BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
“Breakfast” was the third single taken from the fourth studio album Perhaps by Scottish post-pun/new wave band The Associates. The single debuted on the UK singles chart on January 19, 1985 peaking at #49.
The epic string laden drama of “Breakfast”. It is possibly Billy Mackenzie’s greatest single moment, the melancholic piano motif setting the scene for an entire film noir in five minutes with its widescreen dramatics and mournful tension.
SIDE A:
Breakfast 5:28
Keyboards [Uncredited] – Howard Hughes
Producer – Martin Rushent
Vocals [Uncredited], Written-by – Billy MacKenzie
SIDE B:
Breakfast Alone 5:44
Keyboards – Howard Hughes
Producer – Martin Rushent
Written-By – Billy MacKenzie
Kites 5:51
Arranged By – Alan Rankine, Billy MacKenzie
Producer, Vocals – Billy MacKenzie
Written-By – Hal Hackady, Lee Pockriss
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: WEA – YZ 28T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Jan 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Photography By – Richard Haughton
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: 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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Great great single. I hear a huge Bowie influence across the whole thing. Thanks for sharing.
I’m a bit late to this site so spent an afternoon listening to loads of tracks yesterday>
The Associates are one of my faves and Billy is greatly missed.
Breakfast is an excellent track but wondered if you had the version of Breakfast (Live At Ronnie Scotts) which featured on the ‘The Sounds / WEA Christmas Cracker’ 7″ EP https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Sounds-WEA-Christmas-Cracker/release/509276
In fact all the tracks from that EP would be cool!
Cheers
Vince
So happy to have this in my collection again. Thank you so much for posting this!
THANK YOU . . . ! I’ve been waiting for this incredible track, which (by the way) is absolutely perfect to mix into from Victor Should have Been A Jazz Musician. Now that track would make for an awesome post too . . . !
What a great dance around their back-catalogue we’ve had. 🙂 Thank you Paul!
I didn’t know the majority of the posts, but with each one I became more puzzled as to how this band got so ignored for so long. Different times I guess. And in a way maybe it’s nice in this day and age to have a great band that *hasn’t* been posthumously overplayed until the magic’s ruined (I’m thinking Joy Division, Smiths, etc). 🙂
Gee, these Associates lads sure had a lot of releases, eh?
Luckily (hopefully) they won’t hold a candle to the legendary WHAM! in BTGworld.
🙂
It’s been two magical weeks … I feel spoiled! Thank you so much for this beautifully curated visit to an often-neglected talent.
I knew I could trust you! Thanks for making true my request. I’m a big fan of Billy, I have to say I own this 12″ since the year it was released, as well as others, but copies always get those awkward clicks…and I waited for deluxe editions (I guess a lot of fans wait too still) with no luck, so I praise the work you’re doing. If my economic situation was better I have no doubt you’ll get a big donation from me. Maybe I could help you with some 12″s you were looking for…Don’t hesitate to ask me… Read more »
This was my first Associates-association. I heared this single and bought it, my friend hometaped it, and another one bought the album, without knowing it from each other. Overnight they were settled in our semi new wave but midstream indie would be’s underground pop cult.
Because of privacy and basic common sense, i will not go into detail about this particular track, other than saying, yeah, i still love after all those years..
Thanx for sharing the full versions, Paul, very thanx.
Thank you so much for digging out your Associates 12″ to rip! It saves me digging out my own 😉
Achingly beautiful and, as you say, one of his very finest. Thanks Paul. My copy is a little worn!
You’re welcome Jonathan 🙂
Thanks once again for your incredible sequence
of Associates 12″!!!
…
any chance to have also some Animal Nightlife songs
(especially “Boys with the best intention” 12″) for the future?
…
Respect for (the new uncle) DJ Paul.
Thank you BE.D12”. I think the only one I have is “Preacher Preacher” but will have to check 🙂
Wow, amazing. This is the kind of thing that makes this my favorite blog, not only is there some history, and a chance to hear some fantastic audio, but even an extensive record collector will have something new to learn here. Though I have Perhaps on vinyl and CD, I missed this release. What a couple of weeks. As with the Ministry 12″ singles, and many others, these are some cool singles lost in the sea of forgotten or overlooked or unknown or relatively unpopular at their time vinyl releases. As so often if it was not a big hit… Read more »
Thank you Joey I have the most considerate fans out there. I appreciate your comment very much. Hope you have a really nice weekend 🙂
I don’t remember this one . Thanks anyway Paul. Is it on the Perhaps album?
Yes it is Omar. The b-sides are well worth the download as well 🙂
Ooh Paul, just by the description alone, I’m so enthused to hear this record!! You really are so very, very special Paul to do all that you do for us. You will always have my heart-felt gratitude for these sonic gifts. You are one of the most giving and loving human beings on this Earth. I’m so thankful for stumbling onto your site as my life is so much more fulfilling with you and your records in it. Have a super weekend my friend and tremendous kudos for your talents and presents!
Jeff
Thank you Jeff I think you will love this beauty. Billy Mackenzie was one of the greatest unappreciated vocalists and songwriters ever. Have a great weekend 🙂