Burning The Ground Exclusive
By the mid-1980s, Canadian pop star Corey Hart had already carved out an impressive career. With the global smash Sunglasses at Night (1984) and the stirring anthem Never Surrender (1985), Hart became one of the most recognizable new voices of the decade. In 1986, he released his third studio album Fields of Fire, a record that further showcased his evolution as both a songwriter and producer.
The third single lifted from the album was “Dancing With My Mirror,” released in early 1987. Produced by Corey Hart and Phil Chapman, the track finds Hart combining his signature emotional intensity with a sleek pop-rock sound tailored for the late ‘80s airwaves. It’s a song full of energy and reflection—literally so, as the lyrics deal with confronting one’s own image, both physically and metaphorically.
Chart-wise, “Dancing With My Mirror” saw moderate success. In Canada, it reached #33 on April 18, 1987, while in the U.S. it peaked at #88 on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks earlier, on April 4. While not among Hart’s biggest hits, the single demonstrated his consistency as a chart presence through the decade.
Musically, the track blends driving guitars, bright synthesizers, and Hart’s trademark passionate vocal delivery. The song’s theme—dancing alone, facing your own reflection—captures the mix of confidence, vulnerability, and theatrical flair that defined Hart’s best work. It’s both playful and introspective, making it stand apart from the more straightforward pop ballads he was also known for.
Looking back, Fields of Fire was a pivotal album in Hart’s catalog. It balanced arena-ready anthems with moments of vulnerability, and “Dancing With My Mirror” perfectly reflects that balance. Though not as widely remembered today as some of his earlier hits, it’s a track that showcases Hart’s ambition, artistry, and ability to translate personal reflection into pop-rock energy.
For fans exploring Corey Hart beyond the obvious staples, this single is a rewarding listen—a snapshot of a rising artist navigating fame, identity, and creativity in the mid-‘80s.
MIRROR 1
Dancin’ With My Mirror (LP Version) 4:17
Dancin’ With My Mirror (Extended Version) 4:56
Remix – C. Hart, P. Northfield
MIRROR 2
Dancin’ With My Mirror (Instrumental Mix) 4:34
Remix – C. Hart, P. Northfield
Angry Young Man (Instrumental Mix) 5:06
Producer – R.Cannata
Remix – “Jellybean” Benitez*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Dancing With My Mirror | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #88 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Aquarius Records (3) – AQ 12025
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: Canada
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Design, Photography By – Erika Gagnon
- Producer – C. Hart*, P. Chapman*
NOTES:
Remixed At – Le Studio
Album is 100% MAPL content
On the sleeve, is written Angry Young Man (Extended Mix) instead of (Instrumental Mix)
Album version from the LP “FIELDS OF FIRE”
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
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This deserved to become a much bigger hit than it was. Thank you for your pristine transfer and restoration, Paul!!!
Totally agree, Jason—this one really should have gone further up the charts. Always felt it had the right mix of energy and hooks to stand alongside his bigger hits. Glad you enjoyed the transfer, thanks so much for the kind words!
We’re so not worthy Paul, Lol!! With this post you are taking a victory lap, this has been such a great week of posts! I love all the Corey Hart singles you’ve posted before, but this is my favorite of his rock singles. This track has it all. Like you said, “a sleek pop-rock sound tailored for the late ’80s airwaves.” I would add that fiery guitar, synths, booming drums… this is what set the 80s apart! Maybe it was too much Corey for the charts to handle at the time 🙂 This single is a generous helping of 3… Read more »
Haha love it, Retro Hound! 🙂 You nailed it—the mix of guitars, synths, and those big 80s drums really do make this one stand out. Corey was firing on all cylinders here, maybe just a little too much for radio to keep up with at the time. Glad you’re enjoying the full set of mixes, this single really delivers. Appreciate your kind words—it’s been a fun week to share!
You have always championed Corey Hart, Paul, and I find that wonderful! I’m so happy you dusted this one off to share with your audience here. Just listening to the music video, I can tell it will be a new favorite. Plus, the idea of dancing in front of a mirror is something that I can relate to! If only I was as handsome as Mr. Hart!! I’m all about “beauty and the beat,” and he had that in spades!!
I know I’ve already declared it, Paul, but again, I’m loving this week’s posts!!
Jeff
Oh, forgot to mention how great it is to get a Jellybean remix here on one of the tracks!! Way cool!!
Jeff
Thanks so much, Jeff! Corey definitely had that perfect mix of “beauty and the beat,” as you put it—I love that! 🙂 I’m really glad you’re connecting with this track, it deserves more love. And hey, I think we’ve all had those mirror-dancing moments—Corey just made it look cooler than the rest of us ever could! Appreciate your support and enthusiasm; it really makes sharing these posts even more fun.
I have always been a big Corey Hart fan, even tried to get the hair going in the 80s! I have the first 2 albums on CD plus the Singles CD ING mentioned. I have never replaced my Fields of Fire cassette with a CD, this might be the time….
Thanks Paul!
Haha love it, 🙂 I definitely remember a lot of us trying to pull off that Corey Hart hair back in the day. Fields of Fire is a solid album front to back, so if you get the chance to upgrade from cassette, it’s well worth it. Glad this one brought back some memories!
CD ordered!
Oh cool! Forever honestly Sunglasses At Night, Never Surrender and Boy In The Box were all I knew, which is odd considering… 🤔. Then I picked up a singles CD that supposedly covered 1983-1990, yet this track isn’t on there!!! So looking forward to this! Thanks!
Yeah, it’s funny how often “Dancing With My Mirror” slips under the radar! It definitely didn’t get the same push as the big hits, so it tends to be overlooked on most of the compilations. Glad this post gives you a chance to hear it—it’s a great snapshot of Corey’s mid-80s sound beyond the classics. Enjoy!