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!
Password: burningtheground
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Whatever happened to disco Fridays?
This one really hits hard after all the other great tracks this week!
A little bit later in the 80’s and we really get a refined mix of synth and r’n’b and even some piano sounds. Not surprised at all that this is Georgio’s biggest hit since it’s such a great track.
Great vinyl 12″ release with 3, count ’em 3, excellent mixes. Not sure which one is my favorite, it’s a tough decision. Thank you Dj Paul for another great sounding transfer and a fun week that I wasn’t really expecting at all!
Thanks, JP! I totally agree — by the late ‘80s, the blend of synths, drum machines, and R&B had really reached a sweet spot, and “Lovers Lane” is a perfect example of that polished Minneapolis-style groove. The piano accents in this one really add a nice touch, too. And yes, the 12″ is fantastic. Having three strong mixes on one release was such a treat for DJs back then. I’m with you — it’s hard to pick a favorite because each mix brings something a little different to the table. Really glad you enjoyed the transfer and the surprise theme… Read more »
Thank you Paul!! Georgio was a one man band! He did it all, as proven on this record, and man was he funky! He proved there was room in Minneapolis for more than one funk master! As you said, this perfectly captures the sleek funk sound coming from Minneapolis in the mid-to-late 80s! And what a slice of dance floor funk too… Thanks for giving Georgio some more love and enjoy the weekend, all of you!!
Thanks, Retro Hound! You’re absolutely right — Georgio really was a one-man powerhouse. Writing, producing, performing… he had his hands in every part of the process, and it shows in how cohesive and funky his records sound. Minneapolis in the ‘80s was such an incredible creative hub. While a lot of people immediately think of Prince, artists like Georgio proved there was plenty of room for other voices bringing their own flavor to that synth-funk sound. “Lovers Lane” is definitely one of those tracks that captures that slick, late-night dancefloor vibe perfectly. I’m really glad to shine a little more… Read more »
Hey Paul Another 80’s Hiddin Gem!! This Was A Ride In The Car Jamm With That Super Kicker And BoZooka Speakers I Had In My Car!! My Favorite Jam Is Tina Cherry !! Thanks For The Jamm!! Paul!
Hey Mark! Great to hear from you. Sounds like you had quite the setup back in the day — those car systems with the big kickers and bazooka tubes could really make tracks like this hit hard! “Lovers Lane” definitely has that deep groove that would sound amazing cruising around with the volume up.
“Tina Cherry” is a great pick too — Georgio had a knack for putting together some seriously funky jams on that album.
Thanks for sharing the memory, Mark. Always love hearing how these songs were part of people’s soundtracks back in the day! 🎶
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!
Thank you, Axel! Glad you enjoyed this one. The Sex Appeal album is definitely worth checking out — it’s packed with that slick mid-’80s Minneapolis groove.
And you’re not wrong! A lot of artists coming out of Minneapolis at that time inevitably drew comparisons to Prince since he really defined that sound. But Georgio managed to carve out his own lane with a slightly smoother, club-oriented vibe that worked great on the dance floor.
Really happy this one was a new discovery for you. That’s always one of my favorite things about sharing these tracks! 🎶
Thanks Paul, I remember spinning Georgio back in my days as a club DJ. His first two albums were really solid, but the 3rd sorta missed & then he disappeared.
I’d love to see more of artists like Georgio, Jesse Johnson, daKrash & similar. The mid-80’s to early 90’s were such a great time for this type of dance music.
Thanks, Jimi! That must have been a great time to be DJing — Georgio’s records were definitely made for the club. His first two albums really did deliver some solid dance floor material. You’re right about the third album too. It seemed like the momentum slowed a bit after that, and he kind of faded from the spotlight, which is a shame because he had a great sound. I’m with you on those other artists as well — Jesse Johnson and daKrash are perfect examples of that era when Minneapolis funk, electro, and dance music all blended together so well.… Read more »
Another example of a solid track that enjoys so much more energy and depth on the remix, thanks!
Thanks, Raymond! I agree — the remix really opens the track up. The extra space, extended grooves, and added layers give it much more punch and atmosphere than the album version. That’s one of the things I love about a good 12″ mix — it lets the song breathe and really work the dance floor.
Glad you enjoyed this one, and thanks for listening!🎧
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 so much, Jeff! I really appreciate that. One of the things I’ve always loved about the ‘80s is how the lines between genres could blur so easily. Even if you were coming from alternative, new wave, or industrial dance, a lot of that electronic funk and soul still had the same infectious grooves and synth textures that made it hard to resist. I’m really glad you enjoyed the selections this week — it was a fun set of tracks to dig out and share. Hearing that it kept your ears and feet busy makes all the work worthwhile!… Read more »
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″.
Thanks, Toxicaudio! You’re absolutely right — Georgio was incredibly talented. Being a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer really gave his records a distinctive feel since he had control over the whole sound.
Great picks too. “Lovers Lane,” “Bedrock,” and “Tina Cherry” are definitely among his strongest tracks and really show how good he was at crafting those slick Minneapolis-style funk grooves.
Nice that you still have all the 12″ singles as well — those are treasures! Thanks for sharing and for closing out the week with me.
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.
Thank you, Marty! I’m glad this one brought back some good memories for you. “Lovers Lane” really does stand out in Georgio’s catalog — it’s such a smooth, funky track and definitely one of his strongest.
I’m also happy the transfer lived up to expectations. It’s always rewarding to bring these records back to life so they can be enjoyed again the way they deserve.
Hope you have a great weekend as well, and a very 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!!!!!
Thanks, Frank! Sounds like you have a great memory tied to that one. “Tina Cherry” really was a summer jam — Georgio had a knack for those funky, synth-driven grooves that just stick with you.
And you’re right about “Lovers Lane.” That pumping rhythm and the playful back-and-forth dialogue in the track give it so much personality. It’s one of those songs that really tells a little story while keeping the dance floor moving.
Love hearing these memories from 1987 — that must have been a great time to be in L.A. with that music everywhere. Thanks for sharing! 😀
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.