Tag: Colourbox

January 14, 2025

Colourbox – Breakdown (Second Version) (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive -1983

In the early 1980s, the world of electronic music was rapidly evolving, and British group Colourbox was at the forefront of this creative revolution. Among their many standout tracks, “Breakdown” holds a special place. Originally released as the band’s debut single in 1982, this track encapsulates the experimental spirit of the era while showcasing the band’s unique blend of dub, soul, and electronic pop influences.

But it’s the 1983 Second Version of “Breakdown” that truly stands out. In contrast to the slower, funkier first version, the second version transforms the song into a syrupy new wave dance jam. Featuring the striking new vocals of Lorita Grahame, it pairs a hard-driving beat with intricate tape edits. This style would later foreshadow the Young brothers’ pioneering work in sampling, first showcased in tracks like Hot Doggie and later brought to the mainstream as M|A|R|R|S with the groundbreaking hit Pump Up the Volume.

The second version is packed with innovation. It’s faster, more dynamic, and built for the dance floor, yet retains the emotional depth that made the original so captivating. The production is razor-sharp, and the layers of sound give it a genre-defying quality that only Colourbox could pull off.

On the same EP, “Tarantula”, written by Martyn Young and sung by Grahame, is another standout track. It’s one part cutter anthem, another part political screed, and yet another part genre-bending dub cut. The haunting, otherworldly vibe earned it the nickname “dub goth,” and it’s easy to imagine a 16-year-old Zooey Deschanel on ludes vibing to it in Thatcherite Britain. Sadly, its themes remain relevant today.

These tracks are a reminder of how Colourbox pushed the boundaries of what pop music could be, merging genres and sounds in ways that were truly ahead of their time. Breakdown (Second Version), with its danceable energy and sonic ingenuity, is a testament to their fearless creativity.

SIDE A:
Breakdown (Second Version) 7:50
Engineer, Producer – Mick Glossop

SIDE B:
Tarantula (Second Version) 8:14
Engineer – John Fryer
Producer – Colourbox

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records – SP-12067
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Artwork – 23 Envelope
Mastered By – BilBo (3) (tracks: A), DB* (tracks: B)
Written-By – Robbins*, Young*

NOTES:
Track A produced and engineered for Smoothside Limited.
Although uncredited, both tracks differ from the 7″ and are extended versions.

Promotional Copy Not For Sale

Buy the 12″ 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

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April 19, 2017

M|A|R|R|S – Pump Up The Volume (Remix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Pump Up the Volume” is the only single by British recording act M|A|R|R|S. Recorded and released in 1987. In Europe a second 12″ single was released featuring a “Remix”. This remix became the best-known version of the track, transforming it by the addition of numerous samples which provided the record with additional hooks besides its oft-repeated title chant, such as samples of tracks by Public Enemy, Criminal Element Orchestra and the Bar-Kays being used. It was this remix, rather than the original, that was edited down to create the 7-inch version of the track, which began picking up radio play.

The single reached #1 on the U.K. singles chart.

SIDE A:
Pump Up The Volume (Remix) 6:28
Engineer, Sampler – John Fryer
Guitar – A.R. Kane
Music By – S. & M. Young
Producer – M. Young*
Scratches – C.J. Mackintosh*
Scratches, Performer [Drop Ins] – Dave Dorrell

SIDE B:
Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance) (Remix) 7:45
Drums – Colourbox
Music By – A.R. Kane

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: 4AD ‎– BAD 707 R
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 07 Sep 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Dub, Big Beat

CREDITS:
Art Direction, Design – Vaughan Oliver
Artwork [Set Construction], Photography By – Panni Charrington
Mastered By – JA*

NOTES:
Recorded at Blackwing

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: 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

April 18, 2017

M|A|R|R|S – Pump Up The Volume (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Pump Up the Volume” is the only single by British recording act M|A|R|R|S. Recorded and released in 1987, it was a number-one hit in many countries and is regarded as a significant milestone in the development of British acid house music and music sampling. The song derives its title directly from a lyrical sample from “I Know You Got Soul”, a hit single by labelmates Eric B. & Rakim, released months prior in that same year.

The single was the product of an uneasy collaboration between electronic group Colourbox and alternative rock band A R Kane, two groups signed to the independent label 4AD. The link-up was suggested by label founder Ivo Watts-Russell after the two groups had independently sounded him out about the possibility of releasing a commercially oriented dance record, inspired by the American house music that was starting to make an impact on the UK chart. When the M|A|R|R|S project was first released early in 1987, the popularity of the style of the song had already started to grow.

SIDE A:
Pump Up The Volume 7:10
Rap [Additional Rapping] – Emix*

Pump Up The Volume (Bonus Beat) 4:45

SIDE B:
Pump Up The Volume (Instrumental) 5:06
Engineer – Steve Osborne
Engineer [Assistant] – Julian Adair

Anitina (First Time I See She Dance) 4:22
Drums – Colourbox
Mixed By – Ivo*, John Fryer
Music By – A.R. Kane

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Pump Up The Volume	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#13
1988	Pump Up The Volume	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs & Tracks	#8
1988	Pump Up The Volume	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: 4th & Broadway ‎– BWAY 452
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop
Style: House, Instrumental, Acid House, Leftfield

CREDITS:
Art Direction, Design – Vaughan Oliver
Engineer – Lincoln Fong (tracks: A1 to B1)
Guitar – A. R. Kane* (tracks: A1 to B1)
Mastered By – Herbie Jr :^)*
Music By – Martyn Young (tracks: A1 to B1), Steve Young* (tracks: A1 to B1)
Photography By, Artwork [Set Construction] – Panni Charrington
Producer – M. Young*
Sampler [Samples] – John Fryer (tracks: A1 to B1)
Scratches [Scratching] – C.J. Mackintosh* (tracks: A1 to B1)
Scratches, Performer [Drop Ins] – Dave Dorrell (tracks: A1 to B1)

NOTES:
The “Mars Needs Women” vocal sample comes from the movie, “Mars Needs Women” (1967).

A Colourbox / A.R. Kane Collaboration

Recorded at Blackwing.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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