Tag: US

October 30, 2026

Various – Burning The Ground: Dark Side Of The Dance Floor

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Happy Halloween, everyone!

For the final installment of this year’s Spooky Season Spins, I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of featuring another individual 12-inch single, I’ve put together a special compilation called “Burning The Ground: Dark Side Of The Dance Floor.”

This nearly two-hour collection brings together 18 tracks of dark new wave, gothic rock, post-punk, industrial, and synthpop from the 1980s.

Every track in this compilation comes from a previous Burning The Ground vinyl post. These are recordings I’ve already shared on the blog, but I thought Halloween would be the perfect opportunity to revisit some of my favorites and bring them together in one collection.

One of the things I’ve always loved about ’80s alternative dance music is how easily it can shift from something haunting and atmospheric to something powerful enough to fill a dance floor. The darker side of the decade gave us some incredible records, filled with icy synthesizers, pounding electronic rhythms, sinister vocals, and unforgettable melodies.

I didn’t want to put together a collection of the usual Halloween novelty songs. Instead, I wanted to capture the feeling of walking into a dark, smoke-filled underground club sometime in the 1980s, where you never quite knew what the DJ would play next.

The collection opens with the dramatic “Pimpf” by Depeche Mode, followed by Propaganda’s mysterious and unsettling “Dr. Mabuse.” From there, we move through Fad Gadget, Kirlian Camera, Xymox, The Cure, Siouxsie & The Banshees, and Killing Joke.

As the compilation progresses, the atmosphere shifts toward the darker electronic sounds of Peter Murphy, Cabaret Voltaire, I Start Counting, Anne Clark, and Front 242.

Naturally, Ministry’s “(Every Day Is) Halloween” had to make an appearance. After all, what would a collection like this be without one of the most recognizable alternative Halloween anthems?

I’ve also included Dead Or Alive’s wonderfully sinister “Something In My House,” Soft Cell’s haunting “Martin,” and Duran Duran’s atmospheric “Secret Oktober.”

The collection closes with Depeche Mode’s short but eerie “Interlude #1 (Mission Impossible),” bringing everything to a fitting end.

Although these recordings have all appeared on Burning The Ground before, I spent considerable time putting this collection together. I carefully selected the running order, adjusted the levels, and worked on the spacing and transitions so the songs would sound good together.

Rather than treating this as a continuous DJ mix, I wanted to preserve each individual recording while creating a listening experience that flows naturally from beginning to end.

For longtime visitors, I hope this collection brings back memories of some favorite Burning The Ground posts. For newer readers, perhaps it will introduce you to a few recordings you missed the first time around. You can always explore the archives to find the original vinyl posts.

Most of all, I hope it captures a little of the atmosphere and excitement of those alternative dance floors that made the 1980s such a special time for music.

So turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and enjoy a trip to the dark side of the dance floor.

Thank you for spending another Spooky Season with me here at Burning The Ground.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

-DJPaulT

TRACKLISTING:

Depeche Mode – Pimpf 4:02

Propaganda – Dr. Mabuse (13th Life Mix) 6:37

Fad Gadget – For Whom The Bells Toll III 9:24

Kirlian Camera – Ocean (Extended Version) 7:02

Xymox – Obsession (Club Mix) 6:40

The Cure – Lullaby (Extended Remix) 7:46

Siouxsie & The Banshees – Peek-A-Boo (Silver Dollar Mix) 10:00

Killing Joke – Love Like Blood (Gestalt Mix) 5:08

Peter Murphy – Final Solution (Third & Final Mix) 5:54

Cabaret Voltaire – Sensoria 7:58

I Start Counting – Million Headed Monster (Listen Mix) 9:54

Anne Clark – Our Darkness (Remix) 6:28

Front 242 – Headhunter (V1.0) 5:05

Ministry – (Every Day Is) Halloween 6:36

Dead Or Alive – Something In My House (Mortevicar Mix) 7:03

Soft Cell – Martin 10:17

Duran Duran – Secret Oktober 2:48

Depeche Mode – Interlude #1 (Mission Impossible) 0:40

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: BTG Records – HAUNT4
Format: 18 x File, Stereo
Country: US
Released: Oct 30, 22026
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Goth Rock, Synthpop, Industrial

CREDITS:
Mastering – DjPaulT
Artowrk – DjPaulT

NOTES:
All tracks taken from the original BTG vinyl transfers
Compiled by DjPaulT for BURNING THE GROUND
Artwork DjPaulT

Special thanks to the original remixers and producers.

**ALL three download buttons are for 16-bit 44 kHz. **

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

** 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟔-𝐛𝐢𝐭, 𝟒𝟒 𝐤𝐇𝐳. **

Password: burningtheground

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October 23, 2026

Stevie Wonder – Skeletons (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Happy Friday, everyone!

Yesterday, we brightened things up with the infectious synth-pop sounds of El DeBarge’s “Who’s Johnny.” But before we head into the weekend, I thought we might open a few closet doors and see what’s hiding inside! Today, we’re staying in the Motown family with Stevie Wonder’s funky 1987 hit “Skeletons.” It might not be your typical Halloween record, but with its dark electronic groove, mysterious atmosphere, and lyrics about secrets waiting to be exposed, I think it’s a perfect way to bring a little funk back into our Spooky Season Spins!

Released in September 1987 as the lead single from Stevie Wonder’s album Characters, “Skeletons” found the legendary singer, songwriter, and musician exploring a harder-edged electronic funk sound while delivering some pointed social commentary.

At first glance, the title might suggest something supernatural, but these aren’t the kind of skeletons that rattle their bones in a haunted house. Stevie is talking about the skeletons people keep hidden in their closets. Those embarrassing secrets, lies, and questionable activities that eventually come back to haunt them.

When the song appeared in 1987, the United States was dealing with a wave of political scandals, public controversies, and revelations about prominent figures. Stevie took that atmosphere of suspicion and deception and turned it into one of the funkiest records of the year. Beneath its irresistible groove was a serious message about dishonesty, hypocrisy, and the consequences of trying to keep the truth buried.

Musically, “Skeletons” is a real treat for fans of eighties electronic funk. The song is built around a thick, rubbery synthesizer bass line, crisp electronic percussion, and layers of keyboards that give it a slightly sinister edge. Stevie’s unmistakable vocals move effortlessly between playful, sarcastic, and downright confrontational. It’s a fascinating combination of social commentary and dance-floor energy that only an artist like Stevie Wonder could pull off.

The accompanying music video took the concept even further. Set in a seemingly ordinary suburban neighborhood, it featured Stevie sitting on his front porch while the hidden lives of his neighbors were gradually revealed. Behind those friendly smiles and picture-perfect appearances were secrets that nobody wanted exposed. The video’s message was simple. You never really know what someone might be hiding behind closed doors!

Despite its darker subject matter, “Skeletons” was a commercial success. The single reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart, #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #20 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It also reached #59 on the UK Singles Chart, proving that Stevie still knew how to deliver a hit nearly three decades into his remarkable recording career.

Year	Chart	Peak
1987	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#19
1987	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#1
1987	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	#20
1987	Australia Kent Music Report	#38
1987	Belgium Ultratop 50 (Flanders)	#36
1987	Canada RPM Top 100 Singles	#43
1987	Netherlands Single Top 100	#72
1987	New Zealand Singles Chart	#39
1987	UK Official Singles Chart	#59

For today’s post, I’m featuring the original U.S. Motown 12″ single, catalog number 4593MG, released in 1987.

Side A contains the 6:43 extended version, which gives Stevie’s funky arrangement considerably more room to stretch out. The longer mix also incorporates spoken excerpts associated with the political controversies of the day, adding another layer to the song’s message. It’s an interesting reminder of just how closely the record reflected the headlines of 1987.

Side B features the equally lengthy instrumental version. This is where the production really gets a chance to shine. Without the lead vocals, you can fully appreciate the intricate synthesizer arrangements, electronic percussion, and relentless bass groove that drive the track. For anyone who loves the sound of eighties drum machines and synthesizers, the instrumental is worth the price of admission alone!

And while “Skeletons” might not have been written with Halloween in mind, I’ve always felt that songs about secrets, deception, and things lurking beneath the surface can be just as unsettling as those about ghosts and monsters. After all, isn’t the thought of someone’s darkest secrets suddenly coming to light a little frightening?

So, as we wrap up another week here at Burning The Ground, let’s turn up the funk and let Stevie Wonder remind us that sometimes the scariest things aren’t hiding under the bed. They’re hiding in the closet!

Enjoy this fresh vinyl transfer, and have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

SIDE A:
A1. Skeletons (Extended Version) 6:43

SIDE B:
B1. Skeletons (Instrumental) 6:43

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Motown – 4593MG
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Synth-funk, Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop

CREDITS:

Backing Vocals – Alexis England, Darryl Phinnessee, Dorian Holley, Keith John, Kevin Dorsey, Lynne Fiddmont, Melody McCully, Shirley Brewer
Co-producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Gary Olazabal
Engineer [Additional], Other [Mastering Coordinator] – R.R. Harlan
Guitar [Sample] – Gary Myrick
Mastered By – Stephen Marcussen
Programmed By [Computer, Synthesizer] – Robert Arbittier

NOTES:
Edited version in Album, Cassette and Compact Disc, “Characters”
Recorded at Wonderland Studios, Los Angeles, California
Mastered at Precision Lacquer

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.

October 22, 2026

El DeBarge – Who’s Johnny (US 12″ Promo) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

After yesterday’s dark, mysterious “Mambo Witch,” I thought we could use a little sunshine! Today, we’re trading the shadows for the bright synthesizers, infectious rhythms, and unmistakable voice of El DeBarge. We’re heading back to the summer of 1986 with “Who’s Johnny,” a feel-good slice of synth-pop that still sounds as irresistible as it did forty years ago.

I originally posted this U.S. promotional 12″ single on June 5, 2012, during the early days of Burning The Ground. Fourteen years later, I felt it was time to pull this record from the archives and give it a brand-new transfer for 2026. Whether you downloaded it back then or are discovering it here for the first time, I hope you’ll enjoy revisiting this little piece of eighties pop history.

Released in 1986 on Motown’s Gordy label, “Who’s Johnny” marked a major turning point for El DeBarge. After finding success as the lead singer of the family group DeBarge, El stepped into the spotlight as a solo artist. His first solo single became a smash hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending one week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. The record also climbed to #10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Year	Chart	Peak
1986	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#3
1986	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#1
1986	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	#10
1986	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#18
1986	Canada RPM Top 100 Singles	#1
1986	Canada RPM Adult Contemporary	#7
1986	Netherlands Dutch Top 40	#3
1986	Netherlands Single Top 100	#7
1986	Belgium Singles Chart	#4
1986	Australia Kent Music Report	#33
1986	New Zealand Singles Chart	#27
1986	UK Official Singles Chart	#60

Written by Peter and Ina Wolf and produced by Peter Wolf, “Who’s Johnny” was recorded as the theme for the 1986 science-fiction comedy Short Circuit, starring Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, and Fisher Stevens. The film introduced audiences to the lovable robot Number 5, later known as Johnny 5, who develops a personality of his own after being struck by lightning. The song’s playful title fit the movie perfectly, while its upbeat production helped it become a hit far beyond the silver screen.

The accompanying music video was just as memorable. Set inside a courtroom, it featured El DeBarge performing while Johnny 5 found himself on trial. It was the kind of wonderfully silly MTV moment that could only have come from the eighties!

For me, much of the song’s charm comes from its production. Those sparkling synthesizers, punchy electronic drums, and funky bass lines create a sound that sits comfortably between R&B, dance-pop, and the polished synth-driven music that dominated the mid-eighties. Add El’s smooth vocals and soaring falsetto, and you have a record that’s nearly impossible to resist.

Today’s U.S. promotional 12″, catalog number PR 183, features the 6:26 extended version on Side A, remixed by Barney Perkins. The longer running time gives the arrangement a little more room to breathe while keeping the song’s irresistible hooks firmly in place. Side B contains the 4:43 instrumental version, which is a real treat for anyone who appreciates the production work behind these eighties recordings. Without the lead vocal, all those wonderful electronic textures and rhythmic details get their chance to shine.

And here’s a little extra eighties trivia. “Weird Al” Yankovic even recorded a parody called “Here’s Johnny” for his 1986 album Polka Party!, turning the song into a tribute to Ed McMahon and his famous introduction of Johnny Carson.

It’s hard to believe that both “Who’s Johnny” and Short Circuit are celebrating their 40th anniversaries in 2026. Where did the time go?

So, let’s brighten up this October morning with a little El DeBarge. Dust off those memories, turn up the volume, and enjoy this fresh 2026 transfer of a genuine eighties favorite!

SIDE A:
A1. Who’s Johnny (12″ Version) 6:26

SIDE B:
B1. Who’s Johnny (12″ Instrumental) 4:43

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Gordy – PR 183
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Rhythm & Blues

CREDITS:

Executive-Producer – Tony Jones (15)
Producer – Peter Wolf (3)
Remix – Barney Perkins

NOTES:
For Promotional Use Only/Not For sale
Album version inEl DeBarge, 6181GL

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.

October 21, 2026

A Split Second – Mambo Witch (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Some Halloween records rely on creepy sound effects, ghostly voices, or familiar horror movie themes to set the mood. Others take a darker route, using pounding rhythms, sinister vocals, and an atmosphere that feels downright threatening. Today’s Spooky Season Spins selection falls squarely into that second category.

Turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and prepare to meet the “Mambo Witch.”

Released in 1988, “Mambo Witch” is a dark, hypnotic slice of electronic body music (EBM) from Belgian industrial pioneers A Split-Second. The track appeared on the group’s second full-length album, …From The Inside, and became one of their best-known club recordings.

A Split-Second emerged from Belgium’s underground electronic music scene in 1985. Founded by vocalist Marc Ickx (Marc Heyndrickx), the project developed into a partnership with producer and musician Chrismar Chayell (Peter Bonne). Together, they helped shape the sound of European EBM, combining relentless electronic rhythms, distorted guitars, and commanding vocals into something that was both aggressive and remarkably danceable.

Their 1986 single “Flesh” is often credited with helping spark Belgium’s new beat movement after club DJs began playing the record at a slower speed. By the time “Mambo Witch” arrived two years later, A Split-Second had established themselves as a formidable presence on alternative dance floors.

And what a wonderfully sinister record this one turned out to be!

“Mambo Witch” opens up a world of pounding electronic percussion, menacing synthesizers, and gritty guitar textures. Marc Ickx delivers his vocals with a cold, almost confrontational intensity, perfectly suited to the song’s unsettling atmosphere. There is something strangely hypnotic about the arrangement. The rhythm pulls you in, while the music creates a growing sense of unease.

The lyrics only add to the tension, with disturbing images of curses, venom, knives, and supernatural forces. This is certainly not a playful Halloween novelty record. There is a darker psychological edge at work, giving the song an almost ritualistic quality.

Of course, what makes “Mambo Witch” particularly interesting for this blog is its 12-inch presentation.

The Extended Version stretches the track to nearly six minutes, giving those relentless rhythms more room to work their magic. The result is a dance-floor workout that feels both mechanical and strangely hypnotic. This is the kind of record that would have sounded right at home in a darkened alternative club, surrounded by flashing lights and a thick cloud of artificial fog.

The flip side offers the Experimental Version, which takes the music in a less conventional direction. It reflects the group’s willingness to experiment beyond the straightforward club mix. Also included is the short but appropriately titled “Voodoo Witch,” a companion piece that makes this already unusual 12-inch even more appealing.

The original single was released in Belgium on Antler Records, while Chicago’s legendary Wax Trax! Records handled the American release. For those who remember the industrial and alternative club scene of the late 1980s, the Wax Trax! name alone should bring back some wonderful memories.

Despite its uncompromising sound, “Mambo Witch” managed to make an impression on American dance floors, reaching No. 29 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1989. Not bad for a record that sounds as though it crawled out of the shadows rather than a mainstream recording studio!

The single also helped introduce A Split-Second to a wider American audience. The group followed their growing success with a North American tour in 1989, bringing their hard-edged Belgian sound directly to the clubs that had embraced their records.

Nearly four decades later, “Mambo Witch” still sounds wonderfully menacing. Its cold electronic production, muscular rhythms, and unsettling imagery capture a side of the 1980s that existed far away from the polished pop dominating commercial radio.

For me, that is part of what makes revisiting these records so much fun. The 1980s dance scene had plenty of dark corners, and sometimes the most interesting music was hiding in them.

With Halloween just around the corner, “Mambo Witch” feels like the perfect record to summon from the vaults. It may not be a traditional Halloween song, but its combination of witchcraft imagery, industrial rhythms, and sinister atmosphere makes it a natural fit for Spooky Season Spins.

After all, who says a Halloween party has to be filled with novelty records when you can have a little Belgian industrial darkness instead?

Happy Spooky Season, everyone!

SIDE A:
A1. Mambo Witch (Extended Version) – 5:37

SIDE B:
B1. Mambo Witch (Experimental Version) – 5:50
B2. Voodoo Witch – 2:07

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Wax Trax! Records – WAX 061
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: EBM, New Beat

CREDITS:

Producer – A Split – Second
Written By [All Songs By] – Ickx-Chayell
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer – Chayell*, Ickx*

NOTES:
Producer credits are for Ickx-Chayell on the jacket and A Split – Second on the label.

Jacket made in Canada

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.