Tag: Louil Silas Jr

Klymaxx – Man Size Love (US 12″) (1986)

Burning The Ground

Yesterday we went back to Summer School.

Today we are…

Running Scared.

And longtime readers of this series may be thinking, “Haven’t we been here before?”

Yes, we have.

Earlier in Ladies Of The 80’s: Soundtrack Edition, we visited the 1986 film Running Scared for Kim Wilde’s “Say You Really Want Me.”

Apparently one trip to Chicago was not enough.

For the second-to-last entry in the series, we return to the soundtrack for Klymaxx and “Man Size Love.”

Running Scared, directed by Peter Hyams, stars Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal as Chicago police detectives Ray Hughes and Danny Costanzo, two wisecracking partners who decide they have had enough of police work and plan to retire to Key West.

Naturally, there is one more case to finish first.

Because retirement in an ’80s buddy-cop movie is never that easy.

The film was released on June 27, 1986, and also stars Jimmy Smits, Steven Bauer, Darlanne Fluegel, Joe Pantoliano, and Dan Hedaya. It went on to earn more than $38 million at the US box office.

Then there is the soundtrack.

This was no collection of leftovers.

Rod Temperton played a major role in the project, with Temperton, Dick Rudolph, and legendary engineer Bruce Swedien producing the soundtrack album. Temperton also wrote several of its songs.

And look at the lineup.

Klymaxx.

Michael McDonald.

Ready For The World.

New Edition.

Patti LaBelle.

Kim Wilde.

Fee Waybill.

There is a lot happening on this record.

“Man Size Love” opens the soundtrack, and it was written by Rod Temperton, the man whose résumé includes Heatwave’s “Boogie Nights,” George Benson’s “Give Me The Night,” and, of course, Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” and “Thriller.”

So expectations are already pretty high.

Temperton produced “Man Size Love” with Dick Rudolph and Bruce Swedien, giving the record the kind of polished pop, R&B, and dance production you would expect from that team.

Big synthesizers.

A funky bass line.

Those unmistakable mid-’80s drums.

And Klymaxx coming at the song with plenty of attitude.

Subtle?

Not particularly.

But with a title like “Man Size Love,” subtle probably was not on the agenda.

Klymaxx were already enjoying a major breakthrough by this point. Their previous single, the ballad “I Miss You,” had climbed all the way to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Man Size Love” proved they could follow a big ballad with something completely different.

The single reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 43 on the R&B chart, and No. 18 on Billboard’s Dance Club chart. It also reached No. 55 in Canada.

Across the Atlantic, the single received another chance in early 1987 and reached No. 86 on the UK Singles Chart.

There was also an official promotional video for the song, giving Klymaxx plenty of visibility during the summer of 1986.

But, of course, we are here for the 12-inch.

And this one does not disappoint.

The US 12-inch takes “Man Size Love” far beyond the soundtrack version, with an Extended Remix and Instrumental on one side before things become considerably more adventurous with the Man Size Mix and Son Of Man Size Mix.

Whoever named these mixes understood the assignment.

The Man Size Mix stretches the track to nearly nine minutes, while the Son Of Man Size Mix gives us another alternate treatment. Louil Silas Jr. was involved with the extended remix work, with Taavi Mote engineering the remix.

Once again, the 12-inch becomes more than simply a longer version of the hit.

The rhythm gets pulled apart.

Vocals move in and out.

Percussion gets extra room.

Little pieces of Rod Temperton’s arrangement that pass quickly in the regular version suddenly get their own moment.

This is exactly why I love these records.

The soundtrack gives you the song.

The 12-inch lets you climb inside it.

“Man Size Love” was later included on Klymaxx’s self-titled 1986 album, but its original identity remains strongly connected to Running Scared.

And it was not the only hit the movie produced.

Michael McDonald’s “Sweet Freedom” reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, while New Edition’s “Once In A Lifetime Groove” became a Top 10 R&B and Dance hit.

For a buddy-cop comedy, Running Scared certainly knew how to fill a dance floor.

So here we are.

Four weeks.

Dozens of movies, singers, remixes, dubs, bonus beats, gophers, summer schools, and more 12-inch vinyl than any sensible person should probably own.

And now only one entry remains.

But before we roll the final reel tomorrow…

Klymaxx has one request.

No small love.

No medium love.

Today…

we’re going Man Size.

SIDE A:
Man Size Love (Extended Remix) 4:43
Engineer [Remix] – Bruce Swedien

Man Size Love (Instrumental) 4:39
Engineer [Remix] – Bruce Swedien

SIDE B:
Man Size Love (Man Size Mix) 8:41
Engineer [Remix] – Taavi Mote
Remix – Louil Silas Jr.

Man Size Love (Son Of Man Size Mix) 6:47
Engineer [Remix] – Taavi Mote
Remix – Louil Silas Jr.

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

“Man Size Love” Chart Performance 1986 Peak Position
Canada RPM Top Singles 55
UK Singles Chart 86
US Billboard Hot 100 15
US Billboard Hot Black Singles 43
US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco 18

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23642
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Jul 1986
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop, Electro

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Theme from the Motion Picture, “Running Scared”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

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Cheyne – Private Joy (US 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Yesterday Luba told us that “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

Today we are getting a little more private.

Private Joy, that is.

For our next Ladies Of The 80s: Soundtrack Edition selection, we head back to 1985 for Cheyne’s “Private Joy,” from the soundtrack to one of the decade’s most wonderfully ridiculous teen comedies, Weird Science.

Written and directed by John Hughes, Weird Science stars Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Gary and Wyatt, two teenage boys who use a computer, a doll, and a little lightning to create their idea of the perfect woman.

Naturally, they get Kelly LeBrock.

Because apparently computers worked much better in 1985.

The movie also features Bill Paxton as Wyatt’s nightmare older brother Chet, along with Robert Downey Jr., Suzanne Snyder, Judie Aronson, and Vernon Wells. Weird Science opened in the United States on August 2, 1985.

And, of course, there was a soundtrack.

Oingo Boingo supplied the unforgettable title track, while the album also included Kim Wilde’s “Turn It On,” Max Carl’s “The Circle,” Wall Of Voodoo’s “Deep In The Jungle,” Killing Joke’s “Eighties,” The Lords Of The New Church, Taxxi, and others.

Then there was Cheyne.

Her contribution, “Private Joy,” has another very important name attached to it.

Prince.

“Private Joy” was written and originally recorded by Prince for his 1981 album Controversy. It was one of those wonderfully playful Prince tracks filled with synthesizers, rhythm machines, attitude, and just enough weirdness to make it unmistakably his.

Cheyne was not the first woman to cover it. La Toya Jackson recorded “Private Joy” for her 1984 album Heart Don’t Lie.

But Cheyne’s version takes the song somewhere else.

Produced by Greg Phillinganes and Jimmy Iovine, with vocal production by Louil Silas Jr., the Weird Science recording gives “Private Joy” a harder, more electronic 1985 makeover. AFI’s official film credits confirm Phillinganes and Iovine as producers and Silas as vocal producer.

The result fits Weird Science beautifully.

It is bright.

Synthetic.

Playful.

A little strange.

In other words, perfect for a movie about two teenagers creating Kelly LeBrock with a computer.

Cheyne herself is another interesting part of the story.

Earlier in 1985, she had topped Billboard’s Dance Club chart with “Call Me Mr. Telephone (Answering Service).”

And here is a great piece of 1980s pop trivia.

Before Madonna recorded “Into The Groove,” the song was originally intended for Cheyne, who was working with producer Mark Kamins at the time. Madonna ultimately decided to keep the song for herself.

Considering what happened to “Into The Groove,” that has to qualify as one of pop music’s great “what if?” moments.

Later that same year, MCA released “Private Joy” as a single from the Weird Science soundtrack.

Billboard featured the record as one of its Dance Picks in October 1985, listing the 5:28 version and crediting Greg Phillinganes and Jimmy Iovine as producers.

Despite the push, “Private Joy” does not appear to have reached Billboard’s major national singles charts.

Another one that slipped through the cracks.

Fortunately for us, MCA gave the song a US 12-inch release, and this is where things get especially interesting.

The 12-inch gives us the Extended Version, an Instrumental, and something wonderfully labeled “Bonus Beats Plus Bass.”

Now that is a title designed to get my attention.

Louil Silas Jr. handled the remix, taking the already electronic production and giving it considerably more room to move. The Extended Version runs 5:28, while the Instrumental stretches even longer at 5:46. “Bonus Beats Plus Bass” clocks in at 4:30.

The Instrumental is particularly fun because without Cheyne’s vocal, you can really dig into the machinery underneath the record.

And then there are those Bonus Beats.

Plus bass.

What else do we need?

“Private Joy” is exactly the kind of record I hoped to uncover when this series began.

A Prince composition.

A singer who had already topped the dance chart.

Production by Greg Phillinganes and Jimmy Iovine.

A remix by Louil Silas Jr.

A cult-classic John Hughes movie.

And a US 12-inch filled with versions that rarely get mentioned today.

Yet somehow, the record has become little more than a footnote.

Not here.

Gary and Wyatt needed a computer, a government mainframe, a Barbie doll, and a lightning storm to create their fantasy.

All we need is a turntable.

Welcome to my Private Joy.

SIDE A:
Private Joy (Extended Version) 5:28

SIDE B:
Private Joy (Instrumental) 5:46
Private Joy (Bonus Beats Plus Bass) 4:30

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23583
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Original version appears on the MCA LP MCA-6146, Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack, “Weird Science”.

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

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Kim Wilde – Say You Really Want Me (US 12″) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

For today’s entry in Ladies Of The 80s: Soundtrack Edition, we are heading back to 1986 for a record that brought Kim Wilde together with some of the biggest names working behind the scenes in American pop and R&B.

“Say You Really Want Me” was recorded for the soundtrack of Running Scared, the action-comedy starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as two Chicago police detectives hoping to retire before one last case pulls them back into danger. Directed by Peter Hyams, the movie was released in June 1986 and became a moderate box-office success.

The movie’s soundtrack was a major production in its own right. The nine-track album included Klymaxx’s “Man Size Love,” Michael McDonald’s “Sweet Freedom,” New Edition’s “Once In A Lifetime Groove,” Patti LaBelle’s “I Know What I Want,” and Kim Wilde’s “Say You Really Want Me.” It was released on MCA Records and runs for approximately 44 minutes.

“Say You Really Want Me” was written by Danny Sembello, Dick Rudolph, and Donnell Spencer Jr. Production was handled by Rod Temperton, Dick Rudolph, and legendary engineer Bruce Swedien, with Danny Sembello also playing keyboards.

That is quite a team.

Rod Temperton had written some of the most successful pop and R&B records of the period, including Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” and “Thriller,” George Benson’s “Give Me The Night,” and several hits for Heatwave. Bruce Swedien was known for his recording and mixing work with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. Their involvement gave the song a polished American dance sound that was noticeably different from the records Kim had been making with her brother Ricki Wilde.

Kim later recalled receiving a telephone call from Temperton, who needed a female singer for a song being recorded for the movie. Her American record company suggested her, and she flew to Los Angeles to record it. She considered being selected a major honor, especially since the song could easily have gone to a more established American vocalist.

The result is one of the most unusual singles in Kim Wilde’s catalog.

“Say You Really Want Me” trades much of the cool new wave edge of her earlier records for a warmer mixture of dance-pop, funk, freestyle, and R&B. The rhythm is busy and glossy, the keyboards bounce between the beats, and Kim gives the song a playful vocal that becomes more forceful as the arrangement builds.

The lyric is direct. Kim is tired of waiting for someone to admit how he feels. There is no room for mixed signals or romantic games. Either say you really want her or get out of the way.

Her performance balances confidence with just enough frustration to keep the song from becoming too lightweight. Kim was never known as a big soul singer, but the production pushes her into a different vocal setting, and she sounds as though she is enjoying the challenge.

Ironically, the song has only a small presence in Running Scared. Kim later said that it can be heard briefly from a radio in the film. She was also not especially fond of the movie after finally seeing it, although the soundtrack placement was intended to raise her profile in the United States.

The soundtrack connection gave the song its beginning, but it did not remain confined to the film.

“Say You Really Want Me” was first released as a single in North America during 1986. An edited version was also included on Kim’s fifth studio album, Another Step. After the enormous international success of her cover of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” the song was given another chance in 1987, including a UK release with newly created remixes.

The 1987 release reached number 29 in the United Kingdom and remained on the chart for five weeks. It also reached number 44 in the United States, number 48 in Canada, and number 18 in Ireland.

Although those positions were respectable, the single never became one of Kim’s most widely remembered hits. It arrived between two very different stages of her career. The early new wave sound of “Kids In America” was behind her, while the polished international pop of the Close album was still ahead.

“Say You Really Want Me” captures her standing somewhere in the middle.

The record also became something of a puzzle for collectors. At least twelve separate versions have appeared, including different soundtrack and album edits, several radio versions, an instrumental, the David Todd Remix, a nearly ten-minute Video Remix, and new 1987 UK mixes by Ricki Wilde. Some versions differ only slightly, making running times and pressing information very important.

The music video gave the song another life in 1987. Directed by Greg Masuak, it presented a more sensual and adult Kim Wilde than audiences had seen in her earlier clips. Both regular and extended versions of the video were produced, with the longer cut using the nearly ten-minute remix.

Looking back, “Say You Really Want Me” feels like a fascinating experiment. It placed a British pop singer inside a slick Los Angeles production created by people closely connected to some of the biggest American records of the decade.

It should have been a much larger hit.

Instead, it became one of those soundtrack singles that dedicated fans remember, collectors chase across several pressings, and casual listeners are often surprised to rediscover.

Running Scared may have introduced the song, but Kim Wilde gave it a life well beyond the few seconds heard in the movie.

So, do not keep it to yourself.

Say you really want Kim.

SIDE A:
Say You Really Want Me (Extended Mix) 9:47
Remix – Louil Silas, Jr.*

SIDE B:
Say You Really Want Me 5:44
Remix – David Todd

Say You Really Want Me (Radio Edit) 5:08
Remix – Louil Silas, Jr.*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Kim Wilde: Say You Really Want Me (1986-87) Peak Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 48
Ireland (IRMA) 18
UK Singles Chart 29
US Billboard Hot 100 44
US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play 32
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles 56

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23678
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
From the Motion Picture Soundtrack, “Running Scared”, MCA-6169.
Remixed at Larrabee Sound, Hollywood, CA.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

I appreciate your help.

 

Bobby Brown – “Every Little Hit” Megamix (US 12″ Promo) (1989)

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When Bobby Brown released Don’t Be Cruel in 1988, he didn’t just dominate radio—he owned the dance floor. Even years after its initial release, the album continued to generate club interest, and one of the more intriguing artifacts from that era is the promo-only single “Every Little Hit (Megamix)”, issued in the United States as a promo single sent out to radio stations, and DJ record pools.

Unlike a standard commercial release, Every Little Hit (Megamix) was created strictly as a DJ tool, servicing clubs and radio mix shows that were hungry for nonstop Bobby Brown energy. Rather than focusing on a single track, the megamix stitches together highlights from Don’t Be Cruel, effectively functioning as a rapid-fire celebration of the album’s biggest moments. It’s Bobby at full throttle—hooks stacked on hooks, beats barely given time to breathe, and an overall sense that this was designed to keep dance floors moving without interruption.

Megamixes like this were a staple of the late ’80s and early ’90s club scene. They served multiple purposes: a sampler for casual listeners, a transition-friendly weapon for DJs, and a reminder of just how many hits an artist had accumulated in a short period of time. In Bobby Brown’s case, the format made perfect sense. Don’t Be Cruel was packed with chart-toppers and club favorites, and hearing them collide in one continuous mix only reinforced how dominant his run truly was.

Because it was promo-only, Every Little Hit (Megamix) never received the kind of widespread recognition that his commercial singles did. It was not found in record store bins, and many fans never knew it existed unless they were plugged into club culture or radio at the time. That scarcity has helped turn it into a bit of a cult item today—especially among collectors who appreciate the unique role promo 12″s played in shaping how dance music was heard and experienced.

Every Little Hit (Megamix) stands as a snapshot of an era when remix culture was booming, DJs were tastemakers, and record labels understood the power of the club. It may not be the most talked-about Bobby Brown release, but it’s a fascinating reminder that sometimes the most exciting records were the ones never meant for the general public—only for the booth, the floor, and those lucky enough to hear them in the moment.

SIDE A:
“Every Little Hit” Mega Mix (Club Version) 8:58
A.1 Every Little Step
A.2 On Our Own
A.3 Don’t Be Cruel
A.4 My Prerogative

SIDE B:
“Every Little Hit” Mega Mix (Radio Edit) 6:11
B.1 Every Little Step
B.2 On Our Own
B.3 Don’t Be Cruel
B.4 My Prerogative

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – L33-18116
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: RnB/Swing

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Includes special edits of “Every Little Step”, “On Our Own”, “Don’t Be Cruel” and “My Prerogative”. Inspired by Bobby’s mega hit “Dance… Ya Know It!” and “Don’t Be Cruel” albums.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon Concorde Music Black
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.