Tag: Madonna

Madonna – Express Yourself (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1989

A. Front

R E Q U E S T

“Express Yourself” is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her fourth studio album Like a Prayer. It was released as the second single from the album on May 9, 1989, by Sire Records. The song was included on the greatest hits compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990), and Celebration (2009). “Express Yourself” was the first song that Madonna and producer Stephen Bray collaborated on for Like a Prayer. Written and produced by them, the song was a tribute to American funk and soul band Sly and the Family Stone. The main inspiration behind the song is female empowerment, urging women never to go for second-best and to always express their inner feelings.

“Express Yourself” is an upbeat dance-pop song that features instrumentation from brass, hand claps and drum beats, while the chorus is backed by the sound of saxophone and percussion. The lyrics talk about rejecting material pleasures and only accepting the best for oneself; subtexts are employed throughout the song. “Express Yourself” received positive reviews from critics, who applauded the gender equality message of the song and complimented the song for being a hymn to freedom and encouragement to women and all oppressed minorities. The song was also a commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in Canada, Italy and Switzerland and the top five in other nations. It also became Madonna’s sixth number-one hit on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.

*As a bonus I have added the 7″ Remix taken from the US 7″ single.

SIDE A:
Express Yourself (Non-Stop Express Mix) 7:58
Express Yourself (Stop & Go Dubs) 10:50

SIDE B:
Express Yourself (Local Mix) 6:20

The Look Of Love (LP Version) 4:03
Producer, Written-By – atrick Leonard

BONUS TRACK:
Express Yourself (7″ Remix) 4:34

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1989 Express Yourself U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #2
1989 Express Yourself U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #12
1989 Express Yourself U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #1

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-21225
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Design – Jeri Heiden
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Bob Rosa (tracks: A1 to B1)
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer, Written-By – Madonna, Stephen Bray (tracks: A1 to B1)
Programmed By – Fred McFarlane (tracks: A1 to B1)
Remix, Producer [Additional Production], Edited By – Shep Pettibone (tracks: A1 to B1)
Typography [Lettering] – Kama Logan

NOTES:
“Express Yourself” from the Sire LP:
“LIKE A PRAYER”

“The Look Of Love” from the soundtrack LP:
“WHO’s THAT GIRL”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
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

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
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

Madonna – Golden Girl Mixes (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1990

Another set of great ON-USound megamixes. This time Madonna gets the megamix treatment. A “Classic Megamix” which has appeared on other bootleg singles sometimes reffered to as “Madonna Super Disco Mix”. This megamix is mostly of Madonna’s early 80’s hits. We also get a “New Megamix” which is comprised of the Material Girl’s later 80’s offerings endinding with 1990’s “Vogue”.

Please remember these are unofficial releases so the mastering quality is not always the best. The vinyl transfer contained in this post is probably the best you will ever hear these mixes. Enjoy!!

SIDE A:
New Megamix 12:00
Who’s That Girl
La Issa Bonita
Keep It Together
Like A Prayer
Open Your Heart
Vogue
Express Yourself
Causing A Commotion

SIDE B:
Classic Megamix 10:09
Into The Groove
Lucky Star
Borderline
Holiday
Sidewalk Talk
Like A Virgin
Angel
Material World
Dress You Up

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint (generic)

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ON-USound – GGM 91
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 RPM, Unofficial Release
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Dj Mix [Megamix] – Greg Merriman (Side B)

NOTES:
Track times are incorrect on label.

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Madonna – Angel (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

REQUEST

“Angel” is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her second studio album Like a Virgin. It was released on April 10, 1985 by Sire Records as the third single from the album. Written by Steve Bray and Madonna, it was one of the first songs developed for the project and, according to Madonna, was inspired by a girl who is saved by an angel, and she falls in love with Him. “Angel” was released as a 12″ single with “Into the Groove” in some countries and charted likewise. A music video was initially planned for the release, but was later cancelled. Instead a promotional video comprising clips from her previous videos was released in the United Kingdom.

Musically “Angel” consists of three chord ascending hook, which serves for the verse and chorus. It has vocal harmonies beneath the main chorus and the lyrics repeat the angel-like image of Madonna’s saviour. Critics gave mixed review of the song, with one group denoting it as a classic while the others felt it was sub-par compared to the other Madonna singles. “Angel” became Madonna’s fifth consecutive top-five single on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top of its dance charts. It was also able to reach number-one in Australia and the top-five of the charts in Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. Madonna has performed the song only once, on her Virgin Tour in 1985.

“Burning Up” (Alternate Album Version) is used for the Vinyl edition of Madonna – The First Album and has a duration of 4:48. This version is actually the original album version, before being replaced with the final mix (also used in the video version). This version also appeared as the b-side fof the 7″ and 12″ versions of “Angel” in European markets.

SIDE A:
Angel (Extended Dance Mix) 6:15
Producer – Nile Rodgers
Remix – James Farber, Nile Rodgers
Written-By – Madonna, Stephen Bray

SIDE B:
Burning Up (Alternate Album Version) 4:48
Producer – Reggie Lucas
Written-By – Madonna

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Angel U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #5
1985 Angel U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks #5
1985 Angel U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play #1

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – W 8881 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Photography By – Herb Ritts

NOTES:
Side A from the album “Like A Virgin”
Side B from the album “Madonna: The First Album”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Madonna – Holiday/Over And Over (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

Super Madonna Weekend continues on BTG! It’s Super Bowl Sunday, and the New England Patriots are three-point favorites in tonight’s big game. My pick is that Madonna will win the game as she performs during tonights Super Bowl XLVI halftime show.

This is the third and final 12″ promo from the 1987 “You Can Dance” project. The classic anthem “Holiday” gets the remix treatment by John “Jellybean” Benitez and the Like A Virgin album track, “Over And Over”, gets a makeover by Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero.

The 12″ exhibits exclusive front cover artwork and a plain white back cover. Tracks A1 & B1 are exclusive to this promo and are completely unmixed with no fades at the beginning or end of the tracks.

SIDE A:
Holiday (Extended Remix) 6:59
Producer – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez

Holiday (Dub) 6:57
Producer – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez

SIDE B:
Over And Over (Extended Remix) 7:11
Keyboards [Additional] – Jack Waldman
Percussion [Additional] – Jimmy Maelen
Producer – Nile Rodgers
Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero

Over And Over (Dub) 6:43
Keyboards [Additional] – Jack Waldman
Percussion [Additional] – Jimmy Maelen
Producer – Nile Rodgers
Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – PRO-A-2907
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

NOTES:
Tracks A1 & B1 are exclusive to this release. They are complete and unmixed with no fades at the begining or end of the tracks.

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi