Tag: Gary Langan

Spandau Ballet – Fight For Ourselves (Extended Remix) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

“Fight for Ourselves” is a song by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released as the lead single from their 1986 album Through the Barricades. In the UK, the track reached number 15 on the Singles Chart, but it was met with largely negative reviews.

Background
While touring to promote their 1983 album True, Spandau Ballet noticed a newfound synergy in their live performances and sought to replicate that energy in their next studio effort. However, their attempt to achieve this with True co-producers Tony Swain and Steve Jolley on 1984’s Parade left the band dissatisfied. Guitarist and songwriter Gary Kemp later admitted, “We were afraid to take a big leap after True. The problem was that Parade didn’t reflect the live energy we had. People were disappointed with the record.” Kemp emphasized, “We’re a rock band now.”

Determined to evolve their sound, the band decided to part ways with Swain and Jolley. They brought in recording engineer Gary Langan, whom they had met while working with Trevor Horn, to co-produce a single track as a test before committing to him for the full album. The chosen song, originally titled “Everybody (We’ve Got to Fight for Ourselves)”, was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich during the winter of 1986. The experiment proved successful, and Langan co-produced the entire album.

Release and Commercial Performance
“Fight for Ourselves” was released in the UK on July 14, 1986, and peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, marking the band’s first lead single from an album to miss the top 10. The track fared better internationally, reaching number 5 in Italy, number 7 in Ireland, and number 10 on the European Hot 100. It also charted in other countries, including Spain (11), Australia and the Netherlands (16), Belgium (20), Switzerland (23), West Germany (32), and New Zealand (33).

Despite its moderate success, lead singer Tony Hadley reflected in his 2004 autobiography To Cut a Long Story Short that the single’s performance “hardly squared with our hopes of global success.”

Music Video
The music video for “Fight for Ourselves,” directed by Simon Milne, features a playful storyline in which two young women—one played by Paul Young’s then-girlfriend Stacey Smith—sneak into a Spandau Ballet concert. Using powers of invisibility, they interact with band members during the performance. Chroma key effects were employed for the disappearing and reappearing sequences. The exterior shots of the concert venue were filmed at 43 King Street, Covent Garden, London.

+De-notes vinyl-only

SIDE A:
Fight For Ourselves (Extended Remix) 7:30

SIDE B:
Fight For Ourselves 4:22
Fight … The Heartache+ 4:12

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Reformation – TA7264Reformation – TA 7264CBS – TA7264CBS – TA 7264
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: Jul 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Packaging by Movat/ Assorted Images
Made In England

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.



Billy Idol – White Wedding Parts I & II (Shot Gun Mix) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

Request

“White Wedding Parts I & II (Shot Gun Mix)” is a single released in June 1985 by English rocker Billy Idol to promote the Remix Album “Vital Idol”. This single contains the original 1982 12″ version of “White Wedding (Part 1&2)” renamed “Shotgun Mix” for this 12″ and the “Vital Idol” LP. The 1985 re-issue of “White Wedding” reached #6 on the UK singles chart where it did not chart at all when originally released in 1983.

This 12″ also includes the exclusive “Mega-Idol Mix” a megamix which comprises “Flesh For Fantasy,” “Hot in the City” and “Dancing With Myself”.

SIDE A:
White Wedding (Parts 1 & 2) (Shot Gun Mix) 8:21

SIDE B:
Mega-Idol Mix 8:00

B1 Flesh For Fantasy
Remix – Gary Langan

B2 Hot In The City

B3 Dancing With Myself
Remix – Steve Stevens

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis – IDOLX 5
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Partially Mixed
Country: UK
Released: Jun 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Made in the UK

New album “Vital Idol”

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 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

**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.



Billy Idol – Don’t Need A Gun (Melt Down Mix) (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Don’t Need a Gun” is a song by English rock vocalist Billy Idol, featured on the album Whiplash Smile in 1986 and released as a single that year. It appeared in the Miami Vice episode “Down for the Count (Part II)”.

“Don’t Need a Gun” was written by Billy Idol. The song has a clear content about the risk of using firearms.

SIDE A:
Don’t Need A Gun (Melt Down Mix) 7:07
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Don Wershba
Remix – Billy IdolFreddy BastoneSteve Stevens
Written-By – B. Idol*

SIDE B:
Don’t Need A Gun (Acapella Version) 3:03
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Don Wershba
Remix – Billy IdolFreddy BastoneSteve Stevens
Written-By – B. Idol*

Fatal Charm 3:41
Mixed By – Gary Langan
Written-By – B. Idol*, K. Forsey*, S. Stevens*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Don’t Need A Gun U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #37
1987 Don’t Need A Gun U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #10

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis ‎– 4V9 43090
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Artwork [Illustration Of Tattoo By] – Frank Olinsky
Design – Manhattan Design
Lacquer Cut By – Greg Calbi
Photography By –  Dick Zimmerman (3)
Producer – Keith Forsey

NOTES:
Original version on the LP “Whiplash Smile”
Mastered At – Sterling Sound

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
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 USED:
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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

Billy Idol – To Be A Lover (Rock N’ Roll Mix) (Australia 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!

Originally posted: March 25, 2013

“To Be a Lover” is a song notably covered by Billy Idol on his 1986 album Whiplash Smile. As the album’s lead single, it became Idol’s second top ten hit in the US, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song was written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones and originally performed by Bell as a soul ballad titled “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”, released in late 1968 and hitting No. 45 on the Hot 100 and No. 10 on Billboard′s Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in early 1969.

In 1986, the track was again reworked and became the second high-profile cover Billy Idol released as a single, after 1981’s “Mony Mony”. Idol would later top the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 7 UK), with a live version of “Mony Mony” in 1987. The single was backed by Whiplash Smile album track “All Summer Single”. Two different 12″ singles were also released worldwide (1x UK and 1x Australia), featuring the aforementioned track and two extended remixes of “To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)” and “Rock’n’Roll Mix” (Australia only). The “Mother of Mercy Mix” differs quite significantly from the single version; it is a harder sounding song, with a prominent heavy guitar riff dominating most of the track and an ‘interlude’ with distorted female groans. It is this version that is featured on the remix compilation album Vital Idol 1987 US/1988 Japan editions. The UK 12″ was also released as a limited-edition picture disc.

**”Rock N’ Roll Mix” is exclusive to this 12″

SIDE A:
To Be A Lover (Rock N’ Roll Mix) 7:10
Remix – Tom Lord-Alge

SIDE B:
To Be A Lover (Mother Of Mercy Mix) 6:45
All Summer Single 4:32

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 To Be A Lover U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #6
1986 To Be A Lover U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #2

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis ‎– X 14449
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM, Limited Edition
Country: Australia & New Zealand
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mixed By – Gary Langan
Photography By [Back Cover] – Albert Sanchez
Photography By [Front Cover] – David Kennedy (10)
Producer – Keith Forsey
Sleeve [Design] – Olinsky*, Gorman*
Written-By – B. Idol* (tracks: B2), Booker T. Jones (tracks: A, B1), William Bell (tracks: A, B1)

NOTES:
Original version appears on Chrysalis Album “WHIPLASH SMILE”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
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 USED:
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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