Author: DjPaulT

August 6, 2025

Jody Watley – Where The Boys Are (UK 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: September 10, 2013

Before she became an international Grammy-winning pop icon, Jody Watley briefly took a detour into the UK club scene with a short-lived—but fascinating—solo launch. “Where The Boys Are” was her first solo single following her departure from Shalamar in the early 1980s, and it’s a gem that has flown under the radar for far too long.

Released exclusively in Europe and Australia on Mercury Records in 1984, “Where The Boys Are” marked a bold attempt at rebranding Watley as a club-ready solo act. Issued under just her first name—Jody—the track was part of an early effort to craft a full-length solo album while she was living in the UK. Unfortunately, neither this single nor the follow-up “Girls Night Out” generated significant traction, and the proposed album was ultimately shelved.

But that doesn’t mean the music lacked fire. On the contrary, “Where The Boys Are” pulses with classic mid-80s dancefloor energy—full of bouncing synths, moody grooves, and Jody’s unmistakable charisma. It’s sleek, stylish, and sassy—laying the early groundwork for the confident pop/fashion hybrid image she would perfect by the end of the decade.

The B-side of both singles was “My House (4-Free),” a track that would find unexpected life years later. In 1990, it was reworked into a club hit for Paul Lekakis, best known for his Hi-NRG anthem “Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room).”

None of the versions on this rare 12″ have ever been released on CD or digital platforms, making this a prized find for vinyl collectors and Watley completists.

Of course, the story doesn’t end here—Jody returned stronger than ever in 1987 with her U.S. debut self-titled album, which spun off multiple hits and earned her a Grammy for Best New Artist. But this 1984 single is where it all began—an early taste of her future solo stardom, waiting to be rediscovered.

SIDE A:
Where The Boys Are (The Long Way Home Mix!) 6:10
Producer, Engineer – Gary Langan

SIDE B:
Where The Boys Are (7″ Version) 3:16
Producer, Engineer – Gary Langan

My House (4-Free) 4:52
Engineer – Simon Sullivan

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– JODY 112
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design – Neville Brody
Other [Assistant] – Ben Murphy
Photography By – Tim O’Sullivan
Producer – Bruce Woolley
Written-By – Bruce Woolley, Jody Watley

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for 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.

August 5, 2025

SSQ – Big Electronic Beat (US 12″) (1983)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 TRANSFER
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date May 25, 2011

“Jimmy go down to Music Town… Buys a synthesizer… He can speak computer language now!”

SSQ brings the machines to life in this high-voltage synth-pop gem from 1983.

“Big Electronic Beat” was the second single released from SSQ’s debut album Playback, issued on Enigma Records in 1983. Following the underground success of “Synthicide,” this follow-up dialed deeper into electro-funk territory with pounding analog drums, a relentless sequencer groove, and Stacey Swain’s futuristic vocals.

The track also made its way onto the soundtrack of the raunchy 1984 teen comedy Hardbodies, further cementing its status as a time-capsule classic of the early synth-pop scene.

🔊 The Sound
The Extended Version featured on this 12″ runs 4:16, pushing the tempo and the tech to the forefront. From the moment the synth line kicks in, it’s clear this is dancefloor fuel—complete with machine-gun drum fills, synthetic claps, and catchy, robotic refrains of “Big electronic, big electronic, beat!”

The lyrics are peak ‘80s cyber-fantasy: a kid named Jimmy buys a synthesizer and suddenly becomes fluent in “computer language.” It’s part satire, part celebration, and entirely a product of the era’s growing fascination with personal tech and electronic expression.

🧠 SSQ: The Band Behind the Beat
SSQ was the brainchild of producer/guitarist Jon St. James, who assembled a team of synthesists including Karl Moet, Rich West, John Van Tongeren, and Skip Hahn—with rising frontwoman Stacey Swain delivering lead vocals.

Playback, their only album as SSQ, remains a cult favorite in synth-pop circles. While “Synthicide” got the most attention, “Big Electronic Beat” was arguably the group’s most club-ready offering. Despite not charting, its inclusion on Hardbodies gave it a second life among VHS-era fans and ‘80s soundtrack collectors.

SIDE A:
Big Electronic Beat (Extended) 4:16

SIDE B:
Big Electronic Beat (Sans Instruments) 1:03
Big Electronic Beat (Sans Vocal) 3:39

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Enigma (4) – ENIGMA 8
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Art Direction – Henry Marquez
Illustration – Douglas Bevins
Producer – Jon St. James
Vocals [Uncredited] – Stacey Swain
Written-By – John Van Tongeren, Jon St. James

NOTES:
From the LP and Cassette “PLAYBACK”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.

August 1, 2025

Bonnie Pointer – Heaven Must Have Sent You (US 12″) (1979)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

This Disco Friday, we turn the glitterball spotlight on a high-energy classic that perfectly fused Motown soul with the pounding heartbeat of disco: Bonnie Pointer’s electrifying version of “Heaven Must Have Sent You.”

Released in 1979 as a single from her 1978 self-titled solo debut for Motown, “Heaven Must Have Sent You” reimagined the 1966 Elgins hit as a joyous, campy, floor-filling anthem. Pointer—who had just left the Pointer Sisters to go solo—brought her dynamic voice, infectious personality, and disco ambition to the project.

In fact, the idea to remake this Motown staple as a disco track was Bonnie’s own inspiration. After hearing the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”, she realized how well “Heaven Must Have Sent You” could work in a similarly energetic arrangement. She took the idea straight to Berry Gordy, telling him she wanted to cut the track along with another Motown oldie, “When I’m Gone”, simply because—as she put it—“I’ve always dug them.”

Produced by Gordy himself along with Jeffrey Bowen, the result is pure disco magic. From the joyful handclaps and punchy horns to Bonnie’s unforgettable spoken-word breakdown (that “I go crazy when you touch me…” moment is iconic), the track captured everything that made the disco era so irresistible.

The 12″ disco remix helped catapult the song into clubs and onto charts, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the U.S. Dance chart. It also became Bonnie’s signature solo hit, and remains a beloved staple of retro DJ sets and roller rinks everywhere.

Over 40 years later, “Heaven Must Have Sent You” still shines bright—a perfect marriage of Motown nostalgia and disco decadence. Put it on, turn it up, and let Bonnie take you on a glittering ride straight to disco heaven.

🪩✨

SIDE A:
Heaven Must Have Sent You (New Version) 7:14

SIDE B:
Heaven Must Have Sent You (LP Version) 5:15
Producer – Berry Gordy

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	Heaven Must Have Sent You	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#11
1978	Heaven Must Have Sent You	U.S. Billboard Dance / Disco	#8
1978	Heaven Must Have Sent You	U.S. Billboard Black Singles	#52

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Motown – M 00020 D1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco

CREDITS:

Producer – Jeffrey Bowen
Songwriter – Holland-Dozier-Holland

NOTES:
Side B: From the album, “Bonnie Pointer”

Buy the DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for 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-Ject 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

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.

July 30, 2025

Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Originally released in 1988, “She Drives Me Crazy” marked the explosive return of British trio Fine Young Cannibals. Issued as the lead single from their second (and final) album The Raw & the Cooked (1989), the track became an instant classic—showcasing Roland Gift’s unmistakable falsetto and the band’s clever fusion of pop, soul, and funk.

Written by frontman Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, and co-produced by the band along with David Z (a longtime Prince collaborator), “She Drives Me Crazy” has one of the most iconic snare sounds of the era. The distinctive “pop” of the drum was no accident—David Z employed an inventive technique during the recording sessions at Prince’s famed Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis. The snare part was recorded separately, then played back through a speaker placed on top of the snare drum while a mic underneath captured the sound again—creating that sharp, tight punch that helped the track cut through on both radio and the dancefloor.

Chart-wise, the single became the band’s biggest hit. In the UK, it reached No. 5—making it their highest-charting release at home. But it was in the U.S. that the song really took off, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for a week in April 1989. It also topped charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, and Spain, cementing Fine Young Cannibals’ global success. Two different music videos were shot for the track—one by French choreographer/director Philippe Decouflé and another by Pedro Romhanyi.

Today on Burning the Ground, I’m featuring the U.S. 12″ single, which includes three rare remixes by Justin Strauss: a club-friendly extended remix a Dub, and a tight edit version—none of which have been released digitally or appeared on commercial CD (except for a scarce promo) which included the Justin Strauss Remix. Strauss’s approach adds extra rhythmic space and re-sequencing, extending the groove while preserving the quirky charm of the original.

If, like me, you spent countless nights in record stores or at clubs chasing down mixes you knew weren’t on your regular 12″, this one’s for you. A peak pop moment, reimagined with the dancefloor in mind.

SIDE ONE:
She Drives Me Crazy (The Justin Strauss Remix) 7:42
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

She Drives Me Crazy (Single Remix) 3:48
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

SIDE A:
She Drives Me Crazy (David Z Remix) 7:05
Remix – David Z.

She Drives Me Crazy (Driven Crazy Dub) 5:33
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard 12 Inch Singles Sales	#3
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#54
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	#5

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: I.R.S. Records – IRS-23926
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Pinckneyville
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Pop, Stage & Screen
Style: Dance-pop, House

CREDITS:

Management – Tony Meilandt
Producer – David Z.
Written-By – Steele*, Gift*

NOTES:
The labels state Side One and Side A.

Tracks A1/A2/B2: Additional production for Just Right Productions.
Track A1 is also known as the “U.S. Mix”.

Management is written “Tony Meilandt AGM Management”

This release was pressed at the MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville .

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.