Burning The Ground Exclusive

By 1984, the Steve Miller Band had already enjoyed more than a decade of success, with classics such as “The Joker,” “Fly Like An Eagle,” and “Rock’n Me.” The band’s 1982 smash “Abracadabra” introduced Miller to a new generation of listeners, combining his familiar rock sound with synthesizers and a dance-friendly beat. Two years later, Miller continued experimenting with that formula on “Shangri-La.”

Released in 1984 as the lead single from the band’s thirteenth studio album, Italian X Rays, “Shangri-La” found Steve Miller moving even further into the electronic sounds of the decade. Written by Miller and bassist Kenny Lee Lewis, the song combined synthesizers, a funky bass line, electronic textures, and Miller’s unmistakable vocals. It was quite a departure from the guitar-driven rock that had made the band famous during the 1970s.

Italian X Rays was also a departure from a recording standpoint. The album was recorded digitally and made extensive use of electronic instruments and computer technology. Miller was enthusiastic about the new recording process and embraced the possibilities it offered.

“Shangri-La” reached No. 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 84 in Canada. Although it never matched the enormous success of “Abracadabra,” the single remains an interesting example of an established rock act experimenting with the increasingly electronic sound of the mid-1980s.

For the 12″ release, Capitol enlisted legendary New York DJ and remixer François Kevorkian, along with Jay Mark, to give “Shangri-La” a dance-floor makeover.

Kevorkian was already one of the most respected names in dance music, having worked with artists ranging from D-Train and Yazoo to Depeche Mode. His approach to remixing went well beyond simply extending a song. He could completely reshape a recording, bringing out its rhythm, creating new instrumental passages, and giving it an entirely different atmosphere.

The Extended Version of “Shangri-La” allows the song’s infectious groove to take center stage. The longer arrangement gives the percussion, electronic instrumentation, and funky bass line room to breathe, transforming Miller’s pop-rock single into something much more suited to the dance floor.

The Dub Version takes things even further, shifting attention away from the conventional song structure and toward the instrumental and rhythmic elements. It’s a particularly interesting listen for anyone who enjoys the more experimental side of eighties remixing.

Today’s featured record is my Canadian 12″ pressing on Capitol Records (V 75076). In addition to the Extended and Dub versions of “Shangri-La,” the record includes the original album version of “Abracadabra,” making this an especially nice pairing of Miller’s early-eighties dance-oriented material.

It’s also a reminder of an era when record companies weren’t afraid to hand a rock recording to a club remixer and see what happened. Sometimes those unlikely combinations produced some of the most interesting 12″ singles of the decade.

Enjoy!

SIDE A:
Shangri-La (Extended Club Mix) 7:32
Co-producer – Kenny Lee Lewis
Producer – Steve Miller
Recorded By – David Cole (4)
Remix – François Kevorkian, Jay Mark
Written-By – Kenny Lee Lewis, Steve Miller

SIDE B:
Shangri-La (Dub Version) 5:32
Co-producer – Kenny Lee Lewis
Producer – Steve Miller
Recorded By – David Cole (4)
Remix – François Kevorkian, Jay Mark
Written-By – Kenny Lee Lewis, Steve Miller

Abracadabra 5:10
Co-producer – Gary Mallaber
Producer – Steve Miller
Written-By – Steve Miller

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V 75076
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: Canada
Released: 1984
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

• Bass, Guitar, Co-producer – Kenny Lee Lewis
• Drums, Percussion – Gary Mallaber
• Keyboards – Byron Allred
• Producer, Vocals – Steve Miller

NOTES:
Track A: “(Album Version available on forthcoming LP “ITALIAN X RAYS” SJ-12339)”
Track B1: “(Album Version available on forthcoming LP “ITALIAN X RAYS” SJ-12339)”
Track B2: “(from the LP “ABRACADABRA” ST-12216)”

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
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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

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