Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“The Only Way Is Up” is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released in 1980 as a single by soul singer Otis Clay.

In 1988, it became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population. The Yazz version was produced by Jonathan More and Matt Black (better known as dance duo Coldcut, who had worked with Yazz on their hit single “Doctorin’ the House”). “The Only Way Is Up” was Yazz’s first solo single, credited to her under the name Yazz and the Plastic Population. Released as a single in July 1988, the song became an instant smash hit, spending five weeks at number one in the United Kingdom, and ultimately becoming the second biggest-selling single of the year. In the United States, it reached number two on the Billboard dance chart, although only making number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

The opening horn blast is a sample from Sharon Redd’s 1982 dance classic “Beat the Street”.

SIDE A:
The Only Way Is Up (U.K. Extended Club Mix) 6:48

The Only Way Is Up (The Up Up Up Mix) 7:04
Remix – Bam Bam

SIDE B:
The Only Way Is Up (Acid Dub) 5:52
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	The Only Way Is Up	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#96
1988	The Only Way Is Up	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Elektra ‎– 0-66732
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Acid House

CREDITS:
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Producer – Coldcut
Programmed By [Additional] – Eric Kupper
Sleeve – Pat Rodger, Pointblanc London*, Seán Quinn
Written-By – George Jackson (3), Johnny Henderson

NOTES:
B side additional production and remix for Popstand Productions.

Printed in U.S.A.

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

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

June 15, 2020

Times Two – Strange But True (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!

Originally posted March 20, 2011

“Strange But True” was the debut single by American duo Times Two consisting of vocalists/keyboardists that wrote most of their own material. Times Two were Shanti Jones and Johnny Dollar, both from Point Reyes, California. Their 1988 album, X2, reached #137 on the Billboard 200. In the U.S., their biggest hit was “Strange But True”, which peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. The song was produced by Gardner Cole who has written and produced songs for Jody Watley (Most Of All) and Madonna (Open Your Heart).

SIDE A:
Strange But True (12″ Vocal Remix) 6:47
Producer – Gardner Cole
Producer [Additional Production], Remix, Edited By – Steve Peck

SIDE B:
Strange But True (Dub) 7:00
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Producer – Gardner Cole

Come Over (Non-LP Track) 3:36
Co-producer – Johnny Dollar (9)

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Strange But True	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#21
1988	Strange But True	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#12

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Reprise Records ‎– 0-20853, Reprise Records ‎– 9 20853-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, SP Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design –Jeri Heiden, Maura P. McLaughlin
Management – Allen Kovac, Stephen Drimmer
Management [Management Project Coordinator] – Lisa Jones (4)
Photography By – Alberto Tolot
Producer – Shanti (7), Steve Barri, Tony Peluso

NOTES:
Track A additional production, remix and edit for Peck Productions.
From the Reprise album “X 2”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

June 12, 2020

The Window Speaks – In The Land Of Christobal (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“In The Land Of Christobal” was the second released by the duo The Window Speaks (founded in 1984), consisting of German bass player, studio musician, and music producer Micki Meuser and Australian singer Grant Stevens. The single was lifted from the duo’s only LP “Heartland”.

SIDE A:
In The Land Of Christobal (Extended Remix) 7:23

SIDE B:
Strangled (Demo Version) 3:34
In The Land Of Christobal (Single Version) 4:08

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS ‎– CBSA 12.7070
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Photography By [Back Cover] – Wolfgang Burat
Photography By [Front Cover] – Wilhelm Walterscheid
Producer – Candy De Rouge, Gunther Mende

NOTES:
From the LP “HEARTLAND”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

June 11, 2020

Angela – Fantasy (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“Fantasy” is a single by Angela a studio project of husband/wife duo Angela and Ingo Werner formed in 1981 in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Ingo had classical training in bassoon and piano at the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt from 1966-70. He joined Krautrock band My Solid Ground in 1971 before going on to form his own project Baba Yaga in 1974. In the late 70s, he formed the ensemble AIR with Armin Stöwe and Reinhard Karwatky. The project debuted with a concert at ARS Electronica Competition in Linz, Austria 1980, which they won. Klaus Schulze was on the jury with Wendy Carlos and Robert Moog – but more importantly, Angela was in the audience. Two days later, Ingo told the band he needed a singer, so they asked Angela and recorded two albums for RCA between 1981-82 before being dropped. Ingo wanted to work on a new project that involved dancers and live video. They recruited American performance artist Jyl Porch, who was living in Munich, to assist with choreography with her friend Kirsten McKenley. Jyl ended up recording her own album first, which gained interest from Klaus Schulze, who helped them secure a deal with EMI in 1983. Later that year, the trio recorded 4 songs that would be released on Angela ‘Fantasy’ single on 7” and 12” formats in 1984.

The music on ‘Fantasy’ was completely created with computer software of Ingo’s own design. The concept of a polyrhythmic, polyphonic, and poly dynamic sequencer was realized by Ingo after a visit to Wolfgang Palm in Hamburg. He paired his sequencer with Palm’s legendary PPG Wave Computer System, allowing for more dynamic and nuanced programming. Angela programmed the music, sang, and wrote the lyrics to “Painted Love”, while Ingo arranged and played all electronics and keyboards. Jyl wrote the lyrics for “Fantasy” and the slow and sleazy, electronic disco B-side “I Gotta Little Love”, where she also sings background vocals and the “hot little flame” rap.

SIDE A:
Fantasy 4:00
Painted Love 3:46

SIDE B:
I Gotta Little Love 6:40

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI Electrola ‎– 1C K 062 20 0355 6
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By, Music By – Ingo Werner
Lyrics By – Angela Werner (tracks: A2), Jyl Porch (tracks: A1, B)
Music By – Angela Werner

NOTES:
DMM™ Direct Metal Mastering

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.