Tag: Scritti Politti

Scritti Politti – Perfect Way (UK 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

On April 21, 2014, I first shared the UK 12 “release of “Perfect Way” by Scritti Politti, taken from the album Cupid & Psyche 85. Today’s revisit comes with a fresh transfer and a meticulous new audio restoration, giving this record the clarity it deserves.

For collectors of Scritti Politti vinyl, the UK 12″ release of Perfect Way is a fascinating piece of the band’s discography. Pulled from the landmark album Cupid & Psyche 85, this edition stands out not just for its sleek design but for the music etched into its grooves.

The real treasure here lies on the B‑side: the “Version – Extended Mix.” Unlike the more widely available mixes, this cut is exclusive to the UK 12″ pressing and has never surfaced on any other format. For fans and archivists, that makes it a genuine rarity — the kind of track that rewards digging through crates or scouring auction listings.

On the A‑side, you’ll find the “Extended Mix,” which, despite its name, isn’t a unique UK remix. Instead, it matches the U.S. album version, offering a subtle reminder of how releases often blurred across markets in the mid‑’80s.

For anyone building a complete Scritti Politti collection, this single is more than just another 12″ — it’s a snapshot of how regional pressings could carry hidden gems, and why collectors still chase these variations decades later.

SIDE A:
Perfect Way (Extended Mix) 4:30

SIDE B:
Perfect Way (Version – Extended Mix) 5:02

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin ‎– VS 780-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Manufactured in U.K.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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


Scritti Politti – Perfect way (US 12″ Promo) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

 

REPOST

This is a repost after I accidentally deleted the original; now freshly updated and ready to share again. Originally posted on December 24, 2024.

“Perfect Way” was only a modest hit in the UK, topping out at #48, but it went on to become Scritti Politti’s biggest U.S. success. The track entered the Billboard Top 40 on October 26, 1985, spent 13 weeks on the chart, and ultimately climbed to #11.

What makes this release especially interesting is that the version of “Perfect Way” on the A-side of this single is exclusive to this pressing—nowhere else features this exact mix. It’s distinct from the François Kevorkian mix issued on the standard UK and German 12″ singles, and it also runs longer than the U.S. 12″ mix by Alan Meyerson, François Kevorkian, and Josh Abbey (credited collectively as Committee). Although the label lists the runtime incorrectly, the true length clocks in at 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

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:

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

Promotional Copy Not For Sale

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.


Scritti Politti – Perfect Way (US 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer

NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

I first posted this track back on November 30, 2010, but I’ve dug deep into the crates to give it a meticulous new 2025 transfer. Every element—from the layered synths to the crisp percussion—has been carefully preserved, making the song sound brighter, cleaner, and more detailed than ever before.

🎶 Perfect Way: Scritti Politti’s Shimmering 80s Pop Masterpiece

“Perfect Way” by Scritti Politti is a landmark 1980s pop track that blended intellectual lyricism with slick, synth-driven production, becoming the band’s biggest U.S. hit and a defining moment in their career..

Origins and Release

Released in August 1985, Perfect Way was written by Green Gartside and David Gamson and appeared on Scritti Politti’s second studio album, Cupid \& Psyche 85. The album marked a shift from the band’s earlier post-punk experiments into a polished, funk-infused pop sound. Produced by Gartside, Gamson, and Fred Maher, the song showcased the group’s fascination with combining avant-garde ideas with mainstream accessibility.

Musical Style

The track is often described as new wave meets funk-pop, characterized by:

  • Bright, layered synthesizers
  • Crisp drum programming
  • Funk-inspired bass lines
  • Gartside’s smooth, almost detached vocal delivery

This sleek production reflected the mid-1980s trend toward highly produced, radio-friendly pop, but Scritti Politti added their own cerebral twist. The lyrics are abstract, full of paradoxes and playful contradictions, with lines like “I got a perfect way to make a new proposition” that highlight Gartside’s interest in language and philosophy.

Chart Performance

Interestingly, Perfect Way had a modest impact in the UK, peaking at No. 48 on the singles chart. However, in the United States, it became Scritti Politti’s breakthrough hit, climbing to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. This transatlantic success cemented the band’s reputation as one of the more sophisticated acts of the synth-pop era.

Cultural Impact

One of the most fascinating aspects of Perfect Way is its influence beyond pop music. Miles Davis, the legendary jazz trumpeter, recorded an instrumental version for his 1986 album Tutu. Davis’s choice to reinterpret the song demonstrated its musical depth and adaptability, bridging the gap between pop and jazz.

Legacy

Today, Perfect Way stands as Scritti Politti’s signature song in the U.S. and a quintessential example of mid-80s pop innovation. It represents:

  • The band’s transition from underground post-punk to mainstream success
  • The era’s obsession with glossy, high-tech production
  • A rare case of British intellectual pop resonating more strongly in America than at home

While Scritti Politti never replicated the same level of U.S. chart success, Perfect Way remains a time capsule of 1980s pop sophistication, celebrated for its fusion of catchy hooks and cerebral lyricism.

In short: Perfect Way is Scritti Politti’s most commercially successful single, a synth-pop gem that captured the sleek sound of the 1980s while also earning respect from jazz greats like Miles Davis.

About the 12″ single.

This US 12″ single contains an edited version of the “Way Perfect Mix,” clocking in at 5:27; the full 7:24 “Way Perfect Mix” is included on the US 12″ Promo that I posted in December 2024.

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

SIDE A:
Perfect Way (Way Perfect Mix) 5:27
Mixed By – Committee (3)

SIDE B:
Perfect Way (Way Perfect Version) 5:07
Engineer [Remix] – Steve Peck

Chart Performance – Scritti Politti: Perfect Way (1985)
Chart Peak Position Date
US Billboard Hot 100 #11 1985
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play #6 1985
US Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop #85 1985
UK Singles Chart #48 1985

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 0-20362, Warner Bros. Records – 9 20362-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, SRC Pressing
Country: US
Released: Oct 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Original version on the Warner Bros. album “Cupid & Psyche 85”

Made in U.S.A.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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


Scritti Politti – Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984

“Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)” is the seventh single released by British pop band Scritti Politti, issued in the UK on 24 February 1984 by Virgin Records. It later appeared on the band’s second studio album Cupid & Psyche 85 (released in June 1985) and was produced by Arif Mardin. The song’s subtitle is a reference to “I Say a Little Prayer”, Aretha Franklin’s biggest UK hit; Mardin had also produced Franklin.

The single was Scritti Politti’s breakthrough hit on the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at No. 10 in a 16-week chart run. It was also a Top 30 hit in Australia and New Zealand. In the United States it reached No. 4 on the Billboard Dance Chart.

Two music videos were shot for the song. The first, shot in 1984, was directed by John Scarlett-Davis, who also directed the videos for “Absolute” and “The Word Girl” and features the dancing of Michael Clark. A second music video was released for the US in 1986, directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino and featuring model Veronica Webb (who also appeared in the video for “Perfect Way”). Both versions were featured on a video compilation simply titled “Scritti Politti”, released on VHS, Betamax and LaserDisc by Virgin Music Video in 1986. The 1984 version is simply titled “Wood Beez”, while the 1986 version is titled “Wood Beez – USA”.

SIDE A:
Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) 4:48

SIDE B:
Wood Beez (Version) 5:57

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 Wood Beez U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music Club’/Play #4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 657-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Feb 20, 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Artwork:
1984
273cm x 273cm
Honeycomb, copper, cotton, acrylic, photo, beeswax, wood.

Recorded + Mixed at: Power Station + Atlantic Studios, New York.

Manufactured in the UK.

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 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.