Author: DjPaulT

April 15, 2025

Miami Sound Machine – Bad Boy (US 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!

Original post date May 12, 2015

🌴 Back to the beat with the queen of Latin pop and her unstoppable crew! Miami Sound Machine’s infectious 1985 single “Bad Boy” was the follow-up to their breakout smash “Conga,” and it proved that Gloria Estefan & Co. were no one-hit wonder. With its tight production, punchy horns, and dancefloor attitude, “Bad Boy” cemented the group’s crossover success and became one of the defining tracks of the Latin freestyle and dance-pop explosion of the mid-’80s.

Released as the second single from their breakthrough album Primitive Love, “Bad Boy” was produced by Emilio Estefan Jr., Gloria’s husband and the group’s guiding force. The single hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to #3 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Across the Atlantic, it also made waves, reaching #16 in the UK, giving the band their first major British chart success.

🎬 A bit of trivia: The music video for “Bad Boy” featured Gloria Estefan surrounded by—you guessed it—guys in full-on Grease-style 1950s gang outfits… and dancing streetwise cats straight out of Broadway’s Cats. Only in the ’80s!

📀 Today’s 12″ takes the track to the club, giving DJs a chance to let that groove ride. The Shep Pettibone mix showcases the signature Latin percussion and synth work that made Miami Sound Machine stand out from their pop contemporaries. It’s slick, bold, and filled with energy that screams mid-’80s dancefloor magic.

SIDE A:
Bad Boy (Remix) 6:10

SIDE B:
Bad Boy (Dub Version) 6:45

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mibt

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985/86	Bad Boy	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#8
1985/86	Bad Boy	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#8
1985/86	Bad Boy	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#74
1985/86	Bad Boy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#10
1985/86	Bad Boy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales	#3

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 49-05338
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Latin, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Engineer – Michael Hutchinson
Producer – Emilio Estefan, Jr.
Remix – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – J. Galdo*, L. Dermer*, R. Vigil*

NOTES:
Special Version from the Epic LP “Primitive Love” 40131.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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.

April 14, 2025

Goal Reached – Thank You!

Burning the Ground – April 2025 Fundraiser

I’m thrilled to share that we’ve officially reached our $1,500 fundraising goal for April!
Your kindness and generosity make it possible for Burning the Ground to keep spinning those rare 12″ mixes and extended versions you love.

Thanks to your support, the funds raised will go toward:
🔐 Hosting, security, monitoring & protection
📀 Purchasing requested vinyl for future posts
🛠️ Equipment maintenance and upgrades

This community is truly something special, and I’m so grateful for everyone who took the time to donate, share, or simply spread the word.

📅 Our next official fundraiser will be in October, but if you’d like to support the site any time of the year, you can do so by visiting the BTG Support Page or clicking any of the yellow PayPal Donate buttons throughout the site.

Every donation—big or small—helps keep BTG alive and thriving.

Thank you again for being a part of this journey and for helping preserve these musical gems!

Love & Light,
Paul

April 11, 2025

Burning the Ground – April 2025 Fundraiser

Help Keep the Music Alive!

Hello, friends and fellow music lovers,

It’s that time again — our April 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 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 this April is $1,500.00 — every dollar makes a difference.

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 via debit card, credit card, or PayPal by visiting our Donation Page on PayPal, or simply click any of the yellow Donate buttons throughout the site.

No amount is too small, and every contribution helps ensure that BTG continues to bring you the music you love. The next fundraiser will be in October, so now’s the perfect time to show your support if you’re able.

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. ❤️

Much love,
Paul
Burning the Ground

April 10, 2025

Whitney Houston – So Emotional (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

“I get so emotional, baby… Every time I think of you…”

Released in October 1987, “So Emotional” was the third single from Whitney Houston’s mega-selling second album, Whitney. The song showcases a grittier, more rock-infused side of Whitney’s voice—complete with big drums, searing guitar, and of course, that unmatched vocal power.

Written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly—the same duo behind hits like Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors”—“So Emotional” brought a harder edge to Whitney’s pristine pop image. With its fusion of pop-rock, dance, and soul, the song showed she could do much more than just ballads.

The single was a massive success, becoming Whitney’s sixth consecutive #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying her with The Beatles and The Bee Gees for the longest streak of chart-topping singles at the time. It also topped the Dance Club Songs chart and cracked the Top 10 internationally, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.

The music video for “So Emotional,” directed by Wayne Isham, captures Whitney on the road and backstage as she preps for a high-energy concert. Shot at Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the video was filmed between dates of her 1987–1988 Moment of Truth Tour. It’s a candid, electrifying snapshot of Whitney in her prime—playful, stylish, and commanding the stage with ease.

For the clubs, Shep Pettibone crafted a total of five mixes for the 12″ release, each tailored for different dancefloor moments. The Extended Remix brings the drama with punchy synths and an amped-up groove. The Dub Mix strips things back to spotlight the rhythm section, while the Bonus Beats offers DJs pure percussive fuel. The Edited Remix trims things down for more commercial play.

And then there’s “The Voice”—a jaw-dropping acapella version that isolates Whitney’s soaring vocals over minimal backing. It’s a masterclass in vocal control, phrasing, and emotion. If you ever doubted her range or power, this version will silence you.

From the glam-rock guitars to the iconic belting chorus, “So Emotional” is pure ’80s fire—a perfect blend of vulnerability and power. Whether you were sweating it out on the dance floor in 1987 or just discovering it today, this track remains one of Whitney’s most thrilling and energetic performances.

Stay tuned—this one’s worth cranking up loud.

SIDE A:
So Emotional (Extended Remix) 7:53
Edited By – Junior Vasquez, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Additional Programming By] – Fred McFarlane

So Emotional (Edited Remix) 4:27
Edited By – Junior Vasquez, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Additional Programming By] – Fred McFarlane

SIDE B:
So Emotional (Single Version) 4:02

So Emotional (Dub Version) 5:15
Edited By – Junior Vasquez, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Additional Programming By] – Fred McFarlane

So Emotional (Bonus Beats) 4:28
Edited By – Junior Vasquez, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Additional Programming By] – Fred McFarlane

So Emotional (The Voice) 4:18
Edited By – Junior Vasquez, Shep Pettibone
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Steve Peck
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Additional Programming By] – Fred McFarlane

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	So Emotional-	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1987	So Emotional-	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Songs	#5
1987	So Emotional-	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary	#8
1987	So Emotional-	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – AD1-9641
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop