Tag: ABC

Various – Happy Christmas From The Stars (UK 7″ Flexi-disc)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982

Season’s Greetings!

I originally shared this post way back on December 22, 2012, but a good friend of the site suggested it was worth revisiting to kick off the Christmas season. After giving it some thought, I agreed—it’s a fantastic way to get into the holiday spirit. While I didn’t create a new transfer for this one, there’s only so much you can do with a 44-year-old flexi-disc. That said, I’m excited to share it again and wish you all the best this holiday season and beyond!

“Happy Christmas From The Stars” is a promotional-only flexi-disc single featuring spoken-word holiday messages from various 80s pop stars. It was released in the UK in 1982 as a collaboration between Smash Hits, Levi’s, and Lyntone Records. The disc was included as a freebie with the December 9-22, 1982 issue of Smash Hits magazine.

This promotional item was tied to Levi’s “Accessory Kit 3” campaign for their black Levi jeans. Interestingly, the idea for the single came from Neil Tennant, who was then Smash Hits’ news editor and would go on to fame as a member of the Pet Shop Boys.

As with most flexi-discs, the audio quality isn’t stellar—they’re notorious for that. However, I’ve done my best to restore the recording while preserving some of the original crackle, which I believe adds to its charm. The full recording includes the Levi’s promo segments for a complete vintage experience.

Enjoy, and Happy Christmas!

—DjPaulT

SIDE A:
Happy Christmas From The Stars (Part 1) 6:12

SIDE B:
Happy Christmas From The Stars (Part 2) 6:14

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Very Good
Sleeve: Near Mint (generic)

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Smash Hits! Magazine – LYN 12570/1, Levi’s – LYN 12570/1
Format: Flexi-disc, 7″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Non-Music
Style: Spoken Word, Holiday

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Smash Hits promotion for ‘Accessory Kit 3’ with ‘Black Levi’ brand jeans by Levi’s.

Made in Britain by Lyntone London.

Buy the Flexi at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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.



ABC – Tears Are Not Enough (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1981

“Tears Are Not Enough” is the debut single by the English new wave band ABC. It was released on 16 October 1981 in two formats (7″ and 12″).
The version that can be heard on the Lexicon of Love album was re-recorded by the band and produced by Trevor Horn. It features lavish orchestration by Art Of Noise’s Anne Dudley, one of several on the LP. According to Horn, they were her first-ever string arrangements.

The song was ranked at number 7 among the top ten “Tracks of the Year” for 1981 by NME. The single peaked at No. 19 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, “Tears Are Not Enough” was released as the B-side of “Poison Arrow”.

SIDE A:
Tears Are Not Enough (Extended Version) 7:47

SIDE B:
Alphabet Soup (12″ Version) 8:03

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Neutron Records – NTX 101
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1981
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Jazz-Funk, New Wave

CREDITS:
Artwork By – Neutron
Engineer – Owen Davies
Producer – Steve Brown
Written-By, Performer – ABC

NOTES:
From the LP “The Lexicon Of Love”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
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 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

ABC – Vanity Kills (The Mendelsohn Mix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Vanity Kills” is a song by English new wave and synth-pop band ABC, released as the third single from their third studio album, How to Be a … Zillionaire! It peaked at No. 70 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 91 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Two music videos were made by the band ABC. The UK video shows the four band members moving against a dark background, using simple stop motion camera tricks.

The US version, directed by Peter Care, has a spoken prologue and epilogue, and presents Martin Fry and Mark White as noir detectives, investigating a variety of shady characters.

SIDE A:
Vanity Kills (The Mendelsohn Mix) 6:14
Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn

SIDE B:
Be Near Me (Ecstasy Mix) 4:44
Judy’s Jewels 2:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Vanity Kills U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #91
1985 Vanity Kills U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #5

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Neutron Records ‎– NTX 109
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By –  Mark White
Artwork – ABC, Best Films, Keith Breeden
Engineer – Martyn Webster
Producer, Written-By – Mark White, Martin Fry

NOTES:
Made In England

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
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 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


Password: burningtheground

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

ABC – Poison Arrow (New Re-Mix) (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“Poison Arrow” is a song by English new wave band ABC, released as the second single from their debut studio album, The Lexicon of Love (1982). In the USA the song was released as the band’s debut single.

The song reached number six on the UK Singles Chart, number four in Australia, and, as the band’s first song in the US charts, reached number twenty-five on the Billboard Hot 100, and number thirty-nine on the Billboard Dance Chart.

“You are now looking at the second A.B.C.
recording. The A-side is a song called “Poison
Arrow” torn from the events of my personal life
away from the glare of publicity. Many of you out
there may think standing in the spotlight brings
many rewards. But let me tell you, the fruits of fame
can be sour and I too have my private moments.
However, it is my duty and privilege to share some
of these experiences with you.

Love’s Ammunition, A Poison Arrow, or the pain
received at the hands of Cupid. But then again – a
love affair without a broken heart? Like making an
omelet without breaking an egg.
The flip-side houses “Theme from Man Trap,” the
result of a late-night spent with my producer Trevor
Horn and piano accompanist.

Our first disc registered strongly in the
popularity charts but none of this would have been
possible without you, the discerning customer.
I hope you enjoy this record as much as we
enjoyed making it. Be young. Be foolish. Be
alphabetical.

Yours sincerely,
Martin Fry”

SIDE A:
Poison Arrow (New Re-mix) 6:54
Remix – Trevor Horn

SIDE B:
Theme From Mantrap 4:20
Theme From Mantrap (Lounge Sequence) 4:20

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1983 poison Arrow U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #25
1983 Poison Arrow U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #39

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– 811 329-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, PRC
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Liner Notes – Martin Fry
Producer – Trevor Horn
Written-By – ABC

NOTES:
Track A from the Mercury album “The Lexicon Of Love”
Printed in U.S.A.

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.