Teena Marie – Lips 2 Find U (US 12″) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

A 1986 Quiet Storm Gem from Teena Marie

In 1986, Teena Marie released “Lips 2 Find U” as a single from her album Emerald City, further cementing her status as one of R&B’s most sophisticated singer-songwriters of the decade.

While it may not be the first title that comes up in casual conversation, the single made a respectable impact, climbing to #28 on the Billboard Black Singles chart — proof that Teena’s core audience was locked in and listening.

The Emerald City Sound

By the mid-’80s, R&B production was evolving rapidly. Drum machines were sharper, synth textures glossier, and arrangements more layered. Yet Teena always found a way to keep warmth in the mix.

“Lips 2 Find U” sits squarely in that sweet spot — polished but intimate. The production is sleek, with airy keyboards and subtle rhythm programming that give the song space to breathe. It’s not bombastic. It’s not chasing pop crossover trends. It’s mood-driven and mature.

And that’s exactly why it works.

A Charting Slow Burn

Reaching #28 on the Billboard Black Singles chart may not qualify as blockbuster status compared to earlier hits like Lovergirl or the funk classic Square Biz, but it reflects something equally important: consistency.

By 1986, Teena wasn’t a novelty or a breakout artist — she was an institution within R&B. Songs like “Lips 2 Find U” reinforced her credibility with Quiet Storm programmers and adult soul audiences who valued emotional nuance over flash.

Vocals That Whisper and Soar

What makes the track endure is her performance.

Teena Marie had extraordinary vocal control. On this record, she leans into sensuality with restraint. The phrasing is delicate, almost conversational at times, then gently lifts into those signature soaring notes that remind you just how powerful her instrument truly was.

It’s longing without melodrama. Romance without excess.

Why It Deserves Rediscovery

For collectors and deep-dive fans, “Lips 2 Find U” represents a fascinating period in Teena’s career — post-breakthrough, fully autonomous, refining her sound in an increasingly digital era.

It’s the kind of single that may not dominate greatest-hits playlists but rewards anyone willing to explore beyond the obvious tracks. And for those of us who appreciate the art of the slow burn, it’s essential listening.

Teena Marie didn’t just deliver hits. She built moods.
And “Lips 2 Find U” is one of her most elegant.

SIDE A:
Lips 2 Find U 5:11

SIDE B:
Lips 2 Find U (Instrumental) 5:09

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Teena Marie: *Lips 2 Find U* (1986)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot Black Singles	#28	1986

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 49-05376
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop, Funk

CREDITS:

Executive-Producer – Larkin Arnold
Mixed By, Producer, Written-By – Teena Marie
Photography – Randee St. Nicholas

NOTES:
Special Version from the Epic LP:
“Emerald City”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
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 25 (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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

March 1, 2026

Calling All Audiophiles: Help Me Choose My Next USB Interface

📣 Hey Vinyl Lovers — I Need Your Help!

After many great years with my Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC, I’ve reached the point where it’s showing its age — both in hardware and software support. Time to upgrade!

I’m currently in the market for a USB audio interface (under $500) that can deliver clean, high-resolution digital captures — at least 24-bit/192 kHz — and I would appreciate your recommendations.

🎧 My Current Setup

Here’s what I’m working with:

Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Stage: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Monitors: KRK Rokit 5
Goal: Capture my vinyl collection in the best digital quality possible

So what I need is a USB interface that:

✅ Supports 24-bit/192 kHz (or higher) recording
✅ Accepts the line-level output from my Tube Box DS2
✅ Has outputs to feed my KRK monitors
✅ Works smoothly with modern PCs

❓ Your Input Needed — Interfaces Under $500

Here’s where you come in:

What USB audio interface would YOU recommend for stellar vinyl digitizing (24-bit/192 kHz minimum) — under $500?

I’m looking for interfaces that are:

🎶 Clean and accurate in analog-to-digital conversion
💻 Easy to use with Windows/Mac
🔊 Great for both capturing and monitoring

Have you found a particular model that excels at this? Prefer one brand over another? Any tips on setup or workflow?

💬 Drop Your Thoughts Below

Your recommendations, along with the reasons why you chose them, would be incredibly helpful.
Let’s make some high-res vinyl magic together!

Thanks in advance for your help,

— Paul

February 27, 2026

Front 242 – Headhunter (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1988, Belgian electronic pioneers Front 242 detonated what would become their most recognizable and influential track: “Headhunter.” A relentless fusion of industrial aggression, militaristic rhythm, and club-ready precision, the single not only defined a moment in underground dance culture—it helped push Electronic Body Music (EBM) into international consciousness.

The Sound of Controlled Aggression

“Headhunter” is built on a pounding, mechanized beat—minimal yet punishing. The production is stark and deliberate, with clipped percussion, ominous synth stabs, and a bassline that feels more like heavy machinery than melody. Jean-Luc De Meyer’s commanding, half-chanted vocal delivery gives the track its authoritarian edge, while the now-iconic refrain—“One you lock the target / Two you bait the line / Three you slowly spread the net / And four you catch the man”—unfolds like a tactical operation set to music.

Unlike many synth-driven acts of the era who leaned into lush atmospherics, Front 242 favored precision and discipline. “Headhunter” doesn’t meander—it advances. Every element feels functional, intentional, and locked into formation.

The Album: Front by Front

“Headhunter” appeared on the band’s 1988 album Front by Front, widely regarded as a cornerstone of the EBM genre. The record refined the harsher textures of earlier releases into something sharper and more dancefloor-focused. While tracks like “Welcome to Paradise” and “Tragedy >For You<” are essential, “Headhunter” became the breakout anthem—especially in clubs across Europe and North America.

That club dominance translated into chart success. On December 24, 1988, “Headhunter” climbed to #13 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart, spending five weeks on the survey. For a Belgian EBM act operating far outside the pop mainstream, that was a major breakthrough, signaling that the harder European electronic underground had firmly established a foothold in American dance culture.

The Iconic “Egg Hunter” Video

The music video for “Headhunter,” directed by Anton Corbijn, used the shorter “Version 2.0” mix and remains one of the most visually arresting clips of the late ‘80s industrial era. Shot in the stark urban landscape of Brussels, the video prominently features two of the city’s most recognizable landmarks: the Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission, and the futuristic Atomium, originally constructed for the 1958 World’s Fair.

The clip’s most surreal and memorable motif, however, is its use of eggs—handled, contemplated, and ultimately broken. According to band member Patrick Codenys, the concept reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding: Corbijn misheard the song title as “Egg Hunter.” Rather than discard the idea, the imagery became central to the video’s strange, ritualistic tone. The result is stark, slightly absurd, and completely unforgettable—perfectly matching the song’s balance of severity and conceptual edge.

Club Legacy & Remix Power

“Headhunter” truly thrived in its extended 12″ incarnations. The longer mixes amplified its percussive assault, stretching tension and allowing DJs to weaponize its hypnotic structure. In industrial, new wave, and alternative dance clubs, it was a guaranteed floor-filler—especially during peak hours when the crowd was ready for something darker and more aggressive.

Its minimal, escalating framework made it ideal for blending and layering, proving that EBM could function as both statement and tool. Alongside contemporaries like Nitzer Ebb and Ministry, Front 242 helped lay the groundwork for the industrial dance explosion that would dominate alternative clubs in the early ‘90s.

Final Thoughts

Nearly four decades later, “Headhunter” remains as bracing and immediate as it was in 1988. It captures a moment when electronic music embraced severity without sacrificing groove—when discipline and dance collided on smoke-filled floors and beneath strobe lights.

Lock the target.
Bait the line.
Spread the net.
Catch the man.

SIDE A:
Headhunter (V1.0) 5:02

SIDE B:
Welcome To Paradise (V1.0) 5:19

BONUS TRACK:
Headhunter (Out-For-Blood Mix) 5:56
Remix – Art Maharg
Taken from – Razormaid Chapter Z-23

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHART PERFORMANCE – FRONT 242: *HEADHUNTER* (1988)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#13	1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Wax Trax! Records – WAX 053
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: EBM, Industrial

CREDITS:

Mastered By [Vinyl] – DB*, JA*
Producer – Front 242
Written-By – D. Bressanutti*, JL Demeyer*, P. Codenys*, Richard 23

NOTES:
Headhunter (V1.0) (5.02.50) BPM: 123.
Welcome To Paradise (V1.0) (5.17.57) BPM: 120.
Published by Les Editions Confidentielles.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

February 25, 2026

Book Of Love – I Touch Roses (US 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: November 18, 2015

In 1985, American synth-pop quartet Book of Love released what would become their signature song — the luminous and emotionally charged “I Touch Roses.” Issued as the band’s second single, the track solidified their place in the mid-’80s alternative dance scene and helped secure their future with Sire Records.

“I Touch Roses” would later appear on the group’s eponymous debut album, Book of Love, released in 1986. But its initial impact came a year earlier, when the single quietly bloomed in clubs across the country.

From Underground Buzz to Dancefloor Staple

Written by Theodore “Ted” Ottaviano, the song perfectly captured the band’s ethereal aesthetic — romantic, slightly mysterious, and driven by shimmering sequencers. Following the modest success of their debut single “Boy,” “I Touch Roses” followed a similar upward trajectory, but this time the response was stronger.

Although the track did not break into the Billboard Hot 100, it made a significant impact where it mattered most for a synth-driven act in 1985 — the dancefloor. “I Touch Roses” climbed into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at No. 8. In an era dominated by high-energy Hi-NRG and post-disco productions, its dreamy minimalism stood apart.

The single’s B-side, “Lost Souls,” offered fans another glimpse into the band’s atmospheric world. A remixed version of “Lost Souls” would also appear on the debut album, reinforcing the cohesive sonic identity the group was developing. The 7″ version included on the US 12″ is the original version of the song before being remixed by Mark Kamins.

No Grand Plan — Just Momentum

Looking back in 2009, Ted Ottaviano reflected on how organically the song’s success unfolded:

“We didn’t know it at the time, but thankfully, with ‘I Touch Roses’, it was not preordained that Sire was developing us at the time. There was no grand scheme. It was more à la carte. But then people started picking up on ‘Roses,’ and then the album happened.”

That “à la carte” momentum proved pivotal. The growing club response to “I Touch Roses” convinced Sire that Book of Love warranted a full-length album. What began as a promising single became the foundation for a career-defining debut.

The Sound of Vulnerable Synth-Pop

Musically, “I Touch Roses” thrives on restraint. The production is airy and uncluttered — gentle drum programming, cascading keyboard lines, and Susan Ottaviano’s breathy, intimate vocal delivery. There’s a fragility to it that contrasts beautifully with the mechanical precision of the electronics.

It’s that emotional vulnerability that continues to resonate. While many mid-’80s dance tracks chased bombast, “I Touch Roses” created atmosphere. It felt personal, almost secretive — the kind of record discovered late at night on college radio or under mirror balls in alternative clubs.

Four decades later, the song remains a cornerstone of American synth-pop history. It didn’t need a Hot 100 placement to endure. The dancefloor embraced it, and listeners never let it go.

For many of us, when those opening notes begin, “I Touch Roses” still feels like stepping back into a beautifully preserved moment — when underground club culture, romantic minimalism, and pure synth emotion intersected perfectly.

A 2026 Revival

I originally shared this 12″ back in November 2015, but over the years my gear has improved, and my experience in the art of vinyl transferring has grown. Now, in 2026, I’m proud to present this record with a Brand NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration — giving I Touch Roses the attention to detail it truly deserves. Every shimmer, every echo, and every whispered note has been preserved and enhanced, so the track shines like never before.

Whether you’re rediscovering it after all these years or hearing it for the first time, this version captures the ethereal magic of Book of Love in its full glory — just as it should be heard on the dancefloor or through your favorite headphones.

SIDE A:
I Touch Roses (Long Stemmed Version) 5:43

SIDE B:
I Touch Roses 3:24

Lost Souls (7″ Version) 4:13

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
SleeveL Near Mint

Chart Performance – Book Of Love: *I Touch Roses* (1985)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#8	1985

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20381, I Square Records – 0-20381, Sire – 9 20381-0 A, I Square Records – 9 20381-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Art Direction – Zoë Brotman
Costume Designer [Clothes] – Jeffrey Costello (2)
Cover [Cover Art] – Herbert Lee
Engineer – Steve Peck
Hair, Make-Up – Jill Sunshine
Keyboards – Lauren Roselli, Ted Ottaviano
Lead Vocals – Susan Ottaviano
Management – Steven Mulroney
Mastered By – Herb Powers*
Percussion – Jade Lee
Photography By – David La Chapelle*
Producer – Ivan Ivan
Programmed By, Arranged By, Instruments – Book Of Love
Written-By – Theodore Ottaviano*

NOTES:
Recorded and mixed at Unique Recording, NYC
Mastered at Frankford Wayne, NYC.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.