Tag: Stephen Bray

November 13, 2020

Madonna – Justify My Love (William Orbit Remix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1990

Celebrating 30 years of “Justify My Love”

“Justify My Love” is a song by American singer Madonna from her first greatest hits compilation album The Immaculate Collection (1990). It was released on November 6, 1990, by Sire Records as the lead single from The Immaculate Collection. The song was written by Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, with additional lyrics by Madonna. Chavez was not credited on the song, which led to a lawsuit against Kravitz. Chavez settled out-of-court, the terms of which included a songwriting credit. Madonna’s vocals are primarily spoken and whispered, but almost never sung, a style that she later employed on her following studio album Erotica (1992).

Musically, “Justify My Love” is a trip-hop song, with mid-tempo settings and instrumentation. The lyrics of the song are primarily about sex and romance. “Justify My Love” received mixed reviews from older critics, but was critically appreciated by many contemporary critics, noting it as one of Madonna’s best songs to date. The song became Madonna’s ninth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two in the United Kingdom, while reaching the Top 10 in several countries including Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, and Switzerland.

The accompanying music video portrayed Madonna as a woman walking in a hotel hallway, looking distressed and tired from work, until being seduced into having sex with a mysterious man and woman. It caused controversy worldwide, due to its explicit sexual images, and was subsequently banned from MTV and other TV networks. The video, which contained imagery of sadomasochism, voyeurism, and bisexuality, made its US television debut December 3, 1990, on ABC during its late-night news program Nightline. The song was part of the setlist of three of her concert tours, the most recent being The MDNA Tour in 2012. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked “Justify My Love” at number 842 in their list of the “1001 Best Songs Ever”.

SIDE A:
Justify My Love (William Orbit Remix) 7:15
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – William Orbit

SIDE B:
Justify My Love 4:58
Mixed By – Goh Hotoda, Shep Pettibone

Express Yourself (Shep’s ‘Spressin’ Himself Re-Remix) 4:02
Mixed By – Goh Hotoda
Producer [Additional Production], Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Producer, Written-By – Madonna, Stephen Bray

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1990	Justify My Love	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1990	Justify My Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1990	Justify My Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	#1
1990	Justify My Love	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#42

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– W9000T, Sire ‎– W 9000 (T), Warner Bros. Records ‎– 7599 21825-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 26 Nov 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Trip Hop

CREDITS:
Design – Jeri Heiden
Lacquer Cut By – Miles*
Lyrics By [Additional] – Madonna (tracks: A, B1)
Photography By – Patrick Demarchelier
Producer [Associate] – André Betts*
Producer, Written-By – Lenny Kravitz (tracks: A, B1)

NOTES:
Made in UK.
Original version available on the album “Immaculate Collection”

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.

October 5, 2020

Debbie Harry – Feel The Spin (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Feel the Spin” is a 1985 song by the American vocalist Debbie Harry, featured on the soundtrack album for the film Krush Groove (1985). The song was co-written by Harry and producers John “Jellybean” Benitez and Toni C. (the latter of whom would go on to collaborate with Harry again on many of her solo albums). Both producers went on to work with Whitney Houston on her 1988 hit “Love Will Save the Day”, from her album Whitney.

“Feel the Spin” was released as an extended 12″ single on Warner Bros. Records / Geffen Records in the U.S. (where it charted on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart at #5). It was also released as a single in Canada, but not in the UK (though the track would surface in 1987 as the B-side of the UK singles “Free to Fall” and “In Love With Love.

SIDE A:
Feel The Spin (Extended Dance Version) 6:46

SIDE B:
Feel The Spin (Dub Version) 4:32

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records ‎– 0-20391
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Toni C.
Backing Vocals – Audrey Wheeler, Cindy Mizelle, Siedah Garrett
Drum, Synth – Stephen Bray
Engineer – Mark Cobrin, Michael Abbott (2)
Guitar – Carlos Alomar
Mastered By – HERbIE Jr [smiley face]*
Producer – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Producer, Coordinator – Doreen Dorian
Recorded By, Mixed By – Michael Hutchinson
Synth – Jack Walden
Written-By – Debbie Harry*, Jellybean*, Toni C.

NOTES:
From movie soundtrack: Krush Groove.
Recorded and Mixed Digitally at Hit Factory, New York

Made in U.S.A.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.

April 13, 2020

Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!

Originally posted: April 17, 2013

“Papa Don’t Preach” is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. The song was written by Brian Elliot with additional lyrics by Madonna, and produced by Stephen Bray and Madonna for her third studio album True Blue, released in June 1986. The song’s musical style combines pop and classical stylings, and its lyrics deal with teenage pregnancy and abortion. It was based on teen gossip he heard outside Elliot’s studio, which has a large front window that doubles as a mirror where schoolgirls from the North Hollywood High School in Los Angeles regularly stopped to fix their hair and chat.

Released as the album’s second single in mid-1986, the song was a commercial success. It became Madonna’s fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and performed well internationally, reaching the top position in the United Kingdom and Australia. It was well-received by music critics and was frequently cited as a highlight in the album. The music video, directed by James Foley, shows Madonna’s second image makeover, featuring her with a more toned and muscular body, and cropped platinum blonde hair. It portrayed a storyline where Madonna is trying to tell her father about her pregnancy. The images are juxtaposed with shots of Madonna dancing and singing in a small, darkened studio, and spending a romantic evening with her boyfriend.

Shortly after its release, the song caused heated discussions about its lyrical content. Women’s organizations and others in the family planning field criticized Madonna for encouraging teenage pregnancy, while groups opposed to abortion saw it as a positive pro-life message. The song also caused her first conflict with the Vatican, as she dedicated it to Pope John Paul II, who urged Italian fans to boycott her concerts during the Who’s That Girl World Tour in 1987.

SIDE A:
Papa Don’t Preach (Extended Remix) 5:43
Co-producer – Stephen Bray
Mixed By – Michael Verdick
Producer – Madonna

SIDE B:
Pretender (LP Version) 4:28
Producer – Nile Rodgers

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Papa Don’t Preach	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1986	Papa Don’t Preach	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary	#16
1986	Papa Don’t Preach	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20492
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design –Jeri McManus
Photography By – Herb Ritts

NOTES:
Side A from the LP “TRUE BLUE”
Side B from the LP “LIKE A VIRGIN”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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

January 29, 2020

Regina – Baby Love (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!

Originally posted: January 16, 2014

“Baby Love” is a 1986 crossover hit single by Brooklyn-born singer Regina Richards. The single hit number one on the dance charts for two weeks in mid-1986. The single also crossed over to the pop singles chart, where it peaked at #10 and also made the Top 30 on the Soul Singles chart. “Baby Love” would be her only single to chart on both the Pop and Soul Singles chart.

The song was written by Regina with Steve Bray, who had written several hits for Madonna. It was intended for Madonna, with Regina deciding to record the song herself when Madonna declined. With Bray’s production, it sounded similar to Madonna’s own recordings and was sometimes mistaken for one. The song also includes backing vocals by R&B singer Sediah Garrett and Saxophone by David Sanborn .

The first released version of the song was by Dutch girl group The Star Sisters, who released it on their 1985 album Danger.

SIDE A:
Baby Love (Vocal / Long Version) 6:30

SIDE B:
Baby Love (Dub / Long Version) 4:51

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Baby Love	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#10
1986	Baby Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#30
1986	Baby Love	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/ Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic ‎– 0-86813
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – Michael R. Hutchinson*
Executive Producer – Doug Breitbart
Mixed By, Recorded By – J.G. Hargreaves, Michael R. Hutchinson*, Stephen Bray
Producer – Stephen Bray
Written By – Mary Kessler, Regina Richards*, Stephen Bray

NOTES:
Recorded and mixed at Saturn Sound, NYC
Original version appears on the Atlantic Records LP “CURIOSITY”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.