BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987
“Valerie” is a song written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings and originally recorded by Winwood for his third solo album Talking Back to the Night, in 1982.
The song deals with a man reminiscing about a lost love he hopes to find again someday. Will Jennings reportedly wrote the lyrics while thinking about Valerie Carter, singer songwriter, whose career was declining because of drugs. On its original release, the single reached number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and number 70 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
In 1987, a remix by Tom Lord-Alge was included on Winwood’s compilation album Chronicles. The remixed version of “Valerie” was released as a single and climbed to number 9 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in late December 1987, and also reached number 19 in the UK. Both versions also reached #13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Eric Prydz sampled the song in 2004 for a house music track and presented it to Winwood. Winwood was so impressed with what Prydz had done, he re-recorded the vocals to better fit the track. The 2004 remix was released under the title “Call on Me”.
SIDE A:
Valerie 4:08
Producer – Steve Winwood, Tom Lord Alge*
Remix – Tom Lord Alge*
Talking Back To The Night (Instrumental Version) 4:15
Producer – Steve Winwood, Tom Lord Alge*
Remix – Tom Lord Alge*
SIDE B:
The Finer Things (12″ Remix) 8:30
Mixed By – Tom Lord Alge*
Producer –Russ Titelman, Steve Winwood
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Valerie | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #9 |
| 1987 | Valerie | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #13 |
| 1987 | Valerie | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary | #2 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Island Records – 12 IS 336
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Written-By – Steve Winwood, Will Jennings
NOTES:
Track A1 & A2 Remixed at Sixteenth Avenue Sound, Nashville.
‘Valerie’ is taken from the forthcoming compilation ‘CHRONICLES’.
Available on Compact Disc, Album & Cassette.
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Thanks Paul 🙂
Great to see this classic Stevie Winwood posted.
Thanks Paul 🙂
Excellent post DjPaulT. Thank you so much.
thx for posting this djpault! another fantastic post! being searching for the bside extended version for ages!
I have done an extended edit of Valerie on my blog,feel free to have a listen – http://magnum1971mixes.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/steve%20winwood
would also be brilliant if we could swap blog addresses!
my blog is – http://magnum1971mixes.blogspot.co.uk/
p.s my old blog listed on your links section is closed.
I’ve actually got this CD single but it’s nice to have the vinyl. I know I’ve got a few Steve Winwood 12 Inchers. Roll With It has a great mix on it. I’ve got the U.S. Freedom Overkill but not the U.K. one.
Thanks DJ for doing this one. Very, very cool.
🙂
The real treat here is The Finer Things (12″ Remix). If you enjoy Valerie then you should like this one too.
Yes indeed Howard “The Finer Things” is brilliant. It was also released as a single in the uS.
yes my fave Steve Winwood music…certified 80s!…I wish there was a longer remix of Valerie…thanks, DJ Paul! this is fantastic!
Hi Mike.MB yeah an extended version would have been nice but we do get two other rare mixes on this 12″.
“Valerie” has been my favorite Steve Winwood song since the first time I heard it back in the ’80s. It’s unfortunate that they didn’t do an extended mix of “Valerie” for the 12″ single, though.
Shark I guess they decided that the short remix was enough. However they did give us an instrumental track and a very nice 12″ Remix of “The Finer Things” which I love :)us
This is one case where I like the remix better than the original. The added mix gives the song more pep, IMO. I’m surprised it didn’t go to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, I remember the amount of airplay it got back then on the AC stations in our area. Also surprising that it didn’t have a longer, extended mix. But a great song nonetheless. Thanks for another great post, Paul!
Thanks Dan. I always thought this was a number one single but it wasn’t to my surprise.
I agree with Dan. I think the remix is MUCH better. I am disappointed that there’s not a long, extended remix. Oh well. Thanks, Paul.
I first met this version, with the passing of the years I found out that this was a remix. Thank you very much Paul!!!
You’re welcome Guss I didn’t know it was a remix either until after it’s release.
can you please fix Steve Winwoods Freedom Overspill (12”)??? Thanks
Oh Did You know the UK 12” has a longer Liberty mix than the US Version.
US
Freedom Overspill (Liberty Mix) 7:30
UK
Freedom Overspill (Liberty Mix) 8:30
http://www.discogs.com/Steve-Winwood-Freedom-Overspill/release/1259001
Don’t have the UK 12″ Tyler the US 12″ also includes the “Dub” don’t think the UK one does.