Tag: 1988

September 3, 2013

Blue Zone U.K. – Jackie (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

Blue Zone UK was a 1980s British synth-pop band (simply called Blue Zone in the UK, Europe and Australia; but adding the “UK” due to a naming dispute in the United States). The group consisted of Lisa Stansfield (lead vocals), Ian Devaney (trombone, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) and Andy Morris (trumpet, flugelhorn, electronic keyboards and backing vocals).

“Jackie” was the third single taken from the bands only album “Big Thing” which was released in 1988. “Jackie” became the groups highest charting single reaching #19 Sweden, #54US. In the bands native UK the single failed to chart. For the US single release non album track “Chance It” was used as the single’s b-side.

After the release of “Jackie” the trio and label Arista decided to focus on Stansfield’s solo career. Morris would co-write and co-produce the first three Stansfield albums, before departing the trio. Devaney and Stansfield would eventually marry, and now own a music publishing business, and continue to write and record together.

SIDE A:
Jackie (Extended Dance Mix) 7:02

SIDE B:
Jackie (Single Version) 3:27
Jackie (Instrumental) 6:54
Chance It 3:45
Written-By – Andy Morris (5), Ian Devaney, Lisa Stansfield

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Jackie	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#54
1988	Jackie	U.S. Billboard Hot dance/Club Play	#37
1988	Jackie	U.S. Billboard Hot Maxi-Single’s Sales	#49

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista ‎– AD1-9726, Arista ‎– ADI-9726
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Producer – Paul Staveley O’Duffy
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Ric Wake (tracks: A to B2)
Written-By – Billy Steinberg (tracks: A to B2), Tom Kelly (tracks: A to B2)

NOTES:
Additional Production and Remix for Wake Productions.

“Chance It” Bonus Cut. Not available on album.

“Jackie” from the Arista LP:
“BIG THING”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

August 6, 2013

Marc Almond – Tears Run Rings (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

BTG REQUEST!

“Tears Run Rings” was the first single released from British synth-pop singer Marc Almond’s fourth solo album “The Stars We Are”. In the United States “Tears Run Rings” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 21, 1989 peaking at #67 becoming Almond’s only solo single to peak inside the US Hot 100. On the UK singles chart the single reached the #25 position in 1988.

SIDE A:
Tears Run Rings (The Just Rite Mix) 7:07
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss

Tears Run Rings (The Just Rite Edit) 4:41
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss

SIDE B:
Tears Run Rings (Acid Tears Dub) 6:14
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss

Everything I Want Love To Be 3:12
Composed By – Annie Hogan
Mixed By – David Pine*
Remix – Bob Kraushaar

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	Tears Run Rings	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#67
1989	Tears Run Rings	U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs	#8
1988	Tears Run Rings	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records ‎– V-15418
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Yellow Labels
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Composed By – Marc Almond
Edited By – Todd Culver (tracks: A1 to B1)
Engineer [Remix] – Hugo Dwyer (tracks: A1 to B1)
Producer – La Magia, Marc Almond
Programmed By [Additional] – Eric Kupper (tracks: A1 to B1)

NOTES:
A1 to B1: Additional Production and Remix for Justrite Productions.
Original version on “THE STARS WE ARE”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

June 5, 2013

Paula Abdul – Straight Up (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“Straight Up” is a 1988 hit single by American singer and choreographer Paula Abdul.

“Straight Up” was the third single released from her debut album Forever Your Girl, after “Knocked Out” and “(It’s Just) The Way That You Love Me”. While the latter was enjoying success on the R&B charts, radio station KMEL in San Francisco started playing “Straight Up” from the album. The label decided to abandon “(It’s Just) The Way That You Love Me” and refocus its attention on “Straight Up”. The strategy paid off, as “Straight Up” was followed by three more number-one hits from the same album.

In the US, “Straight Up” reached the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 by February 11, 1989, where it stayed for three consecutive weeks. “Straight Up” was one of the most popular R&B and dance-pop singles of the entire year, remaining in the Top 10 for seven weeks, the Top 20 for nine weeks, and the Top 40 for sixteen weeks. The success of “Straight Up” catapulted the “Forever Your Girl” album into the top 20 on the album chart. 2 more number-one hits from the album boost it up further into the top 5 where it lingered before it finally reached the pole position in October after a record-setting 64 weeks on the market.

SIDE A:
Straight Up (Kevin Saunderson Mix) 6:51
Remix – Ben Grosse, Kevin Saunderson

SIDE B:
Straight Up (Ultimix) 6:57
Remix – Bradley D. Hinkle, Les Massengale

Straight Up (Marley Marl Mix) 6:29
Remix – Marley Marl

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

CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Straight Up	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1988	Straight Up	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary	#39
1988	Straight Up	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles	#3
1988	Straight Up	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club/Play	#2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin Records America, Inc. ‎– DMD 1295
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop
Credits: Co-producer – Keith Cohen
Producer – Elliot Wolff

NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP
“FOREVER YOUR GIRL”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

May 31, 2013

Don’t Stop – She’s A Book With 7 Seals (German 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“She’s A Book With 7 Seals” is a single by synth-pop group Don’t Stop. The group only released two single “Under One Flag” (1987) and “She’s A Book With 7 Seals” (1988). Don’t Stop originally signed with Jupiter Records but was later picked up by ZYX Germany. There is not much info out there about this group but this is a really good new wave/synth-pop track.

SIDE A:
She’s A Book With 7 Seals 7:27

SIDE B:
She’s A Book With 7 Seals (Single Version) 3:58
She’s A Book With 7 Seals (Dub Mix) 5:48

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Excellent
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ZYX Records ‎– ZYX 6004
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Producer – Hans Hahn

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi