Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
On April 21, 2014, I first shared the UK 12 “release of “Perfect Way” by Scritti Politti, taken from the album Cupid & Psyche 85. Today’s revisit comes with a fresh transfer and a meticulous new audio restoration, giving this record the clarity it deserves.
For collectors of Scritti Politti vinyl, the UK 12″ release of Perfect Way is a fascinating piece of the band’s discography. Pulled from the landmark album Cupid & Psyche 85, this edition stands out not just for its sleek design but for the music etched into its grooves.
The real treasure here lies on the B‑side: the “Version – Extended Mix.” Unlike the more widely available mixes, this cut is exclusive to the UK 12″ pressing and has never surfaced on any other format. For fans and archivists, that makes it a genuine rarity — the kind of track that rewards digging through crates or scouring auction listings.
On the A‑side, you’ll find the “Extended Mix,” which, despite its name, isn’t a unique UK remix. Instead, it matches the U.S. album version, offering a subtle reminder of how releases often blurred across markets in the mid‑’80s.
For anyone building a complete Scritti Politti collection, this single is more than just another 12″ — it’s a snapshot of how regional pressings could carry hidden gems, and why collectors still chase these variations decades later.
SIDE A:
Perfect Way (Extended Mix) 4:30
SIDE B:
Perfect Way (Version – Extended Mix) 5:02
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 780-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Artwork By [Design] – Keith Breeden (DKB) with Green
- Guitar – Allan Murphy*, Nick Moroch
- Mixed By – François Kevorkian
- Producer, Drums – Fred Maher
- Producer, Keyboards, Written-By – David Gamson
- Producer, Vocals, Written-By – Green Gartside
- Recorded By – Howard Gray
NOTES:
Manufactured in U.K.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
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 25 (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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thank you very much great mix US
It says Password under the download buttons.
Sorry to be such a noob, but where does one enter the login info? I don’t see anything “underneath the download” buttons.
And another ‘thank you very much’ for the UK maxi single of Perfect Way, Paul!
peace,
dj
You’re welcome, dj 🙂
You’ve made the perfect trifecta Paul!! Big thank you for the care you put into making this time capsule release complete for us completists (and purists)!
Thanks so much! Really glad the trifecta hit the mark. I love putting these little time-capsule sets together, especially for fellow completists and purists who appreciate every mix as much as I do. Your support means a lot — thank you!
I am sensing a theme over the last few posts, trying to put my finger on what the connection is….. 🙂
Thanks so much for this UK 12″ with the super cool B side!! Don’t think I have heard this mix before. I’m going to have to think long and hard about which is my favorite.
I feel like you might run out of Perfect Way vinyl’s at some point… Thank you for being such a great completionist Dj Paul!
Haha, yes… there may be a slight theme emerging lately — just a tiny one. 😄 I’m glad you’re enjoying the ride!
This UK 12″ really does have a fantastic B-side, and I’m happy you’re hearing that mix for the first time. Choosing a favorite with Perfect Way is tough — each one has its own little sparkle.
And don’t worry… I’ve got just enough vinyl in the vault to keep this completist streak going a bit longer. Thanks for the kind words, JP!
Versions and versions and versions. This is heaven. Thank you for posting this, Paul. Not only do you provide such excellent music, but it is a study of the interesting history of these tunes. Truly fascinating. I appreciate this so much!
Thank you! I’m really glad you’re enjoying the version overload — this single definitely lends itself to that kind of deep dive. These mixes are like little snapshots of how songs evolved across territories and formats, and it’s fun to put them all in one place, finally.
I really appreciate your kind words and that you’re along for the history as much as the music. Thanks for being here!
You’re thrilling me with all these variants of, “Perfect Way,” Paul! I need to really take a studied listen to find out my favorite mix. Thanks for digging these various versions for us to listen to. It’s fun to collect songs in different incarnations. You’re amazing with all the vinyl you’ve collected over the years!
Thanks,
Jeff
Bonus Beats: I have to thank you once again for Scritti Politti’s “Turntable Mix” from a few years ago. That mega-mix is way fabulous!!!
Jeff, I love hearing that! This song really brings out the collector in all of us — every mix has its own little flavor, so taking the time to compare them is half the fun. I’m thrilled these variants are hitting the spot for you, and it makes me happy knowing the digging I’ve done over the years is bringing joy to fellow completists.
And thank you for the shout-out on the “Turntable Mix”! That one is such a blast — a proper mega-mix in every sense. So glad it’s still getting love.
Really appreciate you, Jeff!
Boom shacka lacka lacka lacka. I just had a feeling. 🙂
Also, am I mistaken, or is the opening percussion bit to the Version used as a sample in the Madonna song “Rain”? It sure sounds like it to me.
Ha! I had a feeling you might catch on. Boom shacka lacka indeed. 😄
And you’re not imagining things — that opening percussion bit does totally resemble the sound design on Madonna’s “Rain.” It’s not a direct sample as far as I know, but they’re definitely cut from the same early-90s production cloth: that clean, watery, almost glassy percussive texture that was getting really popular around then.
Your ears are sharp as always, David!
Ok now you’ve said something I need clarity on… the extended mix here matches the US album version? Is the album version in the UK different??? 🤯🤔. I will always love this song ! Thx for this fresh rip to feast on!
Great question, ING! Yep — the extended mix here actually lines up with the U.S. album version, which runs longer than what appeared on the UK release of Cupid & Psyche 85. The UK album used the shorter version, while the U.S. got that slightly extended arrangement that feels more like a 12″ mix baked right into the LP.
It’s one of those classic Scritti quirks… multiple territories, multiple runtimes, just enough variation to keep us collectors on our toes. 😄
Really glad you’re enjoying the fresh rip — this track never gets old!
Fascinating! Back then I bought it on cassette immediately and it had bonus mixes of tracks but not of Perfect Way, which seemed disappointing at the time. I believe I have the CD in my archives and the vinyl… I saw a repress not long ago with gold embossing that tempted me… wonder which version that was?!?!
Never gets old, ever!
Just did a side by side check of all the mixes on the UK issues and they are all here. The UK single version is the same as the US and Way Perfect Version Edit is the same as the UK extended and US album version. The Perfect way…
My head is spinning… round like a record baby…