Tag: 1986

January 22, 2016

David Bowie – Absolute Beginners (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

Released 30 years ago today.

“Absolute Beginners” released on January 22, 1986 was the theme song to the film of the same name (itself an adaptation of the book Absolute Beginners), composed and performed by David Bowie.

Bowie was good friends with the film’s director, Julien Temple (who had worked with him in 1984 on the Jazzin’ for Blue Jean short film), and landed both the supporting role of Vendice Partners, and the deal to record the theme song.

The sessions, at Abbey Road Studios, were set up in a novel way, with a group of session musicians all receiving a card to work at the studio with “Mr X”, who turned out to be Bowie. The sessions were completed rapidly, but the song was delayed due to the problems with completing the film. Virgin wanted the release to tie in with the film’s opening. Shortly after the sessions wrapped, Mick Jagger flew in to record “Dancing in the Street”, which used many of the same musicians. The song fused 1950s-style doo-wop with Bowie’s 1980s sound.

The single reached No. 2 in the UK charts, and No. 53 in America. Bowie has since performed it live on his Glass Spider and 2000 tours. This song featured Rick Wakeman on piano, it was the third time those two musicians worked together, after Bowie’s Space Oddity single and the Hunky Dory album.

SIDE A:
Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version) 8:00

SIDE B:
Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix) 5:38

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Absolute Beginners	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#53
1986	Absolute Beginners	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin ‎– VSG 838-12, Virgin ‎– VSG. 838-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 28 Jan 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Backing Vocals – Janet Armstrong
Baritone Saxophone – Andy Mackintosh*, Don Weller, Gordon Murphy
Bass – Matthew Seligman
Design, Art Direction – Tracy Drew
Drums – Neil Conti
Guitar – Kevin Armstrong
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman, Steve Nieve
Percussion – Luis Jardim
Photography [Back Cover] – Roger Mayne
Photography [© 1986 David Bowie] – Davies And Starr
Producer – Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley*, David Bowie
Saxophone [Solo] – Don Weller
Tenor Saxophone – Gary Barnacle, Paul Weimer*, Willie Garnett
Vocals – David Bowie
Written-By – David Bowie

NOTES:
Comes in a gatefold sleeve.

David Bowie’s title track from the original motion picture musical “ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS”
A Virgin Records 45 RPM Long Playing Record.

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

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

January 18, 2016

David Bowie – When The Wind Blows (Japan 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“When the Wind Blows” is a song from the soundtrack of the film of the same name, performed by David Bowie.

It marked the second contribution from Bowie to a film based on a Raymond Briggs book – he contributed a filmed introduction to The Snowman in 1982. Bowie’s song was the result of a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Erdal Kizilcay, who would work with Bowie in the future, most notably on The Buddha of Suburbia.

The single peaked at UK No. 44, promoted by a video that featured a montage of clips from the film, with Bowie’s animated face overlaid. Since then, the song has become something of a rarity, appearing rarely on reissues and best-of compilations.

Unlike most instrumental B-sides from the 1980s, the instrumental version of “When the Wind Blows” is not simply a version of the song with vocals dubbed, but a completely different orchestral recording.

SIDE A:
When The Wind Blows (Extended Mix) 5:40

SIDE B:
When The Wind Blows (Instrumental) 3:47

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin ‎– 14VA-9019
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Japan
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Composed By – Erdal Kizilcay
Illustration – Meltdown Limited
Producer – David Richards
Producer, Composed By – David Bowie
Typography – Assorted Images

NOTES:
Taken from the film of Raymond Briggs “WHEN THE WIND BLOWS”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

January 15, 2016

David Bowie – Underground (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Underground” is a song from the soundtrack of the film Labyrinth, performed by David Bowie.

The track was something of an experiment for Bowie, dabbling in gospel music to a small extent, helped by a large chorus of backing vocalists and blues guitarist Albert Collins, but retaining use of synthesizers. The song also featured backing vocals by Cissy Houston, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross and others.

The single reached #21 in the UK Singles Chart. In the US the single reached #22 on the Billboard dance chart.

SIDE A:
Underground (Extended Dance Version) 7:51
Keyboards [Additional – Remix] – Ed Terry
Producer [Additional], Remix – Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero

SIDE B:
Underground (Dub Mix) 5:58
Keyboards [Additional – Remix] – Ed Terry
Producer [Additional], Remix – Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero

Underground (Instrumental Version) 5:54

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Underground	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#22
1986	Underground	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#18

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America ‎– V-19210
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Alto Saxophone–Bob Gay
Arranged By – Arif Mardin, David Bowie, Robbie Buchanan
Art Direction–Henry Marquez
Backing Vocals – A. Marie Foster, Beverly Ferguson, Chaka Khan, Cissy Houston, Daphne Vega,Eunice Peterson, Fonzi Thornton, Garcia Alston, James Glenn, Luther Vandross, Marc Stevens (2),Marcus Miller, Mary Davis Canty, Rennele Stafford*
Design – Carol Chen
Drums [Effects] – Steve Ferrone
Engineer [Assistant] – Eddie Garcia
Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programmed By – Robbie Buchanan
Lead Guitar – Albert Collins
Mastered By – Herbie Jr.*
Mixed By – Jeremy Smith (2)
Mixed By [Assistant] – Phil Castellano
Piano [Acoustic], Organ [Hammond B-3] – Richard Tee
Producer – Arif Mardin, David Bowie
Programmed By [Additional] – Andy Thomas
Recorded By – Michael O’Reilly
Rhythm Guitar – Nicky Moroch*
Written-By – David Bowie

NOTES:
Mastered at Frankford/Wayne, New York.
From the motion picture soundtrack “LABYRINTH”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

January 8, 2016

Level 42 – Lessons In Love (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND 1986

“Lessons in Love” was a single from the British band Level 42, released in 1986, from the album Running in the Family, issued one year later.

This single is the band’s biggest hit, in their homeland, where it reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart, and internationally, entering the Top 10 in numerous countries; even reaching the #1 spot in some of them (Germany, South Africa, etc.).

In the US the single peaked at #12 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Dance chart in 1987.

SIDE A:
Lessons In Love (12″ Remix) 7:49
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer [Remix] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Shep Pettibone

Lessons In Love (7″ Version) 4:02

SIDE B:
Lessons In Love (Dub Mix) 5:49
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer [Remix] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Shep Pettibone

Freedom Someday (Bonus Track) 5:07

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Lessons In Love	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#12
1987	Lessons In Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#12

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor ‎– 885 706-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Level 42, Wally Badarou
Producer [Assistant], Engineer, Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn
Written-By – R. Gould*, Mark King, M. Lindup* (tracks: B2), P. Gould* (tracks: B2), W. Badarou* (tracks: A1 to B1)

NOTES:
Printed in U.S.A.
From the LP “RUNNING IN THE FAMILY”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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