BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“It’s My Life” is a song by the English new wave band Talk Talk. Written by Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, it was the title track on the band’s second album and released as its first single in January 1984. It reached #46 in the UK charts, but did better in several other countries, reaching #33 in Germany, #32 in New Zealand, #25 in France and #7 in Italy. It was also a success in North America, entering the Top 40 in both the United States (#31) and Canada (#30). (Notably, it peaked at #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.)
The single was re-released in the UK in 1985, but this time only reached #93. However, in 1990, “It’s My Life” was reissued again to promote the compilation album Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk. This time, the song was a hit in the UK, reaching #13, the band’s highest chart-placing single in its native country.
SIDE A:
It’s My Life (Extended Version) 6:15
Remix [Extended Mix] – Steve Thompson
Written-By – M. Hollis*, T. Friese-Greene*
SIDE B:
It’s My Life (Single Version) 3:52
Remix – Steve Thompson
Written-By – M. Hollis*, T. Friese-Greene*
Again, A Game…Again 4:10
Written-By – Mark Hollis
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | It’s My Life | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #31 |
| 1984 | It’s My Life | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #23 |
| 1984 | It’s My Life | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America – V7821-1/2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Artwork [Uncredited] – James Marsh
Producer – Tim Friese-Greene
NOTES:
“It’s My Life” album version can be heard on “It’s My Life”
Printed in U.S.A.
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Mullard 12AX7 Preamp Vacuum Tube Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
I’ve been on a Talk Talk kick lately. Glad to find this here. Thanks as always Paul.
So cool! This mix still hasn’t appeared on any CDs, neither has the US mix of Living In Another World.
a real treat to hear this, would love to hear a 2018 rip of It’s My Mix if you are ever planning one 🙂
TY
I never heard any version other than the mix from the album. I love this US remix by Steve Thompson, i love his work anyway.
Cheers Paul 🙂
Cheers Mark 🙂
Always great to see any promotion for one of the UK’s most underrated and talented songwriter/performers – Life Is What You Make It is my own personal favourite single of theirs, but just about everything that Mark H put out as Talk Talk is excellent. Thanks for posting.
DD
You’re welcome DD 🙂
This was my very first 12″ single I have ever bought. I remember it very well back in 1984 on a local hypermarket. It was the french release with this US mix and “Such a shame” on the flipside. I always prefered the Steve Thompson mix better than the standard 12″ mix for Europe. Thanks a lot Paul.
I love it when you guys share the memories that you have with certain records. I prefer the Steve Thompson mix too 🙂
Brilliant, of course, but can anyone tell me if there’s a (big) difference between the Single Version (which seems to be remixed by Steve Thompson) and the Album Version?
Just give it a listen Christian you can always delete it if you are not into it 🙂
That’s a misunderstanding, I downloaded it anyway, but I couldn’t hear a difference, also there’s no hint here, that there is a “Steve Thompson Single Mix”: http://www.talktalk.hu/eng/
This is too weird Paul. Yesterday at a restaurant they were playing No Doubt’s cover version of this song and I immediately thought of the original of which I like much better. So cool that you’ve posted this track. This was such an anthem for a lot of people in my life and it will always be relevant. So many, many thanks. Oh, and boy, I love what -1 commented about. That guy has fantastic things to say. I admire him on the New Wave Outpost forum. I’ve gathered so many tidbits by him. Yes, another reason why BTG is… Read more »
We are kindred spirits, Jeff. I love this band and record everything about it is perfect 🙂
You’re welcome.
paul, this is an excellent choice. i love talk talk. they had a lot going for them in their early days, before they went to progressive, and experimental rock. they had a lot of cool sounds, rhythms, and a distinctive voice in mark hollis. it’s not for everybody, but i really enjoy it. it’s my life is their best known hit, and some think that’s all they had. yes, in the US, thats it. but in the UK, and europe they had quite a string of hits. early on new wavers heard the songs ‘talk talk’, and ‘today’ with a… Read more »
Planning to possibly re-rip “It’s My Mix” and the “Talk Talk” 12″ since I posted them long ago. Thanks for all the info you provided 🙂
Thanks Paul. Loved the 12″ mix.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
Nothing left to be said about the marvellous title track. But what about the b-side “Again, A Game…Again”?! This must be in the Top3 of my all-time favourite Talk Talk tracks. I remember buying the 12inch in my favourite record shop in my hometown (Glory Days!). Happy to have “It´s My Life” in its standard extended version but when I flipped the record…. I WAS BLOWN AWAY by the b-side track. I must have listened to it a gazillion times by now 🙂
LOVE it. Me happy, Paul. Thankssssss.
Silly me, this is the US remix of course and not the standard 12inch mix for Europe.
Still great 🙂
And ” A Game…” was the b-side to “Such A Shame” over here. Gosh.
I´m done now…
You’re welcome Song And Dance. I’m having one of those days too lol 🙂