Tag: Trevor Horn

May 8, 2026

ABC – The Look Of Love (USA Remix – Dub) (US 12″) (1982)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: September 23, 2016

British new wave band ABC released “The Look Of Love” in May 1982 as the third single from their debut album “The Lexicon of Love.” Produced by the legendary Trevor Horn, the track became one of the band’s signature songs, peaking at #4 on the UK Singles Chart and reaching #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. With its sophisticated mix of synth-pop, funk grooves, lush orchestration, and sharp lyrical wit, “The Look Of Love” helped define the sound and style of early ‘80s pop music.

The single itself was an ambitious concept divided into four interconnected sections referred to as “Parts One, Two, Three and Four.” Each segment explored different moods and arrangements while maintaining the song’s sleek and cinematic identity. Martin Fry’s cool, detached vocal delivery paired perfectly with Trevor Horn’s polished production techniques, creating a track that sounded unlike anything else on radio at the time.

For American audiences, Mercury Records issued a special 12″ remix in 1982 featuring a completely different take on the song by Trevor Horn. This exclusive U.S. remix became highly sought after by club DJs and collectors due to its extended structure, added instrumental passages, and deeper dub influences. Included on the U.S. 12″ was the rare “U.S.A. Remix Dub,” also known among fans as “Part Five.”

Although the U.S.A. Remix Dub later appeared on the compilations “Absolutely” and “Look Of Love – The Very Best Of ABC,” both versions were edited. The full-length mix also surfaced on the poorly mastered “Remix Collection” CD, leaving vinyl enthusiasts searching for the original 12″ pressing to experience the remix properly.

After its original release, the 1982 U.S. Remix became increasingly difficult to find, and demand for the record grew steadily among DJs and devoted ABC fans. Original copies of the Mercury Records 12″ often commanded high prices on the collector’s market. Recognizing the ongoing demand, Neutron Records, the band’s UK label, eventually issued a limited-edition promotional 12″ repress of the Trevor Horn remix under the title “Special Remix.” While not considered an official re-release of the single, it gave collectors another opportunity to obtain the legendary mix without paying premium import prices.

Today I am revisiting this classic with a NEW 2026 meticulous audio restoration and transfer from my original U.S. Mercury Records 12″ pressing. Every effort has been made to preserve the warmth, dynamics, and punch of the original vinyl while presenting these rare mixes in the best possible quality.

Whether you remember hearing “The Look Of Love” on MTV, in the clubs, or blasting through late-night radio in 1982, this remains one of the defining singles of the decade and a shining example of Trevor Horn’s groundbreaking studio craftsmanship.

SIDE A:
The Look Of Love (USA Remix – Dub Version) 7:39
Remix [Uncredited] – ABC
Remix [Uncredited] – Trevor Horn

SIDE B:
The Look Of Love (Part 3 – Dance Version) 4:17
Remix [Uncredited] –John Luongo

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – ABC: *The Look Of Love* (1982)
Chart (1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	16
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	4
Ireland (IRMA)	12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	5
Spain (AFYVE)	15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	8
UK Singles (OCC)	4
US Billboard Hot 100	18
US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)	1
US Rock Top Tracks (Billboard)	32
US Cash Box Top 100	9
West Germany (GfK)	36

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – MDS-4023, Mercury – 6400 751
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Stereo, 53
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, New Wave

CREDITS:

Producer [Produced By] – Trevor Horn
Written-By – ABC

NOTES:
From the album SRM-1-4059 “The Lexicon Of Love”

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
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
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
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.

May 7, 2026

Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm (UK 12″ Limited Edition) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: July 19, 2011

“Don’t Cry It’s Only The Rhythm”…

Few songs in pop history are as daring, theatrical, and sonically adventurous as Slave To The Rhythm by Grace Jones. Released in October 1985, the single was the centerpiece of Jones’ critically acclaimed album of the same name, a record that blurred the lines between pop, art, performance, and avant-garde experimentation.

Produced by the legendary duo of Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson, “Slave To The Rhythm” became one of Grace Jones’ signature recordings. Built around thunderous percussion, dramatic orchestration, layered vocals, and hypnotic grooves, the track remains a striking example of mid-80s studio innovation.

The project originally began as a song intended for Frankie Goes to Hollywood, but Trevor Horn ultimately realized the composition was perfectly suited for Grace Jones’ commanding vocal style and larger-than-life persona. The result was unlike anything else on radio at the time.

The album itself was conceived almost like a concept piece. Different variations and interpretations of the title track appear throughout the LP, weaving together interviews, spoken-word passages, orchestral elements, and dense production techniques that pushed studio technology of the era to its limits. Horn utilized the Fairlight CMI extensively, helping create the album’s futuristic and cinematic soundscape.

“Slave To The Rhythm” was a major international success. The single reached the Top 10 in several countries including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, while also becoming a staple of dance clubs worldwide. In the United States, Grace Jones continued to strengthen her reputation as one of the most fearless and uncompromising artists of the decade.

The unforgettable music video, directed by Jean-Paul Goude, perfectly complemented the song’s surreal atmosphere. Goude, who had previously collaborated extensively with Jones both artistically and personally, created striking visual imagery that further cemented her status as a true icon of style and performance art.

This UK Limited Edition 12″ single contains the full-length “Blooded Version” of the track, running over eight minutes and delivering the complete immersive experience intended for the dance floor. From its dramatic opening narration to its explosive percussion breakdowns, the extended mix remains one of the defining 12-inch releases of the 1980s.

As with many productions from Trevor Horn during this era, the vinyl pressing offers warmth, punch, and dynamic range that many later digital releases struggle to capture fully. The layered percussion, deep bass textures, and atmospheric details especially come alive on a properly mastered 12-inch pressing.

Presented here is a NEW 2026 meticulous audio restoration and transfer, sourced directly from vinyl to preserve the depth, clarity, and power of this groundbreaking recording.

Whether experienced as avant-garde pop, dance music, or pure sonic theater, “Slave To The Rhythm” remains one of the boldest artistic statements of the 1980s. Nearly four decades later, it still sounds futuristic.

SIDE A:
Slave To The Rhythm (Blooded) 8:29

SIDE B:
Junk Yard 5:21
Annihilated Rhythm 3:38

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

Chart Performance – Grace Jones: Slave To The Rhythm (1985–1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	20
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	4
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)	18
European Top 100 Singles (Eurotipsheet)	7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	16
France (SNEP)	50
Italy (Musica e dischi)	6
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	5
Spain (AFYVE)	14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	5
UK Singles (OCC)	12
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	20
West Germany (GfK)	4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label:ZTT – 12IS 206, Island Records – 12IS 206
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Poster
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Avant-Garde

CREDITS:

Accompanied By – The Strictly Unreasonable Zang Tuum Tumb Big Beat Colossus
Artwork [Front Cover] – Jean Paul Goude*
Producer – Trevor Horn
Producer [Assistant] – S. J. Lipson*
Written-By – Bruce Woolley, Simon Darlow, Stephen Lipson, Trevor Horn

NOTES:
“The members of the Z.T.T. art AND ACT SERVICE and the strictly unreasonable ZANG TUUM TUMB BIG BEAT COLOSSUS, who accompany Miss Grace Jones, are acknowledged on the cover of the biography.”

Includes a poster – sleeve sealed with a green and silver sticker featuring the wording “Strictly Limited Edition Includes Special Poster”.

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.

February 13, 2026

ABC – Valentine’s Day (Japan 7″) (1982)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: February 13, 2014

Few debut albums in pop history have arrived as fully formed and sonically lavish as The Lexicon of Love by ABC. Released in 1982 and produced by Trevor Horn, the album was a masterclass in orchestral pop sophistication. While it spawned major international hits, one of its most intriguing and elusive singles was a Japan-only release: “Valentine’s Day.”

And what better excuse to spotlight this rarity than February 13th or 14th, depending on where you are. Consider this a special Burning the Ground Valentine — a deep cut pulled from the grooves rather than the greeting card aisle. ❤️

A Japanese-Only 7-Inch

Issued exclusively in Japan in 1982 on Mercury Records, “Valentine’s Day” appeared as a 7-inch single backed with “The Look Of Love (Part 3).” The single did not chart, and no music video was produced, making it a comparatively quiet release during an otherwise high-profile campaign for The Lexicon of Love.

But what truly elevates this pressing for collectors is the B-side.

The Dancefloor Connection

“The Look Of Love (Part 3)” is not simply an instrumental reprise — it is a dance-oriented remix by legendary remixer John Luongo. Known in the early ’80s for transforming pop tracks into extended club workouts, Luongo reimagined ABC’s lush pop classic into a more rhythm-driven, floor-friendly mix.

While the original album version of “The Look Of Love” leaned heavily into sweeping orchestration and romantic drama, Luongo’s remix emphasizes groove and propulsion. It strips back some of the ornate grandeur and highlights the rhythm section, making it tailor-made for early ’80s dance floors. For fans of 12-inch culture and remix history — something I know many of us live for — this version represents an important bridge between new wave sophistication and club sensibility.

“Valentine’s Day” — Romance Without Irony

The A-side, meanwhile, showcases a slightly different emotional tone. “Valentine’s Day” feels more earnest than some of the album’s sharper, more sardonic singles. Martin Fry’s theatrical delivery remains front and center, but the track leans into vulnerability rather than clever detachment.

Within the broader narrative arc of The Lexicon of Love, the song plays like a sincere confession amid the stylish heartbreak. It’s polished, dramatic, and impeccably arranged — yet emotionally exposed.

A Hidden Gem for Collectors

Because this single was issued only in Japan and never charted, it remains a fascinating curio in ABC’s discography. No video, no major promotion — just a beautifully pressed 7-inch pairing a heartfelt album cut with a bona fide dance remix by one of the era’s most respected club architects.

For collectors of international variations and remix history, this release captures something special: the moment when glossy British pop met American club culture on the flip side of a Japanese 45.

And sometimes, that’s where the most interesting stories are hiding — not always on the charts, but in the grooves.

SIDE A:
Valentine’s Day 3:41

SIDE B:
The Look Of Love (Part 3) 4:17

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – 7PP-85
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: Japan
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer – Trevor Horn
Written-By, Performer – ABC

NOTES:
Side B remixed by John Luongo but not credited.
Made in Japan

Buy the 7″ 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.

October 28, 2025

Propaganda – The Nine Lives Of Dr. Mabuse (13th Life Mix) (UK 12″) (1984)

For today’s Spooky Season Spin, we’re diving into the dark, psychological world of Propaganda.

Released in early 1984, “The Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse” was the stunning debut single by German synth-pop group Propaganda, produced by none other than Trevor Horn for ZTT Records. The track introduced the world to the band’s dark, cinematic style — a fusion of industrial synth textures, haunting vocals, and avant-garde production that set the tone for what was to come on their debut album A Secret Wish (1985).

The Concept

The title references Dr. Mabuse, a fictional criminal mastermind from German cinema, first appearing in Fritz Lang’s 1922 silent film Dr. Mabuse the Gambler. Like Lang’s character, the song’s subject embodies manipulation, deception, and psychological control. Propaganda turned these themes into a sonic thriller — icy, dramatic, and hypnotic — blending electronic beats with orchestral tension and whispered menace.

The Sound

Produced by Trevor Horn and engineered by Stephen Lipson, “The Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse” is a masterclass in 1980s studio innovation.

B-Side Gems

On the flip side, the 12″ includes “Femme Fatale (The Woman With The Orchid)”, Propaganda’s reinterpretation of the Lou Reed classic originally recorded by The Velvet Underground & Nico. Claudia Brücken’s cool, detached delivery gives the song an icy allure perfectly suited to Propaganda’s style. Closing the record is “(The Ninth Life of…) Dr. Mabuse”, a more experimental, atmospheric reprise of the main track — part remix, part deconstruction.

Chart Performance

The single reached #27 on the UK Singles Chart and #14 in Germany, gaining significant attention across Europe for its striking sound and surreal promotional video directed by Anton Corbijn. It firmly positioned Propaganda as ZTT’s “dark alternative” to Frankie Goes to Hollywood — both bands sharing the same production team but occupying very different emotional terrain.

Legacy

Decades later, “The Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse” still stands as one of the defining art-pop singles of the mid-’80s. It bridged the gap between new wave, industrial pop, and high-concept electronic art. The 12″ mix remains essential listening — not just for Propaganda fans, but for anyone interested in how Trevor Horn and ZTT reshaped the possibilities of pop music production in the 1980s.

About The Record

Two different commercial 12″s of Dr Mabuse were issued in the UK. Dr Mabuse (13th Life Mix) was issued in three different covers. Some copies are stickered with “13th Life Mix”. Many copies are incorrectly labelled as Das Testament Des Mabuse. Durations do not appear on this version.

The Third Side:
Dr. Mabuse (13th Life Mix) 6:35
Arranged By – Propaganda, Trevor Horn
Performer [Presented By] – Propaganda
Producer – Trevor Horn
Written-By – Thein, Mertens, Dörper*

The Fourth Side:
(The Woman With The Orchid) 3:22
Performer [Presented With Additional Material By] – Propaganda
Producer – Propaganda, Zang Tuum Tumb*
Written-By – Lou Reed

(The Ninth Life Of…) Dr. Mabuse 4:09
Performer [Presented By] – Propaganda
Producer – Trevor Horn
Written-By – Thein, Mertens, Dörper*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ZTT – 12 ZTAS 2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Hand Sleeve
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Lacquer Cut By – Kev*
Painting, Photography By – Anton Corbijn
Recorded At – Sarm West Studios
Lacquer Cut At – The Town House

NOTES

Front cover: “Propaganda Present The Nine Lives Of Dr. Mabuse”.

Femme Fatale produced by Zang Tuum Tumb with Propaganda.

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.