Burning The Ground Exclusive
This record has always been one of my guilty pleasures. I love its uplifting lyrics about embracing life no matter what comes your way—something that feels especially relevant right now. Blending freestyle, synth-pop, and house, the track boasts remixes by Keith Cohen, Steve Beltran, and Arthur Baker.
“Live It Up” was the debut single from singer-songwriter Gardner Cole, released in 1988. Featured on his album Triangles, the track fused pop, R&B, and dance influences, embodying the polished, radio-friendly production style of the late ’80s.
While the song only reached #91 on the Billboard Hot 100, it found greater success in the clubs, peaking at #13 on the Billboard Dance Chart in October 1988, where it spent seven weeks. Though not a major pop hit, “Live It Up” became a club favorite, showcasing Cole’s knack for infectious melodies and sleek production.
Beyond his own recordings, Gardner Cole was a prolific songwriter. He co-wrote Open Your Heart for Madonna and penned songs for major artists like Jody Watley and Tina Turner.
For Jody Watley, he co-wrote Most of All, a standout from her 1987 self-titled debut. Released as a single, it became a dance floor hit, reaching #11 on the Billboard Dance Chart.
For Tina Turner, he contributed to Whatever You Want, featured on her 19895album Wild’s Dreams. The song blended Turner’s signature rock and R&B sound with a refined mid-’90s production.
Though Live It Up didn’t turn Gardner Cole into a household name, his behind-the-scenes contributions left a lasting mark on pop and dance music, ensuring his influence lived on well beyond the charts.
SIDE A:
Live It Up (12″ Club Mix) 7:00
Remix – Keith Cohen, Steve Beltran
Live It Up (Dub) 7:18
Remix – Keith Cohen, Steve Beltran
Live It Up (Remix/Edit) 4:44
Remix – Keith Cohen, Steve Beltran
SIDE B:
Live It Up (12″ Remix) 7:26
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Arthur Baker
Live It Up (Acid Dub) 6:24
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Arthur Baker
Got Me Curious 3:58
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Live It Up | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #91 |
| 1988 | Live It Up | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play | #13 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 0-21015
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Acid House, Synth-pop, Freestyle
CREDITS:
- Executive-Producer – Michael Ostin
- Producer – Gardner Cole
- Written-By – Danny Sembello (tracks: A1 to A3, B1, B2), Gardner Cole
NOTES:
1 to A3, and B1/B2 From the Warner Bros. album △’s
B1/B2 Additional production and mix by Arthur Baker for Arthur Baker Inc.
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
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