BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
REQUEST
“Life in a Northern Town” is a pop song by The Dream Academy, an English dream pop group. The song is the first single from their 1985 self-titled debut, The Dream Academy. Reaching #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1986, it is also their highest-peaking chart single in the US.
The Dream Academy released the original version in 1985 as the first single from their self-titled album. It was a Top Ten pop hit for them, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
There were two different versions of the music video. The first one was made in 1984 and was filmed in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, England. It was directed by Tim Pope. The second version was filmed in 1985 and was directed by Leslie Libman and Larry Williams. It was filmed in and around Newcastle upon Tyne with some scenes filmed in Manchester in the UK and in the USA. The video featured footage from one of their first TV appearances, on the British music show The Tube.
The lyrics are references to English singer-songwriter Nick Drake, who suffered from depression and insomnia throughout his life and often reflected those topics in his lyrics. Gilbert Gabriel, a member of The Dream Academy and co-writer of the song, has also said that the inspiration for the tune came from his experience at Dartington College of Arts. Nick Drake died of an antidepressant overdose in 1974 at the age of twenty six, but his music has influenced songwriters and guitarists well after his death. He was best known for sombre pieces composed on his favorite instrument, the guitar, and The Dream Academy intended the song as a tribute to Drake. The song, which took a year to record, also includes elements of classical music, an “african-esque” chant, and hints of psychedelia.
SIDE A:
Life In A Northern Town (Extended) 5:18
Test Tape No.3 5:04
SIDE B:
Life In A Northern Town (7″ Mix) 4:15
Poised On The Edge Of Forever 3:52
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Life In A Northern Town | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #7 |
| 1986 | Life In A Northern Town | U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | #7 |
| 1986 | Life In A Northern Town | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #2 |
| 1986 | Life In A Northern Town | U.S. Cashbox Top 100 Singles | #11 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Blanco Y Negro – NEG 10T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Design – Town & Country Planning
Photography By – Richard Haughton
Producer – David Gilmour (tracks: A1, B1), Dream Academy, The (tracks: A2, B2), George Nicholson (tracks: A1, B1), Nick Laird-Clowes (tracks: A1, B1)
Written-By – Gilbert Gabriel, Nick Laird-Clowes
NOTES:
Dedicated to Nick Drake, Steve Reich & ‘Classics For Pleasure’
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
I never knew this had a 12″. Thanks so much for sharing it. One of the best songs ever made here.
Thanks you so much!!!!!!! Great job!!!!!!
Wnderful song, thanks for the rip!
FANTASTIC! I love the Dream Academy 12″ers. I have them somewhere in a box and need to dig them out. Great addition to the blog.
Another interesting thing about this song is in the US Video, the cellist in the video is actually Lucia Holm who would later go on to be the singer in the dance band Sunscreem.
How strange…I was just trying to think of this song title and who sang it this morning because I was listening to Mr. Mister and this song came to mind too from that same year, but I couldn’t recall who or what.
Then I open your blog and BAM, there it is..oh yeah.
Instantly was like duherrr.
Thanks
I remember you posting their beautiful Love CD Maxi eons ago in your previous cyber location, and this post here is just as lovely!
Always enjoyed their wistfulness, as it never fails to soothe and calm me. But I’m very surprised at its US success, but perhaps the nostalgic sentiments plus the “John F Kennedy and The Beatles bit” struck a chord with US radio DJs and listeners.
I have all three of their 12″s (above-mentioned two plus The Love Parade), but who needs them when I have your rips!? LOL!
Thanks and Happy Sunday, Paul!
AHHHH…Yet another great track from early MTv days….BIG thanks my friend! I can’t help but smile in remembrance of those days past.
Thanks!!
is a great track!
Another nice surprise, Paul. Always liked the song Test Tape No. 3 on the b-side of the 45 that I had. Thank you.
You’re welcome Andy. I love it as well have a great weekend.
Thanks Paul! 🙂
Only had the extended version on the “Retro: Active” CD.
The “Retro: Active” CD used a vinyl rip also.
Hello from France ! I used to follow your blogs for years, even if I don’t download much of your posts, I try to read everything you write about the songs, it is very interesting! This song is very beautiful… Now I must admit I discovered at first the German dance band “Dario G” which used a sample of this song in their first single “Sunchyme” in 1997… There are many of the maxi singles you post that just were never release in my country… So continue helping us to discover or re-discover the treasures of the us ! Big… Read more »
So glad you like it Kiki. Have a great weekend 🙂
Beautiful song. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have the (european?) 12″, which came with a different cover and b-side than this one.
My b-side is “Please please please let me get what I want” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgcR3qGnBPk)
You’re welcome Peter!
Hi Paul, I’m writing you this comment today because your passion for the maxi-singles from the 1980s is shared by my best friend and myself. First I’d like to tell you something about me so you know who you are dealing with. My name is Torsten and I was born in 1969. I spent the 1980s behind a wall because I was born in the GDR, the part of Germany that didn’t enjoy all types of freedom, especially concerning music. But we still listened to the same music because, thanks to some radio DJs in West Germany, we were able… Read more »
Torsten i am so happy that you are now able enjoy all of the great music that the world has to offer. I am familiar with the Falco songs but not the cover versions that you mentioned.
Best wishes
Paul
Although I have this 12″ mix on cd, the song is one of my favorites from the 80’s. Something about it is so relaxing, so 80s, and just so great. Reminds me so much of Christmas for some reason.
Flamin’ awesome…thank you
You’re welcome Super C!!
Kudos, this was worth waiting for! Superb quality!
You wouldn’t happen to have the 12″ of “Indian Summer”, too?
Glad you like it Andy. This is the only single I have by The Dream Academy but I have them in my shopping list 🙂
love this track. Paul do u have the US 7″ remix of the Love Parade by the Dream Academy as well?
Sorry Omar I don’t but it is in my wantlist.
One of my favourite songs EVER 🙂
Thanks, Paul 🙂
You’re welcome AtahualpaFX! It’s a favorite of mine too. Be sure to let “Poised On The Edge Of Forever” play all the way through because there is a hidden track at the end 🙂
OMG – please please please say you’ll be posting their cover of Please Please Please???
Sorry my friend that is a hard one to find in Near Mint condition so I do not have it at the moment. But I’ll keep looking 🙂
Beautiful single (even track 2), beautifully ripped. Thank you so much.
I love to see what we’re getting next every one or two days. One of my fixations at the moment.
Thank you for the compliment CWZ 🙂