Stevie B – I Wanna Be The One (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in late 1988, “I Wanna Be The One” marked a major turning point for Miami freestyle sensation Stevie B. Issued as the lead single from his second album In My Eyes, the song introduced Stevie B to a much broader audience and became his first U.S. Top 40 hit, climbing to No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1989. While he had already built a loyal following on dance floors and urban radio, “I Wanna Be The One” helped push freestyle music further into the mainstream during the late 1980s.

Built around shimmering synths, crisp drum programming, and Stevie B’s instantly recognizable emotional vocal delivery, “I Wanna Be The One” perfectly captured the romantic heartbreak that defined much of the freestyle genre. The song’s lyrics tell the story of longing and devotion, themes that resonated strongly with fans and helped establish Stevie B as one of freestyle’s most successful crossover artists.

The single performed especially well on dance and crossover radio stations, where freestyle was thriving alongside dance-pop and contemporary R&B. Its polished production and catchy chorus made it accessible to pop audiences while still maintaining the Latin-influenced electronic sound that freestyle fans loved. The success of “I Wanna Be The One” paved the way for an impressive string of hits that would follow throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, including “In My Eyes,” “Love Me For Life,” and eventually the No. 1 ballad “Because I Love You (The Postman Song).”

Several versions of “I Wanna Be The One” were released across 7-inch, 12-inch, and cassette single formats. The extended 12-inch mixes became especially popular in clubs, offering longer instrumental passages and dancefloor-friendly arrangements that highlighted the song’s layered synth textures and freestyle rhythms.

At a time when freestyle music was exploding in cities like Miami, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, Stevie B emerged as one of the genre’s defining voices. “I Wanna Be The One” remains one of his signature recordings and a favorite among fans of classic late-80s dance music. More than three decades later, the song still stands as a timeless example of freestyle’s emotional energy and melodic charm.

SIDE A:
I Wanna Be The One (Radio Mix) 5:05
I Wanna Be The One (Extended Mix) 6:58

SIDE B:
I Wanna Be The One (Blissapella) 5:22
I Wanna Be The One (Percapella) 5:33

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Mint
Sleeve: Mint

Chart Performance — Stevie B: ***I Wanna Be The One*** (1988)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
Canada (RPM Dance / Urban)	#3	1988
US Billboard Hot 100	#32	1988
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#39	1988
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles Sales	#12	1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: LMR (Lefrak-Moelis Records) – LMR 4003
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle

CREDITS:

Arranged By – Dadgel Atabay, Stevie B
Executive-Producer – Herb Moelis
Lacquer Cut By – Gladys*
Mastered By – Gladys Hopkowitz
Producer, Written-By – Stevie B
Remix – Glenn Gutierrez, Jimmy Starr

NOTES:
Runouts are etched except for the SRC logo which is stamped.

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-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

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**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

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May 15, 2026

Waterfront – Cry (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Waterfront was a British pop duo made up of singer Phil Cilia and guitarist Chris Duffy. In 1988, the pair struck gold with their soulful debut single “Cry,” a heartfelt ballad that blended sophisticated pop with blue-eyed soul and a touch of adult contemporary polish. Released from their self-titled debut album, the song became an international hit and remains one of the most memorable one-hit wonders of the late 1980s.

Built around a smooth groove, emotional vocals, and a soaring chorus, “Cry” resonated strongly with radio audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, the single climbed all the way to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Waterfront’s only American chart hit. The song also found success in their home country, reaching #17 on the UK Singles Chart.

What made “Cry” stand out in 1989 was its understated sophistication. While much of pop radio at the time leaned heavily toward flashy production and bombastic hooks, Waterfront delivered something more mature and emotionally grounded. Phil Cilia’s expressive vocal performance gave the song a sincerity that connected immediately with listeners, while Chris Duffy’s tasteful instrumentation added warmth and texture.

The success of “Cry” helped Waterfront gain considerable exposure during the late 1980s, especially in the United States where MTV and adult contemporary radio embraced the single. The duo followed up with additional releases, but none managed to recreate the crossover success of their debut hit.

Listening today, “Cry” still sounds timeless. Its blend of soulful melodies and polished production captures the best elements of sophisticated late-80s pop. For many fans, the track remains a hidden gem of the era, one of those songs that instantly transports you back to a specific moment in time.

Whether you remember hearing it on late-night radio, catching the video on MTV, or discovering it years later, “Cry” remains a beautifully crafted pop song that deserved every bit of its chart success.

SIDE A:
Cry (Extended Version) 7:05
Remix – Bruce Forest

Cry (7″ Version) 3:51

SIDE B:
Cry (Club Mix) 6:32
Edited By – Roger Pauletta
Engineer [Remix] – P. Dennis Mitchell
Keyboards [Additional Programming] – Merv De Teyer
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Gail “Sky” King

Cry (Dub) 4:54
Edited By – Roger Pauletta
Engineer [Remix] – P. Dennis Mitchell
Keyboards [Additional Programming] – Merv De Teyer
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Gail “Sky” King

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Waterfront: Cry (1989)	Peak Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	7
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	61
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)	18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	30
UK Singles (OCC)	17
US Billboard Hot 100	10
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – 889 251-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Music By – Cilia*
Producer – Glenn Skinner
Written-By, Music By – Chris Duffy

NOTES:
From the Polydor album 422 837 970-1 “WATERFRONT”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal.

I appreciate your help.

May 14, 2026

Curiosity Killed The Cat – Free (UK 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in 1987, “Free” was the fifth and final single taken from the debut album Keep Your Distance by the British sophisti-pop band Curiosity Killed the Cat. Formed in London in 1980, the group consisted of singer Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, guitarist Julian Godfrey Brookhouse, bassist Nick Thorpe, and drummer Migi Drummond. While the band had already scored major UK success with singles like “Down to Earth” and “Misfit,” “Free” would become the closing chapter of an impressive run from their debut LP.

Built around a polished blend of funk-infused pop, soulful vocals, and sleek mid-80s production, “Free” showcased the band’s more reflective side. Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot’s unmistakable vocal style gives the track an emotional pull, while the sophisticated instrumentation perfectly captures the era’s smooth pop aesthetic. Although not as commercially successful as some of the group’s earlier singles, “Free” remains a favorite among fans of the band’s sophisticated sound.

“Free” reached #56 on the UK Singles Chart and climbed even higher in Ireland, peaking at #26. Interestingly, despite Curiosity Killed the Cat gaining some exposure internationally, the single was never released in the United States, making it somewhat of a hidden gem for American fans discovering the band years later through imports and compilations.

The parent album Keep Your Distance, released in 1986, became one of the defining sophisti-pop records of the decade. Produced by Stewart Levine, the LP delivered a string of stylish singles that blended pop hooks with jazz, funk, and soul influences. The album established Curiosity Killed the Cat as one of the standout British acts of the mid-80s scene.

The UK 12” single of “Free” featured a Dub version of the track along with additional versions that highlighted the band’s groove-oriented style. Like many British pop releases of the era, the extended format allowed the band’s musicianship and rhythmic arrangements more room to breathe, making it a sought-after release among collectors of 80s vinyl and extended mixes.

Though Curiosity Killed the Cat’s chart dominance would fade by the late 1980s, “Free” stands as a reminder of the elegance and sophistication that defined much of the UK pop scene during the decade. It remains a beautifully produced single that deserves rediscovery, especially for listeners who appreciate the refined sound of classic sophisti-pop.

SIDE A:
Free (Dub Master) 7:49

SIDE B:
Free 4:02
Free (Instrumental) 4:02

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Curiosity Killed The Cat: *Free* (1987)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
UK Singles Chart	#56	1987
Ireland	#26	1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – CATX 5, Mercury – 888-784-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Management – The Last Laugh Production Co Ltd
Mixed By, Overdubbed By – Paul Staveley O’Duffy
Photography By [Black And White] – Dean Freeman
Producer – Sly Dunbar And Robbie Shakespeare*
Sleeve – The Unknown (20)
Written-By – Curiosity*, Anderson*

NOTES:
Taken From The Album KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, Also Available On CD And Cassette.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal.

I appreciate your help.