BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
“Union of the Snake” is the ninth single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 17 October 1983.
“Union of the Snake” was the lead single from the band’s third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983), and preceded its release by one month. It was originally titled, “The Union at Stake”, when the band was interviewed on The Oxford Road Show in March 1983 before their first performance of “Is there something I should know?” on U.K. television. It became one of Duran Duran’s most popular singles, hitting number one on the US Cash Box and peaking at number three on both the US Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks at the end of 1983. Further chart movement was prevented by “Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson and “Say It Isn’t So” by Daryl Hall and John Oates. It also reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.
After a songwriting session near Cannes in France, much of the band’s third album was recorded at George Martin’s AIR Studios on the Caribbean island of Montserrat with producer Alex Sadkin, then mixed at 301 Studios in Sydney. Mixing for “Union of the Snake” was done right up to the last minute before the tapes had to be turned over to EMI for pressing.
Lyricist Simon Le Bon (notoriously reticent about explaining his oblique lyrics) hinted in the Duran Duran lyric book The Book of Words that the borderline might be one between the conscious and subconscious minds. In later interviews, he proclaimed that it was a reference to Tantric sex.
Drummer Roger Taylor stated that the beat and drum track was based upon David Bowie’s 1983 single “Let’s Dance”.
The B-side to “Union of the Snake” was the atmospheric piece “Secret Oktober”. Twenty-four hours before the master tapes of the single were to be delivered to EMI for distribution, singer Simon Le Bon and keyboardist Nick Rhodes wrote and mixed the B-side “Secret Oktober” in an all-night recording session.
**The “Super Mix” contained on this Japan 12″ single is also titled “Monkey Mix” on other releases.
SIDE A:
Union Of The Snake (Super Mix) 6:23
SIDE B:
Union Of The Snake (Single Version) 4:20
Secret Oktober 2:45
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
Obi: Near Mint
Insert: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Union Of The Snake | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #6 |
| 1983 | Union Of The Snake | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #2 |
| 1983 | Union Of The Snake | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #33 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI – EMS-27008
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Japan
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Liner Notes [対訳] – 山本安見*
Photography By – Jeff Hornbaker
Producer – Alex Sadkin
Producer [In Association With] – Duran Duran, Ian Little
Sleeve – assorted iMaGes*
Written-By, Arranged By – Duran Duran
NOTES:
Track A termed (Super Mix) on the back sleeve, also referred to as (The Monkey Mix) on other releases (116bpm).
Track B1 termed (Single Version) on the back sleeve, (7″ Version) on the label.
With obi and single-sided lyric/info insert.
〄 MADE IN JAPAN
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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: 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 USED:
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
Username: btg
Password: burningtheground
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