Meli’sa Morgan – If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1987, American R&B vocalist Meli’sa Morgan returned with one of the sassiest and most confident singles of her career, “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” Taken from her second studio album, Good Love, the track showcased Morgan’s fiery personality and commanding vocal style, continuing her successful run on the R&B charts.

Following the massive success of her breakthrough hit “Do Me Baby,” Morgan quickly established herself as one of the premier female voices in contemporary R&B during the mid-to-late 1980s. “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” carried that momentum forward with a bold message of independence and equality wrapped inside a slick funk-driven production.

Produced and written by Paul Laurence Jones, the single blended hard-hitting drum programming, punchy synth bass, and layered backing vocals into an irresistible club-friendly groove. Morgan delivers the lyrics with attitude and confidence, responding to a nightlife-loving partner with a clear statement that she can play the same game just as well. The song’s assertive theme fit perfectly within the era’s growing wave of empowered female R&B anthems. The Los Angeles Times described the track as a “funky bill of rights” aimed at her wandering mate.

“If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” became one of Morgan’s biggest hits. The single climbed to #2 on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1987, while also crossing over onto the Billboard Dance Chart, where it reached #27. Internationally, the song found success in the UK, peaking at #86 on the UK Singles Chart.

The parent album Good Love further solidified Morgan’s place in late 80s R&B. Released on, the album reached #11 on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart and also included the hit duet “Love Changes,” with Kashif.

Today, “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” remains a favorite among fans of classic 80s R&B and dance music. Its infectious groove, sharp production, and Morgan’s powerhouse vocal performance capture everything that made urban contemporary music during this period so exciting. More than three decades later, the song still sounds fresh, fearless, and unmistakably 1987.

SIDE A:
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Extended) 4:50
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Radio Edit) 3:54

SIDE B:
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Club House Mix) 5:02
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Dub Version) 4:25

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Meli’sa Morgan: If You Can Do It I Can Too!! (1987)
Chart Peak Position Date
US Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop #2 1987
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play #27 1987
UK Singles Chart #86 1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-15345
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Contemporary R&B

CREDITS:

NOTES:
From the Melissa Morgan LP “Good Love”

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


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Milli Vanilli – Baby Don’t Forget My Number (Europe 12″) (1988)

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German producer Frank Farian struck gold again in late 1988 with the release of “Baby Don’t Forget My Number,” the second single by pop-dance duo Milli Vanilli. Following the success of “Girl You Know It’s True,” the track helped catapult the group into international superstardom and cemented their place as one of the biggest pop acts of the late 1980s.

Released in December 1988 from the European debut album All Or Nothing, and later included on the U.S. counterpart Girl You Know It’s True (1989), “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” blended infectious dance grooves, catchy hooks, and polished production that dominated radio and dance floors alike. The single became Milli Vanilli’s first U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one in 1989, beginning a remarkable chart run that would eventually produce three consecutive U.S. chart-toppers.

Produced by Frank Farian, the mastermind behind acts such as Boney M., the song featured the signature late-80s Euro-dance sound that defined the era. Pulsating synths, heavy drum programming, and slick vocal arrangements made the track irresistible to pop audiences worldwide.

In the United States, “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” became a massive commercial success, earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Internationally, the single reached the Top 10 in seven countries and performed exceptionally well in Australia, where it remained on the charts for an impressive 36 weeks and also achieved gold certification.

The 12-inch single remains a favorite among collectors and club music fans, especially for its extended dance mixes that fully embraced the high-energy production style of the period. These longer versions stretched the groove into pure dancefloor bliss, giving DJs plenty of room for seamless club mixing during the peak of the late-80s dance-pop explosion.

Despite the controversy that would later surround Milli Vanilli, there is no denying the impact their music had on pop culture. Songs like “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” captured a specific moment in time when dance-pop ruled the airwaves, MTV was king, and extended 12-inch mixes were essential listening for club kids and radio fans alike.

Today, “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” stands as a nostalgic reminder of an era filled with flashy fashion, massive hooks, and larger-than-life pop production. Whether spinning on vinyl or blasting from a retro playlist, the track still delivers the same infectious energy that made it a worldwide smash nearly four decades ago.

SIDE A:
Baby Don’t Forget My Number (Pennsylvania Six-Five-Thousand Heart Line Mix) 8:56
Written-By – B. NailF. Farian

SIDE B:
Too Much Monkey Business 3:23
Written-By – B. NailF. FarianH. RuloffsJ. Davis

Baby Don’t Forget My Number (Radio Mix) 4:33
Written-By – B. NailF. Farian

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Weekly charts

Milli Vanilli: Baby Don’t Forget My Number (1988–1989) Peak position
Australia (ARIA) 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 14
Canada Retail Singles (The Record) 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 3
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM) 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 18
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 3
France (SNEP) 17
Ireland (IRMA) 17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 9
Norway (VG-lista) 5
Spain (AFYVE) 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 11
UK Singles (OCC) 16
US Billboard Hot 100 1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) 10
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard) 12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 9
US Cash Box Top 100 2
West Germany (GfK) 9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Hansa – 611 841
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Breakbeat, Dub, Synth-pop, Pop Rap

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Recorded and Mixed at FAR Studios
Produced for FAR Music-Production 11/88

Printed in Germany

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


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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:

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

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

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

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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:

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

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

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.