Tag: 1987

February 2, 2015

The Pleasure Crew – So Good (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“So Good” was the debut single by British group Pleasure Crew released on Factory records October 1987. The 12″ version was the groups only commercially released single.

Noel Taylor was the former vocalist and guitarist for Adventure. Adventure’s prophetic dance floor sound was designed for a wide audience, but they disbanded before the curtain went up. Noel then met Himat “Chester” Singh, a pent percussionist. Both had a common dislike of band compromise and a common love of song and dance. TcO, Manchester’s big and hot production, was brought in and the kettle was on.

Pleasure Crew teamed up with Mike Pickering (Hacienda DJ/Quando Quango) to fill the house. “So Good” is a disc designed for movement. It means what you like, but it’s a means to move.

This is one of those lost 12″ single’s that many have never heard of, but demands to be given new life. I hope you like it.

SIDE A:
So Good 5:25

SIDE B:
So Bad 4:00
So Good (Airwave Mix) 3:40

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Factory ‎– FAC 169
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Oct 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Backing Vocals, Percussion – Himat Singh
Drums – Def Blam
Engineer – TcO*
Producer – MP*, TcO*
Sleeve – Realisation
Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Programmed By – Noel Taylor

NOTES:
Recorded at Revolution Studio, Cheadle Hulme,
Spirit Studio Manchester
Mixed at Revolution
Thanks Michelle

Pressed at MPO Averton.

Find the 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
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 Removeal: 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 30, 2015

Alison Moyet – Weak in the Presence of Beauty (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Weak in the Presence of Beauty” is a song written by Michael Ward and Rob Clarke which was first released by their band, the British soul and jazz-influenced pop group Floy Joy, in 1986. The song was later covered by singer Alison Moyet in 1987 and became a hit for her.

Over the last decade, Moyet has revealed that the song was only recorded as she knew it would be a hit single, and that she is not actually fond of the song at all. To promote her 2004 album Voice, Moyet appeared on This Morning. On the show the introductory clip used was a snippet of the song’s music video. Immediately after Phillip Schofield commented “You just said you hate that song? Why’d you hate that song?” Moyet stated “Oh, because I know how cynical I was being when I recorded it. I recorded it ’cause I knew it was a hit rather than the fact that I loved it, and that will teach me, you know? You have a massive hit with something you’re not particularly fond of, and it’s not a good feeling.” Schofield added “Of course it’s gonna haunt you forever then.” Moyet stated “Oh yeah it does, you know?”

In an interview by Ian Wade for The Quietus in May 2013, Wade had commented “You seem much happier that you have fuller control over everything.” Moyet mentioned the song in her response, where she stated “What I must say is that it’s sometimes very easy to sit there and rescind responsibility, but sometimes I couldn’t be arsed. That’s the truth of it. We can all make the right choices, but sometimes we’re just too lazy to. And sometimes I was just too lazy to do it myself. “Love Letters” and “Weak in the Presence of Beauty” – neither song I enjoy now – they’re both my fault. I found them. That was when I was feeling smart, thinking that I knew what a hit was – I don’t know what’s a fucking hit! But they were hits, and now I’m forever to fucking sing them years later!”

In a June 2013 interview by Chi Ming Lai for The Electricity Club, Moyet spoke of the song and her reason for recording the track. Lai asked “Was that the same circumstances when you released “Love Letters” after the success of “Raindancing”?” Moyet replied “Love Letters” was me shooting myself in the foot! That was me being a show-off! That was me showing I had an A&R thing… “oh, I know what a hit is”! I did that twice, I did it with that and with “Weak in the Presence of Beauty”! Two times that I recorded songs knowing they were hits as opposed to the fact I loved them! I say that honestly, that’s the only time I’ve ever recorded anything cynically!”

“Weak In The Presence Of Beauty” failed to chart in the US but was a top ten hit in the UK peaking at #6. The song also charted in several other countries, Ireland #4, New Zealand #7, Norway #4 and #9 in France.

SIDE A:
Weak In The Presence Of Beauty (Extended Remix) 6:07
Mixed By – Scott Litt

SIDE B:
Weak In The Presence Of Beauty (Single Version) 3:40
Mixed By – Scott Litt

To Work On You 4:16

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia ‎– 44 06940
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Jimmy Iovine
Producer [Associate] – Mike Shipley

NOTES:
Special versions from the LP “RAINDANCING”

Find the 12″ On DISCOGS

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

January 6, 2015

The Communards – Never Can Say Goodbye (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“Never Can Say Goodbye” is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5 in 1971.

In 1987, British synth-pop band The Communards had a hit with a pop-dance cover of the Clifton Davis classic, which was featured on their second album, Red.

Their version reached number four in the UK Singles Chart, number 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 Communards version was also featured in the episode “Father’s Day”, which was set in 1987, in the first series of the revived Doctor Who. It also could be heard in the final episode of Whites, featuring a dance number by Stephen Wight and recently as the signature tune to the British comedy series Vicious.

SIDE A:
Never Can Say Goodbye 11:14

SIDE B:
Never Can Say Goodbye (Dub Mix) 5:45
Never Can Say Goodbye (Instrumental) 5:42

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint (company)

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: MCA Records ‎– L33-17469
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Remix – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – Clifton Davis

NOTES:
Promotion Only Not For Sale
For Mastermix Productions
Original version appears on the MCA LP “RED”
Recorded In England

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

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

December 12, 2014

Westworld – Sonic Boom Boy (UK 12″ Test Pressing)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

Re-Rip Newly Remastered!

Originally I posted this one on June 2, 2010. But for those who may have missed it or if you are a new reader just discovering BTG. I decided to give this one a new rip with my newer Ortofon Super 30 stylus. This 12″ is also being posted in 24 bit flac for the very first time!

“Sonic Boom Boy” is the debut single by British three-piece pop/rock band Westworld. Named after the sci-fi film Westworld, they were formed in 1986 by former Generation X guitarist Bob “Derwood” Andrews and American vocalist Elizabeth Westwood. The line up was completed by drummer Nick Burton. In the UK “Sonic Boom Boy” was a top 20 hit peaking at #11 while in the US the song reached #42 on the Billboard Hot Dance chart.

This UK 12″ is an early indie test pressing and features alternate tracks than what appeared on the domestic 12″ releases. The front cover, inner sleeve and labels are all hand painted. Making this 12″ a very rare and unique item.

SIDE A:
Sonic Boom Boy 3:03

SIDE B:
Sonic Boom Beat 3:02
Mix Me Up 2:57

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Sonic Boom Boy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#42

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Not On Label ‎– WW-001
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Test Pressing
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Synth-pop, Indie Rock

CREDITS:
Artwork [Cover] – Undercover (6), Westworld (2)
Engineer – Jonny Milton
Mixed By – Danny Hyde
Producer – Mark Ferda
Written-By – Westworld (2)

NOTES:
Track names are written on label
No Date or label information
Has unique hand painted picture cover, inner sleeve and labels.

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
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

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