Tag: Promo

April 26, 2016

Sheila E. – The Glamourous Life (8 Minute Version) (UK 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

Originally posted August 11, 2011

“The Glamorous Life” is a song written by Prince in 1984 and first recorded by singer/percussionist Sheila E. The dance song has lyrics which reflect a cynicism for the decadence and materialism of the song’s protagonist, referred to in the third person, who “wants to lead a glamorous life”, although she is aware that “without love, it ain’t much”.

“The Glamorous Life” was originally intended to be recorded by the short-lived replacement act for Vanity 6, girl group Apollonia 6. Prince allegedly had several tracks lined up for the trio to record for their 1984 debut album (and by some accounts, their follow up album as well), but abandoned the idea when he learned that lead singer Apollonia Kotero had no desire to stay in the group beyond her contractual obligations as designed for her movie role in Purple Rain.

Prince decided to give the song to Sheila E. who was fresh off her duet on Prince’s “Erotic City”. “The Glamorous Life” would be recorded by Sheila E. and go on to launch her solo career.

“The Glamorous Life” was the title track and closing song on Sheila E.’s debut solo album, and reached number 7 on the U.S. pop charts, as well as number 1 on the U.S. dance charts, and earned a Grammy Award nomination. Internationally the song reached number 2 on the Dutch Top 40 and number 76 on the U.K. Singles Chart.

Sheila E.’s live performances of the song became memorable events, most notably for her percussion solo towards the end of the song. Depending on the occasion, she would either spin around several times while drumming without missing a beat during the rigorous solo, place one highly elevated foot on a snare while standing on the other leg mid-solo, or perform with glow-in-the-dark drumsticks. While the solo featured in the song helped to bolster Sheila E.’s fame, all subsequent versions of this song have no drum solo.

SIDE A:
The Glamorous Life (8 Minute Version) 9:02

SIDE B:
The Glamorous Life (Part II) 3:15

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	The Glamorous Life	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#7
1984	The Glamorous Life	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1984	The Glamorous Life	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Music UK Ltd. ‎– SAM 196
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Funk

CREDITS:
Co-producer – Jamie Starr
Directed By – Starr * Company, The
Producer, Directed By – Sheila E.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: 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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

March 31, 2016

George Michael – Freedom (Edit) (UK 7″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1990

“Freedom ’90” (also known simply as “Freedom”) is a song written, produced,and performed by George Michael, and released on Columbia Records in 1990. The “’90” added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael’s former band, Wham!, also titled “Freedom”.

It was the third single taken from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, “Freedom ’90” was one of a few uptempo songs on this album, it was also a major hit and went to #8 in the US. The song is referring to George’s past success with Wham! but also shows a new side of himself as a new man, who is more cynical about the music business than he had been before. Michael refused to appear in the video and let a group of supermodels appear instead, lip-syncing the lyrics.

George Michael performed the song during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

“Freedom (Edit)” is exclusive to this UK promo.

SIDE A:
Freedom (Edit) 4:33

SIDE B:
Fantasy 5:01

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1990	Freedom	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#8
1990	Freedom	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#27
1990	Freedom	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#16

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic‎– PRO 609
Format: Vinyl, 7″, Promo
Country: UK
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Downtempo, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve Design] – George Michael, Simon Halfon
Engineer – C. Porter*
Photography – Russell Young
Producer, Arranged By, Written-By – George Michael

NOTES:
For Promotional USe Only

Find the 7″ on DISCOGS

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

March 30, 2016

Ofra Haza – Im Nin’Alu (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“Im Nin’Alu” is a song by Israeli singer, actress and international recording artist Ofra Haza. The song is based on a Hebrew poem by 17th-century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi.

Ofra Haza became famous in Europe with the song in 1988, when a remixed version of the song, produced by Izhar Ashdot, reached the Top Ten in various countries and number one in several of these, most notably in West Germany where it topped the charts for nine weeks in the summer of 1988. In the UK the track was a Top 20 hit, peaking at #15 and in the U.S. it reached #15 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart and #18 on Hot Modern Rock Tracks. British duo Coldcut produced a remix of Eric B. & Rakim’s “Paid In Full” which heavily sampled “Im Nin’alu”. The single reportedly sold some three million copies worldwide, making it one of the first world music recordings to cross over to mainstream pop chart success. Even though Haza’s version of the song shows her own interpretation, and its presentation was modern and popular, it still fits in with the Yemenite tradition that she represented.

The original version was included on the 1984 album Yemenite Songs, also known as Fifty Gates of Wisdom. The remixed version was part of her international debut Shaday of 1988.

Sadly Ofra Haza died on February 23, 2000, at the age of 42, of AIDS-related pneumonia.

SIDE A:
Im Nin’Alu (Gates Of Heaven Mix) 6:48
Remix – Frank Inglese, Mark Kamins

Im Nin’Alu (Instrumental Dub) 5:40

SIDE B:
Im Nin’Alu (Played In Full Mix) 5:39
Im Nin’Alu (7″ Version With English Vocal) 4:05

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Im Nin’Alu	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#15
1988	Im Nin’Alu	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	#18

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– PRO-A-3277
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Downtempo, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Izhar Ashdot

NOTES:
Promotional Copy Not For sale
Housed in a unique picture sleeve.
From the Sire LP “SHADAY”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge:Ortofon OM Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

March 29, 2016

INXS – I Send A Message (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“I Send a Message” was the second single released by Australian rock band INXS from their fourth album The Swing.

The song was released on 12 March 1984 and reached No.3 on the ARIA Charts. It also reached No.18 on the New Zealand Singles charts, No. 18 on the US Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles and No. 77 on The Billboard Hot 100.

SIDE A:
I Send A Message (Vocal Remixed Version) 5:01
Remix – Nick Launay

SIDE B:
Send A Message (Vocal LP Version) 3:24
Mixed By – Nick Launay

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1984	I Send A Message	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#77
1984	I Send A Message	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#18

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ATCO Records ‎– PR 618
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Producer, Engineer – Nick Launay
Written-By – A. Farriss*, M. Hutchence*

NOTES:
Promotional copy not for sale
Issued in generic white jacket with info sticker.
Tracks listed on sleeve as ‘Remix-4:53’ and ‘Album version-3:25’

Pressed at Specialty Records Corp.
Mastered at Masterdisk, NY.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi