Burning The Ground Exclusive 1989
NEW 2024 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Originally posted October 31, 2012
“Batdance” is a fascinating blend of musical innovation and pop culture, showcasing Prince’s ability to fuse different elements into a cohesive track. Released in 1989 as part of the “Batman” soundtrack, it became a significant hit, reaching number one in the U.S. and marking Prince’s return to the top of the charts after several years.
The last-minute decision to replace “Dance with the Devil” highlights Prince’s instinct to prioritize the song’s tone, opting for something more upbeat and energetic. The song’s structure is unique, with its dynamic shifts between chaotic beats and funk, which reflects the duality of the Batman character itself.
Incorporating snippets from various unreleased tracks and even the classic 1966 “Batman Theme,” “Batdance” serves as a rich tapestry of Prince’s musical ideas. The use of film dialogue adds an immersive layer, connecting the song directly to the movie’s narrative.
The U.S. 12″ promo’s exclusive radio edits further emphasize Prince’s meticulous approach to his music, catering to different formats while maintaining the essence of the track. Overall, “Batdance” not only captured the zeitgeist of its time but also solidified Prince’s status as a versatile and visionary artist.
*De-notes exclusive vinyl-only
BAT SIDE:
Batdance (The Bat Mix) 7:16
Batdance (The Bat Mix Radio Edit)* 4:10
THIS SIDE:
Batdance (Vicki Vale Mix) 5:57
Batdance (Vicky Vale Mix Radio Edit)* 4:15
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks | #1 |
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs | #18 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – PRO-A-3702
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Dance-pop, Minneapolis Sound, House
CREDITS:
- Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Mark Moore, William Orbit
- Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – Prince
NOTES:
Generic black sleeve with die-cut circular hole which the label can be viewed
Side A label:
[1989 Batman™ logo on orange background]
Side B label:
[tracklist & credits, track B2 appears incomplete as “Batdance (Radio Edit)”]
Promotion Only. Not For Sale. From the Motion Picture Soundtrack album Batman™” a Warner Bros. film
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
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
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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Very cool! Thanks for the updated upgrade, PaulT!
Holy Batdance!! These mixes really show Prince’s genius! Between Prince’s soundtrack, Danny Elfman’s score, the movie, merchandise, etc., Batman has to be the most hyped film event in my lifetime. And it certainly was one time when the hype lived up to the quality. Thank you Paul for this meticulous new transfer and for taking us back!!
You’re welcome, Retro Hound. I loved everything about this film from Tim Burton to Prince and everything in between.
Hey, Paul, thanks so much for this re-upped 12-inch. I was such a fan of mega-mixes and wild collisions of beats, multi-edits and samples, along with being an uber-fan of Prince, this “Batdance” record was a revelation to me when it was first released. Plus, I was enamored with producer/artist/remixer, William Orbit from his Torch Song band, and this was a huge fave of mine. I still like the original soundtrack version of “Batdance” the best over the remixes here, but I’m still pumped to have the radio edits. Paul, thanks again for yesterday’s brilliant post too! I’m loving the… Read more »
You’re welcome, Jeff.
Get the funk up! Batdance was an amazing DJ track for Prince. A mega mix of the most unique kind, and a timeless classic. 200 Balloons, the b-side to one or more of the various single releases was also deleted from the soundtrack before its final release, but was heavily sampled in this track, along with Dance With The Devil & Rave 2 The Joy Fantastic, etc. One can only imagine if WB, DC, The Prince Estate, etc. will ever find a way to get a deluxe box for this era of Prince’s genius… Thanks for these “unheard” edits to… Read more »
You’re welcome, ING.
Hey ING,
I love the write-up you gave this record! Excellent observations!
Jeff
Aw thanks… 😊
Oh yeah!! I did an actual leap for joy when I saw this pop up 🙂
Great liner notes too … it’s true, Prince had a really exacting vision for what he wanted to convey in a song, so I can’t wait to hear these versions.
Prince is one of my top 5 artists so I have found a lot of his 12″‘s and such on vinyl, but have never seen this one before. Thrilled to get to hear it, and in your trademark wonderful vinyl-to-digital sound too.
Thanks Paul!
You’re welcome, Grant. Have fun listening 🙂
Thanks for the share DJ!
You’re welcome.