Tag: 12″

Sheila E. – Sister Fate (US 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Sister Fate: The Song That Dared Sheila E. to Change Everything

1985. The Purple Rain era is still smoldering. And Sheila E. is done being a spectacle.

There’s a moment in the music video for “Sister Fate” — a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it flash at the 3:06 mark — where an image of Prince is superimposed over a newspaper headline reading “WHO IS SHEILA E.’S MYSTERY LOVE?” It lasts exactly one second. It’s playful. It’s knowing. And it tells you everything about the tightrope Sheila E. was walking in the summer of 1985: close enough to Prince’s orbit to benefit from its gravity, but determined to step into her own light.

“Sister Fate” was the lead single from Romance 1600, Sheila E.’s second album, released on July 26, 1985. It was more than a song. It was a declaration of intent.

A New Image, a New Album, a New Statement

After the breakout success of The Glamorous Life in 1984, Sheila E. could have easily leaned into the formula: glamour, sequins, the thrill of being Prince’s most dazzling protégé. Instead, she did something counterintuitive. She cut her hair. She wore a long-sleeved blouse and long pants for the Romance 1600 campaign. She showed up as a musician first, a performer second.

“They thought the whole thing about the first album was to sell sex,” she later reflected. “But for the second album… I wanted to be seen as a strong musician.”

“Sister Fate” was the sonic embodiment of that shift. Written, produced, and arranged entirely by Sheila E. herself, the track came together quickly — basic tracks were laid down on January 9, 1985, at Cheshire Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, the night after a show on the Purple Rain Tour. Overdubs followed on January 15th. The whole thing had that charged, live-wire energy of a band at its creative peak, running on tour adrenaline and studio instinct.

The Sound: A Prince-Produced Fever Dream

Musically, “Sister Fate” is a rich, layered piece of mid-80s R&B funk. Prince contributed keyboards — Yamaha DX7, Hammond organ, piano — bass guitar, Linn LM-1 drum machine, and handclaps. Sheila E. brought everything else: lead and backing vocals, drums, Simmons SDS-V electronic pads, congas, cowbells, timbales, shaker, and cymbal. The album version opens with an organ and percussion intro that sets a moody, almost cinematic tone before the track kicks into gear. The single version trims that intro entirely, opting for a more direct punch.

Steph Birnbaum added electric guitars. Eddie M. came in on saxophone. Benny Rietveld played bass on the album intro. The result was a textured, full-band R&B production that showcased Sheila’s percussive mastery while still carrying Prince’s unmistakable fingerprints.

The Video: Cloud Jackets and Hidden Messages

The music video, filmed at Greystone Park & Mansion in Beverly Hills and directed by Prince himself, introduced the world to a new Sheila E. aesthetic. Gone was the ultra-glam of “The Glamorous Life.” In its place: Sheila in a brocaded “cloud jacket,” a deliberate visual echo of Prince’s own “cloud suit” from the “Raspberry Beret” video, which was released around the same time. The two visuals were in conversation — a private joke made public, stitched into the fabric of both their images.

That one-second Prince cameo superimposed over the newspaper headline is the video’s sly centerpiece. It acknowledges the constant speculation about their relationship while refusing to actually answer it. It’s teasing. It’s artful. It’s very Prince.

The Charts: Underperformance That Changed Everything

Commercially, “Sister Fate” fell short of expectations. It reached only number 36 on the Hot Black Singles chart and peaked at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, never breaking into the main Hot 100 at all. By the metrics of pop radio, it was a miss.

But that miss had consequences. Because “Sister Fate” underperformed, the album’s second single — “A Love Bizarre,” a sprawling duet featuring Prince — was rush-released to salvage momentum. It worked. “A Love Bizarre” climbed to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart, becoming one of the defining tracks of the era. In a strange way, the commercial stumble of “Sister Fate” cleared the path for its far more successful successor.

The Larger Legacy

Romance 1600 was released on August 26, 1985, on Warner Bros. Records and Paisley Park Records — one of the first albums released on Prince’s newly founded label. Sheila E. became one of the first artists to sign to Paisley Park, cementing a creative partnership that was more than mere proximity to a superstar.

On October 12, 1985, Sheila performed “Sister Fate,” “A Love Bizarre,” and “Holly Rock” on Soul Train. She appeared in the film Krush Groove that same fall. A concert film, Live Romance 1600, captured her band at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, with Prince and the Revolution making a special appearance.

“Sister Fate” may not have been the hit it was meant to be, but it was something more interesting: a turning point. It was the moment Sheila E. publicly chose artistic identity over commercial formula, even if the charts didn’t reward her for it right away. In that sense, it deserves to be heard not just as a song, but as a statement — a note left for history, signed by a woman who refused to be anyone’s sidekick.

A note on this transfer

This 12″ transfer marks the debut use of the new MOTU M4 Audio Interface — a fitting piece of gear to inaugurate with a record this rich in percussion and texture. You can expect the full warmth and detail of the extended mix to come through with exceptional clarity.

SIDE A:
Sister Fate (Extended Version) 5:48
Organ – Ken Grey
Saxophone – Eddie M (2)

SIDE B:
Save The People 8:30

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Shela E.: Sister Fate (1985)
Chart Peak Position Date
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #36 1985
US Billboard Hot 100 #8 1985
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/ Maxi-Singles Sales #26 1985
Australia (Kent Report) #481 1985

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Paisley Park – 0-20359, Warner Bros. Records – 9 20359-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM, Allied
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop, Funk, Soul

CREDITS:

NOTES:
“Specially-Priced 2-Cut Maxi Single”

Original version of track A available on the Paisley Park album Romance 1600.

Made in U.S.A.
Printed in U.S.A.

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-Jec Tube Box DS2
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
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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.


Teena Marie – Lips 2 Find U (US 12″) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

A 1986 Quiet Storm Gem from Teena Marie

In 1986, Teena Marie released “Lips 2 Find U” as a single from her album Emerald City, further cementing her status as one of R&B’s most sophisticated singer-songwriters of the decade.

While it may not be the first title that comes up in casual conversation, the single made a respectable impact, climbing to #28 on the Billboard Black Singles chart — proof that Teena’s core audience was locked in and listening.

The Emerald City Sound

By the mid-’80s, R&B production was evolving rapidly. Drum machines were sharper, synth textures glossier, and arrangements more layered. Yet Teena always found a way to keep warmth in the mix.

“Lips 2 Find U” sits squarely in that sweet spot — polished but intimate. The production is sleek, with airy keyboards and subtle rhythm programming that give the song space to breathe. It’s not bombastic. It’s not chasing pop crossover trends. It’s mood-driven and mature.

And that’s exactly why it works.

A Charting Slow Burn

Reaching #28 on the Billboard Black Singles chart may not qualify as blockbuster status compared to earlier hits like Lovergirl or the funk classic Square Biz, but it reflects something equally important: consistency.

By 1986, Teena wasn’t a novelty or a breakout artist — she was an institution within R&B. Songs like “Lips 2 Find U” reinforced her credibility with Quiet Storm programmers and adult soul audiences who valued emotional nuance over flash.

Vocals That Whisper and Soar

What makes the track endure is her performance.

Teena Marie had extraordinary vocal control. On this record, she leans into sensuality with restraint. The phrasing is delicate, almost conversational at times, then gently lifts into those signature soaring notes that remind you just how powerful her instrument truly was.

It’s longing without melodrama. Romance without excess.

Why It Deserves Rediscovery

For collectors and deep-dive fans, “Lips 2 Find U” represents a fascinating period in Teena’s career — post-breakthrough, fully autonomous, refining her sound in an increasingly digital era.

It’s the kind of single that may not dominate greatest-hits playlists but rewards anyone willing to explore beyond the obvious tracks. And for those of us who appreciate the art of the slow burn, it’s essential listening.

Teena Marie didn’t just deliver hits. She built moods.
And “Lips 2 Find U” is one of her most elegant.

SIDE A:
Lips 2 Find U 5:11

SIDE B:
Lips 2 Find U (Instrumental) 5:09

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Teena Marie: Lips 2 Find U (1986)
Chart Peak Position Date
US Billboard Hot Black Singles #28 1986

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 49-05376
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop, Funk

CREDITS:

  • Executive-Producer – Larkin Arnold
  • Mixed By, Producer, Written-By – Teena Marie
  • Photography – Randee St. Nicholas

NOTES:
Special Version from the Epic LP:
“Emerald City”

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
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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.


Front 242 – Headhunter (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1988, Belgian electronic pioneers Front 242 detonated what would become their most recognizable and influential track: “Headhunter.” A relentless fusion of industrial aggression, militaristic rhythm, and club-ready precision, the single not only defined a moment in underground dance culture—it helped push Electronic Body Music (EBM) into international consciousness.

The Sound of Controlled Aggression

“Headhunter” is built on a pounding, mechanized beat—minimal yet punishing. The production is stark and deliberate, with clipped percussion, ominous synth stabs, and a bassline that feels more like heavy machinery than melody. Jean-Luc De Meyer’s commanding, half-chanted vocal delivery gives the track its authoritarian edge, while the now-iconic refrain—“One you lock the target / Two you bait the line / Three you slowly spread the net / And four you catch the man”—unfolds like a tactical operation set to music.

Unlike many synth-driven acts of the era who leaned into lush atmospherics, Front 242 favored precision and discipline. “Headhunter” doesn’t meander—it advances. Every element feels functional, intentional, and locked into formation.

The Album: Front by Front

“Headhunter” appeared on the band’s 1988 album Front by Front, widely regarded as a cornerstone of the EBM genre. The record refined the harsher textures of earlier releases into something sharper and more dancefloor-focused. While tracks like “Welcome to Paradise” and “Tragedy >For You<” are essential, “Headhunter” became the breakout anthem—especially in clubs across Europe and North America.

That club dominance translated into chart success. On December 24, 1988, “Headhunter” climbed to #13 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart, spending five weeks on the survey. For a Belgian EBM act operating far outside the pop mainstream, that was a major breakthrough, signaling that the harder European electronic underground had firmly established a foothold in American dance culture.

The Iconic “Egg Hunter” Video

The music video for “Headhunter,” directed by Anton Corbijn, used the shorter “Version 2.0” mix and remains one of the most visually arresting clips of the late ‘80s industrial era. Shot in the stark urban landscape of Brussels, the video prominently features two of the city’s most recognizable landmarks: the Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission, and the futuristic Atomium, originally constructed for the 1958 World’s Fair.

The clip’s most surreal and memorable motif, however, is its use of eggs—handled, contemplated, and ultimately broken. According to band member Patrick Codenys, the concept reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding: Corbijn misheard the song title as “Egg Hunter.” Rather than discard the idea, the imagery became central to the video’s strange, ritualistic tone. The result is stark, slightly absurd, and completely unforgettable—perfectly matching the song’s balance of severity and conceptual edge.

Club Legacy & Remix Power

“Headhunter” truly thrived in its extended 12″ incarnations. The longer mixes amplified its percussive assault, stretching tension and allowing DJs to weaponize its hypnotic structure. In industrial, new wave, and alternative dance clubs, it was a guaranteed floor-filler—especially during peak hours when the crowd was ready for something darker and more aggressive.

Its minimal, escalating framework made it ideal for blending and layering, proving that EBM could function as both statement and tool. Alongside contemporaries like Nitzer Ebb and Ministry, Front 242 helped lay the groundwork for the industrial dance explosion that would dominate alternative clubs in the early ‘90s.

Final Thoughts

Nearly four decades later, “Headhunter” remains as bracing and immediate as it was in 1988. It captures a moment when electronic music embraced severity without sacrificing groove—when discipline and dance collided on smoke-filled floors and beneath strobe lights.

Lock the target.
Bait the line.
Spread the net.
Catch the man.

SIDE A:
Headhunter (V1.0) 5:02

SIDE B:
Welcome To Paradise (V1.0) 5:19

BONUS TRACK:
Headhunter (Out-For-Blood Mix) 5:56
Remix – Art Maharg
Taken from – Razormaid Chapter Z-23

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHART PERFORMANCE – FRONT 242: HEADHUNTER (1988)
Chart Peak Position Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs #13 1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Wax Trax! Records – WAX 053
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: EBM, Industrial

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Headhunter (V1.0) (5.02.50) BPM: 123.
Welcome To Paradise (V1.0) (5.17.57) BPM: 120.
Published by Les Editions Confidentielles.

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
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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.


Book Of Love – I Touch Roses (US 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: November 18, 2015

In 1985, American synth-pop quartet Book of Love released what would become their signature song — the luminous and emotionally charged “I Touch Roses.” Issued as the band’s second single, the track solidified their place in the mid-’80s alternative dance scene and helped secure their future with Sire Records.

“I Touch Roses” would later appear on the group’s eponymous debut album, Book of Love, released in 1986. But its initial impact came a year earlier, when the single quietly bloomed in clubs across the country.

From Underground Buzz to Dancefloor Staple

Written by Theodore “Ted” Ottaviano, the song perfectly captured the band’s ethereal aesthetic — romantic, slightly mysterious, and driven by shimmering sequencers. Following the modest success of their debut single “Boy,” “I Touch Roses” followed a similar upward trajectory, but this time the response was stronger.

Although the track did not break into the Billboard Hot 100, it made a significant impact where it mattered most for a synth-driven act in 1985 — the dancefloor. “I Touch Roses” climbed into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at No. 8. In an era dominated by high-energy Hi-NRG and post-disco productions, its dreamy minimalism stood apart.

The single’s B-side, “Lost Souls,” offered fans another glimpse into the band’s atmospheric world. A remixed version of “Lost Souls” would also appear on the debut album, reinforcing the cohesive sonic identity the group was developing. The 7″ version included on the US 12″ is the original version of the song before being remixed by Mark Kamins.

No Grand Plan — Just Momentum

Looking back in 2009, Ted Ottaviano reflected on how organically the song’s success unfolded:

“We didn’t know it at the time, but thankfully, with ‘I Touch Roses’, it was not preordained that Sire was developing us at the time. There was no grand scheme. It was more à la carte. But then people started picking up on ‘Roses,’ and then the album happened.”

That “à la carte” momentum proved pivotal. The growing club response to “I Touch Roses” convinced Sire that Book of Love warranted a full-length album. What began as a promising single became the foundation for a career-defining debut.

The Sound of Vulnerable Synth-Pop

Musically, “I Touch Roses” thrives on restraint. The production is airy and uncluttered — gentle drum programming, cascading keyboard lines, and Susan Ottaviano’s breathy, intimate vocal delivery. There’s a fragility to it that contrasts beautifully with the mechanical precision of the electronics.

It’s that emotional vulnerability that continues to resonate. While many mid-’80s dance tracks chased bombast, “I Touch Roses” created atmosphere. It felt personal, almost secretive — the kind of record discovered late at night on college radio or under mirror balls in alternative clubs.

Four decades later, the song remains a cornerstone of American synth-pop history. It didn’t need a Hot 100 placement to endure. The dancefloor embraced it, and listeners never let it go.

For many of us, when those opening notes begin, “I Touch Roses” still feels like stepping back into a beautifully preserved moment — when underground club culture, romantic minimalism, and pure synth emotion intersected perfectly.

A 2026 Revival

I originally shared this 12″ back in November 2015, but over the years my gear has improved, and my experience in the art of vinyl transferring has grown. Now, in 2026, I’m proud to present this record with a Brand NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration — giving I Touch Roses the attention to detail it truly deserves. Every shimmer, every echo, and every whispered note has been preserved and enhanced, so the track shines like never before.

Whether you’re rediscovering it after all these years or hearing it for the first time, this version captures the ethereal magic of Book of Love in its full glory — just as it should be heard on the dancefloor or through your favorite headphones.

SIDE A:
I Touch Roses (Long Stemmed Version) 5:43

SIDE B:
I Touch Roses 3:24

Lost Souls (7″ Version) 4:13

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
SleeveL Near Mint

Chart Performance – Book Of Love: I Touch Roses (1985)
Chart Peak Position Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs #8 1985

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20381, I Square Records – 0-20381, Sire – 9 20381-0 A, I Square Records – 9 20381-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Recorded and mixed at Unique Recording, NYC
Mastered at Frankford Wayne, NYC.

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
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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.