Tag: 1984

September 9, 2025

Tones On Tail – Lions / Go! (UK 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

When Bauhaus dissolved in 1983, guitarist Daniel Ash didn’t slow down. Along with Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins and bassist Glenn Campling, he formed Tones On Tail, a short-lived but unforgettable project that blurred the lines between post-punk, experimental art-rock, and dance music. The group’s output was small but wildly inventive, and two of their most defining tracks are “Lions” and “Go!”.

“Lions”

Originally released in 1983, “Lions” is moody and hypnotic, propelled by Glenn Campling’s looping bass figure and a tense, prowling groove. Daniel Ash’s understated, chant-like vocal delivery adds to the song’s nocturnal atmosphere. It’s a track that feels both minimal and expansive, a perfect reflection of Tones On Tail’s darker experimental side.

“Go!” (Club Mix)

The flipside of this 12″ is the explosive “Go! (Club Mix)”, a track that embodies Tones On Tail’s eccentric, playful streak. Built on a funky guitar hook, kinetic bass, and that unforgettable “Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!” chant, the song became a cult club hit. The extended Club Mix stretches the madness further, making it a DJ favorite throughout the alternative dance scene of the mid-80s.

The 12″ Release

On May 11, 1984, Beggars Banquet issued a double A-sided 12″ single featuring “Lions” and “Go! (Club Mix)”. Pressed on striking translucent red vinyl, the release has become a collector’s piece, both for its rarity and for the sheer quality of the music it holds. This wasn’t just another single—it was a snapshot of a band at the peak of their creativity, balancing shadowy atmosphere with unhinged dancefloor energy.

Legacy

Tones On Tail only lasted from 1982 to 1984, but their music continues to resonate decades later. “Lions” prowls in mystery while “Go!” bursts with manic joy—together they capture the essence of a band that never wanted to play it safe. For fans of Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, or just adventurous alternative music, this 12″ stands as one of the most essential artifacts of the era.

SIDE A:
Lions 3:56

SIDE AA:
Go! (Club Mix) 4:28

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Beggars Banquet – BEG 109T, Beggars Banquet – BEG 109 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Red
Country: UK
Released: May 11, 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Synth-pop, Post-Punk

CREDITS:

Producer – Tones On Tail
Written-By – Ash*, Campling*, K. Haskins*

NOTES:
Beggars Banquet
Manufactured in the UK

Pressed on RED Translucent Vinyl

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.

August 6, 2025

Jody Watley – Where The Boys Are (UK 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: September 10, 2013

Before she became an international Grammy-winning pop icon, Jody Watley briefly took a detour into the UK club scene with a short-lived—but fascinating—solo launch. “Where The Boys Are” was her first solo single following her departure from Shalamar in the early 1980s, and it’s a gem that has flown under the radar for far too long.

Released exclusively in Europe and Australia on Mercury Records in 1984, “Where The Boys Are” marked a bold attempt at rebranding Watley as a club-ready solo act. Issued under just her first name—Jody—the track was part of an early effort to craft a full-length solo album while she was living in the UK. Unfortunately, neither this single nor the follow-up “Girls Night Out” generated significant traction, and the proposed album was ultimately shelved.

But that doesn’t mean the music lacked fire. On the contrary, “Where The Boys Are” pulses with classic mid-80s dancefloor energy—full of bouncing synths, moody grooves, and Jody’s unmistakable charisma. It’s sleek, stylish, and sassy—laying the early groundwork for the confident pop/fashion hybrid image she would perfect by the end of the decade.

The B-side of both singles was “My House (4-Free),” a track that would find unexpected life years later. In 1990, it was reworked into a club hit for Paul Lekakis, best known for his Hi-NRG anthem “Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room).”

None of the versions on this rare 12″ have ever been released on CD or digital platforms, making this a prized find for vinyl collectors and Watley completists.

Of course, the story doesn’t end here—Jody returned stronger than ever in 1987 with her U.S. debut self-titled album, which spun off multiple hits and earned her a Grammy for Best New Artist. But this 1984 single is where it all began—an early taste of her future solo stardom, waiting to be rediscovered.

SIDE A:
Where The Boys Are (The Long Way Home Mix!) 6:10
Producer, Engineer – Gary Langan

SIDE B:
Where The Boys Are (7″ Version) 3:16
Producer, Engineer – Gary Langan

My House (4-Free) 4:52
Engineer – Simon Sullivan

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– JODY 112
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design – Neville Brody
Other [Assistant] – Ben Murphy
Photography By – Tim O’Sullivan
Producer – Bruce Woolley
Written-By – Bruce Woolley, Jody Watley

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.

June 26, 2025

Divine – I’m So Beautiful (Germany 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

“Out, out tonight — feel like going out in the night…”

Today’s Pride Month feature cranks the glitter to eleven with a high-energy, high-attitude anthem from one of the most iconic figures in drag and queer music history: Divine. Released in 1984, “I’m So Beautiful” is more than a Hi-NRG dancefloor stomper—it’s a declaration of radical self-love, delivered with all the camp, charisma, and defiance only Divine could muster.

Produced by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken before their rise as part of the Stock Aitken Waterman powerhouse, the track is pure mid-‘80s disco magic. Pulsing synths, fierce basslines, and Divine’s unmistakable, commanding vocals all collide to form a club anthem that oozes confidence from every beat.

✨ Lyrically Loud and Proud
From the moment Divine struts onto the track, she sets the tone:

“Out, out tonight / Feel like going out in the night
I’m gonna walk the street, walk the street
I wanna feel the heat, feel the heat
There ain’t nobody better than me / Can’t you see? Look at me!”

It’s a celebration of showing up, showing off, and not giving a damn what anyone thinks. It’s about seizing the spotlight, whether you’re dancing in a club or just walking down the street like it’s your runway.

And the chorus? It’s an eternal mood:

“I’m so beautiful / You’ve gotta believe that I am beautiful
I’m so beautiful, can’t you see? Look at me!”

This isn’t just camp. It’s empowerment. It’s freedom. It’s a disco-soaked act of self-affirmation at a time when drag queens and queer people were rarely seen—let alone celebrated.

👑 A Pride Anthem for the Ages
Divine was never just a performer—she was a force. A pioneer of gender rebellion, a star of John Waters’ underground cinema, and a drag icon who brought punk edge to disco elegance. “I’m So Beautiful” exemplifies everything that made her a legend: humor, heart, and a refusal to play by anyone else’s rules.

This song is a mirrorball manifesto, telling every outsider, every queer kid, every fabulous misfit: You are beautiful. Own it. Live it. Shine.

💖 So Turn It Up…
“Everybody’s welcome to this point of view / We’re all beautiful, can’t you see?”

Happy Pride, and remember: beauty isn’t just in the eye of the beholder—it’s in the boldness to be exactly who you are.

SIDE A:
I’m So Beautiful (Mix) 7:55
Mixed By – Barry Evangeli
Written-By – M. Stock/M. Aitken*

SIDE B:
I’m So Beautiful (Divine Mix) 4:42
Written-By – M. Stock/M. Aitken*

Show Me Around 3:20
Written-By – The Toy Shop

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Proto (2) – 120·07·117, Bellaphon – 120·07·117
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Stereo
Country: Germany
Released: Oct 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG

CREDITS:

Artwork [Hair, Make-up] – Van Smith
Directed By – Matt Aitken, Mike Stock
Lacquer Cut By – SST (8)
Management – Bernard Jay Management Inc., New York*
Photography By [Photos] – Greg Gorman
Producer – Barry Evangeli, Pete Waterman

NOTES:
Manufactured and Distributed by Bellaphon Germany

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.

May 19, 2025

Bruce Springsteen – Cover Me (US 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: December 6, 2012

“The times are tough now, just getting tougher…”

In 1984, Bruce Springsteen was riding a tidal wave of success thanks to his Born in the U.S.A. album, which launched a string of chart-topping singles that fused heartland rock with a radio-friendly polish. One of the album’s standout tracks was “Cover Me,” a brooding, desperate plea for emotional shelter amidst an increasingly hostile world. While not originally intended for Springsteen himself—he had written it for disco queen Donna Summer—the track took on a rawer edge in his hands, becoming the second single released from the LP.

What’s most fascinating for dance and remix fans is that “Cover Me” was also given the extended mix treatment, transforming its moody rock energy into something surprisingly club-ready. The “Undercover Mix” (also referred to as the Dance Remix) clocked in at over 6 minutes and was released on 12″ vinyl, complete with dub and radio edit versions. Remixed by Arthur Baker, who had already made waves with Afrika Bambaataa and later worked with New Order and Hall & Oates, this version of “Cover Me” added electronic percussion, echo effects, and a pulsing bassline that pushed Springsteen into dance-rock territory—a rarity at the time.

This remix is a perfect example of that brief mid-’80s window when rock artists weren’t afraid to court the dancefloor. Baker’s production doesn’t overwhelm the original’s grit—it complements it, turning “Cover Me” into a darker, almost post-apocalyptic groove. Springsteen’s passionate vocals remain front and center, but now they echo into cavernous spaces, as if calling out from the depths of Reagan-era America.

The 12″ single also includes the Dub Version, which strips the song to its rhythmic core, teasing out fragments of guitar and vocal over a deep groove. For collectors and remix lovers, these versions show just how versatile Springsteen’s music could be when placed in the right hands.

“Cover Me” peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of The Boss’s most enduring hits. But for those of us digging in the crates, the dance remix takes the song to unexpected, exhilarating places.

Though Springsteen wasn’t typically associated with the club scene, the success of “Dancing in the Dark” and “Cover Me” on the dance charts showed his crossover appeal. The Undercover Mix of “Cover Me” actually reached #11 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart, giving Bruce a surprising but welcome presence in nightclubs.

SIDE A:
Cover Me (Undercover Mix) 6:12
Cover Me (Dub I) 4:12

SIDE B:
Cover Me (Radio) 3:49
Cover Me (Dub II) 4:13

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	Cover Me	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#7
1984	Cover Me	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#2
1984	Cover Me	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#11

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44-05087, Columbia – 44 05087
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo, Pitman Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Rock & Roll, Pop

CREDITS:

Design – Andrea Klein
Mastered By – George Marino
Mixed By – Bob Clearmountain
Photography By – Annie Leibovitz
Producer [Additional 12″ Production], Remix – Arthur Baker
Recorded By – Bill Scheniman
Remix – Toby Scott

NOTES:
Special Versions From The Columbia Lp: “Born In The U.S.A.” QC 38653.

Based on original production by: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Steve Van Zandt.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

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.