We did it! 🙌 Thanks to the incredible generosity of this community, Burning the Ground’s October Fundraiser has officially reached its $1,500 goal! 💿✨
I want to extend a special thank you to one very generous donor whose gift helped us cross the finish line. At the same time, every single donation — big or small — made this possible. Together, you’ve ensured that BTG can stay secure, cover hosting and equipment costs, and continue sharing the rare 12″ remixes and vinyl gems we all love. 🎶
This is truly a community effort, and I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for helping keep the music alive for fans and collectors everywhere. ❤️
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported Burning the Ground’s October Fundraiser so far. Because of your generosity, we’re already about halfway to our $1,500 goal! 💿✨
Your donations are making a real difference — helping cover hosting and security costs, keeping our equipment running smoothly, and allowing me to track down rare records for future posts. Every dollar is going right back into keeping BTG alive, secure, and filled with the music we all love.
We still have a little way to go before we reach our goal, and if you haven’t had a chance to contribute yet, there’s still time. You can make a secure donation by debit card, credit card, or PayPal through our Donation Page on PayPal, or by clicking any of the yellow Donate buttons throughout the site, or by clicking the link below.
Thank you again for your incredible support — whether through donations, sharing the site, or simply stopping by to enjoy a favorite track. Together, we’re keeping this music alive for fans and collectors everywhere. ❤️
It’s that time again — our October Fundraiser is officially underway!
Burning the Ground is a labor of love dedicated to preserving and sharing the rare 12″ remixes, extended versions, and hard-to-find vinyl gems of the ’80s, ’90s, and beyond. Whether you visit to relive a favorite dancefloor memory or discover something new, I’m so grateful to have you as part of this passionate community.
Every six months, we run a small fundraiser to help keep the site running smoothly and securely. Our goal for October is $1,500.00 — and every dollar counts.
Your generous donations go directly toward:
🔒 Website hosting, security, monitoring, and protection 💿 Purchasing requested records for future posts 🛠️ Equipment maintenance and upgrades
If you’d like to support Burning the Ground, you can make a secure donation by debit card, credit card, or PayPal through our Donation Page on PayPal, or by clicking any of the yellow Donate buttons throughout the site.
We know these are challenging times, and that makes your support mean even more. No amount is too small, and every contribution helps ensure BTG continues to bring you the music you love.
Thank you all so much for your continued support of Burning the Ground. Whether you’ve donated, shared the site, or simply stopped by to enjoy a favorite track, you’re helping keep this music alive for generations of fans and collectors to come. I truly couldn’t do this without you. ❤️
Released in 1994 as the final single from her fourth album, Intimacy (1993), Jody Watley’s When a Man Loves a Woman stands out as one of the most intriguing singles of her career. Co-written with Larry Campbell, the song paired Watley’s poetic, philosophical spoken-word style with a sultry midtempo R&B/hip-hop groove, offering something bold and different from her previous chart-toppers.
Charts
The single became a success on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.S., it climbed to #11 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart, while in the UK, it reached #33 on the Singles Chart, becoming Watley’s first Top 40 hit there since “Friends” in 1989. In clubs, it fared even better, soaring to the top of the UK Club Chart, thanks in part to strong remixes.
Critical Reception
Critics praised the single’s originality and risk-taking:
Billboard (Larry Flick): Called it a “clever and unusual single,” noting Watley “waxes poetic and philosophical about relationships, chatting over an insinuating, midtempo hip-hop groove,” enhanced by “imaginative, format-stretching remixes.”
Gavin Report (Bill Speed & John Martinucci): Described it as “a monologue observing key elements of an unconditional relationship between a man and a woman.”
Music Week (Andy Beevers): Awarded four out of five stars and Pick of the Week in Dance, praising the BBG remixes that “have taken the track to the top of the RM Club Chart.”
Music & Media: Highlighted the socially conscious lyrics, noting the subtle message about AIDS and fidelity.
Record Mirror (James Hamilton): Called it a “mumbling slinky swayer (not the Percy Sledge classic),” remarking on its “sultrily muttered instructions about the right ways to treat the one you love without giving them AIDS.
Music Video
The music video for When a Man Loves a Woman marked Jody Watley’s directorial debut, giving her the chance to craft her own visual vision to accompany the single.
US Promo Release
In the U.S., at least three promo 12″ singles were issued, all featuring exclusive remixes never released commercially. Most of these versions have not appeared digitally or on CD, making them rare and highly collectible among Watley fans.
Legacy
Though not as universally recognized as her chart-topping hits Looking for a New Love or Real Love, When a Man Loves a Woman reflects Jody Watley’s artistry at its most daring—merging spoken-word poetry, house and R&B grooves, social commentary, and creative independence. It remains an essential piece of her catalog, a track that connected powerfully with audiences in clubs and on the charts while showcasing her growth as both an artist and visionary.
