Tag: Patrick Leonard

Madonna – Like A Prayer (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1989

Originally posted August 16, 2013

“Like a Prayer” is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her fourth studio album of the same name. Sire Records released it as the album’s lead single on March 3, 1989. Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, the track heralded an artistic and personal approach to songwriting for Madonna, who believed that she needed to cater more to her adult audience. Thematically the song speaks about a passionate young girl in love with God, who becomes the only male figure in her life.

“Like a Prayer” was acclaimed by critics and was a worldwide success. It was Madonna’s seventh number-one single on the United States’ Billboard Hot 100 and topped the singles charts in many other countries, including Australia, Canada, Spain, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Rolling Stone listed “Like a Prayer” among The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The music video, directed by Mary Lambert, portrays Madonna witnessing a young white woman being killed by a group of white men. While a black man is arrested for the murder, Madonna hides in a church for safety, seeking strength to go forth as a witness. The clip depicts a church and Catholic symbols such as stigmata. It also features the Ku Klux Klan’s burning crosses and a dream about kissing a black saint. The Vatican condemned the video, while family and religious groups protested against its broadcast. They boycotted products by soft drink manufacturer Pepsi, who had used the song in their commercial. The company canceled their sponsorship contract with Madonna but allowed her to retain the fee.

It was long thought that the album version contained no Prince input, and only some of the remixes contain Prince’s guitar playing, however in a 2014 interview Patrick Leonard, the song’s producer revealed it’s actually Prince on guitar at the very beginning of the song before the door slams.

The 12-inch containing the versions with a bit more of Prince’s uncredited guitar input was released three weeks prior to the album’s release on Like A Prayer, the album’s first single. The ‘Dub Beats’ version, remixed by Bill Bottrell, also contains a sample of the studio version of Bob George, five years before its official release.

In the United States a promotional 12″ single was released to club and radio disc jockeys to help promote the song. This promotional 12″ contained three exclusive Dub Mixes.

EAST SIDE:
Like A Prayer (12″ Dance Mix) 7:50
Edited By – Junior VasquezShep Pettibone
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] –  Dave Way
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Michael Hutchinson
Producer [Additional Production], Remix –Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Programming] – Fred McFarlane

Like A Prayer (Instra Dub) 6:10
Edited By – Junior VasquezShep Pettibone
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] –  Dave Way
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Michael Hutchinson
Producer [Additional Production], Remix –Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Programming] – Fred McFarlane

Like A Prayer (Bass Dub) 5:47
Edited By – Junior VasquezShep Pettibone
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] –  Dave Way
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Michael Hutchinson
Producer [Additional Production], Remix –Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Programming] – Fred McFarlane

WEST SIDE:
Like A Prayer (12″ Club Version) 6:35
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Robert Salcedo*
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Bill Bottrell

Like A Prayer (Dub Beats) 4:40
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Robert Salcedo*
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Bill Bottrell

Like A Prayer (7″ Remix/Edit) 5:41
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Robert Salcedo*
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Bill Bottrell

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1989 Like A Prayer U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
1989 Like A Prayer U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary #3
1989 Like A Prayer U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
1989 Like A Prayer U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #20
1989 Like A Prayer U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Year-End #25
1989 Like A Prayer U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Year-End #10

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– PRO-A-3472
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mastered At – Sheffield Lab Matrix – △24341
Producer [Produced By], Written-By – MadonnaPatrick Leonard
Produced For – Mastermix Productions

NOTES:
Additional Production and Remix for Mastermix Productions.
From the Sire album LIKE A PRAYER.

Promotional Copy. Not For Sale.
Made in U.S.A.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
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


Password: burningtheground

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

Madonna – Open Your Heart (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!

Originally posted September 7, 2012

“Open Your Heart” is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released as the fourth single from her third studio album True Blue on November 12, 1986, by Sire Records.

“Open Your Heart” debuted at 51 the week ending December 6, 1986, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It had a gradual rise and subsequently peaked the chart on February 7, 1987, becoming Madonna’s fifth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single also had its success on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart reaching number-one on February 14, 1987. The single was Madonna’s sixth entry on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart where it reached a peak of 12. In Canada, the song debuted at number 83 on the RPM chart on December 13, 1986, and reached a peak position of eight for the chart issue dated February 21, 1987. It placed at 68 on the RPM Year-end chart for 1987.

Internationally, it became a top ten hit in several European countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, and Belgium. In the United Kingdom, the single debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number eight and subsequently reached a peak of four on December 13, 1986. The single was on the chart for nine weeks in total and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on December 1, 1986. According to The Official Charts Company, the song has sold 195,000 copies there. It also peaked at number four in Europe, thus becoming the only single from True Blue not to top the Eurochart Hot 100. In Australia, it only reached a peak of 16, breaking a run of nine consecutive top ten singles for Madonna in that country. Elsewhere, like in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and France, it reached within the top 40 of the singles chart.

SIDE A:
Open Your Heart (Extended Version) 10:31
Keyboards [Additional] – Ed Terry
Producer [Additional Production], Remix [Mixing By] – Steve Thompson And Michael Barbiero*
*Written-By – Gardner Cole, Madonna, Peter Rafelson

SIDE B:
Open Your Heart (Dub) 6:39
Keyboards [Additional] – Ed Terry
Producer [Additional Production], Remix [Mixing By] – Steve Thompson And Michael Barbiero*
*Written-By – Gardner Cole, Madonna, Peter Rafelson

White Heat (LP Version) 4:35
Written-By – Madonna, Pat Leonard*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

 

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Open Your Heart U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
1987 Open Your Heart U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
1987 Open Your Heart U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Songs #12

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 9 20597-0, Sire ‎– 0-20597
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Art Direction –Jeri McManus Heiden
Design – Kim Champagne
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer –Madonna, Patrick Leonard

NOTES:
From the Madonna LP “TRUE BLUE”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
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 USED:
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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

Madonna – La Isla Bonita (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“La Isla Bonita” (Spanish pronunciation: [la ˈizla βoˈnita]; English: “The Beautiful Island”) is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album True Blue (1986). She and Patrick Leonard co-wrote and co-produced the song, and Bruce Gaitsch provided additional songwriting. Sire Records released it as the album’s final single on February 25, 1987. The instrumental version of the song was first offered to Michael Jackson before Madonna both accepted it and wrote the lyrics and melody. “La Isla Bonita” is noted for being the first Madonna song to contain Latino influences, with arrangements of Cuban drums and Spanish guitar, maracas, harmonicas and a mix of synthesized and real drumming. The lyrics of the song tell about a “beautiful island” and according to Madonna, was a tribute to the beauty of the Latinos.

Following its release, “La Isla Bonita” received a positive reception from critics. It also became Madonna’s fourth number-one single in the United Kingdom, giving her the record for most number-one singles for a female artist. The track additionally topped the charts in Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, and Switzerland while reaching the top five in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.

SIDE A:
La Isla Bonita (Extended Remix) 5:24

SIDE B:
La Isla Bonita (Instrumental) 5:18

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 La Isla Bonita U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #4
1987 La Isla Bonita U.S. Billboard Adult ContemporayTracks #1
1987 La Isla Bonita U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #10

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20633, Sire ‎– 9 20633-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop/Rock
Style: Latin, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design –Jeri McManus Heiden
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer – Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Remix – Chris Lord-Alge
Written-By – Bruce Gaitsch, Madonna, Pat Leonard*

NOTES:
Original version on the Madonna album “True Blue”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
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 USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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

Madonna – Live To Tell (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Live to Tell” is the lead single from American singer Madonna’s third studio album True Blue (1986). Originally composed by Patrick Leonard for the score of the film Fire with Fire, the instrumental was shown to Madonna, who decided to use it for then-husband Sean Penn’s film At Close Range. Madonna wrote all the lyrics, co-composed the melodies, and co-produced it with Leonard. The song was released as the lead single from True Blue on March 26, 1986 by Sire Records.

A pop ballad, the song includes instrumentation from guitars, keyboards, drums and a synthesizer, and its lyrics deal with deceit, mistrust and childhood scars. It is also about being strong, which Madonna recalled in an interview that she thought about her relationship with her parents, while writing the lyrics. The music video, directed by James Foley, shows Madonna’s first image makeover, featuring her with a cleaner look, shoulder-length wavy golden blond hair, conservative wardrobe and subtle make-up. This toned down blond appearance was inspired by Marilyn Monroe, a performer Madonna had previously been influenced by.

“Live to Tell” was generally well received by music critics, who frequently referred to it as the best ballad of her career. It was also a commercial success, becoming Madonna’s third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and her first number-one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

“Live to Tell” was released in the United States in March 1986. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 49, reaching the top position eight weeks later, where it remained for one week. It became Madonna’s third number-one single in the US, and her second number-one that is featured in a film after “Crazy for You”. The song was a crossover success, topping the Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks, and peaking at number three on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart. In Canada the song debuted at number 79 of the RPM singles chart in April 1986, and reached the top of the chart for two weeks in May 1986, staying on the chart for a total of 23 weeks, It was ranked at the second position of the 1986 RPM Singles year-end chart.

In the United Kingdom, “Live to Tell” was released on April 21, 1986. The next week, the song debuted at number ten on the UK Singles Chart, peaked at number two, and stayed 13 weeks on the chart. It was held from the top spot by Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus”. “Live to Tell” was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in May 1986, for shipment of 250,000 copies of the single across the United Kingdom. According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold 280,000 copies in the UK.

Across Europe, “Live to Tell” topped the Eurochart Hot 100 for two weeks, and the singles chart in Italy,[35] as well as peaking inside the top ten in Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.[36][37][38][39] It was also certified silver by the Syndicat National de l’Édition Phonographique (SNEP) for shipment of 250,000 copies in France.

SIDE A:
Live To Tell (LP Version) 5:50

SIDE B:
Live To Tell (Edit) 4:37
Live To Tell (Instrumental) 5:49

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Live To Tell U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
1986 Live To Tell U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #1
1986 Live To Tell U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play/Maxi-Singles Sales #3

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20461, Sire ‎– 9 20461-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, SRC pressing
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Downtempo, Synth-pop, Ballad

CREDITS:
Design – Jeri McManus
Engineer, Mixed By – Michael Verdick
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer, Written-By – Madonna, Pat Leonard*

NOTES:
From the forthcoming Madonna album on Sire Records and from the Orion Motion Picture “At Close Range”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Mullard 12AX7 Preamp Vacuum Tube Pins
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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