Tag: Elton John

April 9, 2025

Olivia Newton-John – The Rumour (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

NEW 2025 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!

Original post date May 31, 2017

Released in August 1988, “The Rumour” was the lead single and title track from Olivia Newton-John’s thirteenth studio album. Known for her wholesome image and soft pop hits, Olivia took a more mature and socially conscious turn on this record—addressing themes like tabloid gossip, environmental issues, and global awareness, all wrapped in polished late-’80s pop production.

Co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, “The Rumour” has an energetic bounce, driven by bright synths, a punchy rhythm section, and a hook that sticks. Elton didn’t just write the song—he also played piano and contributed backing vocals, adding an unmistakable touch of his signature flair to the track.

A stylish music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Brian Grant (known for his work with artists like Whitney Houston and Duran Duran). The video featured slick, upbeat choreography by none other than Kenny Ortega, adding a vibrant visual energy that matched the song’s pop sophistication.

The track was also remixed for clubs by the legendary Shep Pettibone, who amped up the dancefloor appeal with extended instrumental breaks and a slick, late-’80s groove. Thanks to Shep’s remix, “The Rumour” found a second life on the dancefloor—peaking at #17 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, even if it only reached #62 on the Hot 100.

The 12″ version featured here includes Shep’s extended mix, which stretches out the shimmer and lets the groove breathe—Olivia never quite sounded like this before or since. It’s a sleek, underappreciated gem that showcases her versatility and willingness to evolve her sound.

Despite not being a huge commercial smash, “The Rumour” marks a fascinating era in Olivia’s career—one where she wasn’t afraid to experiment, speak her mind, and team up with pop royalty to craft something unique.

This one’s for the fans who remember when pop stars weren’t afraid to push boundaries—and still made it sound this good.

SIDE A:
The Rumour (12″ Extended Mix) 6:42
The Rumour (7″ Mix) 4:00

SIDE B:
The Rumour (12″ Dub) 4:14
The Rumour (Instrumental) 4:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	The Rumour	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#62
1988	The Rumour	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks	#33
1988	The Rumour	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#17
1988	The Rumour	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles Sales	#42

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23890
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Aug 13 1988
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Mixed By – Shep Pettibone, Steve Peck
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer – Elton John, James Newton Howard
Remix [Additional Production] – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – Elton John & Bernie Taupin

NOTES:
Original versions appear on the Olivia Newton-John album “The Rumour” (MCA-6245)

Remix And Additional Production By Shep Pettibone For Mastermix Productions

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

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

March 7, 2024

Jennifer Rush with Elton John – Flames Of Paradise (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987

“Flames of Paradise” is a 1987 single by American singer Jennifer Rush a duet with Elton John. The song became Rush’s first Top 40 success in the US and a hit in Europe, although smaller than expected in the UK after predictions of it reaching number one by Smash Hits and Number One Magazine.

The song reached #36 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in July 1987, and #59 in the UK. The song did much better in Switzerland where it reached #7.

SIDE A:
Flames Of Paradise (Extended Club Remix) 5:38
Remix – Chris Lord-Alge

SIDE B:
Flames Of Paradise (Instrumental Remix) 4:55
Remix – Chris Lord-Alge

Flames Of Paradise (Single Version) 4:03

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Flames Of Paradise	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#36

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 49 06829
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo
Country: US
Released: Jul 1, 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer – Andy Goldmark, Bruce Roberts
Written-By – A. Goldmark*, B. Roberts*

NOTES:
Manufactured by Epic Records/CBS Inc.

Tracklist on vinyl are as listed but the cover lists B2 as “Call My Name”.
The labels are printed Demonstration Not For Sale and the cover is gold stamped on a back corner.

From the LP “HEART OVER MIND”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (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

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

August 29, 2023

Elton John – Heartache All Over The World (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

NEW 2023 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Originally posted March 27, 2010

“Heartache All Over the World” is a song by English musician Elton John from his 20th studio album, Leather Jackets (1986). Written by John and Bernie Taupin, it was released as the album’s lead single in September 1986, charting at number 45 in the UK Singles Chart and at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and reaching the top 10 in Australia, where it peaked at number 7.

The song talks about not being able to date for a night. In 2001, Elton John regarded “Heartache All Over the World” as the worst song he had ever recorded, calling it “pretty insubstantial”.

John performed the song four times during his Tour De Force tour in Australia in 1986, which is notable for John’s problems with his vocal cords during that time.

SIDE A:
Heartache All Over The World (Megamix) 8:00
Engineer – Graham Dickson
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Written-By – Taupin*, Elton John

SIDE B:
Highlander 3:35
Engineer – Graham Dickson
Producer – Adrian Collee, Tom Pearce
Written-By – Elton John

Heartache All Over The World 4:00
Engineer – Graham Dickson
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Written-By – Taupin*, Elton John

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Heartache All Over The World	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#55

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records – 0-20563
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

NOTES:
Original version available on the Elton John album LEATHER JACKETS on Geffen Records

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
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 making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

June 14, 2023

Elton John – Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two) (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

Gay Icon Elton John made sure to send a message to people who were cast out like him. He reassured people who were not fitting in that they would eventually find their place. Over the years he has been working for AIDS prevention. He also established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992, which has raised more than $400 million. As well as an annual high-profile Oscar party which also raises money for AIDS prevention.

“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)” is a song by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin from the album Reg Strikes Back. It was released as a 12″ single in 1988 only in the United States.

Although not a particularly popular song, some critics judged it as a “most intriguing” song or the “brightest moment” of the album. John said: “That’s probably my favorite track on the album. It just has a great New York feel”. He played both versions of the song sequentially in concerts from the release of “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)” in 1988 through to 1993.

The song is about New York City and is a continuation of the song “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” from the 1972 album Honky Château. Although the song follows the same meaning of its predecessor, it has a very different tempo and instrumental arrangement and is in many ways a more complex song, with a variety of key changes and unusual chords throughout the song. A brief homage to the Beatles’ song “Drive My Car” can be heard during the trumpet solo, where Elton and the backup singers interject “beep beep, beep beep, yeah!”.

SIDE A:
Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two) (The Renaissance Mix) 6:18
Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two) (The Da Vinci Version) 4:47

SIDE B:
A Word In Spanish 4:38
Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two) (The Self Portrait Instrumental) 4:56

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23917
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Pop
Style: Synthpop

CREDITS:

Design – Wherefore Art*
Management – Connie Hillman, John Reid (8), Steve Brown*
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Producer – Chris Thomas
Remix – Shep Pettibone (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

NOTES:
Original version appears on the MCA LP, “Reg Strikes Back”.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
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 making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.