Tag: UK

Wham! – Last Christmas (UK 7″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984

NEW 2021 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!
NEW First time in 24bit Flac!

Originally posted December 3, 2018

For those that may have missed this one the first time around I have given this record a fresh new transfer. Since I originally recorded this record in 2018 I have made many upgrades to my gear, and wanted to give the record the best possible transfer that I could. This recording is also being presented in 24bit FLAC Hi-Res Audio for the first time.

In addition I have also newly scanned the artwork.

“Last Christmas” is a song by English pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in December 1984, on a double A-side with “Everything She Wants”. It was written and produced by George Michael.

The song reached number one in Slovenia and Sweden and number two in seven countries including Belgium, Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway and United Kingdom. Wham! donated all of their royalties to the Ethiopian famine.

**This U.K. 7″ pressing contains The early mix and vocal of “Last Christmas” recorded in August 1984, which has never been released on CD or digitally. Everything She Wants (Album Version) is the B side according to the record label. However, Last Christmas has been mis-pressed on both sides. Track time is listed as 4:24 on the record label the actual duration is 4:32.

SIDE A:
Last Christmas (Early Mix) 4:32

SIDE B:
Last Christmas (Early Mix) 4:32

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic ‎– GA 4949, Epic ‎– GA4949
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single, Mispress, Misprint, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer, Arranged By, Words By, Music By – George Michael
Recorded By – Chris Porter

NOTES:
Issued in a gatefold sleeve.
Made in England.

Everything She Wants (Album Version) is the B side according to the record label. However, Last Christmas has been mis-pressed on both sides of the record.

Find the 7″ 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.

Diana Ross / Michael Jackson – Ease On Down The Road (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1978

NEW 2021 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!

Originally posted November 9, 2012

“Ease on Down the Road” is a song from the 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz, performed in the original production by Stephanie Mills and Hinton Battle. It was also released in 1978 as a duet between Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

The 1978 duet was released as the theme song of the film adaptation of The Wiz (itself an adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), and produced by Quincy Jones. The Charlie Smalls–composed tune was an R&B re-interpretation of both “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard” from the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz. In the song, Dorothy (portrayed in the film by Ross) and the Scarecrow (played by Jackson) dance their way down the Yellow Brick Road and give each other words of encouragement.

“Ease on Down the Road” is performed four times in The Wiz film: once by Dorothy and the Scarecrow, once by the two of them and the Tin Man (played in the movie by Nipsey Russell), by the three of them and the Cowardly Lion (played by Ted Ross), and finally during the end credits. In the album version, Jackson and Ross sing by themselves. The recording was one of Jackson’s first collaborations with Quincy Jones, who became his main producer during the late 1970s and 1980s.

In 1980, Jackson was a guest on Kraft Salutes Disneyland’s 25th Anniversary and, along with Disney characters (Mickey Mouse, The Seven Dwarves, Donald Duck, Pinocchio, Minnie Mouse, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Pluto, Winnie the Pooh, The Three Little Pigs and Goofy), performed the song in a medley with the Disney signature song, “When You Wish Upon a Star”.

It also earned Jackson his first Grammy Award nomination with Ross (previous two with his family group, The Jacksons) in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1979.

Released as a single by MCA Records in late summer 1978, the song missed the U.S. Top 40 by one position, peaking at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached #17 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart the same year.

SIDE A:
Ease On Down The Road (Full Length US Version) 6:04
Performed By – Diana Ross, Michael Jackson
Written-By – Charlie Smalls

SIDE B:
Poppy Girls 3:26
Performed By – The Wiz*
Written-By – Anthony Jackson, Quincy Jones

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1978 Blue Jean U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #41
1978 Blue Jean U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles #17

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – 12 MCA 396
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition
Country: UK
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:
Producer – Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler

NPTES:
Full length US version from the soundtrack album and the film “The Wiz” over 6 minutes long.

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.

Paul Simon – Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (Extended Remix) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1986

“Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the fourth single from his seventh studio album, Graceland (1986), released on Warner Bros. Records. The song features guest vocals from the South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

SIDE A:
Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (Extended Remix) 8:02
Remix – Roy Halee

SIDE B:
All Around The World Or The Myth Of Fingerprints 3:15

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – W8404T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Engineer – Roy Halee
Lyrics By [Words], Music By – Paul Simon
Producer – Paul Simon

NOTES:
From the LP “GRACELAND”

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.

Mica Paris – Breathe Life Into Me (The Breath Of Love Remix) (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

“Breathe Life into Me” is a song by British singer Mica Paris. It was released as the third single from her debut album So Good by 4th & B’way Records and became her third consecutive top-thirty hit in the UK.

Debuting at number sixty-nine on the UK Singles Chart, “Breathe Life into Me” rose steadily, reaching the top forty in its fourth week and peaking at number twenty-six in its seventh week. “Breathe Life into Me” accumulated a total of 11 weeks on the chart. In the US, the song was Paris’ second appearance on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it peaked at number twenty-four.

SIDE A:
Breathe Life Into Me (The Breath Of Love Remix) 5:57
Engineer – Lee Hamblin
Producer, Mixed By – L’Equipe

SIDE B:
Like Dreamers Do (Hello New York) 4:56
Engineer – Lee Hamblin
Producer, Mixed By – L’Equipe

In The City 4:45
Producer – Leon Ware

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1988 Breathe Life Into Me U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #24

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: 4th & Broadway – 12 BRX 115
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Soul

CREDITS:
Lacquer Cut By – MIKE’S*
Photography By – Tobi Corney

NOTES:
Taken from the F.A.B. Long-Player “So Good”

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.