BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988
NEW 2020 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!
Originally posted March 20, 2011
“Strange But True” was the debut single by American duo Times Two consisting of vocalists/keyboardists that wrote most of their own material. Times Two were Shanti Jones and Johnny Dollar, both from Point Reyes, California. Their 1988 album, X2, reached #137 on the Billboard 200. In the U.S., their biggest hit was “Strange But True”, which peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. The song was produced by Gardner Cole who has written and produced songs for Jody Watley (Most Of All) and Madonna (Open Your Heart).
SIDE A:
Strange But True (12″ Vocal Remix) 6:47
Producer – Gardner Cole
Producer [Additional Production], Remix, Edited By – Steve Peck
SIDE B:
Strange But True (Dub) 7:00
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Producer – Gardner Cole
Come Over (Non-LP Track) 3:36
Co-producer – Johnny Dollar (9)
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Strange But True | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #21 |
| 1988 | Strange But True | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #12 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Reprise Records – 0-20853, Reprise Records – 9 20853-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, SP Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Design –Jeri Heiden, Maura P. McLaughlin
Management – Allen Kovac, Stephen Drimmer
Management [Management Project Coordinator] – Lisa Jones (4)
Photography By – Alberto Tolot
Producer – Shanti (7), Steve Barri, Tony Peluso
NOTES:
Track A additional production, remix and edit for Peck Productions.
From the Reprise album “X 2”
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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: 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 USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (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
Username: btg
Password: burningtheground
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I don’t remember this one but Cecilia was big for me.
Thank you so much, Paul!!!
Thank you!
Very nice single, when I first heard them I went to buy the Human league The Lebanon and they were playing it in the store. I believe Jonny Dollar is in the band El Radio Fantastique as the singer.
His real name is Giovanni Morente.
Thanxs Paul for this. Your rips are very nice and clean.
I LOVE this song! I remember buying this 12″ from my local record store when it was hot on MTV. And then, they seemingly disappeared. Loved this track and this mix. Thank you for the impeccable remaster, Paul! You rock!
I remember this song so well! I thought it was Top Ten. I must have played it a lot myself — recorded off the radio — there was no cassingle.
Should have been bigger so catchy and fun 🙂
Well, it got plenty of play in the fabulous sphere of me! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very very much for this re-post Paul!! I remember getting the 7″ vinyl version of this (came in a fold out poster sleeve) in Sam Goody’s record store near Radio City Music Hall in NYC late summer (September I think) of ’88 when visiting from Sweden with my parents. Thank you!!
You’re welcome, Nubben I remember the Sam Goody stores I used to buy a lot of records from them our stores were located usually at the shopping mall.
Great production. Gardner Cole released a single called Wall Of Fear which had some excellent mixes by Eric Kupper.
Cheers Paul 🙂
He also had one called “Live It Up” which was his only charting single I think it had mixes by Arthur Baker. Keith Cohen and Steve Beltran I will be posting it at some point.
Wow Paul! What a great discovery! I never heard of this band. This is like Totally obscure 80s to me. I love these remixes. The rythm makes me think of Level 42’s lessons in love. After last week’s wonderful posts, you spoil me once more. The new week is off to another great start. Thanks a lot Paul 🙂
You are correct Daniel it does remind me of Level 42. You’re very welcome 🙂
Thanks the post really appreciate music. Can you get your hands Times Two “Cecilia” really like that one thanks.
I do have “Cecilia” it was one I grabbed during my vacation last january in New Mexico but I need to check it to make sure it sounds ok.
I love getting things from you Paul from the early days of BTG. I don’t ever remember seeing this when I first discovered your site. I’m just excited especially with dugn’s passionate review. Cool that Steve Peck and Tuta Aquino are involved in the production. Thanks for another glorious dance twelve!!!
Jeff
You’re welcome, Jeff. Gardner Cole who wrote the song is a genius on his own he wrote “Open Your Heart” for Madonna and the Jody Watley classic “Most Of All” and recorded his own dance records. 🙂
Wow wow wow! I feel like a kid in a candy store who just got his favorite treat. This is one of my absolute favorite remixes of all time. It’s one of those rare remixes like When In Rome’s – The Promise (Coliseum Mix), that’s even better than the original and scores high on danceability. And not sure you can get any more California-looking at the time than Shanti Jones and Johnny Dollar. This was in light rotation when I DJ’d and a has been a longtime closet favorite since its release. It’s so very cool to get a… Read more »
I am so happy to post it again dugn with a fresh transfer. It is one of those songs that should have gotten so much more attention the band really had it all to make it big.