Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Hello again everyone!
It feels really good to finally be back at Burning The Ground.
What was originally supposed to be a short break for vacation turned into a much longer absence than I had planned. Shortly after we returned home, my partner’s father passed away unexpectedly. The past couple of weeks have been difficult for our family, and I simply needed some additional time away.
I want to thank everyone who continued to visit Burning The Ground while I was gone, and especially those of you who reached out and checked in. Your continued support of BTG means more to me than you probably realize.
When I started thinking about what record should be the first one back on the turntable, this one seemed almost too perfect.
“Hello Again.”
Sometimes the record chooses itself.
Longtime BTG readers may remember this 12″ from the early days of the site. I originally posted it on December 2, 2010, then returned to it with a new rip in June 2015. Eleven years later, I thought it was time to pull this record from the archive once again and give it a completely new transfer using my current setup.
“Hello Again” was released in 1984 as the fourth single from The Cars’ fifth studio album, “Heartbeat City.” Written and sung by Ric Ocasek, the track became the fourth Top 20 single from the album in the United States, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Dance Music/Club Play chart and No. 22 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
“Heartbeat City” was produced by The Cars along with Robert John “Mutt” Lange. For the 12″ release, “Hello Again” was handed over to legendary producer and remixer Arthur Baker. Andy Wallace and The Latin Rascals provided additional editing, while Chris Lord-Alge and Tom Lord-Alge handled remix engineering.
The result is a nearly six-minute Extended Remix Version that takes the electronic side of the original even further. The German 12″ also includes the Dub Version, giving Arthur Baker and company even more room to play with the track’s rhythms, vocals, and electronic effects.
The B-side contains the shorter Single Version.
More than anything, though, the title of this record just felt right for today.
After vacation, loss, and some unexpected time away, I’m ready to get back to sharing the records we all love. I have plenty of vinyl waiting in the stacks and quite a few things planned for Burning The Ground in the weeks ahead.
So…
Hello again.
Turn it up, enjoy the music, and welcome back to Burning The Ground!
SIDE A:
Hello Again (Extended Remix Version) 5:56
Hello Again (Dub Version) 6:12
SIDE B:
Hello Again (Single Version) 3:47
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart (1984) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock | 22 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 8 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Elektra – 966 929-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Art Direction – Carol Friedman
- Design [Cover Design] – Jodee Stringham
- Edited By – Andy Wallace (tracks: A1, A2), The Latin Rascals (tracks: A1, A2)
- Engineer [Remix] – Chris Lord-Alge (tracks: A1, A2), Tom Lord-Alge (tracks: A1, A2)
- Photography By [Cover] – James Wojcik
- Producer – Robert John “Mutt” Lange*, The Cars
- Remix – Arthur Baker (tracks: A1, A2)
- Written-By – Ric Ocasek
NOTES:
Special versions from the LP “HEARTBEAT CITY”
Vinyl Transfer & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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
PLEASE READ
There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other
**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!
Password: burningtheground
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I appreciate your help.
This song just popped into my head for some reason and here you post it. Spooky 🙃 Thank you
Thank you, PaulT.
DjPaulT, glad to have you back! The Cars were a solid new wave band and many, if not most, of their singles should have had the extended or remixed version, but apparently, “Hello Again” was the only single to actually get an extended remix.
Excellent! Without interfering with the original mix! Thank you.
Great to see you back Paul! And thanks (as always) for the rip!
Thanks so much, Thomas! It’s really good to be back. I’m glad you enjoyed the rip, and I appreciate the warm welcome!
Hello Again Dj Paul! 🙂 Was chuckling and smiling when I saw this record pop up. Of course I imagined you saying the opening of the track right as I saw it. A perfect choice indeed, or not even a choice as you so elegantly put it. Always loved this track, there is something about the quirky electronic unevenness along with the vocals that really gels into something quite perfect. The extended remix is really fun here, giving so much more expansiveness and variations to explore, well beyond what the already delightful original version gave us. The Dub here is… Read more »
Hello again, JP! I had a feeling this one might get a few smiles when it popped up. The title really did make the decision for me. I completely agree about the track itself. There is something wonderfully strange about all of those electronic textures and little off-kilter moments, yet somehow everything fits together perfectly. The extended remix opens it up beautifully, and I’m with you on the Dub Version too. I always enjoy a dub that still lets a few vocals sneak through. I’m especially happy that this third transfer finally found its way into your collection. Third time… Read more »
Greetings Paul,
i am glad to see you back at the ‘control tower’ again!
It’s always a terrible thing to lose someone you love,
but coping with it by doing things you enjoy can help.
Thank you very much for all your efforts
and if you feel the need to take a break again, take it.
The people who appreciate you will wait patiently.
peace,
dj
Thank you so much, Don. I really appreciate your thoughtful words. Getting back to the “control tower” and working on the music again has definitely helped give me something positive to focus on.
And thank you especially for saying that it’s okay to step away again if I need to. That means a lot. I’m very fortunate to have such understanding and patient people here at BTG.
Peace to you too, my friend!
You’re very welcome Paul.
Welcome back Paul, and wow what a cracker to start with! “Hello Again” my dear friend xoxo
Thank you so much, David! I thought “Hello Again” was just about perfect for the return. I’m really glad you enjoyed it, my dear friend. It feels wonderful to be back!
“Hello Again,” Paul, and thanks for a fantastic track. It’s so great to see you back. I’ve been thinking about you all this time and sharing in what you’ve been going through.
Thank you so much, Toxicaudio. That really means a lot to me. It has been a difficult few weeks, so knowing that you’ve been thinking of us and keeping us in your thoughts is very much appreciated.
I’m glad to be back, and I’m really happy you enjoyed “Hello Again.” It felt like the perfect track to return with. Thank you, my friend!
Hello Paul! Hello again! A hearty welcome back my friend. You and Jeremy have been in my thoughts and I send best wishes to you both. The Cars’ Heartbeat City was my album in 1984. Everything about it was meticulous and just perfect. From Mutt Lange’s Def Leppard-style production to the songs to Benjamin Orr sharing more lead vocals… And then there was Drive. The song that moved everybody at Live Aid, the big summer hit with that amazing video. Not to mention You Might Think won Video of the Year at the first MTV VMA’s. Hello Again became one… Read more »
Thank you so much, Retro Hound. Jeremy and I really appreciate the kind thoughts and best wishes. I loved reading your memories of “Heartbeat City.” It really was one of those albums where everything came together perfectly, from the production and videos to the singles and deeper album tracks. And I completely agree about “Hello Again.” It may not always get mentioned first when people talk about the album, but it has such a distinctive sound and personality. I’m glad you still have the previous transfer, and I hope you enjoy hearing what this new 2026 restoration brings out of… Read more »
EDIT: Welcome back, Paul. I remember when you posted this particular 12″ back in 2020 but the Extended Remix had serious sound problems…the intro 0:00-0:03 was clearly messed up and again at about 0:12. If I compared this to my USA vinyl rip as well as numerous collections this Extended Remix appears on in cd format (I have 3), the problems were not there. Luckily your new re-rip has fixed that. Is this a new/different 12″? If not, then I would muster the problem in 2020 was something in your computer work/exporting.
Thanks, Fred, and good ears! I believe the previous re-rip you’re referring to is from 2015, not 2020. Yes, this is the same German 12″. Since those problems are not present on the new 2026 transfer, they must have been introduced somewhere during the old recording, restoration, or export process rather than being on the vinyl itself. That is one of the reasons I enjoy going back to some of these older BTG posts. My equipment and transfer process have changed quite a bit over the years, and sometimes a completely fresh transfer can correct something that slipped through the… Read more »
What a fantastic 12″!!! John “Mutt” Lange certainly had the Midas touch when it came to 80s Rock. He knew how to maximize the production and deliver music with a punch (Def Leppard, ACDC, etc.). But when you mix that with the remixing skills of Arthur Baker, you get pure gold!
Kudos to John “Mutt” Lange for pushing the boundaries on 80s rock by always accompanying his releases with remixes.
Absolutely, Axel! Mutt Lange had such a distinctive production style during that period. Everything sounded huge, polished, and built to hit hard.
Then bringing Arthur Baker into the picture gave “Hello Again” a completely different kind of energy. The extended mix really lets the rhythm and electronic elements stretch out in a way the album version does not.
That combination of rock production and club remixing is a big part of what makes this 12″ so much fun. Thanks for the great comment!
Family and self-care always come first! Hope you are feeling better. I know losing someone takes time.But music always helps in any situation! That’s always been my go-to medicine!
Thank you, Axel. I really appreciate that. You’re right, losing someone takes time, and we’re just taking things day by day.
Music has always been a comfort for me too, so getting back to the turntable and working on BTG again has definitely helped. Thanks so much for the kind words, my friend!
Thank you so much, Richard. I really appreciate your kind words. You are absolutely right; sometimes we need to step away, take care of ourselves, and make the most of the time we have. It feels good to be back doing something I enjoy again. Best regards to you as well.
Welcome back, Paul! I’m glad you’re able to get back to doing what you so very much enjoy–restoring 12″ tracks and sharing them with the world.
And what a coincidence that you chose the Cars today. Earlier this morning I was adding their ‘Complete Greatest Hits’ compilation to my music library and reading Ric Ocasek’s Wiki page!
Thank you, David! It really does feel good to be back at the turntable and working on these records again. And what a coincidence that you were adding The Cars to your library and reading about Ric Ocasek the same morning I posted “Hello Again.” Sometimes the timing just works out perfectly. Thanks so much for the welcome back!
Hi Paul, glad to see you back!. Thanks for the great post. All the best dear friend.
Thank you so much, Marcelo! It is really good to be back. I appreciate the warm welcome and your continued support. All the best to you too, my friend!
Welcome back! And what an awesome post at that! Thanks as always for all your great work! Love The Cars…
Thank you so much! It feels great to be back, and I’m glad you enjoyed the post. The Cars were such a perfect choice for the return. I really appreciate the kind words and continued support!
Rock on Paul! So nice to see your post today 🙂
Thanks so much, Rob! It really is nice to be back and posting again. Rock on, my friend!
Well, hello again, hello….
So sorry to hear of your tragedies!
Maybe a week of “hello” posts? My mixtape brain is spinning around!
Robert John “Mutt” Lange
Arthur Baker
Andy Wallace and The Latin Rascals
Chris Lord-Alge and Tom Lord-Alge
Hellllloooo againnnnnn indeed!
Thanks so much, ING! And now you’ve got my wheels turning with a whole week of “hello” posts. That could be dangerous! This one certainly had quite the lineup behind it too. Mutt Lange, Arthur Baker, The Latin Rascals, and the Lord-Alge brothers all on one record. Hellllloooo again indeed!
Glad to see you are back! and yes, “Hello Again” works on so many levels! Thank you!
Thanks so much, Raymond! I thought “Hello Again” was almost too perfect for the return. I’m really glad to be back, and I appreciate the warm welcome!
Welcome back Paul
Not only is Heartbeat City one of my all time favorite albums, but one of the few I actually own on vinyl! So many wonderful songs that flow together so perfectly. Every time I hear one of them I am instantly back to a summer of my youth.
Again sorry for you loss and glad to have you back.
Thank you so much, Mikey-D! “Heartbeat City” really is one of those albums that can instantly take you back to a certain time and place. So many great songs on that record, and they still sound fantastic today. I really appreciate your kind words and condolences. It feels good to be back, my friend!
And, Hello Again, Paul!! We’ve missed you so very much. Not because of the music you post, but we are very concerned about what you and Jeremy are going through. Loss and grieving are very intense, bringing with them multiple-moods, emotions, and heartache. Please continue to not ignore these feelings. Time does heal. I love this “comeback” track from you! I’ve always loved, The Cars, ever since their debut album. My friend played it constantly via his 8-Track tape for us! It made me quite the fan. When their, “Heartbeat City”, record was released, this single hit me in the… Read more »
Thank you so much, Jeff. Your kind words about what Jeremy and I have been going through really mean a lot. Grief definitely comes in waves, so I’m trying to give it the time and space it needs while slowly getting back to the things I enjoy. I loved reading your memories of The Cars too. That 8-track story is fantastic! And I’m completely with you on Arthur Baker and The Latin Rascals. They really went wild with this remix and dub, which is exactly what makes them so much fun. There is so much happening in those grooves that… Read more »
Yay! Any day I get my hands on an Arthur Baker dub mix is a good day. Thank you for this, and I hope your partner is doing better.
Thanks so much, David! I’m with you, an Arthur Baker dub is always a good day. He really knew how to make those mixes interesting. And thank you for asking about my partner. He’s doing better, and we’re both just taking things one day at a time. I really appreciate the kind words!