Tag: Promo

December 20, 2024

Material With Nona Hendryx / Cristina – It’s A Holiday / Things Fall Apart (UK 12″ Promo)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1981

A Festive Throwback: Two Gems from the Original ZE Records Christmas Compilation.

This rare U.K. 12″ promo spotlights two standout tracks from the original 1981 release of A Christmas Record, the now-iconic holiday compilation by ZE Records. A unique blend of experimental and festive, the album became a cult classic, and these two tracks exemplify its groundbreaking style.

The first track, “It’s a Holiday” by Material featuring the soulful vocals of Nona Hendryx, was recorded during the same sessions that produced the band’s single “Bustin’ Out.” Nona, fresh off her years with Labelle and on the cusp of her 1980s solo career, became a favorite vocalist for Material’s mastermind, Bill Laswell. Her commanding presence on this track bridges the gap between funk, soul, and the avant-garde.

The second offering, “Things Fall Apart,” is a No Wave masterpiece by Cristina, an enigmatic artist known for her fusion of punk’s edge with disco’s infectious grooves. This track marked Cristina’s first collaboration with the innovative production duo Was (Not Was). Her trailblazing approach paved the way for artists like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, blending camp, self-awareness, and undeniable danceability in a way that was ahead of its time.

Both songs are presented here in their unaltered, original 1981 versions. Later reissues of A Christmas Record featured edited or altered takes, but this special promo preserves the brilliance of the original recordings in their purest form.

For fans of experimental holiday music, these tracks are must-listens—a perfect reminder of how ZE Records turned the Christmas album concept on its head, offering something truly bold and unforgettable.

SIDE A:
Material With Nona Hendryx – It’s A Holiday 7:12
Producer – Material

SIDE B:
Cristina – Things Fall Apart 4:34
Producer – The Was Bros*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Min

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ZE Records – IPR 2052, Island Records – IPR 2052
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1981
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Disco

NOTES:
Pre-Release Limited Edition

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 18, 2024

Scritti Politti – Perfect Way (US 12″ Promo)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

NEW 2024 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: March 9, 2012

“Perfect Way” was only a modest hit in the UK, peaking at #48, but it became Scritti Politti’s biggest success in the U.S. The song entered the Billboard Top 40 on October 26, 1985, and spent 13 weeks on the chart, reaching its peak at #11.

Notably, the “Perfect Way” version featured on the ‘A’ side of this single is unique and otherwise unavailable elsewhere. It differs from the Kevorkian mix found on the standard UK and German 12″ singles. It is longer than the U.S. 12″ single version mixed by Alan Meyerson, François Kevorkian, and Josh Abbey (credited as Committee). While the label lists an incorrect runtime, the actual duration is 7:24.

+De-notes vinyl-only

SIDE A:
Perfect Way (Way Perfect Mix Extended)+ 7:24
Mixed By – Alan Meyerson, Francois Kevorkian*, Josh Abbey

SIDE B:
Perfect Way (Single Version) 4:03
Mixed By – John Potoker

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Perfect Way	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#11
1985	Perfect Way	U.S. Billboard US Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#6

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – PRO-A-2357
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer – Gamson*, Maher*, Green*
Recorded By – Howard Gray

NOTES:
Original version available on the Warner Bros. album CUPID & PSYCHE 85

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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 13, 2024

Cheryl Lynn – Encore (US 12″ Promo)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1983

“Encore,” released in 1983, is an R&B hit single by acclaimed R&B/soul singer Cheryl Lynn. Written and produced by the legendary Minneapolis funk duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song marked a milestone as their first number-one R&B hit as producers and Lynn’s second chart-topping R&B single. Despite peaking at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100, it became the most successful track from her fifth studio album, Preppie. The song also found success in the dance scene, climbing to #6 on the U.S. Dance chart.

+De-notes vinyl-only

SIDE A:
Encore (Dance Version)+ 8:20

SIDE B:
Encore (Dance Version)+ 8:20

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	Encore	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#69
1984	Encore	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#1
1984	Encore	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#6

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44 04257
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Soul, Disco

CREDITS:

Executive-producer – Larkin Arnold
Producer – Cheryl Lynn, Terry Lewis & James Harris*
Written-By – T. Lewis/J. Harris III*

NOTES:
Promotional Copy Not For Sale
Special Version from the Columbia LP “Preppie”
Same track on both sides

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.

November 1, 2024

Andy Gibb / David Shire – Shadow Dancing / Manhattan Skyline (US 12″ Promo)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1978

NEW 2024 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: March 1, 2013

“Shadow Dancing” is a hit disco track by English singer Andy Gibb, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive seven weeks in 1978. Produced and arranged by Albhy Galuten, with contributions from Barry Gibb, the song marked a peak in Andy’s chart success. In July of that year, Andy performed “Shadow Dancing” at Miami’s Jai-Alai Fronton Studios, where Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb unexpectedly joined him on stage. This was the first time all four Gibb brothers performed together live.

According to Billboard’s Book of Number One Hits, Andy Gibb became the first solo artist in U.S. pop history to see his first three singles reach the number-one spot. “Shadow Dancing” was not only the top single of 1978 on Billboard’s year-end chart but also peaked at number eleven on the soul chart, selling 2.5 million copies in the U.S. alone.

The song was a collaboration among Andy and his brothers—Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb—written in Los Angeles while the three elder brothers worked on the film Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Andy recalled, “One night, while we were relaxing, we started working on tracks for my album Shadow Dancing, which later reached #7 on the U.S. album chart. In just ten minutes, we had a group going with the chorus.” This track became Andy’s final U.S. chart-topper, though he would achieve three more Top 10 hits in America.

On March 5, 1988, Andy Gibb celebrated his 30th birthday in London, in the midst of working on a new album. Tragically, just five days later, on March 10, he passed away from myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle brought on by a recent viral infection and worsened by his years of cocaine abuse.

The B-side of this 12″ release features “Manhattan Skyline,” an instrumental by American composer David Shire. This track, from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, reflects Shire’s expertise in film, television, and stage musicals.

Denotes vinyl-only

SIDE A:
Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing (Special Disco Version)+ 6:06
Producer – Albhy Galuten, Barry Gibb, Karl Richardson
Written-By – Andy Gibb, Barry Gibb-Robin Gibb-Maurice Gibb*

SIDE B:
David Shire – Manhattan Skyline (Instrumental) 4:43
Producer – Bill Oakes, David Shire
Written-By – David Shire

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	Shadow Dancing	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1978	Shadow Dancing	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	#8
1978	Shadow Dancing	U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles	#11

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RSO – RPO 1000
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Single
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Disco, Funk

NOTES:
12″ housed in a white jacket with front title/artist text. Gold stamped rear.

A:
Produced by arrangement with The Robert Stigwood Organisation.
Extended version from Andy Gibb’s forthcoming album “Shadow Dancing” RS-1-3034

B:
From the RSO Records Soundtrack Album “Saturday Night Fever” RS-2-4001

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.