BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986
“Big Time” is a song by Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So. It was his second top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #8.
“Big Time” alternates mode between A♭ minor (Aeolian) in the chorus and A♭ Dorian during the verses and is played at the speed of 116 bpm. The song’s bass guitar part is unique in that backing bassist Tony Levin and then-backing drummer Jerry Marotta teamed up for the main bassline. Using one of Levin’s fretless basses, Levin handled the fingerings while Marotta hit his drumsticks on the strings, which is why the bass part sounds percussive. Inspired by this sound, Levin later invented Funk Fingers, which were little drumstick ends that could be attached to the fingers to achieve a similar bass guitar effect in concert. Police drummer Stewart Copeland plays drums on the song.
SIDE A:
Big Time (Dance Mix) 6:10
Remix – Tom Lord Alge*
SIDE B:
In Your Eyes (Special Mix) 7:14
Engineer [Remix] – Jason Corsaro
Producer – Bill Laswell
We Do What We’re Told (Milgram’s 37) 3:18
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Big Time | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #8 |
| 1986 | Big Time | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #3 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records – 0-20600
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop
Credits: Design – Brett Wickens, Peter Saville (2)
Engineer – Kevin Killen
Photography By – Trevor Key
Producer – Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel
Written-By – Peter Gabriel
NOTES:
Designed at Peter Saville Associates, London.
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
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
Dear DJ Paul,
Is the Big Time extended mix on the UK 12″ the same as the US dance mix??
I’m a bit late to the punch here in commenting. But wanted to ask anyone here…what is this “other” mix of “Big Time” that a few mentioned here and that i’ve seen mentioned before. What maxi-single was it on? Both the UK and US 12″ singles have the Tom Lord Alge remix (credited as Dance Mix on the US and Extended Version elsewhere), and can find no documentation listed anywhere of another remix. Can anyone clue me in? Being a PG fan for years, I never heard of this till the internet.
Thanks Paul. I can now retire my old 12″.
Thanks for this great offering!!
The highlight here for me is the Special Mix of In Your Eyes, that with its extra verses and the most prominenet presence of Manu Katche makes it really a special one.
Thank You Paul!!! great classic.
Yay! Thank you so much for this! I see everyone else is already excited about the possibility of Sledgehammer. But, didn’t the “Red Rain” single also have a slightly remixed version of “Walk Through The Fire”?
You’re welcome Derek. I just posted “Red Rain” so you can check it out and see 🙂
I have the Red Rain 7″ 45rpm single that has “Ga Ga” as the B-side. Thank you for posting “Big Time” this was one of the few 12″ vinyl singles that I missed out on. I had the CD single for it, but a home invasion back in the early 90’s relieved me of all of my CDs at the time. The real gem here is the ‘In Your Eye(New Mix)’that is included almost as an after thought. I have The In Your Eyes 45, and 12″ that both include the ‘New Mix’ but the quality of the vinyl of… Read more »
You’re welcome Sailer 🙂
It is amazing that an artist amazing as Gabriel could have so many b-sides that have never made the transition from vinyl. I suspect he must be planning some sort of box set. The same is true with Eurythmics, the reissues rarely included their best b-sides as bonus tracks.
Sometimes it boils down to having good quality masters. That might be the reason.
GREAT POST PAUL!
It’s been a while since we had some Peter Gabriel in our life! What’s next?
Thanks Kenneth. You’ll just have to stay tuned 🙂
Great post!
Thank you Christian 🙂
Great! Thanks – any more PG singles (especially from ‘So’ era) would be greatly appreciated.
Fingers crossed you have access to the “Red Rain” vinyl that has “Ga-Ga (I Go Swimming – Instrumental)” and “In Your Eyes (Extended Remix)” (8min-ish version) – as these have never been released on CD or digitally.
You’re welcome JestaCat. I am unaware of an 8min-ish version version of “In Your Eyes” I only know of the 7:14 version which is on this 12″ and a 6:15 version. If you can find a link to the one you are referring to I’d be glad to see it.
I see ther is a Live version that is 8:45 it’s on the Cassette Single and some 7″ singles.
Yes, silly me “trusting” the internet (a combination of Wikipedia and a fan forum – both easily misled!).
From MY internet research (that is: pictorial proof, not just text) it appears the only 8min+ version is the live version on the USA promo 7″ ((http://www.45cat.com/record/3168977)) not as exciting as an Extended Special Mix, sorry for being too eager.
But I am keen for the Instrumental of ‘Ga-Ga (I Go Swimming – Instrumental)’ – that definitely exists and has never been on CD.
Thanks for replying 🙂
Thanks again Paul. I hope you’re on a PG kick!
I’ll second that Red Rain request, and add that I’d love to have any any all versions of I Go Swimming, too – it may be my favorite PG track…along with I Have The Touch, of course. 🙂
You’re welcome Goodguy 🙂
Thanks Paul. I love this. Sledgehammer next please !
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
‘Funk fingers’ indeed.
Yes indeed!
Great choice, Paul. I was also dissapointed by the “So” reissue. I have the cd singles released for this album, but this 12″ has mixes that I don’t believe ever made it off vinyl. Thanks!
You’re welcome Tyson 🙂
Hey Tyson, any chance of getting HQ rips of your CDsingles from So? Still can’t understand why these tracks weren’t inlcuded in the So25 release – shame.
If I had a clue of how to do it and post them I would. I have the cd singles for both Sledgehammer and Big Time (different mix and at least 1 exclusive b-side different from the U.S. 12″). Paul, if you are reading this, email me and maybe we can find a way. I’d love to share.
Wow! Thanks so much for this Paul.
A few months back Mr Gabriel announced a super deluxe edition of the ‘So’ album and like all fans of that record I waited patiently for the tracklisting. When it came out there was widespread disappointment as it excluded all the remixes and b-sides from the various singles (despite being a multi-disc set with various versions/formats available).
So, long story short – its AWESOME to have this single in lossless quality.
Now, any chance of Sledgehammer next? 🙂
You’re welcome Todd you’ll just have to stay tuned my friend. I have been working on “Sledgehammer” but have not finished it yet. I am pretty picky about my rips and have almost posted it a couple of times but I was not happy with it so the project has been shelfed for a bit longer.
Hello! Thanks so much for this Paul! I love Peter’s “So” (1986). Every song from it is the hit!
You’re welcome Spring!