Tag: 1981

May 12, 2017

Duran Duran – My Own Way (Night Version) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

35 years of “RIO”!

“My Own Way” is the fourth single by Duran Duran, originally released as a single on 16 November 1981.

The single was designed as a stop-gap release to capitalise on the Top 5 success of the band’s previous single, “Girls on Film”, but prior to the recording and release of the band’s second album Rio (which was recorded in the early months of 1982).

“My Own Way” was another hit, peaking at #14 on the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at #10 in Australia. Despite its success, the single has often been cited by the band as one of their least favourite and is rarely played live. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes has expressed astonishment that “My Own Way” performed better than 1987’s “Skin Trade”, which ended the band’s record of twelve consecutive Top 20 hits in the UK.

The single release of “My Own Way” has a fast tempo and “disco strings” arranged by Richard Myhill & Duran Duran.

A slower version was later recorded for the Rio album, with slightly different lyrics. This version dispensed with the disco strings in favour of a new wave style with echoing synths and was later remixed by David Kershenbaum for the Carnival EP, and this altered track appeared on the American re-issue of the Rio album on vinyl and cassette late in 1982. All CD pressings of Rio have used the original UK album mix.

The band’s dislike of “My Own Way” is evinced by the song’s omission from all of Duran Duran’s compilation albums. Neither 1989’s Decade or 1998’s Greatest included the track, although it came close on the latter. A promo for Greatest included both “My Own Way” and “Careless Memories”, but the commercial release replaced them with 1990’s “Serious” and 1997’s “Electric Barbarella”.

The b-side “Like An Angel” is a non-album track.

SIDE A:
My Own Way (Night Version) 6:35

SIDE B:
Like An Angel 4:46
My Own Way (Short Version) 3:40

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ‎– 12EMI 5254
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1981
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By [Strings] – Duran Duran, Richard Myhill
Design [Designed By] – Malcolm Garrett, Peter Saville (2)
Performer – Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor (2), Simon Le Bon
Producer, Engineer – Colin Thurston
Written-By – Duran Duran

NOTES:
A-side dead wax says: “Shake That Dotie Groove Thaaag”
Recorded in London – Autumn 1981.
Mastered at Townhouse.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
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
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

March 10, 2017

Bim – Romance (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

Obscure New Wave Classic!

“Romance” is a 1981 New Wave single by U.K. band Bim. The band released several singles in the early 80s and one album titled Boobams Out! on Swerve Records. After the band fell into obscurity Lead vocalist Cameron McVey went on to work with such musicians as Massive Attack, Portishead, All Saints, Sugababes, Mutya Keisha Siobhan and his wife Neneh Cherry.

McVey was also the second half of the duo Morgan/McVey who released one single in 1986 titled Looking Good Diving, widh was produced by Stock Aitkin Waterman. The song was re-worked for Neneh Cherry and titled Buffalo Stance.

The photo on the front cover is lead vocalist Cameron McVey.

SIDE A:
Romance (Extended Version) 7:57

SIDE B:
Gift Of Time 6:17

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Swerve Records – SKID 002 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1981
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Bim (tracks: B)
Producer – Jeff Dexter (tracks: A), Laurie Latham
Remix – Laurie Latham (tracks: B)

NOTES:
Bim Are:
Cameron McVey: Vocals
Steve Street: Bass and Percussion
Brian Wren: Drums and Percussion
Andy Harley: Keyboards
Bobby Henr: Guitars

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

February 2, 2017

Duran Duran – Planet Earth (Night Version) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

Released on this day 1981.

“Planet Earth” is the debut single by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 2 February 1981.

It was an immediate hit in the band’s native UK, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart on 21 February, and did even better in Australia, hitting #8 to become Duran Duran’s first Top 10 hit anywhere in the world.

The song later appeared on the band’s eponymous debut album Duran Duran, released in June, 1981.

For most countries, the B-side track for the “Planet Earth” is a concert favorite called “Late Bar” which was one of the earliest songs Duran Duran had written together after their classic Le Bon/Rhodes/Taylor/Taylor/Taylor lineup had solidified. However, the B-side track for the North American release of “Planet Earth” is “To The Shore”.

Beginning with “Planet Earth”, Duran Duran began creating what they called “night versions” for each of their songs: extended versions that were featured on their 12-inch singles. Back in 1981, the technology to do extended remixes was still quite rudimentary, so the band chose instead to create a new arrangement of the song, loosely based on the version they were playing live at the time. This formed the basis for the “night version”.

The “Night Version” of “Planet Earth” appeared in place of the original on some early US releases of the Duran Duran album.

In addition to the 12″, the night version of “Planet Earth” was included on the EPs Nite Romantics and Carnival.

SIDE A:
Planet Earth (Night Version) 6:17

SIDE B:
Planet Earth 4:02
Late Bar 2:57

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ‎– 12 EMI 5137
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Feb 2, 1981
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Colin Thurston
Sleeve – Assorted Images
Written-By – Duran Duran

NOTES:
Mastered at Utopia.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

November 10, 2016

Heaven 17 – (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

“(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” is a song written and performed by British synthpop band Heaven 17. It was a minor hit in the UK in 1981, despite being banned by the BBC. It was also a minor dance hit in the US.

“(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” was written by Heaven 17 members Martyn Ware, Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory and included on their 1981 debut album Penthouse and Pavement. It was the first single released by the band.

In the lyrics fascism and racism are described in an ironic fashion, using the lexicon of funk music. The lyrics of the song also reference the UK and US political leaders of the time, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan, respectively, and include denunciations of both racism and fascism. According to the book Banned!: Censorship of Popular Music in Britain, 1967-92, the song was banned by the BBC due to concerns by Radio 1’s legal department that it was extremely offensive to Ronald Reagan as he was the new US President at the time of the song’s release.

Despite being banned by the BBC, “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” reached number 45 on the UK singles chart. It debuted on that chart on 21 March 1981 and peaked one week later. The single peaked at number 72 in Australia, and was also a minor dance hit in the US, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart in 1981.

SIDE A:
(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang 4:53

SIDE A:
The Decline Of The West 7:04

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
198	(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#22

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin– VS 400-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1981
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Artwork By [Packaged By] – B.E.F. In Association With Bob Last
Bass, Guitar [Rhythm] – John Wilson (2)
Producer, Arranged By – Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware
Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Martyn Ware
Synthesizer, Saxophone – Ian Craig Marsh
Vocals – Glenn Gregory

NOTES:
‘Decline Of The West’ From the cassette package Music For Stowaways by The British Electronic Foundation.

Made In England

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi