Tag: Omar Santana

March 13, 2025

Spear Of Destiny – Never Take Me Alive (UK 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

“Never Take Me Alive” is a 1987 single by the English rock band Spear of Destiny, led by vocalist and songwriter Kirk Brandon. The song was featured on their fourth studio album, Outland, and became their biggest chart success, reaching #14 on the UK Singles Chart.

With its dramatic, almost cinematic lyrics, “Never Take Me Alive” tells the story of a fugitive on the run, willing to fight to the end rather than be captured. The song’s rebellious spirit and Brandon’s passionate, commanding vocal performance made it a standout track of the era. Musically, it blends post-punk, new wave, and alternative rock, with an anthemic chorus and driving instrumentation that set it apart from the more polished pop of the mid-’80s.

Spear of Destiny had built a cult following in the UK, and “Never Take Me Alive” remains one of their signature tracks. The song’s themes of defiance and resilience continue to resonate, making it a favorite among fans of ’80s alternative rock.

In the UK 10 Records released a limited edition double 12″ vinyl of their single “Never Take Me Alive,” featuring special edits by renowned producer and remixer Omar Santana. This version offered an extended take on the original track, showcasing Santana’s distinctive production style. The double pack also included an Omar Santana version of “Land of Shame,” another track from the band’s repertoire.

SIDE A:
Never Take Me Alive (Omar Santana Version) 8:33
Edited By [Super Edits By] – Omar Santana
Producer – Zeus B. Held

SIDE B:
The Man That Never Was 3:09
Producer – Brandon, Barnacle

SIDE C:
Land Of Shame (Omar Santana Version) 5:11
Edited By [Super Edits By] – Omar Santana
Producer – Zeus B. Held

SIDE D:
Jack Straw 4:25
Producer – Brandon, Barnacle

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: 10 Records – TENZ 162
Format: 2 x Vinyl, 12″, Limited Edition, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Breakbeat, Goth Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design [Sleeve] – Stylorouge
Engineer – Neill King
Illustration – Chris Welch (2)
Written-By – Kirk Brandon

NOTES:
Super Edits on A and C by Omar Santana for The Hit Squad.

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.

December 20, 2022

Schroeder – Linus & Lucy (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

To me the Peanuts gang is always associated with the Holiday Season, so here is a little something to keep you dancing all the way into the New Year.

“Linus and Lucy” is a popular instrumental jazz standard written by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, appearing in many Peanuts animated specials. Named for the two fictional siblings Linus and Lucy van Pelt, it gained its greatest exposure as part of the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. It is one of the most recognizable pieces by Guaraldi and has gained status as the signature melody of the Peanuts franchise.

In 1988, a Electro cover version was produced and arranged by Tom Bennett Davis under the alias of Schroeder. It contains edits by Carlos Berrios and Omar Santana. The record was released on the Pow Wow Records label.

The song did not chart.

SIDE A:
Linus & Lucy’s Little Red-Haired Club Mix 7:15

SIDE B:
Linus & Lucy’s CB Mix 5:29
Linus & Lucy’s Pig Pen Mix 4:41

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Pow Wow Records – PW429
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Tom Bennett Davis
Edited By – Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana
Producer – Jefferself, Tom Bennett Davis
Written-By –Vince Guaraldi

Buy The 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

October 12, 2021

Information Society – Repetition (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1989

“Repetition” is a 1989 ballad by American synthpop band Information Society released as the third single from their debut self-titled album. The song peaked at #76 on April 22, 1989, on the US Billboard Hot 100 after spending six weeks on the survey.

SIDE A:
Repetition (LP Version) 4:28

SIDE B:
Something In The Air (Extended Club Edit) 6:23
Something In The Air (Dub) 6:23

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	Repetition	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#76

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Tommy Boy – TB 928
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Art Direction – The Grey Organization
Design – Maura P. McLaughlin
Edited By – Omar Santana (tracks: B1, B2)
Executive-Producer – Kevin Laffey
Management – Scott Mehno
Mastered By – Herb Powers Jr.
Photography By – Isabel Snyder
Programmed By, Arranged By – Paul Robb
Programmed By, Arranged By, Producer – Fred Maher
Written-By – P. Robb*

NOTES:
Note on sleeve and labels: “It ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at.”

B1 & B2: 100 BPM

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

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

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

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