Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Original post date: May 10, 2017
Certain songs instantly define an era, and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” by Eurythmics is unquestionably one of them. Released in early 1983 as the title track from the duo’s second studio album, the single transformed Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart from underground cult favorites into international pop icons almost overnight.
Built around one of the most recognizable synthesizer riffs ever recorded, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” sounded unlike anything else on radio at the time. Cold, hypnotic, mechanical, yet incredibly infectious, the track helped redefine the direction of pop music in the early 1980s and became one of the signature recordings of the synth-pop movement.
Written and produced by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, the song emerged during a difficult period for the duo following the commercial disappointment of their debut album In the Garden. Working from a modest home studio with limited equipment, the pair created a minimalist electronic masterpiece driven by pulsing synths, drum machine rhythms, and Lennox’s commanding vocal delivery.
Lyrically, the song explores ambition, manipulation, desire, and survival in a world where “everybody’s looking for something.” Annie Lennox delivers the lines with a detached coolness that only adds to the song’s mysterious power.
Of course, the song’s impact was amplified by its unforgettable music video. Annie Lennox’s sharply tailored menswear, cropped orange hair, and androgynous appearance became one of the defining visual statements of the MTV era. At a time when pop culture was becoming increasingly image-driven, Lennox challenged conventions in a way that felt bold, modern, and completely original.
The single became a worldwide smash, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and establishing Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart as major international stars.
This post features a new 2026 Transfer and meticulous audio restoration taken from my US 12-inch pressing. The 12-inch is especially notable because it contains the full-length version of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).” Most LPs, CDs, and 7-inch singles contain the shorter 3:36 edit, making the 12-inch mix the preferred version for many fans and collectors.
Another interesting detail is the B-side, “I Could Give You a Mirror,” which differs from the version found on the Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) album, giving this US 12-inch additional collector appeal.
From a club perspective, the extended 12-inch version is absolutely definitive. The longer runtime allows the hypnotic groove to fully develop, emphasizing the icy atmosphere and relentless electronic pulse that made the song so revolutionary. Even today, it still sounds futuristic blasting from a turntable.
More than four decades later, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” remains one of the most influential and instantly recognizable songs of the 1980s, a landmark recording that continues to inspire artists across pop, electronic, and alternative music.
SIDE A:
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Full Length Version) 4:55
Producer – David A. Stewart
SIDE B:
I Could Give You (A Mirror) (Alternate Version) 3:57
Producer – Stewart, Crash
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart Performance – Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (1983) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 6 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 9 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 3 |
| Canada (The Record Retail Singles) | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 1 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 6 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn) | 1 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 2 |
| Japan (Oricon) | 89 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 9 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 10 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 2 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | 5 |
| Spain (AFYVE) | 3 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 8 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 36 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) | 16 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 1 |
| West Germany (GfK) | 4 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA Victor – PD-13502
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Design [Sleeve] – Laurence Stevens
- Photography By – Lewis Ziolek
- Written-By – Lennox*, Stewart*
NOTES:
From the album “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)“, AFL1-4681
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
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As October draws to a close and the nights grow longer, it feels like the perfect time to turn to one of the darker corners of early electronic music. Today’s Spooky Season Spin comes from one of synthpop’s most eccentric and influential pioneers — Fad Gadget — and his haunting single “For Whom the Bells Toll.”