Burning The Ground Exclusive
As promised, Record 1 of the two-record set for Yello’s 1989 single “Of Course I’m Lying” has finally arrived — and it was absolutely worth the wait.
This first 12″ completes the set and includes Part 1 of The Yello Metropolitan Mixdown 1989, an ambitious megamix that pulls together the duo’s unique sonic world into one sprawling, seamless experience. For longtime fans, it’s a fascinating listen — less a straightforward dance medley and more a cinematic collage of rhythm, atmosphere, and signature Yello eccentricity. It’s the kind of mix that feels like flipping through radio stations in some futuristic late-night city, where every channel is tuned to a different dimension.
Also included is the Dance Mix of Oh Yeah, arguably the track most recognized by U.S. audiences. Thanks to its unforgettable appearance in films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Secret of My Success, “Oh Yeah” became Yello’s calling card in America — instantly recognizable from those opening vocal grunts alone. The Dance Mix stretches the groove further, giving the track even more room to breathe while keeping all of its playful swagger intact.
Rounding out the release is the edited version of “Of Course I’m Lying,” offering a more concise take on one of the duo’s most elegant and atmospheric recordings. While the full-length version unfolds like a smoky late-night conversation, the edit trims it down without losing its seductive tension. It remains one of the most sophisticated tracks in the Yello catalog — understated, mysterious, and endlessly replayable.
Together with Record 2 — which featured Part 2 of The Yello Metropolitan Mixdown, “Bostich,” and the full version of “Of Course I’m Lying” — this set feels like a perfect snapshot of where Yello stood in 1989: refined, adventurous, and completely in their own lane.
I always enjoy when a long-sought record finally lands, especially when it completes a release like this. There’s something satisfying about hearing both halves of a project the way it was originally intended. And as many of you mentioned in the comments, having both parts of the Metropolitan Mixdown in top quality makes the experience even better.
For me, this is another reminder of why I still love collecting physical media. Holding the record, seeing how the release was structured, and hearing these mixes as they were originally presented on vinyl adds something that digital files just can’t fully replicate.
So now, the full two-record story of “Of Course I’m Lying” is here — and it sounds just as stylish, strange, and sophisticated as Yello intended.
Of note: Track A2 would be better described as ‘Oh Yeah (Dance Mix Edit)’ as it only runs for approximately 5 minutes and 13 seconds, so as not to exceed the 20-minute limit that existed at the time. The full Oh Yeah (Dance Mix), running at 6.24, is found on the 12” version of The Race (The Pits Mix).
SIDE A:
Of Course I’m Lying (Edit) 3:52
Backing Vocals – Billy MacKenzie
Percussion – Beat Ash
Oh Yeah (Dance Mix) 5:13
SIDE B:
The Yello Metropolitan Mixdown 1989 Part I 11:02
DJ Mix [Megamix], Remix – Paul Dakeyne*
B.1 Dakeyne Intro
B.2 The Race
B.3 Bostich
B.4 Call It Love (Trego Snare)
B.5 Santiago
B.6 Tied Up
B.7 Vicious Games
B.8 I Love You
B.9 Oh Yeah
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – YELLO 312, Mercury – 872 945-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, 1/2
Country: UK & Europe
Released: Mar 23, 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Cover – Ernst Gamper
- Lyrics By, Vocals – Dieter Meier
- Music By, Arranged By – Boris Blank
- Producer, Engineer – Yello
NOTES:
Release titled “Record I” on its gatefold sleeve, designed to add the second 12″ sold separately and called “Record II”
With sticker on gatefold front cover:
‘YELLO The ultimate collectors edtion
Contains record 1 of a 2 record set
Record 2 to be released Soon
YELLO 312’
Track B remixed for DMC.
Mastered at Townhouse Studios, London
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
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-Jec Tube Box DS2
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
Artwork Scans: 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
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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I had the 2×12″ set, and sold it for peanuts as a student. So it’s great to be reunited with it, especially the Mixdown. But it’s Oh Yeah that really bounces out of my speakers. That bass! Another great transfer, Paul. Grateful as always.
Thank you 😎
Awesome, thank you for completing the set Paul!
Great stuff, every track is fantastic again (even if the Oh Yeah mix is slightly edited). Not to diminish the Of Course I’m Lying edit, but the part one megamix is the real star here. Funny when the B side overshadows the title single a bit.
Sounds great too, there really is a warmth and edge to the vinyl transfers over the cd singles here for me. Appreciate you doing this one right away for everyone anxiously waiting!!
Thanks, JP! I totally agree — Part One of the Metropolitan Mixdown really steals the spotlight here. As much as I love “Of Course I’m Lying,” that megamix feels like the main event. Yello had a way of making even a B-side feel like a major statement, and this is a perfect example of that. You’re right about the “Oh Yeah” mix too — even with the slight edit, it’s still a great inclusion and helps make this first record feel essential rather than just a companion piece. And yes, that warmth and edge is exactly what keeps pulling me… Read more »
Oh Yeah! Thank you Paul.This is the upload of the week. I was looking such a long time to get this complete set and boom here it is. Yello is like a Swiss knife : multifunctional genres paired with high quality and extremly sharp productions. And like Jeff wrote below : you don’t have to upload anything else for this week 😉
Thank you, Toxicaudio! “Yello is like a Swiss knife.” That’s a perfect description 😀- Multifunctional, precise, stylish, and always sharper than expected. I may have to borrow that one! That’s exactly why I love them too, they could move from quirky and playful to dark and cinematic without ever losing their identity. Yello always sounded unmistakably like themselves, no matter where they went stylistically. I’m really glad this complete set landed for you. There’s something especially satisfying about finally getting both halves together after hunting for it for so long. Once Part One arrived, I knew I had to post… Read more »
Hey Toxicaudio!!
I too loved you calling, Yello, a Swiss army knife! Absolutely, a brilliant observation! I would love it if the guys would see this astute comment! I’m sure they’d appreciate it! “Sharp” productions says it all! This duo releases a serious rush of dopamine in me! I love it that it does for you as well. Ah, the sonic pleasure is INTENSE. Like an orgasm for my brain!!
Have a terrific day, Toxicaudio!!!
Jeff
The completist in me thanks you big time Paul!! Not only do we get Oh Yeah (Dance Mix) but another Megamix as well. We really get our money’s worth. Like you mentioned, this is a perfect snapshot of where Yello stood up to this point. One of my favorite tracks/singles by Yello was still to come in the form of Unbelievable (Theme From “Ford Fairlane”) from a great soundtrack to an underrated movie that got caught up in the crossfire of a certain comic’s notoriety… but I digress! Thank you for your attention to detail Paul!!
Thanks, Retro Hound! I knew the completists would appreciate finally having both halves of this set together. It really does feel like getting the full picture instead of just half the story. Between “Oh Yeah” (Dance Mix) and another Metropolitan Mixdown, this release definitely delivers more than your average single. I agree too — it’s a great snapshot of where Yello were at that point: polished, confident, and completely in command of their own strange little universe. And yes, “Unbelievable” is such a great one! That track had such a huge cinematic presence, and I’ve always thought The Adventures of… Read more »
I’ve been listening to the other Yello megamix non-stop since you posted it (only briefly interrupted by the amazing Yazoo 12″)! I can’t wait to listen to the first part. And to top it all of, we get an exlusive edit of Oh Yeah (Dance Mix). THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Thanks, Axel!
Haha, I love that the Yazoo 12″ managed to briefly interrupt the Yello megamix marathon that feels like a pretty fair trade. 😀
Part One really completes the whole experience, and I think you’ll love how it flows into the second part. It makes the full Metropolitan Mixdown feel even bigger and more immersive, like one long late-night Yello soundtrack.
And yes, that edited “Oh Yeah” (Dance Mix) is such a nice bonus.
Really glad this one landed at the right time for you — enjoy diving into Part One!
Man, Paul, you don’t have to post anything else for this week, because this Yello single is perfectly satisfying to me! To get the first part of this megamix is pushing all the right buttons with me. You’ve got me (and Karen) fired up for a Yello deep dive now, playing their discs and streaming the music at home! I am eternally grateful to you for doing these records by this beloved duo! The music is such an adventure for the mind, body, and spirit! It’s otherworldly, eccentric, danceable, and so unlike other pieces of music! The two men work… Read more »
Jeff — this is fantastic! I love the image of you and Karen going full Yello deep dive at home once that door opens, there’s really no turning back. Their catalog is like its own strange, stylish universe, and every time you revisit it, you notice something new hiding in the details. “The music is an adventure for the mind, body, and spirit” — that says it perfectly. Yello really did create something beyond just pop records. It’s atmosphere, theater, rhythm, and sonic storytelling all happening at once. And “alchemists turning base rhythms into gold” is such a great description… Read more »
The album: “Of Course I’m Lying” proves that Yello could be both subtle and impactful. If you enjoy synth-pop with jazz undertones and impeccable production, this 12-inch single is an essential gem. It’s a track that evokes the night, the city, and a level of technical sophistication that few groups achieved in the late 80s.
A true treat for the ears!
Aesthetics: The cover of this British edition perfectly captures the clean, avant-garde aesthetic that Yello always maintained.
Thanks, Rubén! That is such a sharp description of the track and the release as a whole. “Night, the city, and technical sophistication” really captures the atmosphere perfectly. That is exactly where this record lives, somewhere between late-night elegance and quiet tension. I also like that you pointed out the jazz undertones. A lot of people focus on the synth-pop side of Yello, but there is always something more refined underneath, especially in tracks like this. Boris Blank had an incredible sense of space and restraint in his production, which gave their music that sophisticated edge. And yes, the aesthetics… Read more »
Oooooh, I love it so much, Paul. I have the German edition double 12inch. “Of course I´m lying” is one of my favourite Yello tracks, Bostich and Oh Yeah are classics, too, of course. The Megamix came as a bonus – it was not the reason why I bought the records but needless to say, I love it. Thank you so much for your double feature. 🙂
Big hug,
s´n´d
Add.: Your info on “Oh Yeah (dance mix)” made me dive into my collection as I knew I had the dance mix but not the “The Race” 12inch. The full length dance mix can also be found on the Canadian release of “Goldrush”. Phew, that won´t keep me awake tonight. 😉
That is a great catch, s´n´d! I love when one record sends us digging through the shelves trying to track down where else a mix appeared. That little moment of “I know I have that somewhere…” is such a familiar collector experience. Thanks for pointing out the Canadian release of Goldrush too, that is really useful information. It is always interesting how these mixes end up scattered across different releases and territories, sometimes in the most unexpected places. And yes, now you can sleep peacefully tonight knowing the full-length Dance Mix is safely accounted for in the collection! That kind… Read more »
Thanks so much, s´n´d! The German edition double 12″ is such a great one to have, definitely a special set for any Yello fan. “Of Course I’m Lying” really is one of those tracks that stays with you. It has such a unique mood, elegant, mysterious, and just a little melancholic. And I completely understand what you mean about the Megamix. Sometimes those bonus tracks end up becoming just as essential as the main single itself. You buy it for one reason, then suddenly the “extra” becomes something you keep going back to again and again. With “Bostich” and “Oh… Read more »