Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
I first posted this track back on November 30, 2010, but I’ve dug deep into the crates to give it a meticulous new 2025 transfer. Every element—from the layered synths to the crisp percussion—has been carefully preserved, making the song sound brighter, cleaner, and more detailed than ever before.
🎶 Perfect Way: Scritti Politti’s Shimmering 80s Pop Masterpiece
“Perfect Way” by Scritti Politti is a landmark 1980s pop track that blended intellectual lyricism with slick, synth-driven production, becoming the band’s biggest U.S. hit and a defining moment in their career..
Origins and Release
Released in August 1985, Perfect Way was written by Green Gartside and David Gamson and appeared on Scritti Politti’s second studio album, Cupid \& Psyche 85. The album marked a shift from the band’s earlier post-punk experiments into a polished, funk-infused pop sound. Produced by Gartside, Gamson, and Fred Maher, the song showcased the group’s fascination with combining avant-garde ideas with mainstream accessibility.
Musical Style
The track is often described as new wave meets funk-pop, characterized by:
- Bright, layered synthesizers
- Crisp drum programming
- Funk-inspired bass lines
- Gartside’s smooth, almost detached vocal delivery
This sleek production reflected the mid-1980s trend toward highly produced, radio-friendly pop, but Scritti Politti added their own cerebral twist. The lyrics are abstract, full of paradoxes and playful contradictions, with lines like “I got a perfect way to make a new proposition” that highlight Gartside’s interest in language and philosophy.
Chart Performance
Interestingly, Perfect Way had a modest impact in the UK, peaking at No. 48 on the singles chart. However, in the United States, it became Scritti Politti’s breakthrough hit, climbing to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. This transatlantic success cemented the band’s reputation as one of the more sophisticated acts of the synth-pop era.
Cultural Impact
One of the most fascinating aspects of Perfect Way is its influence beyond pop music. Miles Davis, the legendary jazz trumpeter, recorded an instrumental version for his 1986 album Tutu. Davis’s choice to reinterpret the song demonstrated its musical depth and adaptability, bridging the gap between pop and jazz.
Legacy
Today, Perfect Way stands as Scritti Politti’s signature song in the U.S. and a quintessential example of mid-80s pop innovation. It represents:
- The band’s transition from underground post-punk to mainstream success
- The era’s obsession with glossy, high-tech production
- A rare case of British intellectual pop resonating more strongly in America than at home
While Scritti Politti never replicated the same level of U.S. chart success, Perfect Way remains a time capsule of 1980s pop sophistication, celebrated for its fusion of catchy hooks and cerebral lyricism.
In short: Perfect Way is Scritti Politti’s most commercially successful single, a synth-pop gem that captured the sleek sound of the 1980s while also earning respect from jazz greats like Miles Davis.
About the 12″ single.
This US 12″ single contains an edited version of the “Way Perfect Mix,” clocking in at 5:27; the full 7:24 “Way Perfect Mix” is included on the US 12″ Promo that I posted in December 2024.
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
SIDE A:
Perfect Way (Way Perfect Mix) 5:27
Mixed By – Committee (3)
SIDE B:
Perfect Way (Way Perfect Version) 5:07
Engineer [Remix] – Steve Peck
| Chart | Peak Position | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | #11 | 1985 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play | #6 | 1985 |
| US Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop | #85 | 1985 |
| UK Singles Chart | #48 | 1985 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 0-20362, Warner Bros. Records – 9 20362-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, SRC Pressing
Country: US
Released: Oct 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Lacquer Cut By – Herb Powers Jr. (tracks: B), Tom Coyne (tracks: A)
- Producer – Gamson*, Maher*, Gartside*
- Recorded By – Howard Gray
- Written-By – Gamson*, Gartside*
NOTES:
Original version on the Warner Bros. album “Cupid & Psyche 85”
Made in U.S.A.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
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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