Tag: Colin Thurston

May 5, 2017

The Men A.K.A. The Human League – I Don’t Depend On You (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1979

“I Don’t Depend on You” is a disco-influenced song by the British synthpop group The Human League released under the pseudonym The Men. It was released as a single in the UK in February 1979, but failed to chart. It was written by Philip Oakey, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh; was produced by Colin Thurston and featured guest backing vocalists Katie Kissoon and Lisa Strike (who later worked with Pink Floyd ).

After hastily signing the Human League in 1978 it became apparent to Virgin Records that the band were not very profitable, with none of their releases under Fast Records making any impact on the charts. Virgin began putting pressure on the group to justify their large advance signing fee. Pressure was put on Ware, Oakey and Marsh to abandon their no traditional instruments rule and use conventional instruments in an attempt to be more commercial and sell more records. Ware reluctantly agreed but insisted that any material recorded this way should be released under a pseudonym to ensure that it wasn’t confused with the pure electronic sound of The Human League. “I Don’t Depend on You” was the only product of this compromise with Virgin. It was recorded with the addition of session musicians and was released under the name The Men. The song also features the synth riff from debut single Being Boiled towards the end of the track. Afterwards the band were able to record tracks in their original style for Virgin. Before any further conventional style records could be recorded, the original Human League had split; Oakey then took the new reformed band down a different commercial and pop route.

Later, it would be commented on that in recording “I Don’t Depend on You” – two years prior to the arrival of schoolgirl vocalists Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall – Oakey, Ware and Marsh had already produced a Human League Mk 2-style track complete with commercial pop sound: Oakey’s vocal with female backing (with Katie Kissoon and Lisa Strike providing the backing vocals).

The B-side, titled “Cruel”, is simply a remix of “I Don’t Depend on You” without Oakey’s vocals. “I Don’t Depend on You” received little promotion or airplay and did not chart. Re-releases on albums now credit the track as The Human League aka ‘The Men’.

SIDE A:
I Don’t Depend On You 4:31

SIDE B:
Cruel (Instrumental) 4:41

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 26912
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1979
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop, Disco, Funk

CREDITS:
Management – Tunenoise Ltd*
Photography By – Mackertich*
Producer – Colin Thurston, The Men
Written-By – Marsh*, Ware*, Oakey*

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
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
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

February 2, 2017

Duran Duran – Planet Earth (Night Version) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981

Released on this day 1981.

“Planet Earth” is the debut single by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 2 February 1981.

It was an immediate hit in the band’s native UK, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart on 21 February, and did even better in Australia, hitting #8 to become Duran Duran’s first Top 10 hit anywhere in the world.

The song later appeared on the band’s eponymous debut album Duran Duran, released in June, 1981.

For most countries, the B-side track for the “Planet Earth” is a concert favorite called “Late Bar” which was one of the earliest songs Duran Duran had written together after their classic Le Bon/Rhodes/Taylor/Taylor/Taylor lineup had solidified. However, the B-side track for the North American release of “Planet Earth” is “To The Shore”.

Beginning with “Planet Earth”, Duran Duran began creating what they called “night versions” for each of their songs: extended versions that were featured on their 12-inch singles. Back in 1981, the technology to do extended remixes was still quite rudimentary, so the band chose instead to create a new arrangement of the song, loosely based on the version they were playing live at the time. This formed the basis for the “night version”.

The “Night Version” of “Planet Earth” appeared in place of the original on some early US releases of the Duran Duran album.

In addition to the 12″, the night version of “Planet Earth” was included on the EPs Nite Romantics and Carnival.

SIDE A:
Planet Earth (Night Version) 6:17

SIDE B:
Planet Earth 4:02
Late Bar 2:57

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ‎– 12 EMI 5137
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Feb 2, 1981
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Colin Thurston
Sleeve – Assorted Images
Written-By – Duran Duran

NOTES:
Mastered at Utopia.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

September 19, 2016

Kajagoogoo – Too Shy (Midnight Mix) (Canada 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“Too Shy” is a song written and recorded by English band Kajagoogoo, released January 22, 1983. The first single from their debut album White Feathers, the song was an immediate hit and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. It was also very successful in other European countries, spending five weeks at number one in Germany, and reaching number two in Switzerland, and number four in Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands.

Assisted by heavy rotation on MTV, the song later became a success in the United States, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Too Shy” is Kajagoogoo’s only significant hit in the US, where the band is widely regarded as a one-hit wonder. In the UK, however, Kajagoogoo had further hits, including two more top 10 singles: “Ooh to Be Ah” and “Big Apple”, both in 1983.

“Too Shy” was written by Kajagoogoo and produced by Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes and Colin Thurston, the latter of whom had produced Duran Duran’s first two albums. In 2006, “Too Shy” was ranked number 27 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s and number 9 on VH1’s “100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.”

There are two different versions of the “Midnight Mix” one is the “American Midnight Mix” 5:47 which was issued after the single was released in North America making it the second mix. The original “Midnight Mix” 5:23 was issued in Europe upon the single’s initial release. I have included it here as a bonus track which I lifted from the UK 12″.

SIDE A:
Too Shy (American Midnight Mix) 5:47
Producer – Colin Thurston, Nick Rhodes
Remix [Uncredited] – Mark Kamins

SIDE B:
Take Another View 4:32
Producer – Femi Jiya

BONUS TRACK:
Too Shy (Midight Mix) 5:23
Producer – Colin Thurston, Nick Rhodes

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1983	Too Shy	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#5
1983	Too Shy	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#23
1983	Too Shy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#25

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America ‎– 75036
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Canada
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Bass Guitar, Vocals [Additional] – Nick Beggs
Cover – Cream (7), Nick Beggs
Drums, Programmed By [Electronic Programming] – Jez Strode
E-bow, Guitar – Steve Askew (2)
Engineer – Colin Thurston
Lead Vocals – Limahl
Lyrics By – Limahl, Nick Beggs (tracks: A)
Management – Paul Ryan (2)
Other [Hair By] – Toni And Guy
Other [Special Thanks To] – P.G.
Photography By [Cover Shots] – Sheila Rock, Steve Hickey
Synth, Vocals [Additional] – Stuart Croxford Neale
Written-By, Arranged By – Kajagoogoo

NOTES:
Track A From the LP – “WHITE FEATHERS”
Recorded in England.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

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

July 19, 2016

Kaja – Turn Your Back On Me (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

Originally posted April 12, 2010

“Turn Your Back On Me” was the third single released by Kajagoogoo (Known as Kaja in the US) from the album “Islands” also known as “Extra Play” in the United States. The song was recorded without Limahl, who had been fired by the band in mid-1983 and went on to pursue a solo career. Bass player Nick Beggs, already the group’s main backing singer, took over lead vocal duties, and also wrote the lyrics. The song was produced by the band themselves, now a four-piece group, along with Colin Thurston, who had also produced their debut, “White Feathers”.

“Turn Your Back On Me” did well on the US Dance Charts peaking at #2 for two weeks. In the UK the single peaked at #47.

After Limahl’s departure, the bands second album (from which “Turn Your Back On Me” comes) was released in the U.S. as Kaja, but still Kajagoogoo in other markets. Finally, in 1985 after another member left, the remaining members officially renamed themselves Kaja in all markets.

The remixes on this 12″ are exclusive to the US market.

SIDE A:
Turn Your Back On Me (Flipped Disc Mix) 6:58

SIDE B:
Turn Your Back On Me (Dub Mix) 5:32

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	Turn Your Back On Me	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America ‎– V-7850-1/2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Edited By, Mixed By – Steve Thompson
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Barbiero
Producer – Colin Thurston, Kaja
Producer [Additional] – Steve Thompson
Written-By – J. Strode*, N. Beggs*, S. Askew*, S. Neale*

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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