BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
“The Word Girl” is a song by the British/American group Scritti Politti. Included on their second album, Cupid & Psyche 85, the reggae style track was released as a single in the UK on 29 April 1985 and remains the band’s highest charting hit in the UK, peaking at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video was directed by John Scarlett-Davis and produced by Nick Verden at Aldabra Films for Virgin Records.
The B-side to the single, “Flesh and Blood”, is an alternate version of the song with Ranking Ann on vocals.
This limited edition version of the U.K. 12″ includes a fold out poster and a megamix called “Turntable Mix” on the ‘B’ side and differs from the standard UK 12″ single. As a bonus I have included the “Version” mix of The Word Girl / Flesh & Blood which I transfered from the standard U.K. 12″.
SIDE A:
The Word Girl 4:24
Producer – Scritti Politti
Flesh & Blood 5:36
Producer – Scritti Politti
SIDE B:
Scritti Politti Turntable Mix 6:30
Producer – Arif Mardin, Scritti Politti
Remix – Mastermind*
BONUS TRACK
The Word Girl / Flesh & Blood (Version) 5:06
Producer – Scritti Politti
Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 747-13
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Reggae, Dub, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Design [Packaged At] – Design KB*
Drums – Fred Maher
Guitar – Nick Moroch
Piano, Synthesizer – David Gamson
Recorded By, Mixed By – Howard Gray (tracks: A1, A2)
Toasting [Dj] – Ranking Ann
Vocals – Green Gartside
NOTES:
Manufactured in the UK.
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Thank you very much Paul.
*happy dance* To have digital copies of the Flesh and Blood Version AND the Turntable mix…you made my month, sir. Thank you.
Ooh, am I eager to hear these. At this moment of download, a coverversion by Mathilde Santing is playing (try youtubing that one tonight, and turn off a light or two..), but I do remember Scritti’s hit with fondness. Never heared an other version than the 7″.
PAUL!!!! It’s a bit spooky because Burning The Ground assembles mix tapes from my youth!! A friend from College made me a cassette tape that had an ABC megamix on it; “Gun Law” from The Kane Gang; the full 12-inch version of “I Wanted To Tell Her” by Ministry; and the “Turntable Mix” by Scritti Politti on it. I had lost the tape years ago, but like a missing jig-saw puzzle piece, you bring back all the memories to the front in exquisite sound. I really owe you such a debt of gratitude for doing monumental work in lavishing classic… Read more »
Thanks so much Paul!
A brilliant song from a brilliant band, the soundtrack to my youth. Haven’t stopped listening all these years.
xxx John
Very cool track and the artwork is great. This is probably my favourite by Scritti Politti too.
Thanks Paul 🙂
Nice one dude! I have a “New Zealand” copy of this, which appears to have the same track listing as the U.K. version, so it’s cool to get a different one. BTW, I don’t get why people pick on your work! Your rips are outstanding, and always have been. I think we are all drawn here because we all like 12″ singles. I’m not sure why anyone would be drawn here to NOT like it. I won’t sweat it, because many things don’t make sense to me. We all love what you do bro, and it’s fun to check each… Read more »
Thank you, Greg. It’s really nice to see some new names in the comments. I love hearing from you guys 🙂
Shocking that this is their highest-charting UK hit — because I don’t even know it! 😀 I mean, I live in the US now but I listen to Absolute 80s, BBC Radio 2 & Radio Wales, etc DAILY … and I am not even sure I’ve heard this song before. LOLz! “Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)” and “The Perfect Way”, yes … even “Oh, Patti”. This might be their biggest hit but I’d wager it’s the fourth or fifth most played song of theirs on UK radio. Am I wrong? Anyone? Anyone? 🙂 I always find it fascinating when… Read more »
I’m a fan of some Scritti Politti stuff, but I have never heard this song or mix either.
So you’re not the only one. My favorite is still ‘perfect way’, followed by ‘wood beez’,
and recently thanks to paul posting it, ‘absolute’.
later
-1
I agree with you both totally. “Perfect way” is true gold they never managed to be that big here in the states.
Didn’t have the turntable version, thanks!
The World Girl & Flesh n Blood are a great sort of reggae surprise that could only have come from the 80s!
You’re welcome Martijn van Heeringen 🙂
Paul, you made my day! I hoped so much for this one, thank you so much! Now the “four” are complete again (thankfully you posted the other three earlier). I had them all back then, especially liking the “versions”, listened to them (loud of course) every day for quite a while, my friends in the community (in Hamburg, where I studied) almost traumatized after a while. 🙂 These singles are simply art, refreshing for heart and mind, the covers are still beauties. Never heard of the “turntable mix”, didn’t listen yet, but thank you for not leaving out the “version”.… Read more »
You are very welcome Holger. I had not listened to these 12″ singles for a while so it was fun listening to them again. “denglish” love it 🙂
Uuh, I just realized I made an embarassing mistake when talking about “four” singles, it are/were five actually. I missed out “Wood Beez”, which must have been the first of the bunch, released in 1984. Paul, you should have corrected me in this one, for sure you knew it better? Anyway, I wouldn’t ask for “Wood Beez”, not exactly what I would call one of my favorite songs. But then again, I do love things being complete, so if you should be bored one day, not knowing what to post at all, and so on and nasty weather outside, I`d… Read more »
Hi Holger, That one slipped my mind although I do have it pulled and will try to get it posted 🙂
Thanks Paul a million. There was rumor of Scritti Politti’s back catalogue being reissued/remastered this year. Hope they can include as many remixes as possible.
I only like re-issue remasters if they are done correctly which most are not. Usually just thrown together by labels that just want to make a buck. Hope it works out though. 🙂
Maybe we can ask the labels to let you do the remasters Paul. That would be cool.