Tag: 1978

Village People – I Am What I Am (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1978

“I Am What I Am” is a song written by Victor Willis, Henri Belolo, Peter Whitehead and Jacques Morali that was first released by the Village People on their 1978 album Macho Man. It was also released as a single with “Key West,” also from Macho man, as the b-side in some countries including Germany and the UK. It did not chart in those countries, but it reached #4 on the Billboard Dance Chart in a medley with “Key West” and “Macho Man.” It has since been released on several Village People greatest hits compilation albums. It was also included on the soundtrack for the 1978 film Thank God It’s Friday.

Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider described “I Am What I Am” as a “human-rights anthem.” Village People singer Randy Jones describes the song as “a gay liberation statement, aimed directly at gays and lesbians who were standing up without apology for their lifestyle” and as the group’s “first gay liberation song.” He says that the theme of the song is the virtue of being yourself, and not just if you’re gay or transgender but even just if you want to dress in an unusual manner, as long as you don’t hurt anyone else. Author Michael DeAngelis describes the theme as being “pride and faithfulness to the individual and authentic self.” DeAngelis notes that this theme had particular resonance at the time, when the gay community was in the process of “coming out” and a general cultural obsession was finding healthy ways to feel good about oneself. Author Frédéric Martel identifies “I Am What I Am” as one of five Village People songs that were touchstones to the gay movement in France when they came out (“San Francisco (You’ve Got Me),” “Macho Man,” “Y.M.C.A.” and “In the Navy” being the others).

Author Judith A. Peraino described “I Am What I Am” as a “hit single” while Boze Hadleigh described it as a “pre-hit.” Author Sharon Davis claimed that lyrics are “so camp they have to held down with tent pegs.” But Billboard described it as “provocative,” describing it as a “gay pride anthem with its activist lyrics and basic theme.” Billboard also praised the rhythm and percussion and horn arrangements. Allmusic critic Amy Hanson described it as “a well-constructed slab of groove,” despite lacking subtlety. Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider regarded “I Am What I Am” as the best song on Macho Man stating that Willis’ voice is “full of anger and delight” on the song and concluding that “because the song seems so committed, it makes the rest of the material sound downright pointless.”

The song’s title was later reused by Jerry Herman for a 1983 hit song performed by Gloria Gaynor, which also had gay pride as a theme. Reebok later used the title phrase for a successful sneaker advertising campaign.

SIDE A:
I Am What I Am 5:28

SIDE B:
Macho Man 5:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Telefunken ‎– 6.20 011, Telefunken ‎– 6.20011
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Composed By, Producer – Jacques Morali
Written-By – Whitehead*, Belolo*, Morali*, Willis*

NOTES:
Made in Germany

Special Edits from the LP “MACHO MAN”

Find the 12″ at 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

David Bowie – Time Will Crawl (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

A. Front

“Time Will Crawl” is the second track on David Bowie’s album Never Let Me Down and was issued as the second single from the album. The single was a minor hit, breaking into the top 10 charts in the US.

The song is generally considered the best song from an otherwise poorly received album, and in 2008 Bowie named the track as one of his favorites of his entire career.

The song was written about the pollution and destruction of the planet by industry (Bowie has cited hearing of the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986 as the genesis of the lyric). In an 1987 interview, Bowie said the song “deals with the idea that someone in one’s own community could be the one responsible for blowing up the world.” Bowie also stated at the time that it was his favorite song from the album, and later put the song on his list of all-time favorites by including a newly remixed version of the song (the “MM Remix”) on his iSelect album.

The b-sdie “Girls” is a non album track written by David Bowie and Erdal Kizilcay. The song was also recorded by Tina Turner for her album Break Every Rule.

SIDE A:
Time Will Crawl (Extended Dance Mix) 6:10
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – David Richards
Written-By – David Bowie

Time Will Crawl 4:18
Written-By – David Bowie

SIDE B:
Girls (Extended Edit) 5:35
Lyrics By – David Bowie
Music By – David Bowie, Erdal Kizilcay

Girls (Japanese Version) 4:01
Lyrics By – David Bowie
Music By – David Bowie, Erdal Kizilcay
Other [Japanese Coach] – Kiri Teshigahara
Translated By [Japanese Translation] – Hiro Hozumi

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Time Will Crawl U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks #7

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America ‎– V-19247
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Design – Mick Haggerty
Photography By – Greg Gorman
Producer – David Bowie, David Richards

NOTES:
Album version can be heard on the LP, “Never Let Me Down”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: 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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

 

The B-52’s – Rock Lobster (US 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1978

A. Front

“Rock Lobster” is a song written by Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson, two members of The B-52’s. It was produced in two versions, one by DB Records released in 1978, and a longer version, which was part of the band’s 1979 self-titled debut album, released by Warner Bros. The song became one of their signature tunes and it helped launch the band’s success.

“Rock Lobster” was the band’s first single to appear on Billboard Hot 100, where it reached No. 56. A major hit in Canada, the single went all the way to No. 1 in the RPM national singles chart. Its follow-up was “Private Idaho,” in October 1980, which reached No. 74 in the US. It was well received by critics and was placed at No. 147 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

SIDE A:
Rock Lobster 4:38
Written-By – Schneider*, Wilson*

SIDE B:
52 – Girls 3:23
Written-By – Ayers*, Wilson*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1979/80 Rock Lobster U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #56
1979/80 Rock Lobster U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #24

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: DB Recs ‎– DB-52
Format: Vinyl, 7″, Single, 45 RPM, Yellow logo
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave

CREDITS:
Engineer – Bruce Baxter
Photography By – Ann States
Producer – B-52’s*, Kevin Dunn

NOTES:
Recorded at Mountain Studios, Atlanta, February 1978

Find the 7″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: 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

Patrick Juvet – I Love America (US 12″ Promo)

BUURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1978

A. Front

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY USA!

“I Love America” is 1978 disco hit by Swiss-born performer Patrick Juvet, co-written by Village People lead singer Victor Willis and produced by Jacques Morali. The track peaked at #5 on the disco chart in the United States and #12 in the UK. The song was taken from Juvet’s album “Got A Feeling”, it was also included in the compilation album, A Night at Studio 54, in 1979.

This special one sided US 12″ promo was pressed on translucent blue vinyl.

SIDE A:
I Love America (Disco Mix) 13:55
I Love America (Edit) 3:47

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1978 I Love America U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Disco #5

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Casablanca Records ‎– NBD 20134 DJ
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Single Sided, Blue
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Executive-Producer – Henri Belolo
Producer – Jacques Morali
Written-By – J. Morali*, P. Juvet*, V. Willis*

NOTES:
Produced for Can’t Stop Music (BMI)
From the Casablanca LP “GOT A FEELING”
Promotional Copy Not For Sale.

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
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