Tag: Nile Rodgers

September 24, 2021

Duran Duran – Master Mixes (US 12″ EP)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987

“Master Mixes” is a 12″ EP by Duran Duran, released in Asia, Hong Kong, and the USA by Capitol Records-EMI-Masterdisk on 20 June 1987 and in Brazil during December 1987.

The 12″ vinyl edition released in Asia, Hong Kong, and the USA is a double one-sided record, housed in a plain white stickered sleeve.

The Brazilian edition was issued in a picture sleeve in December 1987 for promotional purposes, to coincide with the Hollywood Rock Festival shows in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in January 1988.

Rumour had it that the band were readying either “American Science” or “Vertigo” as a likely fourth single from the album Notorious, commissioning remixes in anticipation. However, as both “Skin Trade” and “Meet El Presidente” failed to enter the top 20, plans for a fourth single were quietly scrapped.

Masterdisk released this Master Mixes collection, compiling the unused remixes, as well as a further mix of “Skin Trade” and a megamix called “Notoriousaurus Rex” in time for Duran Duran’s USA leg of The Strange Behaviour Tour in June and July 1987.

**As a special bonus, I have included “Skin Trade (S.O.S. Dub)” which was taken from the US “Meet El Presidente” 12″ promo single. This mix has never appeared on an official CD.

DISC 1:
American Science (Chemical Reaction Mix) 7:42
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer – Daniel Abraham
Remix – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias

Vertigo (Do The Demolition) (Mantronix Mix) 6:27
Edited By –Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Remix – Curtis/Mantronik*

Skin Trade (Parisian Mix) 8:09
Edited By – Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Remix – Daniel Abraham

DISC 2:
American Science (Meltdown Dub) 7:24
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer – Daniel Abraham
Remix – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias

Vertigo (Do The Demolition) (B-Boy Mix) 5:57
Edited By –Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Remix – Curtis/Mantronik*

Master Mix (Notoriousaurus Rex) 7:20
Edited By [With Edits By] – Jose “Chep” Nunez, Omar Santana, The Hit Squad (2), The Latin Rascals, Tuta Aquino
Featuring [Featuring Mixes By] – Daniel Abraham, Justin Strauss, Curtis/Mantronik, Larry Levan, Mark S. Berry*, Murray Elias, Nile Rodgers, The Latin Rascals
Remix [Collaged By] – Tuta Aquino

**BONUS CUT:
Skin Trade (S.O.S. Dub) 7:16
Edited By, Tracking By [Dubs] – Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Keyboards [Additional] – Kevin Jones (3)
Remix, Engineer – Daniel Abraham

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – VB-15320-1, Capitol Records – VB-15320-2
Format: 2 x Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Limited Edition, SRC Pressing, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: Jun 20, 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Downtempo, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mastered By – HW*
Producer – Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers

NOTES:

This is a limited edition release of two single-sided records, issued in a stickered white gatefold jacket that is enclosed in a sealed, stickered non-shrink wrapper.
It also includes a letter-size sheet of paper with remix credits printed on it.
The sticker and paper bear both cat#s.
The records, packaging, and remix sheet are all professionally typeset, using a typewriter-style font and accompanied by Masterdisk Corporation logos, all in order to make the release resemble a test pressing.
It is, however, an official, commercial release on Capitol Records.

The last track is listed as “Notoriousaurus Rex (Master Mix)” on the insert, and as “Master Mix (Notoriousaurus Rex)” on the jacket and label.

A1, C1 remixed for Pop Stand Productions. A3 remixed for S.O.S. Productions. A2, A3, C2 edited for S.O.S. Productions.

“MASTERDISK” and “SRC” logos are machine-stamped in the dead wax.
“HW” is inscribed under Masterdisk in the dead wax.

“Original versions can be heard on the album, NOTORIOUS.

Printed in the U.S.A.

Find the 12” at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
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

September 22, 2021

Duran Duran – Notorious (Latin Rascals Mix) (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

NEW 2021 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!

Originally posted October 20, 2016

…Just when you thought it was safe to get back into the groove…

“Notorious (Latin Rascals Mix)” was the second 12″ single released in the USA for the track “Notorious”, this was also the first time the band released two separate 12″ singles for one song.

The first had a Daniel Abraham “Extended Mix” while the second featured a remix by Albert Cabrera & Tony Moran also known as The Latin Rascals.

SIDE A:
Notorious (Latin Rascals Mix) 6:20
Remix, Edited By, Engineer – The Latin Rascals

SIDE B:
Notorious (45 Mix) 3:59
Winter Marches On 3:24

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records ‎– V-15266
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Frank Olinsky
Mastered By – RL*
Mixed By, Engineer – Daniel Abraham
Photography By – Virginia Liberatore
Producer – Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers
Written-By – Taylor, Rhodes, Le Bon*

NOTES:
From the LP NOTORIOUS

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

September 21, 2021

Duran Duran – Meet El Presidente (The Presidential Suite) (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987

“Meet El Presidente” is the 16th single from Duran Duran and the third single from the Notorious album.

According to a studio report in Star Hits magazine, one of the early drafts of this song was called “One of the Faithful.” A demo version by that name can be found on several bootlegs.

The album version of the song is considerably different from the single and video versions, and from all the remixes. The former’s original key and tempo are maintained, but mixes elements of the master to differing degrees for the single release, the main ones being a more emphatic, up-front mix for the percussion, brass, and backing vocal tracks, throughout the song.

“Meet El Presidente” was backed by the album track “Vertigo (Do The Demolition)”. This was the second single from Notorious to have an album track as a b-side.

“Meet El Presidente” peaked at #24 in the UK on April 25, 1987, in the United States the song reached #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart on May 2, 1987.

SIDE A:
Meet El Presidente (The Presidential Suite) 7:12
Edited By – Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana

Meet El Presidente (Meet El Beat) 5:30
Edited By – Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana

SIDE B:
Meet El Presidente (45 Mix) 3:40
Edited By – Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana

Vertigo (Do The Demolition) 4:43
Engineer, Mixed By – Daniel Abraham

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Meet El Presidente	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#70
1987	Meet El Presidente	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	#40

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-15294
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Design – Frank Olinsky
Edited By – The Hit Squad (2) (tracks: A1 to B1)
Engineer – Eric Calvi (tracks: A1 to B1)
Keyboards [Additional] – Ed Terry (tracks: A1 to B1)
Percussion – Bashiri Johnson (tracks: A1 to B1)
Photography By [Cover Photo] – Matthew Rolston
Producer – Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers
Remix, Producer, Engineer – Mark S. Berry (tracks: A1 to B1)
Written-By – Taylor, Rhodes, LeBon

NOTES:
Additionally produced and remixed for MSB Records. Ltd.
Recorded in England.

Original version can be heard on the album, NOTORIOUS

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

September 20, 2021

Duran Duran – Skin Trade (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987

“Skin Trade” is the second single from Duran Duran’s Notorious album and the band’s 15th single in total. It was released in January 1987, reached #22 on the UK Singles Chart, and #39 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The music for “Skin Trade” was written long before Simon LeBon finally finished the lyrics. The title for the song was derived from the Dylan Thomas book Adventures in the Skin Trade which John Taylor had on him during the recording of the album. It was shortened to “Skin Trade” and LeBon eventually wrote the melody and lyrics for the track while spending an evening in Taylor’s Upper West Side Manhattan apartment. The lyrics reflect on how everyone is selling themselves, and “there’s a little hooker in each of us”.

The single was quite a departure for the band. Simon LeBon sang in falsetto, Le Bon admits he was channeling The Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger on their song “Emotional Rescue”. A horn section played a prominent role in the track, as played by The Borneo Horns. The band persevered with the single and many aspects of their future business took inspiration from “Skin Trade”. They called their publishing company Skin Trade Music Ltd. and the Notorious tour was called the “Strange Behaviour Tour” (a reference to that line of the song). Likewise, a 1987 remix EP and a 1999 double CD collection of remixes were also called Strange Behaviour.

Andy Taylor was no longer an official member of Duran Duran by that time, but he was credited as a session guitarist on this song, although apparently, he did not participate in the recordings. Meanwhile, the new guest musicians, Steve Ferrone and Warren Cuccurullo played the drums and lead guitars respectively. Nile Rodgers played some lines of the rhythm guitar.

In a retrospective review of the single, AllMusic journalist Donald A. Guarisco praised the song. He wrote: “The music lends contrast to the angry tone of the lyrics by creating a sultry, mellow melody that juxtaposes verses with a soft, hypnotic ebb and flow with an ever-ascending chorus that revs up the song’s inherent drama.”

The b-side to “Skin Trade” was the only original b-side released during the Notorious era. Entitled “We Need You”, it was written and recorded in 1986 while the band awaited the return of Andy Taylor for a recording session. It was the first recording to feature just the three remaining members of Duran Duran – Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, and Simon Le Bon.

Two further mixes of “Skin Trade” (S.O.S. Dub & Parisian Mix) were completed, but not released commercially during the “Skin Trade” release cycle. They appeared on a US 12″ promo and on a UK 12″ promo, backed with remixes of the next single “Meet El Presidente”. The “Parisian Mix” was also released on the promo-only Master Mixes EP.

SIDE A:
Skin Trade (Stretch Mix) 7:41
Mixed By – Daniel Abraham
Remix – Larry Levan

SIDE B:
Skin Trade (Album Version) 5:57
Mixed By – Daniel Abraham

We Need You 2:51

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Skin Trade	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#39

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-15274
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Designed At – Manhattan Design
Engineer – Daniel Abraham
Producer – Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers (tracks: A, B1)
Written-By – Taylor, Rhodes, Le Bon*

NOTES:
Recorded in England.

…i love the smell of vinyl in the morning…

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.