Tag: Tuta Aquino

April 1, 2025

Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Heaven Is a Place on Earth – Belinda Carlisle’s Timeless Anthem

Released in 1987, “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” remains one of the defining songs of the decade. Performed by Belinda Carlisle, former lead singer of The Go-Go’s, the track catapulted her into solo superstardom and became an instant classic of the late ’80s pop-rock sound.

A Chart-Topping Smash

Written by hitmakers Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” was the lead single from Carlisle’s second solo album, Heaven on Earth. The song quickly became a global phenomenon, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and topping charts in several other countries, including the UK and Canada. It was Carlisle’s first (and only) U.S. No. 1 hit, solidifying her place in pop history.

The Sound of the Late ’80s

The song’s lush production, soaring melodies, and anthemic chorus perfectly encapsulate the era’s signature sound. Produced by Nowels, the track features a driving beat, shimmering synths, and a powerful vocal performance from Carlisle. Many of the era’s biggest names contributed to the track—background vocals were provided by Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas, Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips, songwriter Diane Warren, as well as songwriters Nowels and Shipley. The song also features Thomas Dolby on synthesizers.

An Iconic Music Video

Adding to the song’s legendary status is its striking music video, directed by actress-turned-filmmaker Diane Keaton. Featuring dreamlike imagery, shadowy dancers, and celestial themes, the video perfectly complements the song’s uplifting lyrics about love and paradise. Carlisle, dressed in black against a darkened, glowing background, delivers a mesmerizing performance, making the video one of the most recognizable of the decade.

Cultural Impact & Legacy

Beyond its chart success, Heaven Is a Place on Earth has endured as a staple of ’80s nostalgia. The song has been featured in countless movies, TV shows, and commercials, from Black Mirror to Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. It’s also a favorite in karaoke bars and ‘80s dance nights worldwide. The song’s message—finding heaven in love and human connection—remains just as powerful today as it was in 1987.

The Twelve-Inch Remix

For fans of extended mixes, the song’s 12″ version is a must-listen. The official remix, crafted by Shep Pettibone, extends the song’s euphoric energy with an extended intro and an even more driving beat, making it a dancefloor favorite. It’s another perfect example of how the ’80s took pop hits and transformed them into club anthems.

A Song That Never Fades

More than three decades later, Heaven Is a Place on Earth continues to shine as one of the most beloved pop songs of its time. Whether you first heard it on the radio in 1987 or discovered it through a retro playlist, its magic remains undeniable.

SIDE A:
Heaven Is A Place On Earth (The Heavenly Version) 5:59

SIDE B:
Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Down To Earth Dub) 5:27
Heaven Is A Place On Earth (The Voice) 3:53

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Heaven Is A Place On Earth	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1987	Heaven Is A Place On Earth	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#7

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23808, MCA Records – MCA 23808
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Edited By, Producer [Additional], Remix – Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix] – Steve Peck
Lacquer Cut By – TJ*
Producer, Written-By – Rick Nowels
Written-By – Ellen Shipley

NOTES:
From the MCA LP “HEAVEN ON EARTH”

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.

November 4, 2021

Stacey Q – Don’t Make A Fool Of Yourself (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

“Don’t Make a Fool of Yourself” is a song by American recording artist Stacey Q. It was taken from her second studio album, Hard Machine (1988). The song was written by Stacey Swain, Jon St. James, and Skip Hahn and was produced by Jon St. James. The song was mixed by musician Shep Pettibone, who collaborated with artists like Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, Janet Jackson, and others. It was released as the album’s first single on March 25, 1988, by Atlantic Records. The song peaked at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Billboard Dance charts.

SIDE A:
Don’t Make A Fool Of Yourself (The Shep Pettibone Mix) 7:07

SIDE B:
Don’t Make A Fool Of Yourself (Try It Out Lover Mix) 7:48
Don’t Make A Fool Of Yourself (Pumpin Mix) 4:26

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Don’t Make A Fool Of Yourself	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#66
1988	Don’t Make A Fool Of Yourself	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#4
1988	Don’t Make A Fool Of Yourself	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic – 0-86616
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synthpop

CREDITS:
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Edited By, Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Shep Pettibone
Engineer – Steve Peck
Producer – Jon St. James

NOTES:
Produced and Mixed at Formula 1 Music, La Habra, CA
Additional Production and Mix for Mastermix Productions.
Long Version of Atlantic LP – “HARD MACHINE”

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.

September 30, 2021

Karen Finley – Tales Of Taboo (Holland 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

NEW 2021 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!

Originally posted June 30. 2015

EXPLICIT LYRICS

“Tales Of Taboo” is a 1986 12″ single by American performance artist, musician, and poet Karen Finley. Produced by Madonna collaborator Mark Kamins the track is a ranting provocative monologue over an electronic dance beat. “Tales Of Taboo” was prominently sampled by S’Express on the classic dance floor cut-up, “Theme from S-Express” (her vocal – sampled from “Tales of Taboo” – exclaimed, “Drop that ghettoblaster!”). She was notably one of the NEA Four, four performance artists whose grants from the National Endowment for the Arts were vetoed in 1990 by John Frohnmayer after the process was condemned by Senator Jesse Helms under “decency” issues. In 1991, Finley would often perform her songs late at night at New York City’s Danceteria nightclub, where she worked.

SIDE A:
Tales Of Taboo (Radio Mix) 5:46
Belgian Waffles (Instrumental Version) 5:11

SIDE B:
The Yam Jam (Bonus Rap/Beat) 5:51
The Naked Truth (Acapella) 5:10

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Pow Wow Art International – PWAI 049
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Stereo
Country: Holland
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop, Experimental

CREDITS:
Drums, Synthesizer [Synths] – Albert Cabrera, Andy Wallace, Robert Görl
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Producer – Mark Kamins
Written-By – Finley, Kamins

NOTES:
Made In Holland

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.

September 24, 2021

Duran Duran – Master Mixes (US 12″ EP)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987

“Master Mixes” is a 12″ EP by Duran Duran, released in Asia, Hong Kong, and the USA by Capitol Records-EMI-Masterdisk on 20 June 1987 and in Brazil during December 1987.

The 12″ vinyl edition released in Asia, Hong Kong, and the USA is a double one-sided record, housed in a plain white stickered sleeve.

The Brazilian edition was issued in a picture sleeve in December 1987 for promotional purposes, to coincide with the Hollywood Rock Festival shows in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in January 1988.

Rumour had it that the band were readying either “American Science” or “Vertigo” as a likely fourth single from the album Notorious, commissioning remixes in anticipation. However, as both “Skin Trade” and “Meet El Presidente” failed to enter the top 20, plans for a fourth single were quietly scrapped.

Masterdisk released this Master Mixes collection, compiling the unused remixes, as well as a further mix of “Skin Trade” and a megamix called “Notoriousaurus Rex” in time for Duran Duran’s USA leg of The Strange Behaviour Tour in June and July 1987.

**As a special bonus, I have included “Skin Trade (S.O.S. Dub)” which was taken from the US “Meet El Presidente” 12″ promo single. This mix has never appeared on an official CD.

DISC 1:
American Science (Chemical Reaction Mix) 7:42
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer – Daniel Abraham
Remix – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias

Vertigo (Do The Demolition) (Mantronix Mix) 6:27
Edited By –Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Remix – Curtis/Mantronik*

Skin Trade (Parisian Mix) 8:09
Edited By – Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Remix – Daniel Abraham

DISC 2:
American Science (Meltdown Dub) 7:24
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer – Daniel Abraham
Remix – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias

Vertigo (Do The Demolition) (B-Boy Mix) 5:57
Edited By –Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Remix – Curtis/Mantronik*

Master Mix (Notoriousaurus Rex) 7:20
Edited By [With Edits By] – Jose “Chep” Nunez, Omar Santana, The Hit Squad (2), The Latin Rascals, Tuta Aquino
Featuring [Featuring Mixes By] – Daniel Abraham, Justin Strauss, Curtis/Mantronik, Larry Levan, Mark S. Berry*, Murray Elias, Nile Rodgers, The Latin Rascals
Remix [Collaged By] – Tuta Aquino

**BONUS CUT:
Skin Trade (S.O.S. Dub) 7:16
Edited By, Tracking By [Dubs] – Jose “Chep” Nunez*
Keyboards [Additional] – Kevin Jones (3)
Remix, Engineer – Daniel Abraham

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – VB-15320-1, Capitol Records – VB-15320-2
Format: 2 x Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Limited Edition, SRC Pressing, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: Jun 20, 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Downtempo, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mastered By – HW*
Producer – Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers

NOTES:

This is a limited edition release of two single-sided records, issued in a stickered white gatefold jacket that is enclosed in a sealed, stickered non-shrink wrapper.
It also includes a letter-size sheet of paper with remix credits printed on it.
The sticker and paper bear both cat#s.
The records, packaging, and remix sheet are all professionally typeset, using a typewriter-style font and accompanied by Masterdisk Corporation logos, all in order to make the release resemble a test pressing.
It is, however, an official, commercial release on Capitol Records.

The last track is listed as “Notoriousaurus Rex (Master Mix)” on the insert, and as “Master Mix (Notoriousaurus Rex)” on the jacket and label.

A1, C1 remixed for Pop Stand Productions. A3 remixed for S.O.S. Productions. A2, A3, C2 edited for S.O.S. Productions.

“MASTERDISK” and “SRC” logos are machine-stamped in the dead wax.
“HW” is inscribed under Masterdisk in the dead wax.

“Original versions can be heard on the album, NOTORIOUS.

Printed in the U.S.A.

Find the 12” at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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