Burning The Ground Exclusive
I’m back today with another custom 12-inch, and this one is a bit of a curveball—in the best possible way.
Originally released in 1975, “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell became one of the defining hits of his career—and a massive crossover success. Written by Larry Weiss, the song tells the story of a struggling performer chasing fame and recognition, a theme that resonated deeply with Campbell himself at the time.
After a brief lull in his chart success, “Rhinestone Cowboy” marked a major comeback. The single shot to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Singles chart, while also reaching the top spot in several international markets. Its blend of country storytelling and polished pop production helped cement Campbell’s place as one of the era’s most versatile crossover artists, and the track would go on to become his signature song.
Fast forward to 1992, and the track found new life in an unexpected place: the dancefloor.
Enter the UK remix service Music Factory Mastermix, a staple of the early ‘90s club scene, known for delivering exclusive reworks to professional DJs. It was here that “Rhinestone Cowboy” received a bold reinvention with the Bontempi ’92 Remix.
Remixed by the production duo Two Little Boys—consisting of Amadeus Mozart and Guy Garrett—this version takes the familiar and flips it into something completely unexpected. Driven by punchy house rhythms, bright keyboard stabs, and a playful Eurodance sensibility, the remix leans fully into early ‘90s club culture while never losing sight of what makes the original special.
And that’s really the magic here.
Campbell’s unmistakable vocal remains front and center, gliding effortlessly over the upbeat production. It shouldn’t work—but somehow it absolutely does. The contrast between the earnest, storytelling vocal and the carefree, almost novelty-style dance backing gives the track a unique charm that’s hard to resist.
Like many Mastermix exclusives, this remix wasn’t commercially released in the traditional sense. Instead, it lived its life in DJ booths and on promo compilations, making it a bit of a hidden gem for collectors and remix enthusiasts alike.
This custom 12″ imagines what a proper promotional pressing might have looked like at the time—something you could easily picture spinning in a UK club circa 1992, tucked between house anthems and pop-dance crossovers.
A rhinestone cowboy… on the dancefloor.
Stranger things have happened—but not many this fun.
A Bit Of Fun
As a bonus, I had a little fun with this one and put together a BTG Radio Edit—a shorter, more to-the-point mix that trims things down without losing the charm of the remix.
Hope y’all like it, partner.
See what I did there? 🤠
SIDE A:
Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy (Bontempi ’92 Remix) 4:21
DJ Mix [Megamix] –Two Little Boys
SIDE B:
Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy (BTG Rides Again Edit) 2:54
Remix Edit – DjPaulT
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Music Factory – MFMM77
Series: Music Factory Mastermix Issue – 77
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1992
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Eurodance
CREDITS:
- Art Direction, Design – DjPaulT
NOTES:
SIDE A: Taken from Music Factory Mastermix Issue – 77
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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This is such a cute remix. Yeah, that’s the word I’m going with! The original is a great track in and of itself but this next level remixing really. So much early 90’s flair, and all the better for it. Mastermix really had some gems, and this is definitely one of them. A real ‘Rhinestone in the rough’ if you will. When I started listening I thought I was going to get a mashup with Then He Kissed Me by The Crystals for the first few seconds. That’s totally the intro, what great nod to the 60’s! Thanks for unearthing… Read more »
JP, “Cute” is actually the perfect word for this one—I had the exact same reaction the first time I heard it. It’s just so unapologetically fun, and you’re right, that early ‘90s flair is all over it in the best possible way. And yes! That intro totally throws you for a second—I can absolutely hear “Then He Kissed Me” in there now that you mention it. Such a clever little nod, and it sets the tone before the beat even really kicks in. Mastermix really did have a knack for digging into left-field ideas and making them work, and this… Read more »
Just played this and I’m just amazed. On paper, doesn’t make any sense, but it absolutely works!
Your radio edit / mix is perfect… just 20 seconds shorter than the original and hits the way a radio edit should. Obviously the long one gives DJs time to mix in and out, as dance tracks should when servicing the clubs!
ING, That’s exactly it—on paper this shouldn’t work at all, but somehow it completely comes together once you hear it. Those are always the most fun discoveries. And you nailed the difference between the two versions. The full mix really does its job as a proper club tool, giving DJs that breathing room to work it in and out of a set. But for casual listening, it can feel just a touch long—which is what pushed me to try a tighter pass on it. Really glad the BTG Radio Edit landed for you—that’s always the goal, to keep the energy… Read more »
Fantastic! Thank you for this amazing custom 12″! And thank you for taking the time to edit the song and for creating the astounding cover!
Axel,
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that.
This was one of those projects that just came together in a really fun way—from the track itself to putting together the custom 12″ and cover. Glad you enjoyed all the pieces of it.
Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment!
—Paul
amazing…never knew this existed!
Have fun listening 🙂
Thanks for this, takes me back a few years. I used to subscribe to music factory/mastermix and remember having this delivered, ended up playing it that night in a club as the last song of the night, thought it would clear the crowd out, I was wrong lol
Alan,
That’s a fantastic story—and I can totally see that happening!
It really does feel like one of those “end of the night” curveballs you’d throw on expecting people to head for the exits… and instead it pulls everyone back onto the floor. That’s the magic of a track like this—it catches people off guard in the best way.
Must have been great getting those Mastermix deliveries back then—nothing like dropping something fresh that nobody else had yet.
Thanks for sharing that memory, I love hearing stories like this!
—Paul
Memories of my father’s Cordoba and it’s 8 track player. He played this song endlessly and it became an ear worm for the formative years of my life. I can’t here this and not think of him singing along while tooling down the highway.
Thanks Paul
Geoff,
That’s a beautiful memory—thank you for sharing that.
It’s amazing how a song like this can become so tied to a specific time and place… your dad’s Cordoba, the 8-track, just cruising down the highway with him singing along. That’s the kind of connection that never really fades.
Hearing it reimagined like this must be a bit surreal, but hopefully it still brings a bit of that feeling back with it.
Really appreciate you sharing something so personal.
—Paul
Wow, Not heard this before, that whip breakdown is priceless. This mix got the erasure b-side treatment. I had the original 45 when I was a kid. I’ve often thought that this would be a perfect song for the Killers to cover. It’s actually a really strange song, and originally intended as a throwaway b-side. Very ironic for a country song, a honest critique of the “cowboy” as an artificial archetype, with some references to “Midnight Cowboy” thrown in for good measure, the odd pairing of the rugged cowboy and something on the stage, more like Liberace. It makes me… Read more »
Joey, That whip breakdown really is the moment, isn’t it? Completely over-the-top in the best possible way—very much that “anything goes” remix mentality. I love your take on the song too. There’s definitely more going on under the surface than people give it credit for—that whole idea of the cowboy as performance, almost a character being played. That contrast you mentioned is probably part of why it translates so well into something like this remix. It was already a bit theatrical to begin with. And I can absolutely hear The Killers taking this on—especially leaning into that big, dramatic, slightly… Read more »
Brilliant observation, Joey! I so love it when this community shares their views! Absolutely awesome on every point! I also love your idea of the promo picture! Cowboys are so rugged and HOT! Something for everyone of every persuasion!
Have a super weekend!
Jeff
Love it.
Had never heard of this before.
The intro of the Bontempi mix (a bit too long), gave me some Erasure vibes (Oh L’amour and A little Respect)
Paul, your edit actually makes it much better and I’ll be listening to that one a bit more.
Thanks for all these gems
Jay,
Glad you enjoyed it!
I hear you on the intro—it does run a bit long, and I can definitely pick up on those Erasure vibes too, especially that bright, melodic lead-in before things really kick. “Oh L’amour” and “A Little Respect” are great comparisons.
That was exactly my thinking behind the edit—just tighten things up a bit and get to the good stuff sooner without losing the feel of the original mix.
Really appreciate you giving both versions a listen—and thanks for sticking with me on all these gems!
—Paul
Love it! Thanks!
You’re welcome 🤠
This is ridiculous — but fantastic! Thank you so much.
You’re welcome, I am happy you are enjoying it 🤠
Insane!!! can’t wait to listen today, thanks!
You’re welcome, Raymond. I hope it brightens your day 🤠
Yee-Haw!! Man, Paul, I burst into fits of laughter when I saw this one come up! You surely keep us on our toes literally with some of these wild records! This is a perfect follow-up to yesterday’s fun post. Gosh, I really love these mixes. They’re perfect because they’re familiar and could get a diverse group of listeners on the dancefloor! It’s a perfect cut for the mobile DJs out there. I can’t wait to hear your custom edit! I hope you do more of these in the future because you have that ear and feel for what can be… Read more »
Jeff, Yee-Haw!! 🤠 I had a feeling this one might get that exact reaction! You’re absolutely right—these kinds of mixes walk that perfect line between familiar and unexpected. That’s what makes them so effective, especially in a mobile DJ setting where you want something that grabs everyone without losing the room. This one definitely has that “wait… I know this!” moment that pulls people right in. Really glad you’re enjoying these posts (and the artwork too!). I’ve been having a lot of fun digging into these more off-the-wall remixes, so there will definitely be more to come. Hope you enjoy… Read more »
You are so great, Paul! You really make it feel like it’s a holiday everyday! You do so much to get us excited and moving. What a great legacy you’ve created with Burning The Ground! I especially love the unexpected records you bring into the mix too! The promo-only discs, the remix service cuts, the mastermixes/medleys/mega-mixes, and lately, your DjPaulT edits, make your site a goldmine! I’m dazzled constantly by your talents, Paul! I also love the people here who are kindred spirits for one another!
Grateful forever!
Jeff
Lovely to see this pop up! I’m a huge Glen Campbell fan – he’s so underrated. And to see a DJPaul mix here – it’s an embarrassment of riches! Can’t wait to hear the remix and also your edit!
Grant, Always great to hear from a fellow Glen Campbell fan! I completely agree—he really doesn’t get enough credit for just how versatile he was. The fact that a track like this can be lifted into a totally different setting and still work says a lot about the strength of his vocal and the song itself. “Embarrassment of riches” made me smile—thank you for that! I had a lot of fun putting this one together, so I hope both the remix and the BTG edit hit the spot for you. Let me know what you think once you’ve had a… Read more »