BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“The Riddle” is a song recorded by English synth-pop singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw. It was released in 1984 as the lead single from the album of the same name. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. In the US the single debuted on the Billboard Charts on April 13, 1985 however the single failed reach the Hot 100 peaking at #107.
SIDE A:
The Riddle (Extended Riddle) 5:10
Producer – Peter Collins
SIDE B:
Progress (Live) 3:04
Mixed By – Simon Boswell
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Riddle | U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | #107 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – 259 225-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Europe
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Photography, Art Direction – Iain McKell
Written-By – Nik Kershaw
NOTES:
Cover states A as a “Special Extended Mix”, whereas label says “Extended Riddle”.
B is recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon.
From the album: “THE RIDDLE”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Hi, Kershaw had some great 12 inches. Just hoping one day please you could do a rip of his biggest hit, Wouldn’t it be good. I’ve got it on a German Sony compilation from 1999; Hit and Wave volume 4, but it’s so terribly mastered and bricked that it’s constantly pulling back, and has that sizzling in the high end, that’s so prominent with crappy masters today.
Another favourite of mine from Nik.
Thanks for your rip 🙂
Hey there. Great job ripping this – but right now none of the download links are working? It asks for an authentication with login and password. Hope you get to fix it, and thanks!
Please read the site FAQ for log in information.
Ah OK. Sorry for not checking that out – I presumed there that was an bug, not a feature. 🙂
Yeah I had to implement this due to people leeching my bandwidth.
Thanks again Paul! This is my favorite Nik track. I knew you’d do a great job with it, as usual. 🙂 While secondary to the music itself, the graphic design of 80’s European singles and albums was always stellar, and I always considered The Riddle a great example of those that incorporated photography of the artist in question. Photography, Typeface, and even an artist/album logo all gelled here to create a brand that that stuck in your head from adverts, videos, and tours. Some felt that detracted from the music (sometimes the artists too), but I loved it, and still… Read more »
Me too Doodguy. I love the artwork just as much as the music that is one of the reasons that I love vinyl so much. You don’t get that big over sized artwork with a CD 🙂
Great Track ! Hope to see Wild Boy coming . Thanks
You’re welcome Mark 🙂
you’re an oasis after a hard day’s work!!!!
just got home and what a big surprise!!!!!
thank u dj!!!!!
i love Nik Kershaw’s music!!!!
Cheers Giorgio. Hope this made your day a little brighter 🙂
For me you are like a strong cup of rich black coffee. A fabulous perk-me-up for the rest of each mundane day. How does it feel to impact so many people’s lives on a daily basis? I’m so glad you decide to revisit Nik. You have posted many of his 12″ remixes before, and I always thought… Wouldn’t It Be Good if Paul can weave his remaster rerip on them and when will it be? I’d imagine it’d be a Human Racing against time, but I know you Won’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me. The Riddle is finally… Read more »
oh, I forgot to ask: do you have the extended version of: I won’t let the sun go down on me. Not the one from Simon Boswell 🙂
Been looking for that one Michael. It has an alternate blue sleeve and is pretty hard to find but I am looking 🙂
That Phil Harding original 12” I think is much better than the Boswell one, which is more like a Dub than a Remix.
I hope you can find that, Paul!
Oh wow … I love DUB … yes, I hope you will find that one Paul!
Thank You Paul! Love the Riddle. NK has been my favorite when I was 12 or 13 and his show in Munich was the first (actually my second) concert I went to all by myself. I was close to the front but next to the speakers so my hearing wasn’t so great the days after :-).
I was also a huge Howard Jones fan but I never made it to any of his shows. Probably one of the most underrated songwriter from the 80ties. Hide and Seek is still fantastic!
You are lucky you got to see him I bet it was a great show. I have never seen Hik or Howard. Wouldn’t it be good if they did a gig together. Just wishing 🙂
Nik did tour US as Paul Young’s opening act back in ’85…such a great value for money to see two of UK’s top male of the mid 80s.
You missed that tour, Paul?
Yeah I missed that one Ric 🙁
I have seen Paul Young as well – it was at Circus Krone in Munich (an amazing venue) in 1985. I’ve had a moment that I can describe as a moment where I did not knew what was going on and that was that I jumped up and ran to the left of the stage when Paul left the stage to walk through the audience. I stood at arms reach in front of him and then been stopped by the body guards. I really have no idea what gotten into me. LOL … However, it was a great show! Back… Read more »
Nik and Howard have performed together. There may be a vid or 2 on YouTube, I expect…
sorry I wanted to say have a nice rest of week
Gotcha 🙂
what a couple of maxis: visage & kershaw-2 fantastic 80’s tracks.thank you very much
have a nice God always bless you.
Thank you very much Lordofvhs 🙂
another classic def good choice
Thank you Dazz22 🙂
Thanks!
This music is a personal favorite! I love the music video , mae me remember alice in Wonderland!
Make
You’re welcome Drake 🙂
Cheers again Paul – you’ve pulled a few of my faves out of the bag in the last week – must be psychic link! This album is being released as a remastered & expanded edition next week – a must have – his best album. The Wide Boy 12″ is a cracker too.
Aug. 12th according to AmazonUk. I’ve already preordered mine !
Lett’s hope they do a good job on the remaster.Looks like it’s being released only in the UK by Commercial Marketing label.
Actually it’s a European release by Universal, and Nik personally gave his blessings to the tracklisting (for disc 2 a rather strange sequence). He left out a few bonus tracks. One track he threw away is this Progress B-side. He never liked the live version.
Yes, this is what he said about it:
—> [“Progress” is a dodgy performance of a mediocre song, badly recorded. Re-mastering it wouldn’t have helped – My song – My opinion – My choice to leave it off.]
So this is a good chance to grab it in excellent quality. Thanks, Paul!
You’re welcome Josmon10 hope you like my remaster 🙂
Hahaaa…. I loved this when I was little. Seemed so dark and mysterious.
Not so keen now, find most of NK’s output repetitive – good hooks that hook too much! Apart from Wouldn’t It Be Good, that’s still a fave.
Thanks. 🙂
You’re welcome Jermajesty. I’m a NK fan love his music. Always thought he and Howard Jones were a lot alike in some respects.
hehe.. i don’t think you’re the first or last to make that connection!
In the 90s Chris Morris (UK satirist) sampled The Riddle at 33rpm to make a spoof Portishead type jingle for his radio show, Blue Jam. I loved it from the moment I first heard it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CizeIDDNTP0
Always happy to see Nik Kershaw added to the blog! I’m a big fan of NK, from the beginning. Thanks Paul.
I’m a big fan too Stefano always have been 🙂
The extended version of ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good’ is my favourite NK song. Listened to it a thousand times. The 12 inch version should have been the album version, I think.
Paul you’re an Angel. This is my favorite NK single. Thanks !!!
Thank you Omar that was nice of you to say:) Enjoy!
Ditto. It’s a favorite, and his best (imo). 🙂