Tag: Stock Aitken And Waterman

Band Aid II – Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Canada Cassette Single)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1989

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a charity song written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was first recorded by Band Aid, a supergroup assembled by Geldof and Ure consisting of popular British and Irish musical acts.

A second version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was recorded under the name of Band Aid II in 1989, overseen by the most successful British production team of the late 1980s, Stock Aitken Waterman. Geldof had telephoned Pete Waterman to ask him to produce a new version of the song to aid the ongoing situation in Ethiopia, and within 24 hours the recording session had been arranged at Stock Aitken Waterman’s studios on London’s South Bank. The recording took place over the weekend of 2 and 3 December, and featured several artists who had already been produced by SAW, including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Bananarama, Sonia, and Cliff Richard, as well as other artists who had big hits in 1989, such as Lisa Stansfield, Jimmy Somerville, Wet Wet Wet and Bros. Bananarama’s Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward became the only artists to appear on both the 1984 and 1989 versions of the record. Siobhan Fahey, who had been part of Bananarama’s line-up at the time the first recording of the song was released, had left the group in 1988.

The lyrics were rearranged for a more traditional ‘verse and chorus’ structure, with the opening verse being split in two with a short repeat of the ending chorus being played at the end of both, followed by the “here’s to you” section and a final lengthened version of the closing chorus (with commentary by Michael Buerk played over the outro in the music video).

Released on 11 December 1989, the Band Aid II version spent three weeks at number one in the UK, becoming the Christmas number one single and the last number one single of the 1980s, and ended the year as the ninth biggest selling single of 1989.

SIDE A:
Do They Know It’s Christmas? 4:26

SIDE B:
Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Instrumental) 4:26

CASSETTE GRADE:
Cassette: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: PolyGram – 873 646-4
Format: Cassette, Single
Country: Canada
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Cassette plays identical tracklisting on both sides.

DOLBY NR Enabled

Personnel:
(adapted from credits on the back cover of the single sleeve)

Bananarama
Big Fun
Bros
Cathy Dennis
D Mob
Jason Donovan
Kevin Godley
Glen Goldsmith
Kylie Minogue
The Pasadenas
Chris Rea
Cliff Richard
Jimmy Somerville
Sonia
Lisa Stansfield
Technotronic (incorrectly listed as “Technotronics” on the sleeve)
Wet Wet Wet

Musicians:

Matt Aitken – keyboards, guitar
Luke Goss – drums
Chris Rea – guitar
Mike Stock – keyboards
The sleeve also credits “A Linn” with playing drums on the record, a joking reference to the programmed Linn drum machine.

Buy the Cassette at DISCOGS

CASSETTE TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Cassette Deck: Nakamichi BX-300 Discrete 3-Head Cassette Deck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp Line In Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
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:
Cassette transfer was recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


Password: burningtheground

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Bananarama – Venus (Special Edition) (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Venus” is a 1969 song written by Dutch musician Robbie van Leeuwen. In 1970, the Dutch rock band Shocking Blue took the song to number one in nine countries.

In 1986, the British female pop group Bananarama returned the song to number one in seven countries.

“Venus” had been a part of Bananarama’s repertoire for several years before they actually recorded it. The group’s three members, Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward, had the idea of turning the song into a dance music tune, but they were met with resistance from their producers at the time, Steve Jolley, and Tony Swain. Bananarama brought the idea to the production trio of Stock Aitken Waterman, and it became Bananarama’s first collaboration with them.

Dallin, Fahey, and Woodward had nearly completed recording their third album, titled True Confessions, with Jolley and Swain. Stock, Aitken, and Waterman also resisted the idea because they believed that “Venus” would not make a good dance record. After persistence by the women, SAW relented. Bananarama’s “Venus” went to number one in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Mexico, and South Africa. It hit number two in Germany and Hong Kong and was a top ten success in Italy, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and their native UK (number 8 on UK Singles Chart). It also went to number one for two weeks on the US Dance chart.

The collaboration on “Venus” led Bananarama and SAW to work together on the group’s follow-up album Wow! the following year.

The music video, directed by Peter Care, with choreography by Bruno Tonioli, received extensive play on MTV and video channels across the world, and presented Bananarama in various costumes, including a she-devil, a French temptress, a vampiress, and several Greek goddesses. In one sequence of the video, The Birth of Venus, the painting by Sandro Botticelli is adapted as a tableau vivant. The video marked a pivotal shift towards a more glamorous and sexual image for the girls that contrasted with the tomboyish style of their earlier work.

SIDE A:
Venus (The Hellfire Mix) 9:20
Remix – Ian Levine

Venus (Fire & Brimstone Mix) 6:44

SIDE B:
Venus (Extended Version) 7:26
Venus (Dub Version) 8:17

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Venus U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
1986 Venus U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1

 

RELEASE IONFORMATION:
Label: London Records ‎– 886 088-1, Polygram ‎– 886 088-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Special Edition, 70 – Indianapolis Press
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve Design] – Peter Barrett (3), Simon Withers (2)
Producer – Stock/Aitken/Waterman*
Written-By – R. Leeuwen*

NOTES:
Produced for P.W.L. Productions

Original Version From The London LP- “True Confessions”

RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis pressing indicated by pressing code “70” printed on labels and “RCA” etched in run-outs.

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

Dead Or Alive – Rip It Up (Flip Out Mix) (Japan 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

Originally I posted this one back on July 26th, 2012. But for those who may have missed it or if you are a new reader just discovering BTG. I decided to give this one a new 2017 transfer. I have also included as a bonus the Hot Tracks remix of “Brand New Lover”.

Here is the MEGA RARE 1987 Japanese PROMO-ONLY 12″ “Rip It Up (Flip Out Mix)” from British band Dead Or Alive. This is one of the most sought after Dead Or Alive promos… very few in existence and very rare. This 12″ was used to promote the album “Rip It Up” and has never appeared on any other Dead Or Alive release. There were only about 100 copies of this 12″ made making it one of the rarest Japanese Dead Or Alive items.

Japanese PROMOS are by far the rarest of all promotional format. When finished with the vinyl, radio stations would either smash or throw away the promos to prevent resale. Japan stopped pressing vinyl mainstream in the mid 1990’s and switched to the CD format for most releases. The very existence of a Japanese PROMO is itself rare, much less a promo from Dead Or Alive!

SIDE A:
Rip It Up (Flip Out Mix) 8:10
A.1 Brand New Lover
A.2 Something In My House
A.3 I’ll Save You All My Kisses

SIDE B:
Rip It Up (Flip Out Mix Edit Version) 5:16
B.1 Brand New Lover
B.2 Something In My House
B.3 I’ll Save You All My Kisses

BONUS TRACK:
Brand New Lover (Brand New Edit) 6:30
Edited By – Jim “Hip Hop” Hopkins*
Hot Tracks Remix Service Series 5, Issue 11

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic ‎– QY・3P-90105
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Mixed, Promo
Country: Japan
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – Yo-Yo
Producer – Stock, Aitken And Waterman*
Remix – Dead Or Alive
Written-By – Dead Or Alive

NOTES:
Japanese 12″ promo produced For PWL. Around 100 pressed and issued to top Japanese radio stations.

Unique tracks and artwork found on no other Dead Or Alive release.

‘Not for sale Epic/Sony Inc.’

“Brand New Lover (Brand New Edit) taken from Hot Tracks Issue 5, Series 11.

Find the 12” on 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 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
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

Dead Or Alive – Son Of A Gun (Japan 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

Although the UK received the most releases form Dead Or Alive, Japan somehow managed to make its mark in collectors eyes. As Dead Or Alive have received much adoration from the Japanese, the releases there have carried them far beyond Radio One. “Son Of A Gun” is one of those items released only in Japan. The track would become the fifth and final single released from “Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know. The single was released just prior to the “Rip It Up” album and tour hence the picture sleeve. It is rumoured that the single is slightly remixed because Pete and the band always remixed their 7″ singles much like their 12″ counterparts. The track durations are a little different than the LP versions but not much.

This is a pretty rare Japanese item and one of my favorites from my collection.

SIDE A:
Son Of A Gun 4:17

SIDE B:
Come Inside 4:21

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic/Sony – 07•5P-499
Format: Vinyl, 7″, Stereo, 45 RPM
Country: Japan
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Mixed By [Mix Master] – Phil Harding
Producer – Stock, Aitken & Waterman
Written-By – Dead Or Alive

NOTES:
Taken from the LP “Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know”

Find The 7″ 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