Author: DjPaulT

October 24, 2025

The Crypt Keeper – The Crypt Jam (US 12″ Promo) (1992)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

🧛‍♂️ “Let’s all go to the crypt where the cool ghouls hang!”

In 1992, the wisecracking host of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt decided to take his gruesome groove to the dance floor with “The Crypt Jam.” Voiced by John Kassir in character as the delightfully demented Crypt Keeper, the single was released on Big Screen Records and both written and produced by Chuckii Booker, the multi-talented R&B artist best known for his hits “Turned Away” and “Games.”

Booker’s production gives “The Crypt Jam” a slick early-’90s new jack swing feel—thick, punchy beats, funky synth bass, and layers of spooky samples. What could have been a mere novelty track is instead surprisingly danceable and well-crafted, thanks to Booker’s polished touch.

The Crypt Keeper’s signature cackles, graveyard puns, and horror humor are all here in full force—making it a fun, campy club track that bridges the gap between horror fandom and early ’90s dance culture.

The music video, featuring the Crypt Keeper rapping, dancing, and surrounded by creepy party guests, aired on MTV and was included on various Tales from the Crypt home video releases. It’s gloriously over-the-top: part Halloween special, part hip-hop parody, and pure early-’90s entertainment.

Though “The Crypt Jam” didn’t chart, it found an afterlife as a Halloween cult favorite. Fans of Booker’s production can easily hear his rhythmic fingerprints throughout, turning the Crypt Keeper’s macabre humor into something that could have haunted any club floor in 1992.

💀 Fun Fact:
Chuckii Booker’s involvement makes this one of the rare novelty singles tied to a TV character that actually carries legitimate R&B and dance credentials. Booker handled everything from songwriting to production, giving the track a professional polish that sets it apart from most TV tie-ins of the era.

🕸️ For this post, I created custom sleeve artwork to give this undead dance floor classic the proper cover it never had. Inspired by vintage Tales from the Crypt comic art and early-’90s horror design, it captures the ghoulish fun and funky energy of The Crypt Jam.

Even after three decades, this spooky groove proves that when it comes to beats from beyond the grave, nobody does it deader than the Crypt Keeper.

SIDE A:
The Crypt Jam (Radio Edit) 4:00
The Crypt Jam (Album Version) 4:31
Scales From The Crypt (Club Mix) 7:08

SIDE B:
The Crypt Jam (TV Mix) 4:30
The Crypt Jam (A Cappella Crypt Keeper Mix) 3:46
The Crypt Jam (Fat Instrumental Mix) 3:46

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Big Screen Records – PRO-A-5577
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: RnB/Swing, Pop Rap, Horror Rock

CREDITS:

Lacquer Cut By – M.M*
Mixed By – Rob Chiarelli
Producer, Written-By – Chuckii Booker

NOTES:
Custom artwork: DjPaulT

PROMOTION ONLY.
NOT FOR SALE.

Performed By The Crypt Keeper (John Kassir)
LP Version from the Big Screen Records album
ORIGINAL MUSIC FROM TALES FROM THE CRYPT

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: 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:
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

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

October 23, 2025

Dave Ball (1959 – 2025)

Today we pause to celebrate the life, work, and legacy of Dave Ball — the visionary behind much of the sound of Soft Cell and a quietly adventurous pioneer of electronic music.

From Blackpool To Art College

Born David James Ball in 1959 in Chester and raised in Blackpool, Dave was drawn early to electronics. Self-taught on guitar and synthesizer, he was fascinated by the energy of Northern Soul and the precision of Kraftwerk.

While studying at Leeds Polytechnic, he met Marc Almond, and their unlikely pairing — Almond’s theatrical flair and Ball’s machine-minded precision — became the creative nucleus of Soft Cell. Ball once reflected that he was “just desperate to get away and start my own life.” That restlessness fueled a career that would redefine pop music.

The Soft Cell Era: Innovation, Pop & Edge

With Soft Cell, Dave Ball crafted a sonic landscape that was minimal yet emotionally rich — built on icy synths, mechanical rhythms, and club-driven textures wrapped around Almond’s provocative lyrics.

Their 1981 cover of “Tainted Love” became a global phenomenon, marking the moment when underground club culture collided with mainstream pop.

Ball’s background as a fine-art student shaped his approach — transforming pop into art, and art into pop. “We were just a couple of oiks from art college,” he once said, “doing gigs every weekend.”

Soft Cell pushed boundaries thematically and sonically, touching on nightlife, decadence, frustration, and euphoria. Dave’s synthesizer rig was the engine behind it all — sleek, dark, and unforgettable.

Beyond Soft Cell: The Grid, Production & Experimentation

After Soft Cell’s initial split in 1984, Ball continued to innovate. He formed The Grid with Richard Norris, fusing acid-house and dance-pop to create hits that defined a new era of electronic music.

He also delved into ambient and experimental soundscapes, notably the 2025 album Photosynthesis with Jon Savage — a rich tapestry of vintage analogue tones.

In his autobiography Electronic Boy: My Life In and Out of Soft Cell, Dave recounted his journey with humor, honesty, and deep insight into the evolution of electronic pop.

Legacy & Impact

Dave Ball helped define the sound of early 1980s synth-pop, inspiring generations of musicians and producers.
His work with Soft Cell reimagined pop as something darker, cooler, and more emotionally complex.
His later projects — from The Grid to his solo work — showcased his versatility, creativity, and boundless curiosity.
His later projects — from The Grid to his solo work — showcased his versatility, creativity, and boundless curiosity

A Personal Reflection

What stands out about Dave Ball is the delicate balance he struck between machine and emotion. He mastered circuitry and sequencers, yet his music always carried a deeply human pulse — introspective, cinematic, and quietly rebellious.

From shy art student to pop innovator to ambient explorer, his life reminds us that true creativity is never static. It evolves, questions, and surprises.

Final Thought

Dave Ball leaves behind a body of work that continues to resonate — songs we still dance to, synth lines that still shimmer, and a legacy that echoes through every artist who dares to fuse art and technology.

Rest in peace, Dave Ball — a true electronic original.
Your music will forever light up the dark corners of the dance floor.

-DjPaulT

October 22, 2025

Theresa – Last Time (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Debuting on Club Nouveau leader Jay King’s RCA-distributed label, King Jay Records, Theresa was a Sacramento, California–based duo made up of singer Theresa King and keyboardist Victor Porter. Their sound blended smooth mid-80s R&B with the polished production and melodic sensibilities that defined Jay King’s musical circle.

In 1987, the duo released their debut album Broken Puzzle, which reached #62 on Billboard’s R&B Albums Chart. The LP’s production roster read like a who’s who of late-’80s R&B: Jay King, along with Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster—the powerhouse production team that would soon make waves as part of Foster & McElroy, crafting hits for artists like Tony! Toni! Toné! and En Vogue.

The album’s standout single, “Last Time,” became Theresa’s breakthrough moment. Peaking at #18 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles Chart, it spent an impressive 17 weeks on the chart—marking the duo’s highest and only major chart success. The song’s sleek grooves, soulful vocals, and synth-driven production perfectly captured the late-’80s R&B radio sound—refined, heartfelt, and dancefloor-ready.

Though Theresa never followed up with another album, Broken Puzzle remains a hidden gem from a fertile era of West Coast R&B, when Jay King’s creative network helped shape the sound of modern soul.

SIDE A:
Last Time (Radio Version) 4:22
Last Time (Dub Mix) 2:49

SIDE B:
Last Time (Club Mix) 5:43

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Theresa: Last Time (1987)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot Black Singles	#18	1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA Victor – 6489-1-RDX, King Jay Records – 6489-1-RDX
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: RnB/Swing, Electro, Funk

CREDITS:

Baritone Vocals [Additional] – Valerie Watson
Co-producer [Associate Producer], Executive Producer – Jay King
Edited By – James Reese
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Norman Whitfield Jr.
Photography By, Design – Darius Anthony
Producer – Denzil Foster & Thomas McElroy*
Remix – E. Nuri*
Written-By – Denzil Foster-Thomas McElroy*, Jay King

NOTES:
“Theresa” is Theresa King & Victor Porter

Produced for 2-Tuff-E-Nuff Productions
From the forthcoming album, “Broken Puzzle”
Made in U.S.A.

Nuy 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

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

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

October 21, 2025

Brenda K. Starr – Breakfast In Bed (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1987, Brenda K. Starr served up a delicious slice of late-’80s dance-pop with her single “Breakfast In Bed,” the lead release from her self-titled sophomore album on MCA Records. Hot on the heels of her debut I Want Your Love, this track firmly established Starr as one of the key voices of the freestyle and dance scene of the era.

Produced with a slick, club-ready sheen that captured the sound of New York’s Latin freestyle explosion, “Breakfast In Bed” blended smooth synth textures, irresistible rhythm programming, and Brenda’s soulful, passionate vocals. It’s a perfect example of the crossover potential of freestyle at the time—equal parts pop charm and club energy.

The single made a strong showing on the U.S. charts, peaking at #18 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where it spent 8 weeks spinning on dance floors across the country. It also climbed to #29 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, further proving Starr’s growing fan base among DJs and club-goers.

Notably, Brenda also recorded a Spanish-language version of the song, “Desayuno De Amor,” which became a hit in its own right—reaching #6 on Billboard’s Latin Songs chart. This version showcased her Puerto Rican roots and helped expand her appeal to Latin audiences long before her later transition into salsa music in the 1990s.

“Breakfast In Bed” remains a shining moment in Brenda K. Starr’s early career—a warm, inviting dance track that’s both romantic and rhythmically infectious. Whether you remember it from your favorite nightclub or MTV rotation, it’s a perfect reminder of the era when freestyle ruled the airwaves.

SIDE A:
Breakfast In Bed (12″ Extended) 7:42

SIDE B:
Breakfast In Bed 7:49
Breakfast In Bed (Bonus Beats) 4:29

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Brenda K. Starr: *Breakfast In Bed* (1987)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs	#18	1987
US Billboard Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales	#29	1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23796
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Electro, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Arranged By, Producer, Written-By – Stephen Broughton Lunt
Arranged By, Written-By – Arthur Stead
Edited By – Tuta Aquino
Executive-Producer – Kate Hyman, Steve Allen (19)
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Steve Peck

NOTES:
From the MCA LP “Brenda K. Starr”

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

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

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