Burning The Ground Exclusive
Yesterday Luba told us that “The Best Is Yet To Come.”
Today we are getting a little more private.
Private Joy, that is.
For our next Ladies Of The 80s: Soundtrack Edition selection, we head back to 1985 for Cheyne’s “Private Joy,” from the soundtrack to one of the decade’s most wonderfully ridiculous teen comedies, Weird Science.
Written and directed by John Hughes, Weird Science stars Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Gary and Wyatt, two teenage boys who use a computer, a doll, and a little lightning to create their idea of the perfect woman.
Naturally, they get Kelly LeBrock.
Because apparently computers worked much better in 1985.
The movie also features Bill Paxton as Wyatt’s nightmare older brother Chet, along with Robert Downey Jr., Suzanne Snyder, Judie Aronson, and Vernon Wells. Weird Science opened in the United States on August 2, 1985.
And, of course, there was a soundtrack.
Oingo Boingo supplied the unforgettable title track, while the album also included Kim Wilde’s “Turn It On,” Max Carl’s “The Circle,” Wall Of Voodoo’s “Deep In The Jungle,” Killing Joke’s “Eighties,” The Lords Of The New Church, Taxxi, and others.
Then there was Cheyne.
Her contribution, “Private Joy,” has another very important name attached to it.
Prince.
“Private Joy” was written and originally recorded by Prince for his 1981 album Controversy. It was one of those wonderfully playful Prince tracks filled with synthesizers, rhythm machines, attitude, and just enough weirdness to make it unmistakably his.
Cheyne was not the first woman to cover it. La Toya Jackson recorded “Private Joy” for her 1984 album Heart Don’t Lie.
But Cheyne’s version takes the song somewhere else.
Produced by Greg Phillinganes and Jimmy Iovine, with vocal production by Louil Silas Jr., the Weird Science recording gives “Private Joy” a harder, more electronic 1985 makeover. AFI’s official film credits confirm Phillinganes and Iovine as producers and Silas as vocal producer.
The result fits Weird Science beautifully.
It is bright.
Synthetic.
Playful.
A little strange.
In other words, perfect for a movie about two teenagers creating Kelly LeBrock with a computer.
Cheyne herself is another interesting part of the story.
Earlier in 1985, she had topped Billboard’s Dance Club chart with “Call Me Mr. Telephone (Answering Service).”
And here is a great piece of 1980s pop trivia.
Before Madonna recorded “Into The Groove,” the song was originally intended for Cheyne, who was working with producer Mark Kamins at the time. Madonna ultimately decided to keep the song for herself.
Considering what happened to “Into The Groove,” that has to qualify as one of pop music’s great “what if?” moments.
Later that same year, MCA released “Private Joy” as a single from the Weird Science soundtrack.
Billboard featured the record as one of its Dance Picks in October 1985, listing the 5:28 version and crediting Greg Phillinganes and Jimmy Iovine as producers.
Despite the push, “Private Joy” does not appear to have reached Billboard’s major national singles charts.
Another one that slipped through the cracks.
Fortunately for us, MCA gave the song a US 12-inch release, and this is where things get especially interesting.
The 12-inch gives us the Extended Version, an Instrumental, and something wonderfully labeled “Bonus Beats Plus Bass.”
Now that is a title designed to get my attention.
Louil Silas Jr. handled the remix, taking the already electronic production and giving it considerably more room to move. The Extended Version runs 5:28, while the Instrumental stretches even longer at 5:46. “Bonus Beats Plus Bass” clocks in at 4:30.
The Instrumental is particularly fun because without Cheyne’s vocal, you can really dig into the machinery underneath the record.
And then there are those Bonus Beats.
Plus bass.
What else do we need?
“Private Joy” is exactly the kind of record I hoped to uncover when this series began.
A Prince composition.
A singer who had already topped the dance chart.
Production by Greg Phillinganes and Jimmy Iovine.
A remix by Louil Silas Jr.
A cult-classic John Hughes movie.
And a US 12-inch filled with versions that rarely get mentioned today.
Yet somehow, the record has become little more than a footnote.
Not here.
Gary and Wyatt needed a computer, a government mainframe, a Barbie doll, and a lightning storm to create their fantasy.
All we need is a turntable.
Welcome to my Private Joy.
SIDE A:
Private Joy (Extended Version) 5:28
SIDE B:
Private Joy (Instrumental) 5:46
Private Joy (Bonus Beats Plus Bass) 4:30
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23583
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Engineer – Taavi Mote
- Engineer [Assistant] – Fred Howard
- Producer – Greg Phillinganes, Jimmy Iovine
- Producer [Vocals], Remix – Louil Silas, Jr.*
- Written-By – Prince
NOTES:
Original version appears on the MCA LP MCA-6146, Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack, “Weird Science”.
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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
PLEASE READ
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Password: burningtheground
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