Tag: 1984

October 9, 2026

Eve Electro – Take A Bite (Germany 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Spooky Season Spins continues with a little-known 1984 electro gem that has just the right amount of darkness, mystery, and electronic weirdness for Halloween. “Take A Bite” by Eve Electro is one of those records that may have slipped past mainstream audiences but found a welcome home in underground dance clubs on both sides of the Atlantic.

Released in 1984, “Take A Bite” was the work of a New York-based electro project featuring vocalist Deborah Pell North, also known as Deb North, alongside producers Ian North and Craig Bevan. Gary Pini served as executive producer. The single originally appeared in the United States on the independent Black Suit Records label before receiving a German release through Bellaphon Records.

One of the more interesting names behind the project is Ian North, an American musician whose career stretched across several different musical styles. During the 1970s, North was a founding member of the cult power-pop band Milk ‘N’ Cookies, which became associated with New York’s emerging punk and new wave scene. After relocating to England, he formed the band Neo before returning to New York, where he became increasingly interested in synthesizers and electronic recording. His involvement with Eve Electro represented another unexpected turn in an already varied musical career.

Musically, “Take A Bite” is a fascinating example of the early 1980s electro sound. Built around a steady, mechanical dance beat, rubbery electronic basslines, quirky synthesizer melodies, and processed vocals, the track sits somewhere between electro-funk, synth-pop, and the more experimental side of new wave. There’s an offbeat quality to the production that gives the record an almost futuristic, slightly unsettling atmosphere.

That unusual combination makes it an especially fun selection for Spooky Season Spins. While “Take A Bite” wasn’t necessarily intended as a Halloween record, its suggestive title, robotic vocal effects, and strange electronic textures certainly make it feel right at home during October.

Despite its underground character, the record managed to attract attention from American club DJs. “Take A Bite” reached No. 35 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Disco chart in 1984, an impressive showing for a relatively obscure independent release. The single also found an audience in European clubs, particularly in Germany, where electro, synth-pop, and Italo-disco were becoming increasingly popular.

In fact, “Take A Bite” can be found on a surviving Christmas 1984 DJ tape from Frankfurt’s legendary Dorian Gray nightclub, where it appeared alongside records by Dominatrix, Newcleus, Ministry, and other electronic dance acts of the period. It’s an interesting reminder that the record was part of the actual club scene rather than simply an obscure collector’s curiosity.

The track has continued to attract attention from electro enthusiasts over the years. It was later included on the compilation Welcome To The Robots, Volume One: The Electro Pioneers, alongside influential electronic recordings by artists such as Koto, Yello, Hashim, and Alexander Robotnick.

For today’s post, we have the original 1984 German 12″ maxi-single released on Bellaphon Records. The A-side features “Take A Bite,” while the flip contains the longer companion track “Bite,” giving listeners another helping of the record’s unusual electronic sound.

Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the records that never became household names. “Take A Bite” is a perfect example of the creativity and experimentation taking place in the early 1980s underground dance scene, when synthesizers, drum machines, and a little imagination could produce something wonderfully strange.

So, as we head into another October weekend, here’s something a little different for your Halloween playlist. Turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and let Eve Electro take a bite!

SIDE A:
A. Take A Bite 4:05

SIDE B:
B. Bite 5:06

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Bellaphon – 120·07·131
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro

CREDITS:

Lacquer Cut By – SST (8)
Producer – Craig Bevan, Gary Pini, Ian North
Written-By – C. Bevan*, I. North*

NOTES:
Licensed by Black Suit Records

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-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono 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
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

I appreciate your help.

September 30, 2026

Steve Miller Band – Shangri-La (Canada 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

By 1984, the Steve Miller Band had already enjoyed more than a decade of success, with classics such as “The Joker,” “Fly Like An Eagle,” and “Rock’n Me.” The band’s 1982 smash “Abracadabra” introduced Miller to a new generation of listeners, combining his familiar rock sound with synthesizers and a dance-friendly beat. Two years later, Miller continued experimenting with that formula on “Shangri-La.”

Released in 1984 as the lead single from the band’s thirteenth studio album, Italian X Rays, “Shangri-La” found Steve Miller moving even further into the electronic sounds of the decade. Written by Miller and bassist Kenny Lee Lewis, the song combined synthesizers, a funky bass line, electronic textures, and Miller’s unmistakable vocals. It was quite a departure from the guitar-driven rock that had made the band famous during the 1970s.

Italian X Rays was also a departure from a recording standpoint. The album was recorded digitally and made extensive use of electronic instruments and computer technology. Miller was enthusiastic about the new recording process and embraced the possibilities it offered.

“Shangri-La” reached No. 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 84 in Canada. Although it never matched the enormous success of “Abracadabra,” the single remains an interesting example of an established rock act experimenting with the increasingly electronic sound of the mid-1980s.

For the 12″ release, Capitol enlisted legendary New York DJ and remixer François Kevorkian, along with Jay Mark, to give “Shangri-La” a dance-floor makeover.

Kevorkian was already one of the most respected names in dance music, having worked with artists ranging from D-Train and Yazoo to Depeche Mode. His approach to remixing went well beyond simply extending a song. He could completely reshape a recording, bringing out its rhythm, creating new instrumental passages, and giving it an entirely different atmosphere.

The Extended Version of “Shangri-La” allows the song’s infectious groove to take center stage. The longer arrangement gives the percussion, electronic instrumentation, and funky bass line room to breathe, transforming Miller’s pop-rock single into something much more suited to the dance floor.

The Dub Version takes things even further, shifting attention away from the conventional song structure and toward the instrumental and rhythmic elements. It’s a particularly interesting listen for anyone who enjoys the more experimental side of eighties remixing.

Today’s featured record is my Canadian 12″ pressing on Capitol Records (V 75076). In addition to the Extended and Dub versions of “Shangri-La,” the record includes the original album version of “Abracadabra,” making this an especially nice pairing of Miller’s early-eighties dance-oriented material.

It’s also a reminder of an era when record companies weren’t afraid to hand a rock recording to a club remixer and see what happened. Sometimes those unlikely combinations produced some of the most interesting 12″ singles of the decade.

Enjoy!

SIDE A:
Shangri-La (Extended Club Mix) 7:32
Co-producer – Kenny Lee Lewis
Producer – Steve Miller
Recorded By – David Cole (4)
Remix – François Kevorkian, Jay Mark
Written-By – Kenny Lee Lewis, Steve Miller

SIDE B:
Shangri-La (Dub Version) 5:32
Co-producer – Kenny Lee Lewis
Producer – Steve Miller
Recorded By – David Cole (4)
Remix – François Kevorkian, Jay Mark
Written-By – Kenny Lee Lewis, Steve Miller

Abracadabra 5:10
Co-producer – Gary Mallaber
Producer – Steve Miller
Written-By – Steve Miller

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart (1984)	Peak Position
US Billboard Hot 100	57
Canada RPM Top Singles	84

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V 75076
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: Canada
Released: 1984
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Bass, Guitar, Co-producer – Kenny Lee Lewis
Drums, Percussion – Gary Mallaber
Keyboards – Byron Allred
Producer, Vocals – Steve Miller

NOTES:
Track A: “(Album Version available on forthcoming LP “ITALIAN X RAYS” SJ-12339)”
Track B1: “(Album Version available on forthcoming LP “ITALIAN X RAYS” SJ-12339)”
Track B2: “(from the LP “ABRACADABRA” ST-12216)”

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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

I appreciate your help.

September 23, 2026

Killing Joke – Eighties (UK 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in 1984, “Eighties” arrived during a period when Killing Joke were beginning to bring a little more melody into their dark, aggressive post-punk sound without losing any of the intensity that made them so distinctive.

The single actually predates the band’s 1985 album Night Time, where “Eighties” would later appear as the closing track. Released as a single in the spring of 1984, “Eighties” reached No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for five weeks. Despite becoming one of Killing Joke’s best-known recordings, the single does not appear to have charted on the major national singles charts outside the UK.

At the center of the record is that unforgettable guitar riff from Geordie Walker. Cold, repetitive and almost hypnotic, it locks in with Paul Raven’s bass and Paul Ferguson’s pounding drums while Jaz Coleman delivers the vocal with his usual sense of urgency. The result sits somewhere between post-punk, rock and dance music. Killing Joke could be brutal, but they also understood rhythm.

And then there is the connection that almost everyone eventually notices.

Listen to the opening guitar figure of “Eighties,” then listen to Nirvana’s “Come As You Are.” The resemblance is hard to miss. It has become one of the most talked-about similarities in alternative rock history.

Of course, “Eighties” was already several years old before Nirvana arrived. Hearing it today is a reminder of just how much influence Killing Joke had on the alternative and industrial rock that followed.

For the 12-inch release, “Eighties” was given the full extended treatment with the 6:27 “Serious Dance Mix.” Rather than turning the song into something completely different, the longer version gives its relentless rhythm and guitar attack more room to breathe. The UK 12-inch also includes the original version and “The Coming Mix.”

The record was written by Jaz Coleman, Paul Ferguson, Paul Raven and Geordie Walker. “Eighties” would eventually become one of Killing Joke’s most recognizable recordings, even though it was never a major chart hit.

That seems fitting. Killing Joke were never really about fitting comfortably alongside whatever else was on the radio. “Eighties” sounds tense, mechanical and strangely danceable all at once.

More than forty years later, that guitar riff still jumps out of the speakers immediately.

And once you hear it, you probably won’t forget it.

SIDE A:
Eighties (Serious Dance Mix) 6:30

SIDE B:
Eighties 3:52
Eighties (The Coming Mix) 3:54

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EG – EGOX16, EG – 821 224-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Apr 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Post-Punk, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Bass – Raven*
Design [Sleeve Design] – Mike Coles (2)
Drums, Other [Weapons] – Big Paul Ferguson*
Guitar [Six String Righteousness], Vocals [Verbals] – Geordie*
Keyboards, Vocals [Verbals] – Jaz Coleman
Lacquer Cut By – Nickz*
Other [Helmsmanship, Insubordination] – Captain Fil ‘Oh No’
Other [The Nailing In] – Alex Zander Rasher, Brad Sugar Dick Nelson
Producer – Chris Kimsey
Written by – Killing Joke

NOTES:
Made in the UK

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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

I appreciate your help.

September 22, 2026

The Cars – Hello Again (Germany 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Hello again everyone!

It feels really good to finally be back at Burning The Ground.

What was originally supposed to be a short break for vacation turned into a much longer absence than I had planned. Shortly after we returned home, my partner’s father passed away unexpectedly. The past couple of weeks have been difficult for our family, and I simply needed some additional time away.

I want to thank everyone who continued to visit Burning The Ground while I was gone, and especially those of you who reached out and checked in. Your continued support of BTG means more to me than you probably realize.

When I started thinking about what record should be the first one back on the turntable, this one seemed almost too perfect.

“Hello Again.”

Sometimes the record chooses itself.

Longtime BTG readers may remember this 12″ from the early days of the site. I originally posted it on December 2, 2010, then returned to it with a new rip in June 2015. Eleven years later, I thought it was time to pull this record from the archive once again and give it a completely new transfer using my current setup.

“Hello Again” was released in 1984 as the fourth single from The Cars’ fifth studio album, “Heartbeat City.” Written and sung by Ric Ocasek, the track became the fourth Top 20 single from the album in the United States, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Dance Music/Club Play chart and No. 22 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

“Heartbeat City” was produced by The Cars along with Robert John “Mutt” Lange. For the 12″ release, “Hello Again” was handed over to legendary producer and remixer Arthur Baker. Andy Wallace and The Latin Rascals provided additional editing, while Chris Lord-Alge and Tom Lord-Alge handled remix engineering.

The result is a nearly six-minute Extended Remix Version that takes the electronic side of the original even further. The German 12″ also includes the Dub Version, giving Arthur Baker and company even more room to play with the track’s rhythms, vocals, and electronic effects.

The B-side contains the shorter Single Version.

More than anything, though, the title of this record just felt right for today.

After vacation, loss, and some unexpected time away, I’m ready to get back to sharing the records we all love. I have plenty of vinyl waiting in the stacks and quite a few things planned for Burning The Ground in the weeks ahead.

So…

Hello again.

Turn it up, enjoy the music, and welcome back to Burning The Ground!

SIDE A:
Hello Again (Extended Remix Version) 5:56
Hello Again (Dub Version) 6:12

SIDE B:
Hello Again (Single Version) 3:47

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart (1984)	Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	20
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock	22
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	8

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Elektra – 966 929-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Art Direction – Carol Friedman
Design [Cover Design] – Jodee Stringham
Edited By – Andy Wallace (tracks: A1, A2), The Latin Rascals (tracks: A1, A2)
Engineer [Remix] – Chris Lord-Alge (tracks: A1, A2), Tom Lord-Alge (tracks: A1, A2)
Photography By [Cover] – James Wojcik
Producer – Robert John “Mutt” Lange*, The Cars
Remix – Arthur Baker (tracks: A1, A2)
Written-By – Ric Ocasek

NOTES:
Special versions from the LP “HEARTBEAT CITY”

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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

I appreciate your help.