Tag: Nile Rodgers

Duran Duran – The Wild Boys (Japan 12″) (1984)

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NEW 2025 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!

Original post date: December 22, 2016

In late 1984, Duran Duran unleashed “The Wild Boys,” a pounding, futuristic anthem that marked a darker turn for the band and became one of their most iconic singles of the era. The track was conceived as part of a proposed film project based on the William S. Burroughs novel The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead, with the idea pushed by director Russell Mulcahy (who had helmed many of the band’s most lavish videos). While the film never came to fruition, the song and its accompanying video pushed boundaries—and budgets—at the time.

Produced by the legendary Nile Rodgers, “Wild Boys” was the only studio track on the band’s live album Arena and perfectly fused the band’s pop sensibility with Rodgers’ cutting-edge production and dancefloor sensibilities. The result was a sonic assault of heavy synths, aggressive guitar stabs, tribal drums, and Simon Le Bon’s defiant vocal delivery.

The Extended Mix takes the drama up several notches, building the tension with a long, cinematic intro that recalls the dystopian atmosphere of the video. The breakdowns and effects-laden passages give the song more room to breathe and further highlight Rodgers’ intricate production.

Chart-wise, “Wild Boys” was a smash. It reached #2 in both the US and UK, blocked from the top in the US by Hall & Oates’ “Out of Touch.” It also gave Duran Duran their first #1 in Germany and South Africa, proving the band’s international staying power as they transitioned from New Romantic heartthrobs into global pop powerhouses.

Fun fact: Simon Le Bon nearly drowned during the filming of the video, which featured the band tied to a windmill and submerged in a water tank. It’s a miracle the band made it out intact—both literally and figuratively.

The B-side, “(I’m Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement (Live),” was recorded during the band’s 5 March 1984 show at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. This is the same concert where the video for “The Reflex” was filmed—capturing the band at the height of their early-’80s hysteria with screaming fans and high-voltage energy. The live track offers a grittier, rawer take on the Seven and the Ragged Tiger album cut, giving fans a peek into the band’s powerful live presence during their Sing Blue Silver tour.

“Wild Boys” remains a touchstone of mid-80s maximalism: all attitude, danger, and style. It’s the sound of a band pushing their limits—and taking us along for the ride.

SIDE A:
The Wild Boys (Wilder Than Wild Boys) (Extended Mix) 8:00
Producer – Nile Rodgers

SIDE B:
The Wild Boys (45) 4:18
Producer – Nile Rodgers

(I’m Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement (1984) 4:10
Engineer [Live Recording] – George Tutko
Engineer, Mixed By – Jason Corsaro

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
OBI Strip: Near Mint
Insert: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 The Wild Boys U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #2
1984 The Wild Boys U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play #27

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ‎– S14-102
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Japan
Released: Nov 21, 1984
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
From the LP “ARENA”

Track B2 was recorded live on tour 1984.
Mastered at Masterdisk.

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.



Madonna – Material Girl (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

AN 80s AUDITORY ICON

“Material Girl” is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on January 23, 1985, by the Sire label as the second single from Like a Virgin. It also appears slightly remixed on the 1990 greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, and in its original form on the 2009 greatest hits compilation, Celebration. The song was written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans, while Nile Rodgers produced the track. Madonna explained that the concept of the song was indicative of her life at that time, and she liked it because she felt it was provocative.

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of February 9, 1985, at position 43, when “Like a Virgin” was descending out of the top ten. The single climbed the Hot 100 quickly, jumping 13 spots to number five the week of March 9, 1985, and eventually spent two weeks at number two, held off by REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and Phil Collins’ “One More Night”. The week when the song slipped to position three, her upcoming single “Crazy for You” reached number four, giving Madonna two simultaneous top-five hits. “Material Girl” reached the top of the Hot Dance Club Songs but was less successful on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, failing to enter the top 40 and peaking at number 49. It was placed at number 58 on the year-end chart for 1985, with Madonna becoming the top pop artist for the year. In Canada, the song debuted on the RPM Singles Chart at number 76, on the issue dated February 16, 1985. After five weeks, it reached a peak position of four on the chart and was present on the chart for a total of 21 weeks. It was ranked at number 46 on the RPM Year-End chart for 1985.

In the United Kingdom, “Material Girl” debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 24 on March 2, 1985, and reached a peak position of number three. It was present for a total of ten weeks on the chart. Across Europe, the song reached the top-ten in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, while reaching the top 40 of Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

In Australia, the single debuted at number 25 on 17 March 1985 and peaked at number four three weeks later. It also reached the Top 5 in New Zealand and Japan.

SIDE A:
Material Girl (Extended Dance Remix) 6:07
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Melanie West
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Michael Hutchinson
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Written-By – Peter Brown (2), Robert Rans

SIDE B:
Pretender (LP Version) 4:31
Written-By – Madonna, Steve Bray*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Material Girl U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #2
1985 Material Girl U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary #33
1985 Material Girl U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #49
1985 Material Girl U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs #1
1985 Material Girl U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club/Maxi-Singles Sales #2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20304, Sire – 9 20304-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Produced for Nile Rodgers Productions, Inc.

Original version of “Material Girl” and “Pretender” from the Sire album Like A Virgin

Made/Printed in U.S.A.
Mastered by Frankford/Wayne New York.

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
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 making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.



Madonna – Dress You Up (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

AN 80s AUDITORY ICON!

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Originally posted December 13, 2016

“Dress You Up” is a song by American singer Madonna from her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on July 31, 1985, as the album’s final single, by Sire Records. The song was the last track to be added to the album as it was submitted late by songwriters Andrea LaRusso and Peggy Stanziale. Madonna pushed for the song’s inclusion in Like a Virgin as she particularly liked its lyrics. Musically, the song is a drum-beat-driven dance track featuring instrumentation from guitars and vocals from a choir, and a guitar solo played by Nile Rodgers, who also produced the song. The lyrics are an extended metaphor for fashion and sex, comparing dressing up with passion. A live performance from Madonna’s first tour was used as the music video.

Critics reacted positively to the dance-pop nature of the track. “Dress You Up” became Madonna’s sixth consecutive top-five single in the United States. It also reached the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. “Dress You Up” was added to the “Filthy Fifteen” list of the Parents Music Resource Center, due to the sexual nature of its lyrics.

SIDE A:
Dress You Up (The 12″ Formal Mix) 6:16
Engineer [Assistant] – Melanie West
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Hutchinson
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Written-By – Andrea LaRusso, Peggy Stanziale

SIDE B:
Dress You Up (The Casual Instrumental Mix) 4:37
Engineer [Assistant] – Melanie West
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Hutchinson
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Written-By – Andrea LaRusso, Peggy Stanziale

Shoo-Bee-Doo (LP Version) 5:16
Written-By – Madonna

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Dress You Up U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #5
1985 Dress You Up U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary #32
1985 Dress You Up U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #3
1985 Dress You Up U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop #64

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20369
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Produced for Nile Rodgers Productions, Inc.
From the LP “LIKE A VIRGIN”

Produced for Nile Rodgers Productions, Inc

Made in U.S.A.
Printed in U.S.A.

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
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 making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.



Sheena Easton – Do It For Love (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

In The Name Of LOVE Week!

NEW 2023 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!

Originally posted March 11, 2013

“Do It For Love” was the first single released from Sheena Easton’s seventh studio albu “Do You”. The song was produced by Nile Rodgers, the song and album marked a change from her pop sound to a funkier more club/dance feel. “Do It For Love” peaked at #29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #21 on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart in 1985.

The 12″ versions were remixed by James Farber who had also remixed “Angel” and “Material Girl” for Madonna.

SIDE A:
Do It For Love (Extended Dance Mix) 7:02
Written-By – A. Bertei* , M. Kessler*

SIDE B:
Can’t Wait Till Tomorrow (Dance Mix) 5:20
Written-By – G. Leib* , J. Keller , R. Neigher*

Do It For Love (Instrumental Mix) 4:46
Written-By –A. Bertei* , M. Kessler*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Do It For Love U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #29
1985 Do It For Love U.S. Billboard Hot Dance  Music/Club Play #21

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America – v19202-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
From The LP “DO YOU”

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
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 making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.