Author: DjPaulT

February 4, 2026

Information Society – Informedleymation (US 12″ Promo) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today I’m spotlighting a very special 12″ release built for the dancefloor faithful and the Information Society deep divers. This one pulls together two Hot Tracks–exclusive remixes from the American electronic band Information Society, hailing from Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, at a moment when Hack was still pulsing through clubs and radio alike.

Side A features Informedleymation, a Hot Tracks medley crafted by Glenn Cattanach that dives deep into the band’s second studio album, Hack. Rather than leaning solely on the obvious choice, Cattanach smartly anchors the mix around the era’s hit “Think”, while seamlessly weaving in four additional cuts from the album. Working directly from the Hack CD and assembling the mix via DAT, he achieved a crystal-clear, full-frequency medley that still sounds pristine today. It’s a masterclass in early-’90s remix craftsmanship—clean, punchy, and designed to keep momentum locked from start to finish.

Flip the record and Side B delivers the Digital Remix of “How Long,” originally released as the second single from Hack in 1991. Here, the track gets an entirely new lease on life thanks to a remix by legendary DJ, remixer, and producer Chris Cox. Cox brings his unmistakable touch to the mix, sharpening the track’s rhythmic edge while preserving its emotional core. It’s sleek, club-ready, and unmistakably built for serious sound systems—proof of how a great remix can reframe a song without losing its soul.

Together, these two Hot Tracks mixes form a perfectly balanced 12″: one side celebrating the album as a whole through a thoughtfully constructed medley, the other zeroing in on a single track and pushing it straight onto the dancefloor. For fans of Information Society, remix culture, or the golden era of DJ record pools, this release is a reminder of just how inventive and influential that moment truly was.

A killer slice of early ’90s electronic history—pressed loud, mixed smart, and made to move bodies.

SIDE A:
Informedleymation 8:07
DJ Mix [Megamix] – Glenn Cattanach
Written-By – Maher, Valaquen, Robb*

1 – Come With Me
2 – Think
3 – Move Out
4 – How Long
5 – Now That I Have You

SIDE B:
How Long (Digital Remix) 6:17
Remix Chris Cox
Written-By – P. Robb*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Custom

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Hot Tracks – SA 9-9, Hot Tracks – SA 10-1
Series: Hot Tracks Series – 9-9, Hot Tracks Series – 10-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Compilation, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Pop
Style: House, Hip-House, Hi NRG, Euro House, Garage House

CREDITS:

Compilation Producer – Chris Cox
Custom Sleeve [Artwork] – DjPaulT

NOTES:
DJ Use Only

Buy Hot Tracks SA 9-9 at DISCOGGS

Buy Hot Tracks SA 10-1 at DISCOGS

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

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.

January 30, 2026

Rod Stewart – Forever Young (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

By the time Out of Order arrived in 1988, Rod Stewart was well into his late-career renaissance—slick production, big singles, and a renewed commercial presence, particularly in the U.S. Yet Forever Young stood apart from the album’s radio-ready polish. It wasn’t just another hit single; it was personal, reflective, and quietly profound.

Released as a single in 1989, Forever Young became one of Stewart’s most enduring songs, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 9 on Canada’s RPM charts. While it never achieved the same level of success in the UK, the song resonated deeply with American audiences, eventually taking on an almost anthem-like status.

Stewart co-wrote the song with longtime bandmates Jim Cregan (guitar) and Kevin Savigar (keyboards), and its inspiration came directly from his family life. In a 1995 interview with Mojo magazine, Stewart described the song as one of his personal favorites, explaining that it was written for his children—an expression of love mixed with regret. Touring commitments had caused him to miss several formative years in the lives of his older children, Sean and Kimberly, a realization that clearly weighs on the song’s emotional core.

That sense of reflection shapes the lyrics, which read like a blessing passed from parent to child—hopeful but grounded, tender without being naïve. Lines about integrity, courage, and resilience feel lived-in, not idealized. Stewart isn’t offering platitudes; he’s offering hard-earned wisdom.

The song’s lyrical structure also bears a noticeable resemblance to Bob Dylan’s Forever Young. Rather than becoming a source of conflict, the similarity was handled with mutual respect. Stewart sent the song to Dylan after its completion, and the two agreed to share ownership and royalties—an unusually graceful resolution that speaks volumes about both artists.

The production of Forever Young is another key part of its identity. The track was produced by Andy Taylor—best known as the guitarist for Duran Duran—alongside Bernard Edwards of Chic. At the time, Taylor and Edwards were also bandmates in The Power Station, a project that fused new wave, funk, and rock into a powerful hybrid sound. That sensibility carries over here: the rhythm section is tight and confident, the guitars are clean but assertive, and the overall feel balances late-’80s polish with genuine musical weight. It’s a sound that supports the song’s emotional message without overwhelming it.

Musically, Forever Young exists in multiple forms. The best-known version is the anthemic, driving arrangement released in the U.S., built for radio and stadium-sized emotion. Stewart later revisited the song in a more restrained form, recording a mellow version for his 1996 compilation If We Fall in Love Tonight, and an even more intimate piano-and-vocal take appears on The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971–1998. A live version from his 1993 MTV Unplugged performance—eventually released as a bonus track on Rhino’s 2009 Unplugged… and Seated Collector’s Edition—reveals the song’s emotional core with remarkable clarity.

The song also became culturally ubiquitous. In January 1989, NBC Sports used Forever Young as the soundtrack for a sweeping year-in-review montage aired immediately after Super Bowl XXIII, tying the song to moments from the 1988 Summer Olympics, the World Series, the Fiesta Bowl, and the Super Bowl itself—a move that further cemented its place in American pop culture.

The accompanying music video reinforces the song’s themes, featuring Stewart singing to a young child while images of rural America unfold in the background. Filmed along Potrero Road in Hidden Valley, Ventura County, California, the visuals echo the song’s emphasis on innocence, continuity, and the passage of time.

Why It Still Matters

What gives Forever Young its lasting power is that it isn’t anchored to a specific moment in Rod Stewart’s career—or even to the late ’80s sound that surrounds it. The song endures because its message evolves as the listener does. Heard young, it feels like encouragement. Heard later in life, it feels like reflection—and sometimes, quiet reckoning. In a catalog filled with swagger, romance, and spectacle, Forever Young stands out for its humility. It’s a reminder that success, fame, and momentum eventually give way to what we hope we’ve passed on to the people we love. That sentiment hasn’t aged a day.

SIDE A:
Forever Young (Remix) 6:24
Engineer [Assistant] – Rick Butts
Engineer, Producer [Additional] – Paul Brown
Remix – Club J.
Saxophone [Solo] – Sam Rainey
Written-By – J. Cregan, K. Savigar*

SIDE B:
Days Of Rage 4:12
Written-By – A. Taylor*

Forever Young (LP Version) 4:05
Written-By – J. Cregan, K. Savigar

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Rod Stewart: *Forever Young* (1988)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#12	1988
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	#3	1988
UK Singles	#57	1988
Canadian Singles Chart	#9	1988
South Africa	#3	1988
Italy Airplay	#5	1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – W7796 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Producer – Andy Taylor, Bernard Edwards, Rod Stewart

NOTES:
Side A: From the Warner Bros. album Out Of Order; Side B: Not available on any album

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.

January 29, 2026

Wild Blue – Fire With Fire (US 12″ Promo) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Closet 80s is a recurring series spotlighting overlooked and forgotten gems from the decade—songs that may not have dominated the charts but left a lasting impression. These are the records that still spark memories, reward rediscovery, and prove that some of the best ’80s music lived just outside the spotlight.

Wild Blue – Fire With Fire (1986)

Some songs feel inseparable from their moment—and Fire With Fire by Wild Blue is one of those lost 80s gems that deserves another listen.

Released in 1986, Fire With Fire was written specifically for the film of the same name, giving the track an immediate cinematic urgency. The song was written and produced by Chas Sandford, best known for co-writing John Waite’s Missing You. His knack for emotionally direct, radio-ready songwriting is all over this track—polished, dramatic, and built to connect.

Wild Blue were a Chicago-based band fronted by lead singer Renee Varo, whose powerful yet controlled vocal performance gives the song its emotional core. Firmly rooted in the AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) world, Fire With Fire balances melody and muscle, letting the verses simmer before the chorus opens up with conviction and fire.

The song enjoyed strong exposure beyond radio thanks to its music video, which received heavy rotation on MTV. In the mid-’80s, that kind of visibility mattered, and Fire With Fire fit perfectly alongside the era’s emotionally charged rock and pop visuals.

On the charts, the single debuted at #89 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 17, 1986, eventually peaking at #71. While it never became a major hit, its MTV presence and AOR appeal helped it leave a lasting impression. The track would later appear on Wild Blue’s debut album, No More Jinx, cementing its place as the band’s defining moment.

Fire With Fire is exactly the kind of record Closet 80s was made for—a song that may not have dominated the charts, but still captures the sound, ambition, and emotion of its time. Turn it up and rediscover a track that proves some fires never really go out.

SIDE A:
Fire With Fire (Edit) 3:30

SIDE B:
Fire With Fire (Long Version) 4:41

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Wild Blue: *Fire With Fire* (1986)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#71	1986

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis – VAS-2289
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Pop, Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Engineer – Gary McGachan
Mixed By – Chas Sandford, Gary McGachan
Producer – Chas Sandford
Written-By – C. Sandford*

NOTES:
For Promotional Use Only

From the forthcoming LP “No More Jinx” and the Motion Picture “Fire With Fire.”

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.

January 28, 2026

Pat Benatar – Invincible (Theme From The Legend Of Billie Jean) (Extended Remix) (US 12”) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Previously posted April 14, 2015

Released on June 24, 1985, “Invincible” is the Grammy-nominated lead single from Pat Benatar’s sixth studio album, Seven the Hard Way. Written by Holly Knight and Simon Climie—with Knight also having co-written Benatar’s earlier breakthrough anthem “Love Is a Battlefield”—the song was created as a defining statement, not just a hit.

The track also served as the theme song for the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean, a cult favorite whose narrative of defiance, justice, and self-determination mirrors the song’s core message. That alignment wasn’t accidental. Invincible doesn’t simply accompany rebellion—it embodies it.

From its opening pulse, the record announces itself with authority. Synth-driven but grounded by Neil Giraldo’s unmistakable guitar work, the production balances mid-’80s pop precision with rock muscle. It’s bold, forward-moving, and unafraid of its own power. This is empowerment framed as momentum.

Lyrically, the song rejects passivity outright. Benatar’s vocal delivery is direct and uncompromising, cutting cleanly through the arrangement. There’s no irony here, no distance between the message and the performance. Invincible doesn’t suggest strength—it demands it.

Commercially, the song became one of Benatar’s defining hits, reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning heavy rotation on MTV. In an era crowded with strong female voices, Benatar stood apart by leaning fully into conviction rather than spectacle. The song became Benatar’s fourth and final American top ten hit.

This presentation features a brand-new 2026 transfer with a meticulous new audio restoration, preserving the punch of the original mix while revealing added depth, clarity, and low-end weight. It’s a reminder of just how big—and how intentional—this record was meant to sound.

While Invincible wasn’t designed as a club track in the traditional sense, it shares DNA with the 12″ era’s emphasis on scale and physicality: big drums, big hooks, and a sound meant to move people—whether in an arena, on a car radio, or on a dancefloor where genre lines blurred.

Nearly forty years on, Invincible remains exactly what it claims to be. Not nostalgic. Not softened by time. It’s a song about standing up for what you believe and using your voice—especially when silence feels like the easiest option. In times like these, when our voices need to be heard louder than ever, Invincible still refuses to back down.

Pat Benatar didn’t just sing about being invincible—she made it sound achievable.

SIDE A:
Invincible (Theme From The Legend Of Billie Jean) (Extended Version) 5:31

SIDE B:
Invincible (Theme From The Legend Of Billie Jean) (Instrumental) 4:25

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Pat Benatar: **Invincible** (Theme From The Legend Of Billie Jean) (1985)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#10	1985
US Billboard Mainstream Rock	#4	1985
UK Singles (OCC)	#53	1985
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	#6	1985
Australia (Kent Music Report)	#23	1985
Belgium (Ultratop50 Flanders)	#9	1985
West Germany (GfK)	#31	1985

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis – 4V9 42878
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Engineer – “Tokes”*
Management – Rick Newman
Producer – Mike Chapman
Remix – John “Tokes” Potoker*
Written-By – H. Knight*, S. Climie*

NOTES:
Theme from the film “THE LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN”
From the LP “SEVEN THE HARD WAY”

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.