Tag: Sting

Arcadia – The Promise (Extended Remix) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

“The Promise” was the third single released by Arcadia, the Duran Duran offshoot band. Issued by Parlophone in 1986 as their second UK single, it reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.

The track features uncredited backing vocals from Sting. During Arcadia’s recording sessions for “So Red the Rose” in Paris, the band attended a Sting concert and decided to invite him to contribute to their album. They were particularly intrigued by the vocal chemistry between Sting and lead singer Simon Le Bon, first heard on Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Sting graciously accepted, resulting in a collaboration that became one of the group’s favorite moments on the record. Enhancing the track further, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour delivered expressive guitar work that added a haunting and ethereal quality, especially in its climactic sections.

The single version of “The Promise” was trimmed significantly from the album’s original 7:28 runtime to a more radio-friendly 4:50. Even the “extended remix,” produced by Alex Sadkin and Ron Saint Germain, ran slightly shorter than the album cut, clocking in at 7:05. The B-side of the single featured an extended mix of the album track “Rose Arcana.”

While “So Red the Rose” didn’t reach the commercial success of Duran Duran’s biggest albums, it earned critical praise and has since developed a devoted fanbase. “The Promise” stands out as a highlight, celebrated for its ambitious artistry and the rare collaboration of such iconic talents. For fans of Duran Duran and 1980s art-rock, the song remains an underrated gem and a testament to the creative freedom Arcadia embraced during this transitional period in their careers.

Although Roger Taylor, the drummer for Arcadia, appeared in only a few promotional photos and the music video for Election Day, his primary focus was on the recording side of the project. Taylor also contributed percussion to The Power Station, another Duran Duran offshoot.

SIDE A:
The Promise (Extended Remix) 7:05
Mixed By – Alex SadkinRon Saint Germain
Performer, Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Sting
Written-By – Rhodes
TaylorLe Bon

SIDE B:
Rose Arcana (Extended Mix) 5:35
Mixed By – Alex SadkinLarry Alexander
Written-By – RhodesLe Bon

The Promise (7″ Mix) 4:50
Mixed By – Alex SadkinRon Saint Germain
Performer, Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Sting
Written-By – Rhodes
TaylorLe Bon

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Parlophone Odeon Series – 12 NSR 2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Gold Sleeve
Country: UK
Released: Jan 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
The version of “Rose Arcana” on this single is much longer than the album version (So Red The Rose), but it does not have a unique title.

Manufactured in the UK by EMI Records Limited.

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 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.



Sting – Love Is The Seventh Wave (New Mix) (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

NEW 2021 Transfer!

Originally posted, February 16, 2012

“Love Is the Seventh Wave” was the second single and second track from Sting’s 1985 solo debut album The Dream of the Blue Turtles. The song is supposedly about love being the seventh wave or the strongest wave in a series of waves, thus wiping out any sort of problems. It concludes with a brief, self-mocking reference to Sting’s biggest hit song with The Police, “Every Breath You Take”, which had been about the dark side of love that leads to sexual jealousy and obsession.

The single contained a different mix of the song than the album mix, as well as a live version of “Consider Me Gone.”

“Love Is The Seventh Wave” debuted in the US Billboard Top 40 on November 23, 1985. The song remained in the top 40 for seventeen weeks peaking at #9.

SIDE A:
Love Is The Seventh Wave (New Mix) 4:07
Engineer –  Jim ScottPete Smith
Remix – Daniel Quatrochi*, Sting

SIDE B:
Consider Me Gone (Live) 4:48
Engineer, Recorded By – Pete Smith
Mixed By –Kim Turner

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
Poster: Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Love Is The Seventh Wave U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #9
1985 Love Is The Seventh Wave U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #20
1985 Love Is The Seventh Wave U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks #19

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records ‎– AMY 272
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Limited Edition
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Reggae-Pop

CREDITS:
Lacquer Cut By –  Pounda
Lyrics By –  Gordon Sumner
Photography By – Daniel Quatrochi*
Producer – Pete SmithSting
Written-By –  Sting

NOTES:
Includes Giant Full Colour Sting Poster (Limited Edition)
The album “The Dream Of The Blue Turtles” also available

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp:
Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
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


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Japan 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

Originally posted December 17, 2012

Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 to raise money for relief of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and released by Band Aid on 29 November 1984.

In October 1984, a BBC report by Michael Buerk was aired in the UK, which highlighted the famine that had hit the people of Ethiopia. Irish singer Bob Geldof saw the report and wanted to raise money. He called Midge Ure from Ultravox and together they quickly co-wrote the song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”.

Geldof kept a November appointment with BBC Radio 1 DJ Richard Skinner to appear on his show, but instead of discussing his new album (the original reason for his booking), he used his airtime to publicise the idea for the charity single, so by the time the musicians were recruited there was intense media interest in the subject. Geldof put together a group called Band Aid, consisting of leading British and Irish musicians who were among the most popular of the era. On 25 November 1984, the song was recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, and was released four days later.

The 1984 original became the biggest selling single in UK Singles Chart history, selling a million copies in the first week alone. It stayed at Number 1 for five weeks, becoming Christmas number one, and has sold 3.69 million copies domestically. It remained the highest selling single in UK chart history until 1997, when Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997” was released in tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, which sold almost 5 million copies in Britain. Worldwide, the single had sold 11.8 million copies by 1989.

Following the release of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in December 1984 and record sales in aid of famine relief, Geldof then set his sights on staging a huge concert, 1985’s Live Aid, to raise further funds.

The song was re-recorded in 1989 by Band Aid II and in 2004 by Band Aid 20, again raising funds for famine relief. The 2004 version of the song sold 1.16 million copies.

SIDE A:
Do They Know It’s Christmas? (12″ Mix) 6:14
Remix –Trevor Horn

SIDE B:
Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Standard Mix) 3:52
Feed The World 4:17

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 Do They Know It’s Christmas? U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #13
1984 Do They Know It’s Christmas? U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #32

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Phonogram ‎– FEED 112
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Japan
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – Steve Lipsom*
Producer – Midge Ure, Trevor Horn
Written-By – Geldof*, Ure*

NOTES:
Many thanks to all the fine artists who kindly donated their time and effort in the making of this record.

All proceeds of this record are to assist famine relief in Ethiopia, this includes merchandise, sales, publishing & performance contributions.
Many thanks for the aid in manufacturing this record go to: Graphic Origination, Peter Blake, Torchlight, Robert Stace.

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 
Phono Pre-amp:
Schiit Mani
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Sting – If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

“If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” is the first single released from Sting’s solo debut album The Dream of the Blue Turtles. It is also the opening track of the album and is featured on Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 as well as The Very Best of Sting & The Police.

Like much of the album, the song has heavy jazz influences, and was a major hit, peaking at number one on the US Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. On the US pop chart, it peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 17 on the US R&B chart, number 26 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 18 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart.

A portion of the song was later used for Sting’s 1987 hit “We’ll Be Together” from …Nothing Like the Sun.

The single launched a long string of singles(stretching over three albums) where Sting collaborated with New Orleans saxophonist and one-time Tonight Show bandleader Branford Marsalis.

The song was also performed at The Brits in February 1995 with M People. He duetted on the song with the band’s lead singer, Heather Small and this track was given the dance treatment by the band who was also backed by a 100-strong Gospel Choir at the Earls Court Arena during the annual music awards show.

Sting said that he wrote the song as an “antidote” to the Police’s 1983 song, “Every Breath You Take”, which he also wrote. The song was also lampooned by The Dead Milkmen in the song “If You Love Somebody, Set Them on Fire,” from their 1990 album Metaphysical Graffiti.

The single B-side consists of a studio recording of the song “Another Day” which would appear the following year in a live version on Sting’s live album Bring On the Night.

SIDE A:
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (“Jellybean” Dance Mix) 8:00
Percussion – Paulinho da Costa
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Hutchinson
Producer – Pete Smith
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez

If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Album Version) 4:13
Producer – Pete Smith

SIDE B
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Torch Song Mix) 4:52
Producer – William Orbit
Remix – Rico Conning

Another Day 3:58
Producer – Pete Smith

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #3
1985 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #1
1985 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #17

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records ‎– SP-12132
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, B
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Backing Vocals – Dolette McDonald, Janice Pendarvis
Bass – Darryl Jones
Drums – Omar Hakim
Keyboards – Kenny Kirkland
Photography By – Max Vadukul
Producer – Pete Smith (tracks: A1, A2, B2), Sting (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Saxophone, Percussion [Miscellaneous] – Branford Marsalis
Written-By, Vocals, Guitar – Sting

NOTES:
“If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” from the LP “The Dream of the Blue Turtles”

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 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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