’s great to hear Wedding Cake Island – their early surf punk roots being clearly visible.
Thanks Paul!
You’re welcome Stephen 🙂
Thank Paul, nice song, never heard this dub version, i have a copy with 7:09 of Glitch Baby Glitch.
Hi, Guss, my copy says 7:08 on the label but it is incorrect actual time is 4:44.
This is like a Holy Grail for me. I have 2 (or 3) copies if the (New Zealand) 7″, and the B side is called “Power And The Dub” but it’s such a bad pressing in all cases. I just listened to “Glitch Baby Glitch” and it’s that same mix, only a million times better sounding. A massive thanks for this one Paul! A nice surprise out of the blue.
You’re very welcome Greg 🙂
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE !
OI OI OI !
Thanks for this one Paul 😉
You’re welcome Kaex 🙂
Great stuff, Paul!
Thank you, micmij 🙂
One of my favorite bands and favorite songs by them. Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome 🙂
Excellent choice. Never heard this remix before. That’s a great one. Thank you so much Paul.
You are most welcome Daniel 🙂
Lovin’ it. Haven’t heard some Midnight Oil in a while, and this is an excellent track. Thanks Paul!
You’re welcome Todd 🙂
Although I say it (almost)every time, you Paul really outdo yourself with this rescuing of the infamous 12-inch dance disc from falling away from the world’s consciousness. Burning The Ground is such a rousing testament to the power of music, especially music that moves and motivates us on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. I am aghast with ecstasy when I see what’s all here for us to dive into and revel in. I am so enthused that this track appears here on your site. I don’t think I’ve ever heard these mixes before and I’m already stimulated beyond… Read more »
Thank you Jeff as always 🙂
Thanks for this!! I had the Canadian single so it didn’t have this remix. The dub I used on many mixed tapes!
You’re welcome Russ 🙂