Tag: 1987

March 26, 2020

The Communards – Never Can Say Goodbye (Remix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Never Can Say Goodbye” is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5.

In 1987, British band The Communards had a hit with a Hi-NRG cover of the song, which was featured on their second album, Red.

Their version reached number one in Spain and number two in Ireland, number four number the UK Singles Chart, 51 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart in the U.S. The group had reached number one on those charts covering another 1970s classic, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, in 1986. The cover was also a top 10 hit in several European countries and New Zealand.

A music video was produced for this version of the song, directed by Andy Morahan.

SIDE A:
Never Can Say Goodbye (San Paulo Mix) 7:02
Remix – Freddy Bastone

SIDE B:
Never Can Say Goodbye (Dub) 6:22
Remix – Freddy Bastone

’77 The Great Escape 2:16

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Never Can Say Goodbye	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#51
1988	Never Can Say Goodbye	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: London Records ‎– LONXR 158
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – David Jacob
Producer [Assistant] – Avril MacKintosh
Written-By – Clifton Davis (tracks: A, B1), Somerville* (tracks: B2), Coles* (tracks: B2)

NOTES:
From the LP “RED”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: 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 USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

March 11, 2020

ABC – When Smokey Sings (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“When Smokey Sings” is a song by English band ABC, released as the first single from their fourth studio album, Alphabet City (1987). The lyrics and title of the song are a tribute to R&B and soul singer Smokey Robinson. In the United States, Robinson himself was on the Billboard 100 pop chart with his single “One Heartbeat” at the same time as this tribute song; for the week ending 3 October 1987, both songs were in the Billboard Top 10 simultaneously.

“When Smokey Sings” and its B-side, “Chicago” also topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart and proved to be their second American Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. There is a slight difference in the lyrics between the album and single version in the bridge of the song.

In the album version, references are made to “Luther”, “Sly”, “James”, and “Marvin” (most likely referring to Luther Vandross, Sly Stone, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye, respectively). In the single version, this is replaced by alternate lyrics, followed by a short saxophone solo.

Pitchfork Media was favorable for the Miami Mix, saying “can you fuck with…the proto–freestyle of the “Miami mix” of ABC’s “When Smokey Sings”?…No, of course, you cannot.”

The bass line of the song is a homage to Robinson’s composition, “The Tears of a Clown.” Smokey Robinson himself praised the song, saying, “Well, of course, that’s a form of flattery, and I really appreciate it.”

SIDE A:
When Smokey Sings (Miami Mix) 7:03
Mixed By – Phil “Mixmaster” Harding*

Chicago (Parts I & II) 6:37
Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn

SIDE B:
When Smokey Sings (7″ Version) 4:23
Mixed By –Julian Mendelsohn

When Smokey Sings (Bonus Beats) 4:39
Mixed By – Phil “Mixmaster” Harding*

When Smokey Sings (Detroit Mix) 6:45
Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	When Smokey Sings	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#5
1987	When Smokey Sings	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#2
1987	When Smokey Sings	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1987	When Smokey Sings	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	#8

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– 888 726-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – Martyn Webster (tracks: A1, B1 to B3)
Producer – Bernard Edwards (tracks: A1, B1 to B3), Mark White, Martin Fry
Written-By – Mark White, Martin Fry

NOTES:
From the forthcoming Mercury album “Alphabet City”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

February 21, 2020

Carol Hitchcock – Get Ready (Extended Remix) (Australia 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Get Ready” is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson, which resulted in two hit records for the label: a U.S. No. 29 version by The Temptations in 1966, and a U.S. No. 4 version by Rare Earth in 1970.

In mid-1987 Australian singer and actress, Carol Hitchcock had a top 20 hit on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with her cover version of the song7. It also peaked in the top 60 in the United Kingdom and top 50 in New Zealand. In 1985 Hitchcock had acted in the TV series, Prisoner.

According to Hitchcock Stock Aitken Waterman recommended the track for her and she felt that “they were so wonderful to work with.”

As a bonus track, I have added the Australian only “Earth To Moonbase Mix” which was released on a separate Australia 12″.

SIDE A:
Get Ready (Extended Remix) 7:40
Remix [Mixmaster] – Phil Harding
Written-By – W. Robinson*

SIDE B:
More Than Words Can Say 3:59
Mixed By – Mark McGuire
Written-By – Stock-Aitken-Waterman*

BONUS TRACK:
Get Ready (Earth To Moonbase Mix) 8:12
Remix [Mixmaster] – Phil Harding
Written-By – W. Robinson*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mushroom ‎– X-13281
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: Australia
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design –John Warwicker
Engineer – Jamie Bromfield, Mark McGuire
Lacquer Cut By – W*
Photography By – Nick Knight
Producer – Stock Aitken Waterman*

NOTES:
A Stock Aitken Waterman Production
Recorded at PWL Studios, London, UK
Made in Australia

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

November 19, 2019

Yello Featuring Billy Mackenzie – The Rhythm Divine (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“The Rhythm Divine” is a 1987 song by Yello, and Billy Mackenzie. MacKenzie, lead singer of new wave band The Associates, who had previously worked with Yello on several occasions, provided lyrics and backing vocals. A 12″ was released in the UK featuring Mackenzie on lead vocals.

Internationally the single was released by Yello featuring Shirley Bassey with Billy Mackenzie on backing vocals. Dieter Meier of the Swiss Electro-group Yello, approached Shirley Bassey in 1987 regarding a possible collaboration. “The Rhythm Divine” was said to have been written especially with her voice in mind. The track was produced by Yello with Hubertus Von Hohenlohe as co-producer.

Bassey’s vocals were recorded at Yello’s studio in Zurich. The song blends the electro-pop sound of the 1980s with a classic big Bassey ballad and introduced Shirley Bassey to a younger generation.

SIDE A:
Yello Featuring Billy Mackenzie – The Rhythm Divine (Version Two) 5:50
Composed By, Arranged By – Boris Blank
Engineer – Steve Williams (6)
Featuring – Billy Mackenzie
Mixed By – Ian Tregoning
Written-By – B. Mackenzie*, B. Blank*, D. Meier*

SIDE B:
Yello – Dr. Van Steiner (Instrumental) 4:00
Written-By – B. Blank*

Yello Featuring Shirley Bassey – The Rhythm Divine (Original 7″ Version) 3:34
Backing Vocals – Billy Mackenzie
Featuring – Shirley Bassey
Written-By – B. Mackenzie*, B. Blank*, D. Meier*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– MERXR 253., Mercury ‎– MERXR 253
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve] – Me Company, Yello
Photography By – C. Jungwirth*
Producer – Yello

NOTES:
Track A mixed in August 1987.
Billy Mackenzie appears courtesy of WEA Records Ltd.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.