Tag: Stephen Lipson

March 29, 2017

Propaganda – Duel (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“Duel” is the second single by German pop group Propaganda. The song was included on their first album, A Secret Wish.

Released in the United Kingdom in April 1985, it became their most successful single in the UK, reaching no. 21. This led to the band making their sole appearance on the flagship BBC music programme, Top of the Pops, in June of that year.

“Duel” was originally released with an alternative version of the track, “Jewel (Rough Cut)” as the B-side. This featured the same lyrics delivered in a more aggressive manner over a backing track of heavy beats and industrial sound effects.

SIDE A:
Duel (Bitter Sweet) 7:38

SIDE B:
Jewel (Cut Rough) 6:55

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ZTT ‎– 12 ZTAS 8
Series: Action Series – 8
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 07 Apr 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer [Junior] – Bobby Kraushar*
Executive-Producer [Zang Tuum Tumb’s Musical Director Is…] – Trevor Horn
Painting – Anton Corbijn
Photography By – David Levine (11), Peter Brown (23)
Producer – S.J. Lipson*
Programmed By – Michael Mertens
Sleeve [Designed By] – The London Design Partnership, Z.T.T.*
Vocals – Claudia Brücken, Susanne Freytag
Written-By – Brücken*, Mertens*, Dorper*

NOTES:
Label copy: “The Third Side ‘Face To Face’ / The Fourth Will Have You On Your Knees ‘Tooth For A Tooth'”

Sleevenotes (edited):
“Susanne compels her boyfriend to do infamous things, Ralf loves flowers and certain smells. Claudia takes an interest in shocking and disgusting things, Michael’s ambition is to compose an immortal Hymn.”

“Michael Mertens: writing, programming, identifying, demonstrating. Ralf Dorper: writing, pursuing, defining, translating. Claudia Brücken: singing, writing, corrupting, raging. Susanne Freytag: embracing, accumulating, singing, demanding. This is Propaganda: their ambition is to make some repairs. What motivates them? Error, and terror.”

“Photography by David Levine (screams) and Peter Brown (skin shots) captured at various times in different rooms in the East End of London. Painting of the Beaten Heart by Anton Corbijn, snatched from inside the body. Propaganda Management: Keith Bourton at Heavenly Management. Catalogue number 12 ZTAS 8 (making it number eight in Z.T.T.’s concerned Action Series).

Find the 12” on DISCOGS

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
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

November 16, 2015

Pet Shop Boys – It’s Alright (The Alternatives) (UK 10″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1989

“It’s Alright” is the 13th single from Pet Shop Boys and was released in the UK by Parlophone Records on 26 June 1989. It reached number 5 in the UK and, as of February 2009, it is the Pet Shop Boys’ 8th best-selling single. The song was originally written and performed by Sterling Void & Paris Brightledge and came to the attention of Pet Shop Boys on a house compilation.

The lyrics list a wide variety of serious political issues in the headlines at the time (“Dictation enforced in Afghanistan, revolution in South Africa taking a stand…”), and then offers the positive message of the title—that on its “timeless wavelength”, “music is our life’s foundation”, it “shall last” and ultimately “succeed all the nations to come”.

On the 10″ single there are additional lyrics with Neil Tennant speaking: “there’s a boy standing by a river, there’s a girl lying with her lover, there’s a statesman standing at a crossroads, there’s a soldier polishing his gun”.

SIDE A:
It’s Alright 4:44

SIDE B:
It’s Alright (Extended Dance Mix) 10:30

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Parlophone ‎– 10R 6220
Format: Vinyl, 10″, Single, Limited Edition, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Jun 1989
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve Designed By] – Mark Farrow
Engineer – Julian Mendelsohn, Stephen Lipson
Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn
Percussion – Danny Cummings
Producer – Pet Shop Boys, Stephen Lipson, Trevor Horn
Vocals [Additional] – Tessa Niles
Written-By – Sterling Void

NOTES:
“Limited edition contains free poster”

“These two alternative versions of It’s Alright were recorded in January, 1989 and are available only on this limited edition ten-inch disc.”

Designed at 3a.

Find the 10″ 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

June 17, 2015

Tracey Ullman – My Guy’s Mad At Me (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

Tracey Ullman covered Madness’s “My Girl” in 1984. The title was changed to “My Guy”, and the single got the title “My Guy’s Mad at Me”. Madness’ Mark Bedford played bass on the track. Her version was in the UK Top 40 at the same time as Madness’ “Michael Caine” and peaked at number 23. “My Guy’s Mad at Me” was the first single taken from Ullman’s second studio album “You Caught Me Out”.

The music video featured the British politician Neil Kinnock, at the time the Leader of the Opposition. The single was also released as a 7″ picture disc, with a picture of Ullman and Kinnock sitting at a table.

SIDE A:
My Guy’s Mad At Me (Extended Version) 4:40
Remix – Stephen Lipson

SIDE B:
My Guy’s Mad At Me 2:57
Thinking Of Running Away 2:06

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Miny

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Stiff Records ‎– BUY IT 197
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mastered By – BilBo (3)
Photography By – Simon Fowler (2)
Producer – Peter Collins

NOTES:
From the LP “YOU CAUGHT ME OUT”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

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

April 10, 2013

Wang Chung – Wait (Remix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“Wait” is a single by Wang Chung, released as the fourth and final single from their 1984 album, Points on the Curve. The single reached #87 on the UK Singles Chart. Aside from the early singles released as Huang Chung, “Wait” was the only single by Wang Chung that failed to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Wait is also the only Wang Chung song to appear on two different non-compilation albums. Wait originally appeared on Points on the Curve, but was used again in the To Live and Die in L.A. soundtrack when director William Friedkin liked the song so much, he wanted to incorporate it into his 1985 thriller, To Live and Die in L.A. “Wait” appears during the end credits of the film.

No music video was shot for “Wait”.

SIDE A:
Wait (Remix) 8:06
Producer, Recorded By – Chris Hughes, Ross Cullum
Remix – Stephen Lipson

SIDE B:
Dance Hall Days (U.S. Club Edit) 7:22
Producer, Recorded By – Chris Hughes, Ross Cullum

Dance Hall Days (Part 2) 4:21
Producer – Wang Chung

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records ‎– TA 4550
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Mastered By – BilBo (3)
Written-By – Hues*

NOTES:
Masered at Tape One
From the LP “POINTS ON THE CURVE”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi