Tag: The Weather Girls

The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982

Celebrating Pride 2021

“It’s Raining Men” is a song by the American musical duo the Weather Girls from their third studio album Success (1983). It was released as the album’s lead single on September 10, 1982, through Columbia Records and CBS Records International. Paul Jabara wrote the song in collaboration with Paul Shaffer, and produced the song in collaboration with Bob Esty. “It’s Raining Men” is a Hi-NRG and post-disco that incorporates elements of R&B, soul, and 1970s-style electronic dance music. Its lyrics describe the excitement and enjoyment of many different types of men.

“It’s Raining Men” was a number-one dance hit in the United States, and reached the top ten in various other countries worldwide. VH1 listed the song as one of the Greatest Songs of the 1980s as well as one of the Greatest Songs of the 2000s decade. At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards (1983), “It’s Raining Men” received a nomination at the Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Paul Jabara originally offered the song to Donna Summer, she initially rejected the song after becoming a born-again Christian. The song was then passed to American singers Diana Ross, Cher, and Barbra Streisand, all of whom rejected the song.

In 1982, the song was offered to the Two Tons (formerly known as Two Tons o Fun). Martha Wash and Izora Armstead of the Two Tons also dismissed the song. Wash recounted “We thought it was a crazy song — in fact, too crazy to record. I kept saying, ‘It’s raining men? Really? Are you kidding me?’ … I just did not think people would buy it… That’s why I kept saying no.” The duo eventually recorded the song in ninety minutes after Jabara persistently pleaded them to record the song. The Waters Sisters (Julia Waters-Tillman and Maxine Waters-Willard), Stephanie Spruill, and Zenobia Conkerite performed background vocals on the chorus of the song.

SIDE A:
It’s Raining Men (Vocal) 5:27

SIDE B:
It’s Raining Men (Instrumental) 5:29

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1982 It’s Raining Men U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #46
1982 It’s Raining Men U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles #34
1982 It’s Raining Men U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: The Entertainment Company Records ‎– 44-03181, Columbia ‎– 44-03181
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Hi-NRG, Disco

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Bob EstyGreg Mathieson
Art Direction – Allen Weinberg
Cover, Artwork – Teresa Alfieri
Mastered By – Jack Adelman
Mixed By – Randy Tominaga
Producer – Bob EstyPaul Jabara
Written-By – P. JabaraP. Shaffer

NOTES:
Mastered by Jack Adelmanat RCA Recording Studios, NY

The Weather Girls are: Martha Wash and Izora Redman (courtesy of Honey Records), Zenobia, Stephanie Spruill, MaxineWillard Waters and Julia Tillman Waters

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
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.

Rebbie Jackson – Centipede (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“Centipede” is the debut single by American singer Rebbie Jackson and the title track from her debut album, Centipede.

The song was written and produced by Jackson’s brother Michael Jackson. He and The Weather Girls also sing backing vocals on the song. It is Rebbie Jackson’s only single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and is her best-remembered song. The Weather Girl’s Martha Wash’s soulful voice is heard quite prominently throughout the song.

On the back of the single, Michael Jackson dedicated the song “to my mannequin friends”.

“Centipede” was sampled in Brand Nubian’s song “Let’s Dance”, found on their 1998 album Foundation.

Released in the late summer of 1984, the single climbed high on the Billboard R&B charts, peaking at #4 there and peaking at #24 in the main Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It was Jackson’s highest-charting single to date and her only single to enter the Hot 100, although she had several more hits on the R&B chart throughout the decade. The single was Gold-certified by the RIAA, selling 500,000 copies in the USA.

SIDE A:
Centipede (Extended Version) 5:56
Backing Vocals – Michael Jackson, The Weather Girls
Lead Vocals – Rebbie Jackson

SIDE B:
Centipede (Instrumental) 5:54

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 Centipede U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #24
1984 Centipede U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #4

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia ‎– 44-05047
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Pitman Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-pop, Dance-pop

CREDITS:
Art Direction – Lane/Donald
Flugelhorn – Jerry Kaye
Guitar – David Williams (4)
Photography By – Matthew Rolston
Producer [Produced By] – Michael Jackson
Synthesizer, Drum Programming – John Barnes
Written-By – M. Jackson*

NOTES:
“P” in deadwax denotes a Pitman pressing.

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, 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)
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.