Tag: US

May 9, 2025

Blondie – Heart Of Glass (US 12″) (1978)

Burning The Ground DISCO Exclusive

As we spin into another Disco Friday, we shine the glitterball on one of the most iconic genre-crossing tracks of the late ’70s—Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” Released in 1979, this shimmering hybrid of new wave cool and disco heat wasn’t just a stylistic curveball—it was a game-changer.

Produced by Mike Chapman, “Heart of Glass” was Blondie’s bold leap from punk-infused power pop into the throbbing lights of the dancefloor. Originally written as a slower, reggae-tinged track titled “Once I Had a Love,” the band revamped it with a four-on-the-floor beat, swirling synths, and Debbie Harry’s icy, detached vocal that would become instantly iconic. It wasn’t just a hit—it was a revolution.

Some fans of Blondie’s CBGB-era grit were shocked, even outraged, by the shift. But the gamble paid off. “Heart of Glass” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 their first in the U.S., and topped charts in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Suddenly, it was cool for punk kids to dance.

Today’s feature is the 12″ Disco Version, running nearly 6 minutes of slick, extended grooves and hypnotic instrumental breakdowns—a must-have for any serious vinyl spinner. Released on Chrysalis Records, this version turned dance floors upside down and made Blondie club royalty.

More than 40 years later, “Heart of Glass” still pulses with life, bridging genres and generations with effortless glamour. Whether you’re a punk, pop kid, or disco devotee—this track belongs on your turntable.

SIDE A:
Heart Of Glass 5:51

SIDE B:
Heart Of Glass (Instrumental) 5:17

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1979	Heart Of Glass	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1979	Heart Of Glass	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#44
1979	Heart Of Glass	U.S. Billboard Disco Top 80	#58

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis – CDS-2275
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Terre Haute Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Disco, New Wave

CREDITS:

Producer – Mike Chapman
Written-By – C. Stein*, D. Harry*

NOTES:
A: From The Chrysalis Album “Parallel Lines” CHR-1192

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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-Ject 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.

May 5, 2025

The Lucy Show – New Message (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Following the brooding and atmospheric textures of their critically acclaimed 1985 debut …undone, British band The Lucy Show took a bold sonic turn with their second—and final—album, Mania, released in 1986. With this album, the band shifted toward a more polished, upbeat, and commercially accessible sound, embracing jangly guitars, brighter melodies, and a cleaner production style. The lead single from this release was the energetic and hook-laden “New Message.”

“New Message” immediately signaled a departure from the band’s earlier gothic-tinged introspection. Clocking in with punchy guitars, melodic bass lines, and a propulsive rhythm, the song channels a style more in line with contemporaries like The Psychedelic Furs, The Church, or even early R.E.M., while still retaining The Lucy Show’s lyrical depth and emotional intensity.

Lyrically, the song touches on themes of miscommunication, modern detachment, and longing—topics that resonate even more strongly in today’s digital age. Mark Bandola’s vocals are more assertive here, riding atop a dense but shimmering wave of guitar-driven production.

Despite positive reviews and a growing cult following, Mania and its singles, including “New Message,” didn’t break through to mainstream success—partly due to label troubles with Big Time Records, which went under shortly after the album’s release. Sadly, this led to the band’s premature disbandment.

Over time, however, Mania has earned a well-deserved reputation as a lost classic of the ’80s alternative scene, with “New Message” standing out as a highlight—a vibrant track that captures the tension between artistic evolution and commercial appeal.

SIDE A:
New Message (Solo Trumpet Mix) 4:56

SIDE B:
New Message (Instrumental) 3:29
New Message (New Version) 3:29
Invitation 2:39

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Big Time – 6043-1-BD
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Synth-pop, Indie Rock

CREDITS:

Mixed By – Gordon Milne, The Lucy Show
Producer – David Ruffy, Mark Bandola, Rob Vandeven
Written-By – Mark Bandola, The Lucy Show

NOTES:
Recorded at Red Bus Studios, London 2/87

Original version from the Big Time LP “MANIA”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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-Ject 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.

May 2, 2025

Earth Wind & Fire with The Emotions – Boogie Wonderland (US 12″) (1979)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

🔥 “Dance, boogie wonderland…” 🔥

Few disco anthems are as instantly recognizable—or as joyfully infectious—as “Boogie Wonderland.” Released in 1979, this iconic collaboration between Earth, Wind & Fire and The Emotions marked a high point of late-’70s dancefloor magic. A swirling, soulful, full-throttle burst of disco energy, the track remains a gold standard of the genre.

Written by Jon Lind and Allee Willis (the songwriting duo also responsible for “September”), “Boogie Wonderland” pulses with vibrant horns, lush strings, and an insistent four-on-the-floor beat that refuses to let go. It’s all elevated by the dynamic, gospel-tinged vocals of The Emotions—fresh off their own smash “Best of My Love”—who bring a raw emotional edge to the euphoria.

Although Earth, Wind & Fire were known for their spiritual, funk-influenced sound, “Boogie Wonderland” saw them fully embrace the disco movement without losing their signature depth. The result? A smash hit that climbed to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the US Hot Soul Singles chart. In the UK, it peaked at #4, becoming one of their most beloved international hits.

The 12″ promo release featured an extended version clocking in at 8:21—a DJ’s dream, with a longer instrumental break perfect for mixing and building a groove. It’s this mix that became a staple in clubs and continues to be sought after by crate diggers and dance music purists alike.

“Boogie Wonderland” isn’t just a song—it’s a mood, a celebration, a glittering time capsule from the peak of the disco era. It’s also a testament to the genre’s power to unite people on the dance floor through rhythm, release, and radiant joy.

If you’re feeling down, if the world feels too heavy—just drop the needle on this one. There’s healing in the beat. There’s salvation in the sweat. Welcome to Boogie Wonderland.

SIDE A:
Boogie Wonderland (Special Disco Version) 8:22

SIDE B:
Boogie Wonderland (Instrumental) (Special Disco Version) 6:17

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1979	Boogie Wonderland	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#6
1979	Boogie Wonderland	U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Songs	#2
1979	Boogie Wonderland	U.S. Billboard Hot Disco Top 80	#14

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: ARC (3) – 23-10950, Columbia – 23-10950
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo, Pitman Press
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:

Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Ben Wright*
Producer – Al McKay, Maurice White
Written-By – A. Willis*, J. Lind*

NOTES:
From The Arc Lp: “I Am”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground

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.

May 1, 2025

The Art Of Noise With Max Headroom – Paranoimia (US 12″) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In the mid-1980s, when electronic music was evolving as both an art form and a playground for avant-garde experimentation, The Art of Noise stood at the forefront. Their 1986 single “Paranoimia”, featuring the glitchy charm of TV’s first virtual VJ Max Headroom, remains one of their most iconic and unconventional releases.

Originally an instrumental track on the group’s second studio album In Visible Silence, “Paranoimia” was reimagined and released as a standalone single featuring Max Headroom—played by Canadian actor Matt Frewer. The result was a bizarre, brilliant fusion of synthesized paranoia and late-night hallucination, narrated by a snarky, stuttering digital character who had already become a symbol of media overload and artificial intelligence satire.

The single version of “Paranoimia” kicks off with Max lamenting his inability to sleep. “I lie awake, tossing and turning,” he says in his signature electronic stammer, diving into a surreal monologue about dreams, nightmares, and subconscious fears. The Art of Noise’s soundbed—filled with clanging samples, synthetic textures, and abstract rhythms—complements Max’s ramblings perfectly, creating an atmosphere that’s both hypnotic and unsettling.

What makes this track especially memorable is its ability to straddle the line between novelty and innovation. While Max Headroom may have added a comedic, pop-culture edge, the song’s production is pure Art of Noise—meticulous, layered, and sonically adventurous. The 12″ extended remix stretches the experience even further, giving Max more room to monologue and the music more space to evolve.

“Paranoimia” was a commercial success, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming a favorite in clubs and on college radio. It remains a snapshot of a time when music, television, and technology were converging in weird and wonderful ways.

For fans of synth-pop, audio collage, and ‘80s media satire, “Paranoimia” isn’t just a song—it’s a mood. A brilliantly warped time capsule that still feels oddly relevant in our age of digital overload and sleepless scrolling.

SIDE A:
Paranoimia (Extended Version) 6:42
Featuring [With] – Max Headroom

Paranoimia 3:18
Vocals [Uncredited], Featuring [With] – Max Headroom

SIDE B:
Why Me? 2:56
A Nation Rejects 2:58

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Paranoimia	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#34
1986	Paranoimia	U.S. Billboard 12-Inch Singles Sales	#21
1986	Paranoimia	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#14

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: China Records – 4V9 43017, Chrysalis – 4V9 43017
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design [Sleeve Designed By] – J. Pasche*
Producer, Arranged By – The Art Of Noise
Written-By – Dudley*, Jeczalik*

NOTES:
Taken from the album, cassette and CD “In Visible Silence”.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.