Tag: Stephen Hague

July 3, 2026

Englandneworder – World In Motion… (US 12″) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup currently taking place, this felt like the perfect time to revisit one of the most unlikely, and most successful, football records ever released.

When a football record works, it is usually because it forgets to be a football record for a few minutes. World In Motion is exactly that. On paper, the whole idea sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. New Order, one of Manchester’s coolest and most unlikely pop institutions, teamed up with the England national football team for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.

Somehow, it worked. Not only did it work, but it also became one of the best football songs ever recorded.

Credited as Englandeworder, World In Motion was released in May 1990. It arrived at just the right moment. The band had come off the success of Technique, UK dance culture was everywhere, and football was about to have one of its most emotional summers.

What makes World In Motion so special is that it still sounds like a New Order single. The bright synths, steady dance rhythm, Peter Hook’s bass, and Bernard Sumner’s understated vocal all sit perfectly in place. The football chants are there, but they never take over. Even the squad vocals feel like part of the record instead of a cheap add-on.

Then, of course, there is John Barnes.

His rap near the end of the song has become part of UK pop culture in its own right. It is joyful, awkward, charming, and strangely perfect. It should not work as well as it does, but Barnes delivers it with enough confidence to make it unforgettable. In a genre filled with novelty football records, this one had rhythm, wit, and a real pulse.

The 12-inch single is especially interesting because it treats the song like a proper club release. My US 12-inch does not include The B-Side, which appeared on other editions, but instead focuses on the remixes. The Subbuteo Mix and Subbuteo Dub by Graeme Park and Mike Pickering give the track a more club-ready feel, while Andrew Weatherall and Terry Farley’s Carabinieri Mix and No Alla Violenza Mix take things even further into the dancefloor.

That roster alone tells you this was not being handled like a throwaway sports tie-in. This was New Order, football culture, and the club scene meeting at the exact right moment.

World In Motion became New Order’s only UK No. 1 single, spending two weeks at the top and 12 weeks on the Official Singles Chart. It also reached No. 1 on the UK Indie chart and found success in several other countries.

More than three decades later, World In Motion still has that rare glow. It captures a moment when pop, football, club music, and national hope all collided without becoming corny. England did not win the World Cup in 1990, but this record gave them a song that has outlived the tournament itself.

Now, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway, it feels like the right record at the right time all over again.

It is funny, bright, emotional, and completely of its time. It is also still a fantastic New Order single.

And really, how many football records can you honestly say that about?

AWAY SIDE:
World In Motion… (Carabinieri Mix) 5:54
Mixed By – Andrew Weatherall, Terry Farley

World In Motion… (No Alla Violenza Mix) 5:36
Mixed By – Andrew Weatherall, Terry Farley

HOME SIDE:
World In Motion… (Subbuteo Mix) 5:08
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Graeme Park, Mike Pickering

World In Motion… (Subbuteo Dub) 5:08
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Graeme Park, Mike Pickering

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – New Order: World In Motion (1990)	Peak Position
UK Singles Chart	1
UK Indie Chart	1
Eurochart Hot 100	2
Finland	4
Ireland	7
New Zealand	8
Australia	21
Switzerland	27
US Modern Rock Tracks	5
US Dance Club Songs	10

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Qwest Records – 0-21582, Qwest Records – 9 21582-0, Warner Bros. Records – 0-21582, Warner Bros. Records – 9 21582-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: May 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design [Uncredited], Art Direction [Uncredited] – Peter Saville Associates
Producer [Produced By], Recorded By – Stephen Hague
Written-By – Keith Allen, New Order

NOTES:
Artist on sleeve & spine: Englandneworder
Artist on labels: New Order
Both labels say “Side 1”.

A1, A2 mixed at the Townhouse

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
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

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**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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January 7, 2026

Jane Wiedlin – Inside A Dream (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

🌙 Inside a Dream: Jane Wiedlin’s Synth‑Pop Reverie That Deserved More Spotlight

When Jane Wiedlin released “Inside a Dream” in August 1988, it arrived with all the right ingredients for a late‑’80s pop hit: a sleek production from Stephen Hague, a shimmering synth‑pop arrangement, and the creative spark of a songwriter who had already helped define a decade as a member of the Go‑Go’s. Yet the song never quite reached the commercial heights of its predecessor, “Rush Hour,” despite its undeniable charm and emotional depth.

More than three decades later, “Inside a Dream” stands as one of Wiedlin’s most intriguing solo moments — a track that captures the era’s glossy optimism while quietly wrestling with its anxieties.

The Sound: Dream‑Pop Gloss With a Pop Heart

Produced by Hague — whose résumé includes Pet Shop Boys and New Order — “Inside a Dream” is built on bright, major‑key chord progressions and airy synth textures that place it squarely in the dream‑pop‑meets‑synth‑pop pocket of the late ’80s. Wiedlin’s voice floats above the arrangement, light but insistent, giving the track a buoyancy that belies its lyrical tension.

The song’s sonic palette is unmistakably of its time, but it’s aged remarkably well. Its shimmering production feels less like nostalgia and more like a precursor to the synth‑driven pop revival that would emerge decades later.

The Lyrics: Escapism With an Edge

Despite its upbeat exterior, “Inside a Dream” carries a lyrical undercurrent of yearning and emotional fatigue. Wiedlin co‑wrote the track with Gardner Cole, and together they crafted a narrative about retreating inward when the outside world becomes too heavy to bear. The song’s “dream” isn’t a fantasy so much as a refuge — a place where hope can be preserved when reality feels overwhelming.

This tension between sound and sentiment is part of what makes the track so compelling. It’s escapism, but not the carefree kind. It’s the kind you reach for when you need to breathe.

The Video: A Surreal, Scenic Escape

The music video leans fully into the song’s dream motif. Wiedlin appears in mountainous and coastal landscapes, drifting through scenes that feel lifted from a lucid dream — vivid, scenic, and slightly surreal. It’s quintessential MTV‑era imagery: whimsical, colorful, and designed to blur the line between reality and imagination.

The video’s aesthetic reinforces the song’s central theme: when the world becomes too much, the mind creates its own sanctuary.

The Release: A Single That Slipped Through the Cracks

“Inside a Dream” was released as the second single from Fur, backed with “Song of the Factory” as its B‑side. The 12″ and CD formats included remixes by Mark S. Berry, adding a club‑friendly sheen to the track. But despite its strong production pedigree and the momentum of “Rush Hour,” the single didn’t achieve the same commercial success.

Its modest chart performance, however, has little to do with its quality. If anything, it’s one of those rare pop songs that feels richer with time — a hidden gem waiting for rediscovery.

Why It Endures

Today, “Inside a Dream” reads like a snapshot of late‑’80s pop at its most introspective. It’s glossy but thoughtful, catchy but emotionally complex. And in an era where escapism is once again a cultural currency, its message feels surprisingly contemporary.

For longtime fans, it’s a reminder of Wiedlin’s versatility as a songwriter and performer. For new listeners, it’s an invitation to revisit a moment in pop history that still shimmers.

Inside A Dream (12″ Mix) 6:38
Engineer [Remix] – Kennan Keating
Keyboards [Additional], Programmed By [Additional] – Steve Rimland
Remix – Mark S. Berry*

Inside A Dream (12″ Edited Version) 3:48
Engineer [Remix] – Kennan Keating
Keyboards [Additional], Programmed By [Additional] – Steve Rimland
Remix – Mark S. Berry*

Inside A Dream (Single Version) 3:33

SIDE B:
Inside A Dream (Inside A Dub) 4:11
Engineer [Remix] – Kennan Keating
Keyboards [Additional], Programmed By [Additional] – Steve Rimland
Remix – Mark S. Berry

Inside A Dream (Inside A Chep) 6:09
Edited By [Special Edits By], Remix – Chep Nunez*

Song Of The Factory 4:51

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Jane Wiedlin: *Inside A Dream* (1988)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#57	1988
UK Singles Chart	#64	1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI-Manhattan Records – V-56105
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Art Direction – Henry Marquez
Design – Ph.D
Engineer, Co-producer – David Jacob
Photography – Mike Owens
Producer – Stephen Hague
Written-By – Bruce Woolley (tracks: B3), Gardner Cole (tracks: A1 to B2), Jane Wiedlin, Stephen Hague (tracks: B3

NOTES:
Produced for Blue Panda Ltd.
Tracks A1, A2 & B1: Additional Production and Remix for MSB Records Ltd.

From the album “Fur” (E1-48683) which also includes ‘Rush Hour’

Printed 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

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.

January 6, 2026

Jane Wiedlin – Rush Hour (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

When Jane Wiedlin stepped out on her own in the late ’80s, she did so with a confidence that felt both playful and perfectly in sync with the era. Best known as a founding member of The Go-Go’s, Wiedlin’s solo work allowed her to lean harder into synth-pop and dancefloor-friendly territory—and “Rush Hour” stands as one of the brightest examples of that shift.

Released in 1988 from her second solo album Fur, “Rush Hour” is pure late-’80s pop bliss. Built on a propulsive beat, shimmering keyboards, and a hook that refuses to let go, the song captures that restless, kinetic feeling its title suggests. There’s movement everywhere—cars, people, emotions—mirrored in the song’s relentless forward momentum. It’s the sound of urgency without anxiety, excitement without chaos.

Commercially, “Rush Hour” became the biggest solo hit of Jane Wiedlin’s career. In the U.S., the song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, firmly placing her in the mainstream pop spotlight outside of The Go-Go’s. On the dance side, where the track truly thrived, “Rush Hour” reached #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart, confirming its strong connection to club culture and DJs who embraced its extended and remix-friendly structure.

What makes “Rush Hour” especially compelling is how effortlessly it balances accessibility and edge. Jane’s vocal delivery is cool and confident, never overworked, gliding smoothly over the electronic production. While undeniably pop, the song borrows enough from contemporary dance music to feel right at home on late-’80s club floors—especially in its longer mixes that gave the groove room to breathe.

The song’s success also translated visually, earning heavy rotation on MTV at a time when image and sound worked hand in hand. Yet despite its chart performance and exposure, “Rush Hour” never feels disposable. There’s a timeless quality to its melody and pacing that keeps it sounding fresh decades later—one of those tracks that instantly transports you back to neon lights, late nights, and the pulse of city life in 1988.

For fans of synth-driven pop, crossover dance hits, and artists who successfully carved out a solo identity, “Rush Hour” remains essential listening. It’s proof that Jane Wiedlin wasn’t just part of one of the most iconic pop bands of the ’80s—she also delivered a solo single that conquered both the charts and the dancefloor.

Still moving. Still glowing. Still impossible to ignore once it starts.

SIDE A:
Rush Hour (Extended Remix) 7:20
Rush Hour (7″ Version) 4:01

SIDE B:
Rush Hour (The Red Mix) 7:23
Rush Hour (Instrumental) 5:04
The End Of Love 3:12

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Jane Wiedlan: *Rush Hour* (1988)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#1	1988
US Billboard Hot 100	#9	1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI-Manhattan Records – V-56085
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Specialty Records Corp. Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Art Direction – Henry Marquez
Co-producer, Engineer – David Jacob
Composed By – Jane Wiedlin, Peter Rafelson (tracks: A1 to B2), Stephen Hague (tracks: B3)
Design – Ph.D
Edited By – Bradley D. Hinkle (tracks: A1, B1, B2), Les Massengale (tracks: A1, B1, B2)
Engineer [Remix] – Paul Sabu (tracks: A1, B1, B2)
Keyboards [Additional] – Mike Egizi (tracks: A1, B1, B2)
Photography – Mike Owens
Producer – Stephen Hague
Producer [Additional], Remix – Rusty Garner (tracks: A1, B1, B2)

NOTES:
Produced for Blue Panda Ltd.
A1, B1 & B2 edited for Ultimix.

Album version can be heard on the LP, cassette & CD “Fur”

Printed in U.S.A

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

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

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.

April 30, 2025

New Order – True Faith (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in July 1987, “True Faith” stands as one of New Order’s most enduring and critically acclaimed singles. Written specifically for their compilation Substance 1987, the track marked a creative peak for the band—seamlessly blending moody post-punk sensibilities with polished synth-pop and club-ready beats. It soared to #4 on the UK Singles Chart and became their first real breakthrough in the U.S., peaking at #32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Co-produced with Stephen Hague (best known for his work with Pet Shop Boys and OMD), “True Faith” is layered with shimmering synths, dynamic drum programming, and Bernard Sumner’s unmistakably detached vocal delivery. The lyrics, while cryptic, are widely interpreted as reflecting personal struggles, particularly with addiction and emotional disconnection.

The single’s success was amplified by its surreal, artful music video directed by French choreographer Philippe Decouflé, featuring colorfully costumed performers in bizarre, theatrical movement—a staple of late-’80s MTV.

Included here is the 12″ remix by Shep Pettibone, whose club credentials need no introduction. His rework maintains the song’s brooding elegance while enhancing its rhythmic pulse for the dancefloor—striking a balance between underground edge and commercial appeal.

This post is particularly special as it marks the first vinyl transfer using the Ortofon Concorde Music Black cartridge, bringing out an even greater level of clarity, warmth, and precision in this pressing. The result is a faithful and dynamic reproduction of one of the most iconic singles of the era.

SIDE A:
True Faith (The Morning Sun Extended Remix) 9:02

SIDE B:
True Faith (Alternate Faith Dub) 10:44
1963 5:31

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	True Faith	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#32
1987	True Faith	U.S. Billboard 12-Inch Singles Sales	#10
1987	True Faith	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#3

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Qwest Records – 0 – 20733, Qwest Records – 9 20733-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, ARC Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Engineer – Steve Peck (tracks: A, B1)
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Shep Pettibone (tracks: A, B1)
Producer, Written-By – New Order, Stephen Hague

NOTES:
True Faith (The Morning Sun Extended Remix) is the same mix as “True Faith (Remix)” & “True Faith (Alternate Faith Dub)” is the same as “True Dub” from the UK remix 12″.

From the New Order album “Substance” on Qwest Records 1 – 25621

Made in USA

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.