Spandau Ballet – To Cut A Long Story Short (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980

“To Cut a Long Story Short” is a 1980 song by Spandau Ballet. It was their debut single and reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It appeared on the album Journeys to Glory.

The song has been speculated to be about a veteran, perhaps of Vietnam, who is drafted and suffers from PTSD; the lyrics are told from the man’s point of view as a boy being drafted, how he gets no answers as to why he must join the war. “To Cut a Long Story Short” was Vince Clarke’s inspiration to write Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough”, to which the keyboard style bears a certain similarity.

The signature riff from “To Cut a Long Story Short” is used as a sample looping throughout the Freestylers track “In Love with You” on their album Adventures in Freestyle.

SIDE A:
To Cut A Long Story Short (Mix 1) 6:31

SIDE B:
To Cut A Long Story Short (Version) (Mix 2) 3:57

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Reformation ‎– CHS 12 2473, Chrysalis ‎– CHS 12 2473
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 03 Nov 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Graphics – Graham Smith (5)
Producer – Richard James Burgess
Written-By – G. Kemp*

NOTES:
Packaged in a special embossed die-cut sleeve.

Find the 12″ on 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

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Walter C
Walter C
January 23, 2018 1:00 am

Marvelous! Thank you so much.

VanceMan
January 22, 2018 7:07 pm

Another favorite of mine! I was just about to rip this one myself for my files since the b-side is — as far as I know — unavailable elsewhere. Thank you for coming to the rescue once again.

Mike C.
Mike C.
January 22, 2018 4:08 pm

Excellent! Such a classic New Romantic Blitz track.

John
John
January 22, 2018 2:52 pm

Fantastic post Paul, To Cut A Long Story Short is my all time favourite Spandau Ballet song, just love everything about it and the video. Very catchy synth bass line played by Gary Kemp and Bass guitar by Martin Kemp. I really enjoyed the Kemp brothers transition from a pop band to the main actors in a film called The Krays (1990), and they acted together again with Danny Dyer in Assassin (2015). In 1997 Tony Hadley released a 13 track cover album called Tony Hadley, the first song was Duran Duran’s Save A Prayer with Simon Le Bon on… Read more »

Christian
Christian
January 22, 2018 2:51 pm

Also very nice to have the rare “Mix 2”!
Thanks, Christian

Cindy Rosenblum
Cindy Rosenblum
January 22, 2018 2:46 pm

LOVE Spandau! And Depeche Mode! Didn’t know about the Vince Clarke story! Once again great trivia, thanks!

negative1
January 22, 2018 2:28 pm

nice to see spandau ballet getting some attention.

a good track, one thats a little more darker than
there standard fare.

thanks again paul for highlighting this track.

later
-1

Alberto
Alberto
January 22, 2018 2:27 pm

Not my fave band, but I like this song a lot. Thanks ! It’s a nice addition to my Walkman.

Jeroen
Jeroen
January 22, 2018 1:42 pm

Before they made sappy house wifes music…

Jermajesty
Jermajesty
January 22, 2018 12:40 pm

Cool track Paul, had this on for NYE. 🙂 Hadn’t heard the Vince Clarke story before. 🙂

Omar
Omar
January 22, 2018 12:38 pm

Thanks Paul. Great choice. Thanks please make this a new romantic week!