Philip Bailey (Duet with Phil Collins) – Easy Lover (Extended Re-mixed Version) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984

AN 80s AUDITORY ICON

NEW 2023 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!

I originally posted “Easy Lover” in December 2010 (UK 12″), and then again in November 2013 (US 12″). Still, for those who may have missed it in the past or are new to BTG, I have given this 80s Icon a deservingly new meticulous transfer using upgraded gear, and software. Additionally, I decided to use the superior U.K. 12″ since it is pressed at 45 RPM resulting in better overall fidelity. Enjoy 🙂

“Easy Lover” is a song performed by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins of Genesis, and jointly written and composed by Bailey, Collins, and Nathan East. The song appeared on Bailey’s solo album, Chinese Wall. Collins has performed the song in his live concerts, and it appears on both his 1990 album, Serious Hits… Live!, and his 1998 compilation album, …Hits. It is Bailey’s only US Top 40 hit as a solo artist.

The song was a No. 1 hit in several countries, including Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., it spent 23 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including 7 weeks in the Top 10, and peaked at No. 2 the weeks of 2 February 1985 and 9 February 1985, behind the chart-topping “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner. In the UK Singles Chart, it reached No. 1, staying there for four weeks. The single sold over a million copies in the U.S. and was certified gold, as the RIAA requirement for a platinum single disc was not lowered to one million units until 1989. In addition, “Easy Lover” has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Music Canada.

“Easy Lover” won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Overall Performance in a Video in 1985 and was Grammy Award nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals in 1986.

In 1984, Phil Collins was hired as the producer for Philip Bailey’s solo album, Chinese Wall. According to Collins, Bailey approached him at the end of the sessions for the album and asked him to write a song together. In “Phil Collins: My Life in 15 Songs”, a 2016 interview he gave to Rolling Stone magazine, Collins said of the song: “So we just started having a jam one night, and went round and round and turned it into a verse and a chorus. We recorded it that night so we wouldn’t forget it. That song doesn’t sound like any particular era. It’s just fantastic.” According to the official sheet music, the song is in the key of F minor and has a tempo of 105 BPM, though the studio recording has a tempo of 130 BPM.

SIDE A:
Easy Lover (Extended Re-mixed Version) 6:20
Performer [Duet With] – Phil Collins
Written-By – N. EastP. CollinsP. Bailey*

SIDE B:
Woman 5:04
Performer] –Philip Bailey
Written-By –G. SkardinaM. SharronS. Mitchell*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 Easy Lover U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #2
1984 Easy Lover U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks #15
1984 Easy Lover U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #5
1984 Easy Lover U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #3

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS – TA 4915, Virgin – TA 4915
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Both tracks are taken from the new
Philip Bailey LP/cassette ‘Chinese Wall’
Phil Collins appears courtesy of Virgin Records Ltd.

Made in England

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable:Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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
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 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

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


Password: burningtheground

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Konstantinos
Konstantinos
March 21, 2023 5:30 am

Thank you Paul for this BELOVED song on either side! Appreciate it.

Grant
Grant
March 19, 2023 10:20 am

Thanks a lot for this Paul!

OPODER
OPODER
March 18, 2023 7:10 pm

Thanks for extracting and cleaning, again. I still have your RIP from 2013/11/25 (US12″ 33 1/3). THANK YOU, Paul!
WOW it is a 45RPM !
I will keep both (I like US cover too) 😀 Paul, it would be nice if you scanned the Labels too.
TY TY TY

Last edited 1 year ago by OPODER
Song And Dance
Song And Dance
March 18, 2023 12:04 pm

Oh Paul, I just can´t sit still listening to this song and its remix. Yes, it is oddly cut at 2:30 and 3:57 but when the instrumental part starts with the “BAM! BAM!” at 2:30 I Go Crazy, to quote the other (moderate) hit from the brilliant album “Walking On The Chinese Wall”. I just have to pump up the volume to almost deafening loudness. 🙂 As I am a big Phil Collins (and Genesis) fan I have heard dozens of Phil´s live versions of Easy Lover, and it always blew the roof off. Thank you so much and have… Read more »

Marco
Marco
March 18, 2023 2:45 am

I would agree it is definitely an Auditory Icon. To this day it still evokes great memories of 1984-85.

Thanks Paul 🙂

Joel Abiera
Joel Abiera
March 17, 2023 8:22 pm

Wow! I remember those days when we used vinyl and cd’s for the afternoon program on radio, that’s one of the song I used to play everyday, the drums and guitar riffs are so amazing, then i sigue Owner of a Lonely by Yes. I miss that physical format,

Retro Hound
Retro Hound
March 17, 2023 4:12 pm

Wow!! What a great way to cap a week of incredible posts. Back when MTV actually played music (weren’t we the lucky ones), this video was in CONSTANT rotation… And I loved it. Thank you Paul for this new, meticulous sonic masterpiece of a rip as always. You bring a lot of joy to our lives. Have a great weekend all!

ING
ING
March 17, 2023 2:47 pm

Inconic. This song is at the heart of what was great about the 80’s. Fantastic collab! I have this in 12” but mine has a different cover… I need to pull it out and compare! And your rips are the best archives of vinyl ever so thanks again!!!

Candido Cesar - Brasil
Candido Cesar - Brasil
March 17, 2023 2:17 pm

Paul, a faixa 01 – Easy Lover (Extended Re-mixed Version) apresenta uma falha aos 2m31s. Parece que a agulha enroscou. Abraços.

TGC
TGC
March 17, 2023 1:52 pm

I love this song so much, here is a random tidbit: It was the opening song choice for the first Wrestlemania pay per view back in 1985. 🙂

Thanks for this!

Jeff
Jeff
March 17, 2023 11:27 am

I’ve just read about Phil Collins and his health battles. It’s just so sad. I grew up liking Genesis and Mr. Collins’ solo work, so this recent news has me very saddened.

Thank you, Paul, for this new rip of Phil’s classic record. I can’t wait to compare this with your original.

Have a marvelous weekend Paul, Song And Dance, Retro Hound and all you very cool members of Paul’s music blog. I feel I’m in great company with all of you!!

Jeff