a-ha – Take On Me (German 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“Take On Me” is a 1984 synth-pop song by Norwegian band a-ha.

a-ha wrote and recorded the first version of this song in 1982 with the title “Lesson One” – it had different lyrics but contained the basic keyboard riff. In 1983, the song got the attention of industry veteran Terry Slater, who becomes their manager and helps them secure a contract with Warner Bros. Records later that year.

In early 1984, they re-wrote the song as “Take On Me” and recorded it with producer Tony Mansfield. Released as a single only in Europe, it went to #3 in their native Norway, but didn’t chart anywhere else, flopping particularly hard in the UK. A video was made for this version that was remarkably undistinguished compared with the one that came after.

This is the original 1984 version of “Take On Me” released in Europe before the song became an international hit in 1985.

SIDE A:
Take On Me (Long Version) 3:46
Remix – John Ratcliff

SIDE B:
And You Tell Me 1:49
Remix – John Ratcliff

Stop! And Make Your Mind Up 2:58

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records ‎– 920 268-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Aha* (tracks: B2), John Ratcliff (tracks: B2), Tony Mansfield (tracks: A, B1)

Find the 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: 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

March 27, 2015

Berlin – A Matter Of Time (US 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980

REQUEST

“A Matter Of Time” was the debut single by American new wave band Berlin released in early 1979 on Zone-H Records. The single was re-issued in 1980 featuring a replacement vocalist, Virginia Macolino, after Terri Nunn had temporarily left the band to pursue an acting career. This was followed by the album Information.

The original 1979 version of “A Matter Of Time” featuring Terri Nunn on vocals was released on the compilation The Best Of Berlin in 1988.

The b-side “French Reggae” is an instrumental non album track.

SIDE A:
A Matter Of Time 3:47
Written-By – John Crawford
Vocals [Uncredited] – Virginia Macolino

SIDE B:
French Reggae 2:22
Written-By – Jo Julian

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Zone-H ‎– IR 9015, I.R.S. Records ‎– IR 9015
Format: Vinyl, 7″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve Design] – Jewel (13)
Photography By [Back Photo] – Junichi*
Photography By [Front Photo] – Michael Nadeau
Producer – Jo Julian
Vocals [Uncredited] – Virginia Macolino

NOTES:
Manufactured and Distributed by A&M Records, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.

Find the 7″ On DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

March 26, 2015

Debbie Harry – In Love With Love (US 12″ #2)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

The UK single version of “In Love With Love,” was remixed and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman production team, who at the time were producing many popular singles in both the UK and the US by artists such as Bananarama, Dead or Alive, Rick Astley, (and later Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan). As a result, Geffen Records issued a second 12″ of the song in the US including these UK mixes, labelling them “London Mixes”.

“In Love With Love” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 on July 4, 1987 spending seven weeks on the survey peaking at #70. In the UK the single peaked at #45 in May 1987.

SIDE A:
In Love With Love (London Extended Mix) 7:16
Mixed By – Pete Hammond
Producer [Additional] – Stock Aitken Waterman*

In Love With Love (London Mix Edit) 3:20
Mixed By – Pete Hammond
Producer [Additional] – Stock Aitken Waterman*

SIDE B:
In Love With Love (Heart Of Fire Mix) 7:15
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Keyboards [Additional] – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias
Remix – Andy Wallace, Justin Strauss, Murray Elias

Secret Life (LP Version) 3:44

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	In Love With Love	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#70
1987	In Love With Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Dance Club Play	#1
1987	In Love With Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records ‎– 0-20687
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Electro, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Photography – Francesco Scavullo
Producer, Arranged By – Seth Justman
Written-By – Chris Stein, Debbie Harry*

NOTES:
Special versions from the LP “ROCKBIRD”

Made in USA.
Specially-Priced Maxi-Single

Find the 12″ On DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

March 25, 2015

Debbie Harry – In Love With Love (US 12″ #1)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“In Love with Love” is a song recorded by the American singer Debbie Harry. It was taken from her second solo album Rockbird and released as a single in 1987. “In Love With Love” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 on July 4, 1987 spending seven weeks on the survey peaking at #70. In the UK the single peaked at #45 in May 1987.

In the US two seperate 12″ singles were released the first included remixes by American remixer Justin Strauss. These remixes were only released in the US. Also of note track B1 is listed as 12:00 on the record label. This is incorrect the actual track duration is 7:46.

SIDE A:
In Love With Love (Heart Of Fire Mix) 7:15
Keyboards – Eric Kupper

SIDE B:
In Love With Love (The Passionate Dub) 7:46
In Love With Love (Debapella Version) 4:10

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	In Love With Love	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#70
1987	In Love With Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Dance Club Play	#1
1987	In Love With Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records ‎– 0-20654
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle

CREDITS:
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Producer – Seth Justman
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias

NOTES:
Special versions from the LP “ROCKBIRD”

Made in USA.
Specially-Priced Maxi-Single

Track B1 time is listed incorrectly on label actual time is 7:46

Find the 12″ On DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi