Tag: Alex Sadkin

Duran Duran – Union Of The Snake (Japan 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“Union of the Snake” is the ninth single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 17 October 1983.

“Union of the Snake” was the lead single from the band’s third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983), and preceded its release by one month. It was originally titled, “The Union at Stake”, when the band was interviewed on The Oxford Road Show in March 1983 before their first performance of “Is there something I should know?” on U.K. television. It became one of Duran Duran’s most popular singles, hitting number one on the US Cash Box and peaking at number three on both the US Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks at the end of 1983. Further chart movement was prevented by “Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson and “Say It Isn’t So” by Daryl Hall and John Oates. It also reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.

After a songwriting session near Cannes in France, much of the band’s third album was recorded at George Martin’s AIR Studios on the Caribbean island of Montserrat with producer Alex Sadkin, then mixed at 301 Studios in Sydney. Mixing for “Union of the Snake” was done right up to the last minute before the tapes had to be turned over to EMI for pressing.

Lyricist Simon Le Bon (notoriously reticent about explaining his oblique lyrics) hinted in the Duran Duran lyric book The Book of Words that the borderline might be one between the conscious and subconscious minds. In later interviews, he proclaimed that it was a reference to Tantric sex.

Drummer Roger Taylor stated that the beat and drum track was based upon David Bowie’s 1983 single “Let’s Dance”.

The B-side to “Union of the Snake” was the atmospheric piece “Secret Oktober”. Twenty-four hours before the master tapes of the single were to be delivered to EMI for distribution, singer Simon Le Bon and keyboardist Nick Rhodes wrote and mixed the B-side “Secret Oktober” in an all-night recording session.

**The “Super Mix” contained on this Japan 12″ single is also titled “Monkey Mix” on other releases.

SIDE A:
Union Of The Snake (Super Mix) 6:23

SIDE B:
Union Of The Snake (Single Version) 4:20
Secret Oktober 2:45

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
Obi: Near Mint
Insert: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1983 Union Of The Snake U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #6
1983 Union Of The Snake U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #2
1983 Union Of The Snake U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #33

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ‎– EMS-27008
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Japan
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Liner Notes [対訳] – 山本安見*
Photography By – Jeff Hornbaker
Producer – Alex Sadkin
Producer [In Association With] – Duran Duran, Ian Little
Sleeve – assorted iMaGes*
Written-By, Arranged By – Duran Duran

NOTES:
Track A termed (Super Mix) on the back sleeve, also referred to as (The Monkey Mix) on other releases (116bpm).
Track B1 termed (Single Version) on the back sleeve, (7″ Version) on the label.

With obi and single-sided lyric/info insert.

〄 MADE IN JAPAN

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.

Robbie Nevil – Wot’s It To Ya (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Wot’s It to Ya” was the third single taken from the self-titled debut from American pop singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist Robbie Nevil. The single debuted on the Us Billboard Hot 100 on May 30, 1987, peaking at #10 on July 31, 1987 after spending sixteen weeks on the survey.”Wot’s It to Ya” also peaked at #42 on the UK singles chart. The track was produced by producers Alex Sadkin and Phil Thornalley.

After “C’est La Vie” was chosen as the lead single and all the tracks were cut, Nevil expected the rest of the album to be smooth sailing, but he was about to learn an important lesson from veteran producer Alex Sadkin (Duran Duran, Thompson Twins), which resulted in the last-minute addition of “Wot’s It to Ya”. Nevil told Songfacts: “He explained it to me: ‘Always come from the school of you don’t have your first single, and always try to the bitter end to come up with something even better.’

So ‘Wot’s It To Ya?’ is written at the end of the record with the idea of you still don’t have your first single, so write one more and try to hit it out of the ballpark. It didn’t end up being the first single, but that’s when and why we did it.”

SIDE A:
Wot’s It To Ya (Rusty’s 12″ Dance Mix) 9:56
Remix – Rusty Garner

Wot’s It To Ya (Rusty’s Vocal Dub Mix) 6:52
Remix – Rusty Garner
Edited By – Allen Perada

SIDE B:
Wot’s It To Ya (Rusty’s Vocoder Dub) 6:58
Remix – Rusty Garner
Edited By – Allen Perada

Wot’s It To Ya (Extended To Ya Remix) 5:15
Remix – Robbie Nevil
Edited By – Gail “Sky” King, Keith Cohen

Wot’s It To Ya (To Ya Remix) 4:02
Remix – Robbie Nevil
Edited By – Gail “Sky” King, Keith Cohen

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Wot’s It To Ya U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #10
1987 Wot’s It To Ya U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #69
1987 Wot’s It To Ya U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #10

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Manhattan Records ‎– V-56056
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Phil Thornalley

NOTES:
Taken from the LP “ROBBIE NEVIL”

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.

Foreigner – Cold As Ice (Remix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Cold as Ice” is a 1977 song by English-American rock band Foreigner from their eponymous debut album. It became one of the best-known songs of the band in the US, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was initially the B-side of some versions of the “Feels Like the First Time” 45 rpm single.

In 1985 the song was slightly remixed and re-released in the UK and Ireland where it charted at #18 on the Irish singles chart.

SIDE A:
Cold As Ice (Remix) 3:21
Producer – Gary Lyons, John Sinclair

Head Games (Live Version) 4:10
Producer – Mick Jones (2)

SIDE B:
Reaction To Action (Action Mix) 7:15
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Mick Jones (2)

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic ‎– A 9539(T)
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Rock
Style: Classic Rock

NOTES:
“Cold As Ice” Remixed from the album “Foreigner”

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, ocenaudio
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.

Arcadia – The Flame (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“The Flame” is the fourth single released by the Duran Duran offshoot band, Arcadia. It was released by Parlophone Records in 1986 and was the group’s third UK single. It reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S. the single was released on Capitol Records and did not chart.

The campy, slapstick video was made in the retro style of an Edwardian-era drawing room murder mystery, à la Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock. The storyline revolved around a series of comic disasters that befall an awkward, nerdish character (played by Simon Le Bon) and his girlfriend while visiting a haunted house. Nick Rhodes plays the debonair host of the dinner party at the house, and he frequently uses Le Bon as his comic stooge for a number of macabre and mildly sadistic sight gags. Various unsavory bits of business ensues with revolving walls, trapdoors and mysterious assassins hidden behind paintings and within exotic taxidermied animals. The slapstick comic interplay between Rhodes and Le Bon is faintly reminiscent of Abbott and Costello.

At one point, John Taylor (at the time a member of The Power Station, the other Duran Duran side project) comes out of the closet with a contract for the band to sign. This is an especially pointed inside joke, as it was around this time that the three remaining Duran Duran members were preparing to write and record their next album, Notorious, while in legal negotiations with their now-estranged guitarist Andy Taylor.

The video’s treatment is said to have been written by Rhodes and the various near-fatal pratfalls that occur to Le Bon’s character was intended as punishment for his decision to enter the Fastnet yachting race that almost cost him his life in August 1985.

In fact, Le Bon was in the middle of the South American leg of the 1986 Whitbread Round the World yacht race when he had to fly to Spain in April to shoot the video. He then flew straight back to rejoin his team in Uruguay.

The video was directed by longtime collaborator Russell Mulcahy.

SIDE A:
The Flame (Extended Remix) 7:16
Mixed By – Nile Rodgers

SIDE B:
Flame Game (Yo Homeboy Mix) 2:48
Mixed By – Nile Rodgers

Election Day (Early Rough Mix) 9:05
Mixed By – Larry Alexander

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Parlophone Odeon Series ‎– 12 NSR 3
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – James Farber
Engineer [Second Engineer] – Knut Bohn*
Photography By – Dean Chamberlain (2)
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Arcadia (3)
Sleeve [Sleeve Produced By] – Assorted Images
Written-By – Rhodes*, Taylor*, Le Bon*

NOTES:
2-digit numeric code on front sleeve reads:
52 02 24 46 00 32 42 02 44 00 40 12 00 26 38 16 40 24
= S T E P _ I N T O _ M Y _ F L A M E

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 
Phono Pre-amp: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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