Tag: Alex Sadkin

Duran Duran – Is There Something I Should Know? (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“Is There Something I Should Know?” is the eighth single by British band Duran Duran, released on 19 March 1983.

The song was released as a stand-alone single and became the band’s first UK number one record. It debuted in the number one position on the UK Singles Chart on 26 March 1983. The single also had great success in America, where it was released in late May: it reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 6 August 1983 and sold more than a million copies.

“Is There Something I Should Know?” was recorded in London, with producer Ian Little in December 1982. Although generally regarded as a stand-alone single, it was added to the 1983 US re-issue of the band’s 1981 debut album, Duran Duran. The first album on which the song featured in the UK was the inaugural Now That’s What I Call Music compilation at the end of the year.

The singles from the Duran Duran album did not receive much airplay in the United States on the album’s first release; both the band and the New Romantic fashion style were unknown, and very few British bands were able to break into American radio at that time. However, by the end of 1982, the band’s Rio album was rapidly climbing the American charts, fueled by saturation airplay of various Duran Duran videos on MTV. The band and their label, Capitol/EMI, decided to re-release the debut album in the United States with the inclusion of this newly recorded single.

Because of the time limitations of vinyl records, the inclusion of “Is There Something I Should Know?” required the omission of the album track “To The Shore” on the reissue. “To The Shore” was reinstated on later compact disc pressings.

“Is There Something I Should Know?” was the song Duran Duran used to open their 1983/84 Seven and the Ragged Tiger album tour shows with and also Duran Duran’s charity concert at Aston Villa football ground 1983.

In a retrospective review of the song, Allmusic journalist Donald A. Guarisco wrote that the lyrics “deal with a difficult romantic relationship in rather obtuse terms.” Guarisco highlighted what he described as “odd turns of phrase” in the lyrics, such as: “and fiery demons all dance when you walk through that door/Don’t say your easy on me ’cause you’re about as easy as a nuclear war.”

Although Guarisco questioned the lyrics, he praised the melody in the song. He wrote: “The melody of ‘Is There Something I Should Know?’ is one of Duran Duran’s catchiest, matching twisty verse melodies full of ear-catching hooks with a harmonized chorus.

The B-side to “Is There Something I Should Know?” in Europe is the instrumental “Faith in this Colour”. An “Alternate Slow Mix” of “Faith in this Colour” was used on the 7″ single, some pressings of which included brief unauthorized sound samples from the movie Star Wars — these were promptly withdrawn when copyright concerns were raised, although on the “Alternate Slow Mix” from the singles box set, the scene, in which Obi-Wan leaves to disable the tractor beam, can clearly be heard in the last minute. Duran Duran has not confirmed this, though.

The mainly instrumental “Monster Mix” of “Is There Something I Should Know?” was completed by producers Ian Little and Alex Sadkin.

In the US, the song “Careless Memories” is the B-side of “Is There Something I Should Know?”.

SIDE A:
Is There Something I Should Know? (Monster Mix) 6:42
Remix – Alex Sadkin, Ian Little

SIDE B:
Is There Something I Should Know? (Short Mix) 4:09

Faith In This Colour 4:06

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year Single Chart Position
1983 Is There Something I Should Know? U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #4
1983 Is There Something I Should Know? U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #3
1983 Is There Something I Should Know? U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play #34

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI Electrola – 1C K062-65 106 Z
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic, Pop, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Ian Little
Producer, Written-By – Duran Duran

NOTES:
Watch out for ‘Duran Duran’ the video album containing the complete history since Planet Earth and more…

Find The 12″ On 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:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard:
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

Robbie Nevil – Dominoes (The Dance Mix) (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Dominoes” is a song by American singer Robbie Nevil from his self-titled debut album in 1986.

Written by Nevil with Bobby Hart and Dick Eastman, Nevil recorded the song for his eponymous debut album, and it was released as the second single. The song reached #14 on the U.S. singles chart. MTV featured a portion of the refrain with reworked lyrics to promote their new show at that time: Friday Night Party Zone.

This scarce 1986 German 12″ contains remixes exclusive to this 12″.

SIDE A:
Dominoes (The Dance Mix) 6:20
Remix – Burt Bevans*

SIDE B:
Dominoes (Club Mix) 7:31
Edited By – Junior Vasquez
Engineer – Hugo Dwyer
Mixed By, Producer [Additional] – Arthur Baker

Dominoes (All Fall Down Free Beats) 6:17
Edited By – Junior Vasquez
Engineer – Hugo Dwyer
Mixed By, Producer [Additional] – Arthur Baker

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Dominoes U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #14
1986 Dominoes U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #22

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Manhattan Records ‎– 1C K 060-20 1793 6
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Phil Thornalley

NOTES:
Special versions from the lp “ROBBIE NEVIL”

Find the 12″ on 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:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard:
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

Robbie Nevil – C’est La Vie (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

a-front

“C’est la Vie” is a song by American singer-songwriter Robbie Nevil from his self-titled debut album in 1986. The song was first recorded by gospel singer Beau Williams for his 1985 album Bodacious!.

Written by Nevil with Duncan Pain and Mark Holding, Nevil recorded the song for his eponymous debut album, and it was released as the first single. Nevil’s single spent two weeks at #2 on the U.S. singles chart in January 1987 and remained in the top 40 for 16 weeks, becoming his highest-charting U.S. hit. (It was kept from #1 by two songs, “Shake You Down” by Gregory Abbott and “At This Moment” by Billy Vera and the Beaters). Additionally, the song went to #1 on the American dance chart for one week in February 1987. Internationally, the song reached #3 on the United Kingdom charts. The song went to #1 almost exactly 20 years after Frank Sinatra’s song “That’s Life” (which is the English translation of the song title) did the same.

Nevil performed the song on the May 30, 1987 broadcast of Soul Train.

SIDE A:
C’est La Vie (Extended Version) 7:06
Edited By – The Latin Rascals
Remix – Arthur Baker

C’est La Vie (Single Version) 3:25

SIDE B:
C’est La Vie (Dub Mix) 7:15
Edited By – The Latin Rascals
Remix – Arthur Baker

Time Waits For No One 5:22

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 C’est La Vie U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #2
1986 C’est La Vie U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Manhattan Records ‎– V-56036
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Phil Thornalley

NOTES:
From the debut album “ROBBIE NEVIL”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

b-back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
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 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

Thompson Twins – Lay Your Hands On Me (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

A. Front

 

REQUEST

“Lay Your Hands on Me” is a 1984 song by the British band Thompson Twins. It was the first single to be released from their 1985 album Here’s To Future Days, and was released in the UK almost a year in advance of the album. It was written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway. There are two main versions of the song, with various edits and remixes of the two. The first version was produced by Alex Sadkin & Tom Bailey was released in late 1984 in Europe and Australia. The 1985 version was a reworking co-produced by Nile Rodgers, adding electric guitar and a gospel choir and released as a single in the US (this version appeared on the album). The single peaked at #13 in the UK, spending nine weeks on the chart. The single fared better in America where it peaked at #6 on the US Billboard 100 and also peaked at #46 on the US Dance /Club Play Singles.

The B-side, “The Lewis Carol (Adventures In Wonderland)”, is an instrumental variation of the song and was exclusive to this single.

SIDE A:
Lay Your Hands On Me (Single Version) 3:57
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Nile Rodgers, Tom Bailey

The Lewis Carol (Adventures In Wonderland) 4:13
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Tom Bailey

SIDE B:
Lay Your Hands On Me (Extended Version) 6:00
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Nile Rodgers, Tom Bailey

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Lay Your Hands On Me U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #6
1985 Lay Your Hands On Me U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary #14
1985 Lay Your Hands On Me U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #46

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista ‎– AD1-9397
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Art Direction – Alannah Currie
Design – Andie Airfix, Satori (14)
Mixed By – James Farber
Photography By – Rebecca Blake (2)
Written-By – Alannah Currie, Joe Leeway, Tom Bailey

NOTES:
“Lay Your Hands On Me” taken from forthcoming album/cassette
“Here’s To Future Days”

Mastered at Masterdisk.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
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 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