Tag: Francois Kevorkian

May 22, 2017

Jan Hammer – Miami Vice Theme (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Miami Vice Theme” was created and performed by Jan Hammer as the theme to the television series Miami Vice. It was first presented as part of the television broadcast of the show in September 1984 and released as a single in 1985, peaking at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the last instrumental to top the Hot 100 until 2013, when “Harlem Shake” by Baauer reached number one. It also peaked at number 5 in the UK, and number 4 in Canada. In 1986, it won Grammy Awards for “Best Instrumental Composition” and “Best Pop Instrumental Performance.” This song, along with Glenn Frey’s number-two hit “You Belong to the City”, put the Miami Vice soundtrack on the top of the US album chart for 11 weeks in 1985, making it the most successful TV soundtrack of all time until 2006 when Disney Channel’s High School Musical beat its record.

It’s a mystery the US 12″ credits François Kevorkian and Ron St. Germain as remixer while the UK 12″ credits Louil Silas Jr.. The “Extended Remix” seems to be the same mix that appears on the UK release. So who actually remixed the track?

SIDE A:
Miami Vice Theme (Extended Remix) 6:52
Remix – François Kevorkian, Ron St. Germain

SIDE B:
Miami Vice Theme (Remix) 4:32
Remix – François Kevorkian, Ron St. Germain

Miami Vice Theme (Original) 1:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Miami Vice Theme	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1985	Miami Vice Theme	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary	#16
1985	Miami Vice Theme	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	#21
1985	Miami Vice Theme	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	#7
1985	Miami Vice Theme	U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks	#29
1985	Miami Vice Theme	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#10

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records ‎– MCA-23575
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer, Arranged By – Jan Hammer
Written-By – J. Hammer*

NOTES:
Original version appears on the MCA LP, MCA-6150, “Music From The Television Series ‘Miami Vice'”

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

April 6, 2017

Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield – What Have I Done To Deserve This? (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“What Have I Done to Deserve This?” is a song by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, featuring singer Dusty Springfield.

When released as a single in late 1987, it peaked at number 2 in the UK and also at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the fourth top ten hit for Pet Shop Boys as well as the biggest hit of Springfield’s career in the US. It was kept from the top spot by “Seasons Change” by Expose and “Father Figure” by their fellow British singer George Michael on that chart. The single made it to number 1 on the Irish singles chart, where it was Pet Shop Boys’ second number 1 hit in the space of just six weeks.

The song’s success helped revive Springfield’s career and led to a resurgence of interest in her music. Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield performed the song for the 1988 BRIT Awards. Following the duet the Pet Shop Boys wrote and produced the singles “Nothing Has Been Proved” and “In Private” for Springfield, both included on her 1990 album Reputation.

The music video was filmed in a music hall, featuring a female chorus line and male members of the pit orchestra. It made significant use of the theater drapes and stage curtains for dramatic effect. Like all of the singles taken from the Actually album, the song also appears on the film It Couldn’t Happen Here, where it is briefly played in instrumental form, without vocals.

In North America the 12″ single included alternate Shep Pettibone remixes with “Rent” and “I Want A Dog” as the b-side tracks.

SIDE A:
What Have I Done To Deserve This? (The Shep Pettibone Remix) 8:30
Edited By – Junior Vasquez, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix] – Bob Rosa
Producer – Stephen Hague
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Stephen Hague
Written-By – Allee Willis, Chris Lowe, Neil Tennant*

What Have I Done To Deserve This? (Dub Mix) 6:50
Edited By – Junior Vasquez, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix] – Bob Rosa
Producer – Stephen Hague
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Stephen Hague
Written-By – Allee Willis, Chris Lowe, Neil Tennant*

SIDE B:
Rent (The François Kevorkian Remix) 7:02
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer, Engineer – Julian Mendelsohn
Remix – François Kevorkian, Michael Hutchinson
Written-By – Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe*

I Want A Dog 4:57
Engineer – David Jacob, Mike Nielson*
Producer – Pet Shop Boys
ysWritten-By – Neil Tennant Chris Lowe*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	What Have I Done To Deserve This?	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#2
1988	What Have I Done To Deserve This?	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#14
1988	What Have I Done To Deserve This?	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI-Manhattan Records ‎– V-56080
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Composed By – Willis* (tracks: A1, A2), Tennant/Lowe*
Design [Sleeve] – Mark Farrow At (3)*, Pet Shop Boys
Photography By – Eric Watson (3)
Photography By [Dusty Springfield] – Val Wilmer*

NOTES:
Printed in the U.S.A

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

September 28, 2016

Jody Watley – Don’t You Want Me (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Don’t You Want Me” is the third single from singer Jody Watley’s eponymous debut album. The song was produced by Bernard Edwards of Chic-fame and written by Jody Watley, Franne Golde and David Paul Bryant.

Watley’s previous single, “Still a Thrill,” fared well in dance and R&B markets, but less-so in the mainstream. This prompted her label, MCA, to go in a more pop-friendly direction. “Don’t You Want Me” was one of the biggest crossover singles for the year 1987, reaching top ten on the Billboard pop and R&B charts and becoming a number-one dance club hit.

“Don’t You Want Me” landed in the Top 40 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart the week of October 24, 1987, advancing from #56 to #40. The song reached #6 on December 19, 1987 and remained there for three consecutive weeks.

Internationally the single reched #55 U.K., #46 New Zealand and #24 Canada.

SIDE A:
Don’t You Want Me (Extended Mix) 6:48
Don’t You Want Me (A Cappella) 4:12

SIDE B:
Don’t You Want Me (Radio Edit) 4:17
Don’t You Want Me (Dub Version) 7:54

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Don’t You Want Me	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#6
1987	Don’t You Want Me	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#3
1987	Don’t You Want Me	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records ‎– MCA-23785, MCA Records ‎– MCA 23785
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Lynn Robb
Management [Direction] – Bennett Freed Management
Mastered By – Herb Powers, Jr.*
Photography – Victoria Pearson
Producer – Bernard Edwards
Remix, Producer [Additional Production Assistant] – Dennis Mitchell
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Francois Kevorkian*, Michael Hutchinson
Written-By – D.P. Bryant*, F. Gold*, J. Watley*

NOTES:
Original version appears on the MCA LP, “JODY WATLEY”

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 27, 2016

Planet P – Why Me? (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“Why Me?” is a song by American rock musician Tony Carey under the pseudonym Planet P Project also known as Planet P. “Why Me?” received heavy exposure of the accompanying music video on MTV. In the U.S. the single clicked at mainstream rock stations peaking at #4, while it also managed to crossover over onto the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #64.

SIDE A:
Why Me? (Dance Remix) 6:28

SIDE B:
Why Me? (Instrumental / Dubb) 5:22

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1983	Why Me?	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#64
1983	Why Me?	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label:Geffen Records ‎– PRO-A-2018
Format:Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 45 RPM
Country:US
Released:1983
Genre:Rock
Style:Prog Rock

CREDITS:
Producer – Peter Hauke
Remix – François Kevorkian, John Potoker

NOTES:
Original version on the Geffen LP “PLANET P”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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