Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

“The Only Way Is Up” is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released in 1980 as a single by soul singer Otis Clay.

In 1988, it became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population. The Yazz version was produced by Jonathan More and Matt Black (better known as dance duo Coldcut, who had worked with Yazz on their hit single “Doctorin’ the House”). “The Only Way Is Up” was Yazz’s first solo single, credited to her under the name Yazz and the Plastic Population. Released as a single in July 1988, the song became an instant smash hit, spending five weeks at number one in the United Kingdom, and ultimately becoming the second biggest-selling single of the year. In the United States, it reached number two on the Billboard dance chart, although only making number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

The opening horn blast is a sample from Sharon Redd’s 1982 dance classic “Beat the Street”.

SIDE A:
The Only Way Is Up (U.K. Extended Club Mix) 6:48

The Only Way Is Up (The Up Up Up Mix) 7:04
Remix – Bam Bam

SIDE B:
The Only Way Is Up (Acid Dub) 5:52
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin StraussMurray Elias

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1988 The Only Way Is Up U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #96
1988 The Only Way Is Up U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #2

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Elektra ‎– 0-66732
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Acid House

CREDITS:
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Producer – Coldcut
Programmed By [Additional] – Eric Kupper
Sleeve – Pat RodgerPointblanc London*, Seán Quinn
Written-By – George Jackson (3)Johnny Henderson

NOTES:
B side additional production and remix for Popstand Productions.

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
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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Damien
Damien
June 27, 2020 6:32 am

This extended mix sounds like the usual one I grew up with. I’m not familiar with the other mixes. Do you remember the other dub mix? Bad House Music. It had some guy overdubbed who sounded like he was talking in Italian, that I never got what it was about. Ohhh, bad house music. 🙂

Carlos
Carlos
June 17, 2020 9:54 am

Excelente aporte gracias Pault

Marco
Marco
June 16, 2020 2:53 pm

Good to see this single posted on here. I’m a fan of Justin Strauss mixes too. I got a copy of his remixes for Tracie Spencer – This House recently after I wore my vinyl out.

Cheers Paul 🙂

Jeff
Jeff
June 16, 2020 11:29 am

Praise be to you Paul for taking me back to happier times. You definitely bring back the sonic memories. At the time, I was so into Coldcut and their mixes and would try to obtain as much as I could. Loved their sample/collage mixes the best, hence their “Doctorin’ The House” and “Paid In Full” remix and their Christmas jam, “Coldcut’s Christmas Break.” Very awesome memories! I loved the acid house movement as well so these were records that were very fun.   This was a fantastic record. I used to hear it on the dance radio station in my… Read more »

Mario Hernan Arce Carrasco
Mario Hernan Arce Carrasco
June 16, 2020 11:22 am

I remember this song, saloon disco in Santiago of Chile. Thanks. Muchas gracias por esta cancion. La baile mucho en las discotecas de Santiago. Saludos desde Chile.

janick
janick
June 16, 2020 10:59 am

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/768a1fe7f58ac622504ae2d982542fdf?s=64&d=retro&r=pg

thanks you so much next step please siouxsie and the banshees peek a boo remixes + b side thanks again for all. but all the music its really appreciate hope siouxsie one day.