Tag: 12″

February 5, 2026

The Human League – Heart Like A Wheel (US 12″) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Previously posted March 13, 2015

Heart Like a Wheel — The Human League’s Synth-Pop Statement Gets a New 2026 Transfer

In the landscape of British synth-pop history, few acts cast a shadow as long as The Human League. Best known to casual listeners for flagship hits like “Don’t You Want Me” or “Human,” the band’s 1990 single Heart Like a Wheel remains a fascinating, sometimes overlooked chapter in their catalogue — now brought into fresh focus with a new 2026 meticulous audio restoration transfer that rediscovered its sonic heft for modern ears.

A Minor Hit with Major Intent

Originally released on 6 August 1990 as the lead single from the album Romantic?, Heart Like a Wheel marked a bold if moderate commercial return for The Human League entering the new decade. Against a backdrop of fading chart momentum for 80s synth icons, the track managed respectable placements across several territories. In the United Kingdom it peaked at No. 29 on the Official Singles Chart, logging several weeks on the listings. In the United States it reached No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Australia saw it hit No. 64 on the ARIA charts.

Lyrics as Social Commentary

Far from a simple pop confection, Heart Like a Wheel channels political and existential undercurrents that were increasingly rare in mainstream synth-pop of the era. The lyrics evoke a world becoming mechanised and emotionally detached, where individuals feel both propelled and alienated by forces beyond their control. The refrain — “Heart like a wheel, turning away from anything that’s real” — captures this sense of emotional rotation and disconnection, a heart spinning yet somehow moving away from authenticity.

Other lines — referencing “selling your soul to a holy war” or the futility of using weapons like an M16 to solve problems — underline a critique of violence, propaganda, and the erosion of meaningful engagement with reality. The imagery suggests a world where the “wheel” of society keeps turning on cold, unfeeling steel rather than warmth and human connection.

Production and Performance

Written by former band member Jo Callis and Eugene Reynolds, the track features the signature blend of synthesizers, layered vocals, and anthemic choruses that typify The Human League’s style. Produced by Martin Rushent, whose earlier work with the group helped define their sound in the early 80s, Heart Like a Wheel brought the band’s classic sensibilities into a post-New Wave context — balancing polished pop craft with introspective edge.

The 2026 Meticulous Audio Restoration Transfer

The 2026 transfer of Heart Like a Wheel is more than a simple needle-drop: it’s a meticulous audio restoration aimed at unveiling layers of detail that were buried or subdued in my previous transfer. This new transfer brings greater clarity to the synth textures, a defined presence to the vocal interplay between Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall, and Susan Ann Sulley, and a wider dynamic range that honours both the emotional and rhythmic dimensions of the original recording. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this version offers a chance to hear the song with fresh ears — as a statement piece of synth-pop social reflection that resonates even decades after its debut.

Legacy

While Heart Like a Wheel was not a defining chart topper, it has endured in live sets and fan circles for its energy and message, proving that not all influence is measured by chart peaks alone. With the 2026 restoration bringing new life to a classic synth-pop single, listeners have an ideal moment to revisit a track that blends pop accessibility with thoughtful, questioning lyricism — reminding us why The Human League’s catalogue still matters in the pop canon.

SIDE A:
Heart Like A Wheel (Extended Mix) 6:50
Remix – Mark Saunders

SIDE B:
Heart Like A Wheel (LP Version) 4:28

Heart Like A Wheel (7″ Remix) 4:28
Remix – William Orbit

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – The Human League: *Heart Like A Wheel* (1990)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Billboard Hot 100	#32	1990
US Billboard Alternative Songs	#17	1990
UK Singles Chart	#29	1990
Australia Singles Chart (ARIA)	#64	1990
West Germany	#36	1990

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records – 75021 2336 1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer, Mixed By – Martin Rushent
Written-By – Eugene Reynolds, Jo Callis

NOTES:
From the LP Romantic?

Recorded at Genetic Sound

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.

February 4, 2026

Information Society – Informedleymation (US 12″ Promo) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today I’m spotlighting a very special 12″ release built for the dancefloor faithful and the Information Society deep divers. This one pulls together two Hot Tracks–exclusive remixes from the American electronic band Information Society, hailing from Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, at a moment when Hack was still pulsing through clubs and radio alike.

Side A features Informedleymation, a Hot Tracks medley crafted by Glenn Cattanach that dives deep into the band’s second studio album, Hack. Rather than leaning solely on the obvious choice, Cattanach smartly anchors the mix around the era’s hit “Think”, while seamlessly weaving in four additional cuts from the album. Working directly from the Hack CD and assembling the mix via DAT, he achieved a crystal-clear, full-frequency medley that still sounds pristine today. It’s a masterclass in early-’90s remix craftsmanship—clean, punchy, and designed to keep momentum locked from start to finish.

Flip the record and Side B delivers the Digital Remix of “How Long,” originally released as the second single from Hack in 1991. Here, the track gets an entirely new lease on life thanks to a remix by legendary DJ, remixer, and producer Chris Cox. Cox brings his unmistakable touch to the mix, sharpening the track’s rhythmic edge while preserving its emotional core. It’s sleek, club-ready, and unmistakably built for serious sound systems—proof of how a great remix can reframe a song without losing its soul.

Together, these two Hot Tracks mixes form a perfectly balanced 12″: one side celebrating the album as a whole through a thoughtfully constructed medley, the other zeroing in on a single track and pushing it straight onto the dancefloor. For fans of Information Society, remix culture, or the golden era of DJ record pools, this release is a reminder of just how inventive and influential that moment truly was.

A killer slice of early ’90s electronic history—pressed loud, mixed smart, and made to move bodies.

SIDE A:
Informedleymation 8:07
DJ Mix [Megamix] – Glenn Cattanach
Written-By – Maher, Valaquen, Robb*

1 – Come With Me
2 – Think
3 – Move Out
4 – How Long
5 – Now That I Have You

SIDE B:
How Long (Digital Remix) 6:17
Remix Chris Cox
Written-By – P. Robb*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Custom

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Hot Tracks – SA 9-9, Hot Tracks – SA 10-1
Series: Hot Tracks Series – 9-9, Hot Tracks Series – 10-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Compilation, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Pop
Style: House, Hip-House, Hi NRG, Euro House, Garage House

CREDITS:

Compilation Producer – Chris Cox
Custom Sleeve [Artwork] – DjPaulT

NOTES:
DJ Use Only

Buy Hot Tracks SA 9-9 at DISCOGGS

Buy Hot Tracks SA 10-1 at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.

January 30, 2026

Rod Stewart – Forever Young (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

By the time Out of Order arrived in 1988, Rod Stewart was well into his late-career renaissance—slick production, big singles, and a renewed commercial presence, particularly in the U.S. Yet Forever Young stood apart from the album’s radio-ready polish. It wasn’t just another hit single; it was personal, reflective, and quietly profound.

Released as a single in 1989, Forever Young became one of Stewart’s most enduring songs, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 9 on Canada’s RPM charts. While it never achieved the same level of success in the UK, the song resonated deeply with American audiences, eventually taking on an almost anthem-like status.

Stewart co-wrote the song with longtime bandmates Jim Cregan (guitar) and Kevin Savigar (keyboards), and its inspiration came directly from his family life. In a 1995 interview with Mojo magazine, Stewart described the song as one of his personal favorites, explaining that it was written for his children—an expression of love mixed with regret. Touring commitments had caused him to miss several formative years in the lives of his older children, Sean and Kimberly, a realization that clearly weighs on the song’s emotional core.

That sense of reflection shapes the lyrics, which read like a blessing passed from parent to child—hopeful but grounded, tender without being naïve. Lines about integrity, courage, and resilience feel lived-in, not idealized. Stewart isn’t offering platitudes; he’s offering hard-earned wisdom.

The song’s lyrical structure also bears a noticeable resemblance to Bob Dylan’s Forever Young. Rather than becoming a source of conflict, the similarity was handled with mutual respect. Stewart sent the song to Dylan after its completion, and the two agreed to share ownership and royalties—an unusually graceful resolution that speaks volumes about both artists.

The production of Forever Young is another key part of its identity. The track was produced by Andy Taylor—best known as the guitarist for Duran Duran—alongside Bernard Edwards of Chic. At the time, Taylor and Edwards were also bandmates in The Power Station, a project that fused new wave, funk, and rock into a powerful hybrid sound. That sensibility carries over here: the rhythm section is tight and confident, the guitars are clean but assertive, and the overall feel balances late-’80s polish with genuine musical weight. It’s a sound that supports the song’s emotional message without overwhelming it.

Musically, Forever Young exists in multiple forms. The best-known version is the anthemic, driving arrangement released in the U.S., built for radio and stadium-sized emotion. Stewart later revisited the song in a more restrained form, recording a mellow version for his 1996 compilation If We Fall in Love Tonight, and an even more intimate piano-and-vocal take appears on The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971–1998. A live version from his 1993 MTV Unplugged performance—eventually released as a bonus track on Rhino’s 2009 Unplugged… and Seated Collector’s Edition—reveals the song’s emotional core with remarkable clarity.

The song also became culturally ubiquitous. In January 1989, NBC Sports used Forever Young as the soundtrack for a sweeping year-in-review montage aired immediately after Super Bowl XXIII, tying the song to moments from the 1988 Summer Olympics, the World Series, the Fiesta Bowl, and the Super Bowl itself—a move that further cemented its place in American pop culture.

The accompanying music video reinforces the song’s themes, featuring Stewart singing to a young child while images of rural America unfold in the background. Filmed along Potrero Road in Hidden Valley, Ventura County, California, the visuals echo the song’s emphasis on innocence, continuity, and the passage of time.

Why It Still Matters

What gives Forever Young its lasting power is that it isn’t anchored to a specific moment in Rod Stewart’s career—or even to the late ’80s sound that surrounds it. The song endures because its message evolves as the listener does. Heard young, it feels like encouragement. Heard later in life, it feels like reflection—and sometimes, quiet reckoning. In a catalog filled with swagger, romance, and spectacle, Forever Young stands out for its humility. It’s a reminder that success, fame, and momentum eventually give way to what we hope we’ve passed on to the people we love. That sentiment hasn’t aged a day.

SIDE A:
Forever Young (Remix) 6:24
Engineer [Assistant] – Rick Butts
Engineer, Producer [Additional] – Paul Brown
Remix – Club J.
Saxophone [Solo] – Sam Rainey
Written-By – J. Cregan, K. Savigar*

SIDE B:
Days Of Rage 4:12
Written-By – A. Taylor*

Forever Young (LP Version) 4:05
Written-By – J. Cregan, K. Savigar

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Rod Stewart: *Forever Young* (1988)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#12	1988
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	#3	1988
UK Singles	#57	1988
Canadian Singles Chart	#9	1988
South Africa	#3	1988
Italy Airplay	#5	1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – W7796 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Producer – Andy Taylor, Bernard Edwards, Rod Stewart

NOTES:
Side A: From the Warner Bros. album Out Of Order; Side B: Not available on any album

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.

January 29, 2026

Wild Blue – Fire With Fire (US 12″ Promo) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Closet 80s is a recurring series spotlighting overlooked and forgotten gems from the decade—songs that may not have dominated the charts but left a lasting impression. These are the records that still spark memories, reward rediscovery, and prove that some of the best ’80s music lived just outside the spotlight.

Wild Blue – Fire With Fire (1986)

Some songs feel inseparable from their moment—and Fire With Fire by Wild Blue is one of those lost 80s gems that deserves another listen.

Released in 1986, Fire With Fire was written specifically for the film of the same name, giving the track an immediate cinematic urgency. The song was written and produced by Chas Sandford, best known for co-writing John Waite’s Missing You. His knack for emotionally direct, radio-ready songwriting is all over this track—polished, dramatic, and built to connect.

Wild Blue were a Chicago-based band fronted by lead singer Renee Varo, whose powerful yet controlled vocal performance gives the song its emotional core. Firmly rooted in the AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) world, Fire With Fire balances melody and muscle, letting the verses simmer before the chorus opens up with conviction and fire.

The song enjoyed strong exposure beyond radio thanks to its music video, which received heavy rotation on MTV. In the mid-’80s, that kind of visibility mattered, and Fire With Fire fit perfectly alongside the era’s emotionally charged rock and pop visuals.

On the charts, the single debuted at #89 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 17, 1986, eventually peaking at #71. While it never became a major hit, its MTV presence and AOR appeal helped it leave a lasting impression. The track would later appear on Wild Blue’s debut album, No More Jinx, cementing its place as the band’s defining moment.

Fire With Fire is exactly the kind of record Closet 80s was made for—a song that may not have dominated the charts, but still captures the sound, ambition, and emotion of its time. Turn it up and rediscover a track that proves some fires never really go out.

SIDE A:
Fire With Fire (Edit) 3:30

SIDE B:
Fire With Fire (Long Version) 4:41

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Wild Blue: *Fire With Fire* (1986)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#71	1986

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis – VAS-2289
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Pop, Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Engineer – Gary McGachan
Mixed By – Chas Sandford, Gary McGachan
Producer – Chas Sandford
Written-By – C. Sandford*

NOTES:
For Promotional Use Only

From the forthcoming LP “No More Jinx” and the Motion Picture “Fire With Fire.”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.