Burning The Ground Exclusive
Released in 1987, “Lover’s Lane” by Georgio became one of the standout singles from his debut album Sex Appeal. Issued on Motown Records, the track perfectly captured the sleek, synth-driven Minneapolis funk sound that was dominating dance floors in the mid-to-late 1980s.
A Minneapolis, Minnesota native, Georgio emerged during the era when the so-called “Minneapolis Sound”—popularized by artists like Prince and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis—was reshaping R&B and dance music. Blending crisp drum machines, glossy synthesizers, and sensual vocals, “Lovers Lane” delivered a smooth yet club-ready groove that resonated strongly with DJs and dance audiences.
The single became Georgio’s biggest hit, climbing to #2 on the dance chart published by Billboard, while also crossing over to #26 on the R&B chart and #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. With this success, “Lover’s Lane” marked Georgio’s third consecutive Top 10 entry on the Billboard Dance Chart, further establishing him as one of the era’s notable club music artists.
Driven by its hypnotic rhythm and seductive atmosphere, “Lover’s Lane” remains a prime example of late-’80s Motown venturing into the contemporary dance and electro-funk landscape. The song’s shimmering production and romantic late-night vibe helped it become a favorite in clubs and on mix shows, solidifying Georgio’s place in the dance music scene of the decade.
Today, “Lover’s Lane” stands as a reminder of a time when Motown was embracing the electronic pulse of the dance floor—delivering sophisticated grooves that kept DJs spinning and dancers moving well into the night.
SIDE A:
Lover’s Lane (New After Hours Vocal Mix) 6:06
Remix – Bruce Forest, Frank Heller
Lover’s Lane (Club Mix) 6:51
Remix – Bruce Forest, Frank Heller
SIDE B:
Lover’s Lane (Georgio’s Love Dance Mix) 7:19
Remix – Georgio (2)
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart | Peak Position | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | #59 | 1987 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play | #2 | 1987 |
| US Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop Songs | #26 | 1987 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Motown – ZT41612
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: House, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Written-By, Directed By, Arranged By, Producer – Georgio (2)
NOTES:
MAXI-SINGLE 12 INCH
In Album: “Sexappeal”
Printed in Germany by Topac – Imprimé en Allemagne par Topac
Made from masters of Motown Record Corporation
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
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!
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Thank you! This song is new to me, but I LOVE IT!!! Gonna have to check out the full album. Also, I feel like “synth-driven Minneapolis funk sound” is just code for PRINCE soundalike …. but in this case, in the best possible way!
Another example of a solid track that enjoys so much more energy and depth on the remix, thanks!
As a guy who was more into alternative, new wave, and Industrial dance music genres, I must admit that I loved so much of this electronic funk and soul that was released in the 1980s. I’ve got to express my gratitude to you, Paul, for that special quality you have for picking out records that are so irresistible to our ears and feet! This was a “fun-tastic” week of jamming grooves! I had a blast! Hope you have a well-deserved weekend, Paul!! And to the excellent BTG community here, like, Retro Hound, Song_and_Dance, JP, Toxicaudio, Rubén, Axel, Muff Diver, ING, and… Read more »
Thanks Jeff. Have a great weekend too, and of course a great weekend to the rest of the BTG community as well.
Thanks so much!!
Jeff
Thank you Paul. What a fantastic track to finish this week. Interesting fact is that he is a multi-instrumentalist,singer and songwriter. Lover’s Lane, Bedrock and Tina Cherry – these are his best songs and I still own all 12″.
Thank you so much, Paul! Georgio had a few tracks back then that I really liked, but this is decidedly the best of them. GREAT to hear it again after all this time, particularly sounding so spectacular! Have a great weekend & happy St Patrick’s Day.
Love me sum Georgio! Was in L.A. on holiday in 1987 when “TINA CHERRY” was released. Oh la la! That was my summer jam! And “LOVER’S LANE” is so good too! That pumpin rhythm and “the talk” between Georgio and the girl is a classic! Thanks so much!!!!!
Ah Georgio! Always thought he was Motown’s attempt at getting a Prince-like artist. Him, and their signing Brownmark!
Nice sleek dance-funk. Always wondered what happened to him! The CD was pretty good as I recall!!
Thanks for this flashback!
Fun Fact:
Georgio initially attempted to join Paisley Park Records by sending demos to Prince, but this was unsuccessful. He then created his own label, Georgio Records, with which he recorded his debut single, “Sexappeal.”
In 1984, Motown Records showed interest in Georgio, and he was eventually signed to the label.
Very interesting, but being as initial Prince protege projects were, for the most part, Prince ghost projects / a way for him to get more music out there, someone who is doing their own thing probably wasn’t of interest at that time.
Later in the 80’s Prince would start signing acts with little to no input from him. The Three O’Clock used Neon Telephone, but that’s it. Good Question basically did their own thing. Tony LeMans, etc.