Tag: Daniel Abraham

December 9, 2025

Breathe – Say A Prayer (US 12″) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today, we’re stepping into the smooth, late-80s/early-90s pop world of Breathe, the English band best known for their soft-focus, heartfelt hits “Hands to Heaven” and “How Can I Fall?” But in 1990, as the group tried to evolve their sound and keep pace with a new decade, they released the underrated “Say a Prayer.”

While not as widely remembered as their earlier chart-toppers, “Say a Prayer” stands out as one of Breathe’s most confident singles—lush, melodic, and built around David Glasper’s unmistakably warm and soulful voice. It was the lead single from their second and final album, Peace of Mind. In the U.S. the track reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, giving the band one last significant moment on American radio.

The Sound

“Say a Prayer” is classic early-90s adult contemporary pop—smooth keys, soft rhythmic guitar, a steady mid-tempo beat, and that signature late-80s sheen that still had one foot in the previous decade. Glasper’s vocals carry the whole thing: emotionally direct without being over-the-top, and full of that breathy, intimate quality that helped Breathe stand out from their peers.

Lyrically, the song continues the band’s familiar themes—love, hope, longing—but with a slightly more mature tone than their 1988 material. If “Hands to Heaven” was the dream-pop ballad and “How Can I Fall?” was the heartbreak moment, “Say a Prayer” feels like the hopeful resolution.

Why It Matters

“Say a Prayer” didn’t reach the iconic status of Breathe’s earlier hits, but it has aged remarkably well. It’s one of those turn-of-the-decade singles that beautifully captures the transition from 80s pop romanticism into the sleek sound of the early 90s.

For fans of the band—or anyone who loves exquisitely crafted pop with emotional sincerity—“Say a Prayer” is a gem worth revisiting. Its warm production, thoughtful lyrics, and Glasper’s gorgeous vocal delivery make it a perfect reminder of why Breathe’s catalog continues to resonate long after their short time in the spotlight.

If you grew up with their music (or discovered them later), this one hits all the right nostalgic notes.

SIDE A:
Say A Prayer (Save My Soul 12″) 6:32
Say A Prayer (Save My Soul Dub) 5:47
Say A Prayer (LP Version) 3:49

SIDE B:
Say A Prayer (Oh Mercy! House 12″) 6:33
Say A Prayer (Oh Mercy! House Dub) 6:10
Say A Prayer (Oh! Mercy! House 7″) 3:52

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Breathe: *Say A Prayer* (1990)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#21	1990
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	#3	1990
Australia (ARIA Charts)	#97	1990
Canadian Singles (RPM)	#6	1990
UK Singles	#63	1990

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records – 75021 2337 1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: House

CREDITS:

Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Producer – Bob Sargeant, Breathe (3)
Producer [Additional], Remix – Daniel Abraham (tracks: A1, A2)
Programmed By [Keyboard Programming] – Merv DePeyer*
Written-By – David Glasper, Marcus Lillington

NOTES:
Original version appears on the A&M album, cassette & compact disc “Peace Of Mind”

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

July 30, 2025

Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Originally released in 1988, “She Drives Me Crazy” marked the explosive return of British trio Fine Young Cannibals. Issued as the lead single from their second (and final) album The Raw & the Cooked (1989), the track became an instant classic—showcasing Roland Gift’s unmistakable falsetto and the band’s clever fusion of pop, soul, and funk.

Written by frontman Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, and co-produced by the band along with David Z (a longtime Prince collaborator), “She Drives Me Crazy” has one of the most iconic snare sounds of the era. The distinctive “pop” of the drum was no accident—David Z employed an inventive technique during the recording sessions at Prince’s famed Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis. The snare part was recorded separately, then played back through a speaker placed on top of the snare drum while a mic underneath captured the sound again—creating that sharp, tight punch that helped the track cut through on both radio and the dancefloor.

Chart-wise, the single became the band’s biggest hit. In the UK, it reached No. 5—making it their highest-charting release at home. But it was in the U.S. that the song really took off, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for a week in April 1989. It also topped charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, and Spain, cementing Fine Young Cannibals’ global success. Two different music videos were shot for the track—one by French choreographer/director Philippe Decouflé and another by Pedro Romhanyi.

Today on Burning the Ground, I’m featuring the U.S. 12″ single, which includes three rare remixes by Justin Strauss: a club-friendly extended remix a Dub, and a tight edit version—none of which have been released digitally or appeared on commercial CD (except for a scarce promo) which included the Justin Strauss Remix. Strauss’s approach adds extra rhythmic space and re-sequencing, extending the groove while preserving the quirky charm of the original.

If, like me, you spent countless nights in record stores or at clubs chasing down mixes you knew weren’t on your regular 12″, this one’s for you. A peak pop moment, reimagined with the dancefloor in mind.

SIDE ONE:
She Drives Me Crazy (The Justin Strauss Remix) 7:42
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

She Drives Me Crazy (Single Remix) 3:48
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

SIDE A:
She Drives Me Crazy (David Z Remix) 7:05
Remix – David Z.

She Drives Me Crazy (Driven Crazy Dub) 5:33
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard 12 Inch Singles Sales	#3
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#54
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	#5

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: I.R.S. Records – IRS-23926
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Pinckneyville
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Pop, Stage & Screen
Style: Dance-pop, House

CREDITS:

Management – Tony Meilandt
Producer – David Z.
Written-By – Steele*, Gift*

NOTES:
The labels state Side One and Side A.

Tracks A1/A2/B2: Additional production for Just Right Productions.
Track A1 is also known as the “U.S. Mix”.

Management is written “Tony Meilandt AGM Management”

This release was pressed at the MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville .

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

May 29, 2025

Duran Duran – I Don’t Want Your Love (UK 12″ Promo) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: June 17, 2014, February 21, 2018

Rhythm Is The Power

In 1988, Duran Duran returned to the dancefloor with a bold and funky new single that marked a sharp evolution in their sound: “I Don’t Want Your Love.” Released as the lead single from their Big Thing album, the track showed the band embracing a tougher, more club-oriented edge, blending their signature synth-pop sensibilities with house and funk elements that fit right into the late-’80s musical landscape.

Produced by Jonathan Elias and Duran Duran, and mixed by Shep Pettibone, this post features the UK 12″ promo, which includes the extended “Big Mix” and the rare “Dub Mix,” the latter of which remained exclusive to this promo for over a decade until it finally saw CD release on 1999’s Strange Behaviour remix compilation. The Big Mix, handled by the legendary Shep Pettibone, stretches out the track’s groove with bold synth layers, tight guitar riffs, and an elastic bassline that’s pure club gold. Meanwhile, the Dub Mix strips things down, zeroing in on rhythm and texture—essential for DJs and remix heads alike.

Lyrically, “I Don’t Want Your Love” was a defiant departure from the romanticism of earlier hits like “Save A Prayer.” Here, Simon Le Bon delivers a pointed, almost confrontational message, distancing himself from a manipulative relationship. The attitude was matched by a sleek, high-concept video directed by Steve Lowe, with courtroom drama imagery underscoring the song’s themes of judgment and rejection.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its shift in tone and style, “I Don’t Want Your Love” became a commercial success. It peaked at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #14 in the UK, giving the band one of their last major Top 10 hits in the States. For longtime fans, it signaled that Duran Duran wasn’t content to rest on their New Romantic laurels—they were ready to evolve with the times and challenge expectations.

This marks the third time I’ve transferred this 12″ for Burning the Ground—but with the benefit of time, experience, and cutting-edge tech, I truly believe the third time’s the charm. This brand-new 2025 transfer was done using my latest high-end setup, including the phenomenal Ortofon Concorde Music Black cartridge, delivering every nuance with stunning clarity and depth.

SIDE A:
I Don’t Want Your Love (Big Mix) 7:34
Engineer [Mix] – Bob Rosa
Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Uncredited] – Alan Friedman

SIDE B:
I Don’t Want Your Love (Dub Mix) 7:36
Engineer [Mix] – Bob Rosa
Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Uncredited] – Alan Friedman

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	I Don’t Want Your Love	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#4
1988	I Don’t Want Your Love	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	#13
1988	I Don’t Want Your Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ‎– 12 YOUR DJ 1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer – Daniel Abraham, Duran Duran, Jonathan Elias
Recorded By, Mixed By – Daniel Abraham
Written-By – Taylor*, Rhodes*, Le Bon*

NOTES:
Recorded and mixed for White Falcon Productions.
Additionally produced and mixed for Mastermix Productions.
Mastered at Sterling.

From the Duranduran album “BIG THING”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

March 31, 2025

Duran Duran – All She Wants Is (US 12″ Promo) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

By 1988, Duran Duran had moved well beyond their early-’80s new wave roots. Their album Big Thing signaled a shift toward a more experimental, club-oriented sound, and All She Wants Is, one of its standout singles, exemplified this transformation.

Released as the second single from Big Thing, All She Wants Is was one of the band’s most unconventional and daring tracks. Stripping away the glossy pop sheen of their earlier hits, the song embraced a darker, industrial-infused groove inspired by the house and dance music trends of the late ’80s. Produced by Duran Duran alongside Jonathan Elias and Daniel Abraham, it featured pulsing beats, distorted vocals, and an eerie, hypnotic atmosphere that set it apart from anything they had done before.

Despite its departure from their signature sound, All She Wants Is proved successful. It reached #9 on the UK Singles Chart and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., reaffirming the band’s ability to evolve while still making compelling music. On the U.S. Billboard Dance chart, it soared to #1, thanks in part to Shep Pettibone’s remixes, which amplified its club appeal. The song’s hypnotic rhythm and haunting chorus made it a favorite on dance floors, while its surreal music video—directed by Dean Chamberlain—added to its mystique with stop-motion animation and eerie lighting effects.

Beyond its chart performance, All She Wants Is showcased Duran Duran’s willingness to push creative boundaries—a trait that has helped them stay relevant for decades. Even today, the track remains a striking entry in their discography, a bold electronic departure that still captures the essence of what made Duran Duran one of the most exciting bands of their era.

For fans of late-’80s dance music and darker, edgier pop, All She Wants Is remains a fascinating listen—proof that Duran Duran was far more than just their early MTV-era hits. The track was ahead of its time and still sounds fresh today.

Official Remixes

The U.S. 12″ promo featured five remixes by Shep Pettibone, including the exclusive Euro House Dub II, which remains a vinyl-only track. Below is a breakdown of the various official remixes, with mix titles varying slightly by country:

45 Version / 7″ Version – Slight early fades of the album version, varying by release but only a few seconds shorter.
Euro House Mix / Euro Dub Mix – The same vocal house remix.
Euro House Dub I / House Dub – Identical instrumental house remixes.
Euro House Dub II – Exclusive to the U.S. promo 12″.
U.S. Master Mix – An electro/freestyle-inspired vocal remix.
U.S. Master Dub / Latino Dub – Identical instrumental remixes.

*Vinyl-only exclusive

SIDE A:
All She Wants Is (U.S. Master Mix) 7:21
All She Wants Is (U.S. Master Dub) 6:45

SIDE B:
All She Wants Is (Euro House Mix) 7:35
All She Wants Is (Euro House Dub I) 7:09
All She Wants Is (Euro House Dub II)* 5:44

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	All She Wants Is	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#22
1988	All She Wants Is	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	#24
1988	All She Wants Is	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – SPRO-79482, Capitol Records – SPRO-79483
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Gold sleeve
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Composed By – Taylor*, Rhodes*, Lebon*
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Goh Hotoda
Producer – Daniel Abraham, Duran Duran, Jonathan Elias
Remix – Shep Pettibone

NOTES:
Issued in plain white, silver or gold generic die-cut jacket with info sticker.

Mix titles on sticker vary slightly from what is on the labels; the tracklist here is a combination of the two.

Info on sticker:
New Mixes by Shep Pettibone
Promotional use only. Not for sale.

Info on labels:
Remixed by Shep Pettibone for MasterMix Productions.
(Original version appears on the LP “Big Thing” C1-90958)

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

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.