Burning The Ground Exclusive -1986
NEW 2025 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!
I originally shared this record on July 17, 2017, but I’ve revisited it with a fresh, meticulously updated transfer for those who may have missed it. This time, I used upgraded audio gear that wasn’t available during the original transfer back in 2017.
Canadian rock band Glass Tiger made waves in January 1986 with the release of their hit single “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” the lead track from their debut album, The Thin Red Line. Featuring backing vocals by iconic rock singer Bryan Adams, the song became a chart-topping success, reaching number one in Canada and peaking at number two in the United States.
In 1985, Glass Tiger enlisted Jim Vallance to produce their debut album. At the time, Vallance was primarily known as a prolific songwriter, often collaborating with Bryan Adams, though he had also produced albums for Doug and the Slugs, CANO, and Adams himself. According to Glass Tiger’s lead vocalist Alan Frew, Vallance’s approach to production allowed the band to explore their creative sound while providing guidance when necessary. “It worked out great because we were all at the same stage of development,” Frew recalled. “He didn’t change the sound of the band at all. He let us experiment but wasn’t afraid to get heavy-handed when he had to.” Vallance collaborated with the band to compose “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” while Adams lent his distinct voice to the backing vocals.
The song’s creation was inspired by an ice-breaking moment during the band’s first meeting with Vallance. Frew shared: “On the very first day that we met Jim Vallance, he picked us up at the airport and, to break the ice, asked us what we were listening to. One of the answers was Tears for Fears. We went to his house and drank tea while listening to some tunes. ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ came on, and we really liked the shuffle beat. So we went into the studio and, based on that shuffle beat, we wrote ‘Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).’ First day, first song.”
“Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” enjoyed tremendous commercial success. The track topped the Canadian Singles Chart in March 1986, spending two weeks at number one, and earned platinum certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association by July. In the United States, the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 in July and peaked at number two in October, held back from the top spot by Janet Jackson’s “When I Think of You.” It spent an impressive 24 weeks on the chart, reaching number one on the Singles Sales chart, number six on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, number 17 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and number 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also placed at number 34 on the Billboard Year-End singles chart of 1986. Internationally, it achieved top 15 status in Australia and charted in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Frew attributed the song’s global appeal to the band’s ability to create strong, memorable melodies. “We aren’t rewriting musical history by any means,” he explained, “but our melody lines are strong and mature enough to appeal to the English-speaking world.” The song’s success was bolstered by “solid record company involvement” and culminated in winning the 1986 Juno Award for Single of the Year. It was also named the top Canadian single in the Rock Express magazine readers’ poll awards in 1987. A decade later, the Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) recognized the track for being played more than 100,000 times on Canadian radio.
For fans of rare cuts, the “Death Mix” of “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” remains a vinyl-only treasure, absent from the deluxe CD reissue of The Thin Red Line. This exclusive version adds an intriguing layer to the legacy of a song that defined Glass Tiger’s debut and continues to resonate with audiences decades later.
SIDE A:
Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) (Extended Version) 6:31
SIDE B:
Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) (Death Mix) 5:51
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #2 |
| 1986 | Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #17 |
| 1986 | Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary | #30 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Manhattan Records – 1C K 060 20 1330 6
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
CREDITS:
- Producer – Jim Vallance
- Producer [Additional] – George Black, Victor Flores
- Remix – Victor Flores
- Written-By – Glass Tiger, Jim Vallance
NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP “THE THIN RED LINE”
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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