BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!
Originally posted April 18, 2012
“Square Rooms” is a song by American singer and actor Al Corley. It was the first single from his debut album of the same name. First released in 1984, the song was a hit in some European countries and had moderate success in the United States in 1985.
After two seasons playing one of the first gay leading characters an American TV series, Dynasty, Al Corley left the nighttime soap opera to become a singer. With Harold Faltermeyer and Peter John Woods, he composed the lyrics of his first song, “Square Rooms.”
The media-savvy singer affected the brooding look and attitude popular among pop stars and GQ models at the time: pouty, dark glances and tousled hair. His choice of the image worked best in France, where his television performances elicited the unbridled enthusiasm of teenage girls. However, according to Elia Habib, a French chart specialist, his success was not only based on his physical appearance. Indeed, “Square Rooms”‘ music had a large popular appeal and had a production designed for the dance floor. It was produced and composed by the German musician Harold Faltermeyer, who had previously arranged “Self Control”, a worldwide pop and dance-floor smash for Laura Branigan in 1984 which featured a similar vocal hook. Faltermeyer would achieve his greatest personal success later the same year, composing, performing and producing the score to Beverly Hills Cop, a 1984 film directed by Martin Brest, including its hit instrumental theme, “Axel F”.
“Square Rooms” was released first in Switzerland, where it was a hit, peaking at number 6 on 21 October 1984, and staying in the top 30 for ten weeks. The single debuted at no. 47 in the French Singles Chart on 5 January 1985. It climbed quickly and was no. 1 for five nonconsecutive weeks, from 9 March to 13 April 1985. After its peak, it lingered on the charts until its 27th week, on 20 July 1985. The song also achieved success in Italy (no. 12), Germany (no. 13) and Austria where it reached no. 15 in April 1985. “Square Rooms” was released last in Corley’s native US, where the single was only a minor pop hit, reaching no. 80 on the Hot 100 on 1 June 1985. American dancefloors were more receptive than its airwaves; Corley reached no. 26 on the Billboard dance chart the week of 22 June 1985.
The 12-inch (long) version includes an entire additional verse prior to the first chorus. This verse is excised in both the single and album versions of the song.
SIDE A:
Square Rooms (Long Version) 8:02
Written-By – Al Corley, Harold Faltermeier*, Peter Woods*
SIDE B:
Square Rooms (Single Version) 3:40
Written-By – Al Corley, Harold Faltermeier*, Peter Woods*
Don’t Play With Me 4:20
Written-By – Al Corley
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Square Rooms | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #80 |
| 1985 | Square Rooms | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #26 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – 822 241-1, Mercury – 822 241-1 Q
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Management – Alex Grob
Producer – Harold Faltermeier*
NOTES:
Made in West Germany
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
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