Tag: Germany

June 12, 2018

Village People – I Am What I Am (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1978

“I Am What I Am” is a song written by Victor Willis, Henri Belolo, Peter Whitehead and Jacques Morali that was first released by the Village People on their 1978 album Macho Man. It was also released as a single with “Key West,” also from Macho man, as the b-side in some countries including Germany and the UK. It did not chart in those countries, but it reached #4 on the Billboard Dance Chart in a medley with “Key West” and “Macho Man.” It has since been released on several Village People greatest hits compilation albums. It was also included on the soundtrack for the 1978 film Thank God It’s Friday.

Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider described “I Am What I Am” as a “human-rights anthem.” Village People singer Randy Jones describes the song as “a gay liberation statement, aimed directly at gays and lesbians who were standing up without apology for their lifestyle” and as the group’s “first gay liberation song.” He says that the theme of the song is the virtue of being yourself, and not just if you’re gay or transgender but even just if you want to dress in an unusual manner, as long as you don’t hurt anyone else. Author Michael DeAngelis describes the theme as being “pride and faithfulness to the individual and authentic self.” DeAngelis notes that this theme had particular resonance at the time, when the gay community was in the process of “coming out” and a general cultural obsession was finding healthy ways to feel good about oneself. Author Frédéric Martel identifies “I Am What I Am” as one of five Village People songs that were touchstones to the gay movement in France when they came out (“San Francisco (You’ve Got Me),” “Macho Man,” “Y.M.C.A.” and “In the Navy” being the others).

Author Judith A. Peraino described “I Am What I Am” as a “hit single” while Boze Hadleigh described it as a “pre-hit.” Author Sharon Davis claimed that lyrics are “so camp they have to held down with tent pegs.” But Billboard described it as “provocative,” describing it as a “gay pride anthem with its activist lyrics and basic theme.” Billboard also praised the rhythm and percussion and horn arrangements. Allmusic critic Amy Hanson described it as “a well-constructed slab of groove,” despite lacking subtlety. Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider regarded “I Am What I Am” as the best song on Macho Man stating that Willis’ voice is “full of anger and delight” on the song and concluding that “because the song seems so committed, it makes the rest of the material sound downright pointless.”

The song’s title was later reused by Jerry Herman for a 1983 hit song performed by Gloria Gaynor, which also had gay pride as a theme. Reebok later used the title phrase for a successful sneaker advertising campaign.

SIDE A:
I Am What I Am 5:28

SIDE B:
Macho Man 5:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Telefunken ‎– 6.20 011, Telefunken ‎– 6.20011
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Composed By, Producer – Jacques Morali
Written-By – Whitehead*, Belolo*, Morali*, Willis*

NOTES:
Made in Germany

Special Edits from the LP “MACHO MAN”

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
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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, ocenaudio
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

May 11, 2018

Peter Godwin – Baby’s In The Mountains (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

“Baby’s In The Mountains” is a 1983 single by English New wave artist Peter Godwin. Godwin was also a member of the English rock band Metro. “Baby’s in the Mountains” was taken from Peter Godwin’s only solo album “Correspondence” also released in 1983. The dance remix of “Baby’s In The Mountains” was a big dance hit and described as “intricate but direct”.

“Baby’s In The Mountains” debuted on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart on October 15, 1983, peaking at #4 after spending fourteen weeks on the survey.

SIDE A:
Baby’s In The Mountains (New York Remix) 6:50
Remix – John Luongo

SIDE B:
Soul Of Love 4:20

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1983	Baby’s In The Mountains	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor ‎– 815 536-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer –Georg Kajanus
Written-By – Peter Godwin

NOTES:
From the LP “Correspondence”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

April 6, 2018

Queen – A Kind Of Magic (Extended Version) (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“A Kind of Magic” is the title track of the 1986 album of the same name by the British rock band Queen. It was written by the band’s drummer, Roger Taylor, for the film Highlander. The single reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, top ten in a number of European countries, and #42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is the opening track on the band’s compilation albums, Greatest Hits II, and Classic Queen.

The phrase “a kind of magic” is used in Highlander by Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) as a description of his immortality. Roger Taylor liked the phrase so much that he used it as inspiration for the song. There are references to the film in the lyrics: “one prize, one goal”; “no mortal man”; and “there can be only one”. The single’s cover art features an image of Clancy Brown in character as the film’s villain, The Kurgan.

Taylor wrote the melody and chords for the version that appeared in the film, which Brian May described as “quite lugubrious and heavy”. Freddie Mercury composed a new bass line, added instrumental breaks, and changed the song’s order to make it more chart-friendly. Mercury and David Richards produced this new version. The song was still credited only to Taylor. Whilst Taylor’s version is at the end of the film, Mercury’s version appears on the album. Taylor’s version of A Kind of Magic did not see an official release until it was included on the extra EP for the 2011 special edition of the album.

The b-side track is an instrumental version of Don’t Lose Your Head.

SIDE A:
A Kind Of Magic (Extended Version) 6:25

SIDE B:
A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling 5:03

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	A Kind Of Magic	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#42

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ?– 1C K 060-20 1119 6, EMI ?– 12 QUEEN 7
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Design – Richard Gray (2)
Photography By – David James (20)
Producer – David Richards, Queen
Written-By – Roger Taylor

NOTES:
From the film Highlander – There Can Be Only One

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

January 24, 2018

Visage – Fade To Grey (Germany 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980

“Fade to Grey” is the second single by the British pioneers of the New Romantic movement Visage, released on Polydor Records in 1980.

The song was the band’s most successful single. It entered the singles charts in late 1980, peaking at no. 8 in the UK Singles Chart and reaching no. 1 in Germany and Switzerland. Steve Strange was on lead vocals; the French lyrics were spoken by Rusty Egan’s Belgian girlfriend Brigitte Arens.

The music video became one of the first video clips that Kevin Godley and Lol Creme directed before they became known for their works with the Police, Duran Duran, and Herbie Hancock.

The song features the same lyrics in two languages, English and French. The English lyrics are sung, whereas the French lyrics are spoken by a female voice. Steve Strange and Midge Ure both claimed to have been the one who came up with the idea for the French vocal in the track. On the finished track, the French vocal was performed by Brigitte Arens, a young student from Luxembourg who was Rusty Egan’s girlfriend at the time. On the album, the song is credited to Billy Currie, Chris Payne, and Midge Ure. In his 2002 autobiography, Strange said it was not fair to credit the song to Ure, Currie, and Payne only since his input was significant and he was “the focal point of the group”.

Currie and Payne worked on the instrumental part of the sound checks on Gary Numan’s 1979 tour. Cedric Sharpley, the drummer of Numan’s backing band, was also heavily involved. In those days it was called “Toot City”. While setting the track listing of the Visage album, Midge Ure suggested the use of the melody and wrote the song’s lyrics.

SIDE A:
Fade To Grey 6:15
Written-By – Currie*, Payne*, Ure*

SIDE B:
The Steps 3:15
Written-By – Currie*, Formula*, McGeoch*, Ure*, Egan*, Strange*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor ‎– 2141 318
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Visage
Producer – Midge Ure, Visage

NOTES:
Made in West Germany

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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