Burning The Ground Exclusive
REPOST
This is a repost after I accidentally deleted the original; now freshly updated and ready to share again. Originally posted on December 24, 2024.
“Perfect Way” was only a modest hit in the UK, topping out at #48, but it went on to become Scritti Politti’s biggest U.S. success. The track entered the Billboard Top 40 on October 26, 1985, spent 13 weeks on the chart, and ultimately climbed to #11.
What makes this release especially interesting is that the version of “Perfect Way” on the A-side of this single is exclusive to this pressing—nowhere else features this exact mix. It’s distinct from the François Kevorkian mix issued on the standard UK and German 12″ singles, and it also runs longer than the U.S. 12″ mix by Alan Meyerson, François Kevorkian, and Josh Abbey (credited collectively as Committee). Although the label lists the runtime incorrectly, the true length clocks in at 7:24.
+De-notes vinyl-only
SIDE A:
Perfect Way (Way Perfect Mix Extended)+ 7:24
Mixed By – Alan Meyerson, Francois Kevorkian*, Josh Abbey
SIDE B:
Perfect Way (Single Version) 4:03
Mixed By – John Potoker
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – PRO-A-2357
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Producer – Gamson*, Maher*, Green*
- Recorded By – Howard Gray
NOTES:
Original version available on the Warner Bros. album CUPID & PSYCHE 85
Promotional Copy Not For Sale
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
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 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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I’m kinda surprised several US followers weren’t familiar with this smash. It’s been on many dance comps. Though it peaked at #11 on Billboard and had a 25-week chart run, that clearly doesn’t mean much if it got no airplay in some markets because there was a lack of concentrated airplay momentum. As MusicMan3 mentioned yesterday, this was a big hit on the radio in L.A.; actually, I believe we may have added it on KIQQ 100.3 before it ever charted after playing their first single “Wood Beez (pray like aretha franklin)”. Also note the many remixers WB employed: the… Read more »
Thank you, Paul. LOVE this one!
Thanks so much for the reposting and update Paul!! It’s so great to have all of these unique mixes to such a sonic time capsule! As I’m just seeing this, what a perfect way to end the weekend! Thank you again Paul!
Thanks so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the repost and the fresh update. This single definitely has that “sonic time capsule” magic, and it’s always fun to gather all the unique mixes in one place. Happy this popped up for you just in time to close out the weekend on a high note. Appreciate you being here!
Thank you, Paul! Like I said in the prior post, you are a completist’s dream-come-true!
Thanks, Axel! I really appreciate that — digging up every mix and version is half the fun for me, so I’m glad it hits the spot for a fellow completist. Always great having you here!
Thank you 🙂
You’re welcome, Richard.
Thanks very much for both the editions of Scritti Politti’s Perfect Way you’ve shared, Paul. It wasn’t a hit in my neck of the woods, but i’ve always liked their album Cupid & Psyche 85, so it’s cool to have these long versions.
peace,
dj
Thanks, DJ! Always great to hear from you. Cupid & Psyche 85 is such a fantastic album, even if Perfect Way didn’t hit everywhere the same way. These extended mixes really let all that gorgeous production breathe, so I’m glad you’re enjoying having them.
Peace to you as well, and thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for the repost, I’ve been enjoying it for a while now. Goes amazing with yesterday’s variant!
Well, that sure is annoying you accidentally deleted this one and had to repost it — if you need any help picking out anything else to ‘accidentally’ delete so that you can repost it, I am sure I can come up with a few that I missed!!! hah! 🙂
Thanks, JP! Glad you’re enjoying it — and yes, it really does pair nicely with yesterday’s variant.
And haha, trust me, that accidental deletion was not on my bingo card for the week… but if it gives me an excuse to shine up a few more old posts, maybe it wasn’t the worst thing after all! 😄
Hi Paul. Like ING said below, thanks for these variants of a very favorite song of mine. You made the weekend a lot more special!!
Jeff
You’re very welcome, Jeff.
I wondered if you were going to go this route. Would the UK ‘Version’ of the song happen to be next? 🙂
That is a possibility, David. 🙂
Still one of my favorite songs of all time! These strange variants that made singles and then disappeared into the ether never to be reissued are always so cool! Thanks for posts like this!
Thanks, ING! It’s definitely one of those forever favorites — the kind that never loses its shine. And I’m right there with you: those oddball variants that showed up once on a single and then vanished are exactly what make digging through these releases so much fun.
Really glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks for sticking around for these deep dives!