Burning The Ground Exclusive
“Pure energy…”
Bursting onto the late-’80s synthpop and freestyle scene with a sound that was futuristic, funky, and fueled by digital obsession, Information Society made their mark with the infectious 1988 hit “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy).” Blending electronic dance rhythms with sci-fi aesthetics and a now-iconic sample from Star Trek, the track became an enduring staple of club culture and pop radio alike.
🚀 A New Wave of Synth
Formed in Minneapolis and later based in New York, Information Society fused the sharp, sequenced sensibility of synthpop with the bass-heavy grooves of freestyle and electro. Produced by Fred Maher and Paul Robb, “What’s On Your Mind” showcases the band’s flair for melodic hooks layered over state-of-the-art digital programming—cutting-edge for its time.
The track prominently features vocal samples of Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock, licensed from Star Trek, delivering the phrase “pure energy,” which gave the song its subtitle. It was an early example of a pop hit using prominent sampling not just as texture, but as a hook.
📈 Chart Success
“What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Dance Club Songs chart in 1988. It marked the band’s commercial breakthrough and remains their signature song. The track also helped establish Tommy Boy Records as a label at the forefront of electronic dance music in the U.S.
🎧 Timeless Techno-Romanticism
At its core, “What’s On Your Mind” is about communication breakdown in relationships—wrapped in shiny digital armor. It’s cold, clinical, and emotional all at once. With its clever use of sci-fi sampling and dancefloor drive, it captured the moment when synthpop crossed into the mainstream without losing its cool.
💿 About This Promo
While I’ve previously featured the commercial US 12″ single, this Special Radio Promo offers something a bit more exclusive—two rare radio edits that were originally scattered across various formats, including cassette singles and promotional CDs.
This promo was never commercially released, pressed in limited quantities strictly for radio station use. Designed to boost airplay, it features tailored edits that are harder to find and a must-have for collectors and completists alike.
This promo was issued in a TB 911 commercial retail picture sleeve with a cut in the corner; the back cover lists the tracks incorrectly.
SIDE A:
What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Pure Energy Mix) 4:35
Mixed By – Fred Maher, Roey Shamir
What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Pure Energy Radio Edit) 3:35
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Mixed By – Fred Maher, Roey Shamir
SIDE B:
What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Club Radio Edit) 3:19
Edited By – Chep Nunez, The Latin Rascals
Mixed By – “Little” Louie Vega, Roman Ricardo
What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Club Mix) 7:58
Edited By – The Latin Rascals
Mixed By – “Little” Louie Vega*, Roman Ricardo
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-89 | What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #3 |
| 1988-89 | What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #10 |
| 1988-89 | What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
| 1988-89 | What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Maxi-Singles Sales | #2 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Tommy Boy – TB 911 PRO
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Retail Sleeve
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Arranged By, Programmed By – Fred Maher, Paul Robb
- Producer – Fred Maher
- Written-By – K. Valaquen*, P. Robb*
NOTES:
Special radio Promo
Tracks are listed incorrectly on the sleeve.
From the album “INFORMATION SOCIETY”
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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O que posso dizer?
THANK YOU, PAUL!
Check out the Phunkula OG Boombox Vol 1 megamix where this track kills it in the typical late night 80s FM radio DJ mix show style along with Kraftwerk, Art Of Noise, Hashim, Shannon etc in a wild intricate carnage of blending, cut-ups and edits. Pure Energy is one of my favorite Information Society releases with outstanding Louie Vega drum machine and synth programming along with magnificent edits by Latin Rascals and Chep Nunez. The blend of electro and freestyle with a touch of British new wave works particularly well in this case and is a godsend for creative DJs.… Read more »
Thanks for that link, Johnny. It was quite a workout!
Thanks, as always, for these Info Society gems. Love the radio edits, especially the club mix radio edit! Curious if you have any of the 12″ from Info Society’s HACK era – “How Long,” “Think,” or the rare “Now that I Have You” promo (I have never heard that one). SO many of my favs this week. Thanks.
Pumping synthetic bass, catchy chorus, long instrumental parts, crazy edits. This has all the ingredients of a Song And Dance favourite, and it is. 🙂 I have the standard 12inch and two more by Information Society which maybe maybe we will find here some day in pristine DJPaulT quality. Who knows. 😉
I’m so happy you like this one, Song and Dance. I have posted three or four others in the past.
This is one of those singles that is proudly of it’s time and immediately conjures up 1988. It was ubiquitous on the radio and MTV. Thank you Paul for this promo with these rare mixes!!
You’re welcome, Retro Hound. I remember this being everywhere that year. I still hear it quite a bit on the radio. It is truly an icon of its time.
I don’t remember this single but it is now a new favorite of mine.
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome, Mark. Glad to hear that.
I see why you missed this big hit: It was huge in North America, but only #18 in Ireland, and a stiff in the UK at #81. Apparently as a surprise hit, it didn’t get a worldwide release.
I have the vinyl, which I played when I was a DJ in the late ’80s, and the CD version. But I like having your digitalized vinyl versions because they often surpass the official CD releases. This song was very successful here in Valencia (Spain) in the ’80s, perhaps not as much as the previous hit “Running,” although it was a big hit alongside New Beat, Acid, EBM, Synthpop, Frankfurt Techno, and Dark Wave in the underground clubs of those years.
Thank you very much for this contribution!
Thank you so much for sharing that! I love hearing firsthand stories from DJs who played these tracks when they were new—it really brings the music to life. I’m glad you’re enjoying the digitalized vinyl versions; I always strive to preserve the warmth and character that sometimes gets lost in the official CD releases. It’s also fascinating to hear how big this track was in Valencia during the late ’80s. That era’s underground club scene—blending New Beat, Acid, EBM, and more—must’ve been incredible. “Running” definitely made waves too, but “What’s On Your Mind” holds its own as a synthpop classic.… Read more »
Just today I also received a vinyl copy of Moev‘s 12″ Maxi-Single “Capital Heaven (Extended Mix)” (1987), which I love and found in NM or M- condition on Discogs. I have another exact copy from years ago, but especially the B-side had some scratches that ended up being annoying when listening. This vinyl was also played in those wonderful years. 🤗
Love this song so much. Wouldn’t mind seeing the whole Information Society catalog, given a fresh turn (the ones you have previously put up on here).
I might do that, Mike 🙂
Love this song. The style and delivery makes this sound to the untrained ear like some other Duran Duran side project, which is not to minimize this as some copycat effort: this was cutting edge stuff, blending pop with freestyle beats, and star trek samples for extra nerd appeal. This whole album is good and I wished Duran Duran were able to pull off such an effort at the time. Now this must be the 12″ that I used to hear the radio. Side note, this song blends very well with the remix of “All She Wants Is”. Thanks Paul… Read more »
Hey Joey! I couldn’t agree more—this track really does have that polished, tech-forward Duran Duran side project vibe, especially with the vocals and production style. Totally hear what you mean, though this one definitely stands on its own with that freestyle/electro energy and those iconic Star Trek samples that gave it that perfect nerd-cool edge. Great call on the blend with the remix of “All She Wants Is”—now that you mention it, I can absolutely imagine those two fitting together seamlessly in a set. I’m glad this promo 12″ brought back some memories—always a pleasure unearthing these for fellow crate… Read more »
Paul, thank you for ripping this absolutely top song! I remember in 1989 mixing the club version on a daily basis when I was DJing. Your rip is of great quality, thanks!
Thank you so much, Dino.
Wow, what a cool find! This song was a revelation to me!! Futuristic yet hearkening back to the early Electro records pioneered by Arthur Baker and John Robie. During this time, Freestyle was blowing up in the New York tri-state area. I also love Kurt’s voice here as it’s warm and melodic while the machines kept the beat! I love the percussive pulses and the great edits contained within the song. It was an edit solo of hard cuts and beats galore! This is HOT, Paul!! What an incredible surprise!!
Jeff
This track really is a perfect bridge between the pioneering Electro sounds of Baker and Robie and the late-’80s Freestyle explosion. That era in the NY tri-state area was electric, and you can really feel it in the production.
Kurt’s vocal delivery definitely brings that human warmth against all the crisp machine work, and yes—those percussive edits are fire! It’s like a rhythmic rollercoaster, and I’m so glad you picked up on that. Your enthusiasm made my day—thanks so much for tuning in and for always dropping such thoughtful commentary
Yes to Chep Nunez and The Latin Rascals!
A likeable tune but I notice in the UK it wasn’t so successful. Its peak in late ’88 was number 81. I don’t remember it but do like it. I suspect it didn’t do well over here as we had the Acid House explosion around that time and this song has an earlier 80s feel to me than late 80s. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Great observation—and you’re absolutely right! The track didn’t make a huge splash in the UK, peaking at #81 in late ’88. By that point, Acid House was taking over the scene, and this song’s sound—while futuristic in its own way—definitely leans more toward early-’80s Electro and synthpop than the rave-driven energy that was dominating the charts and clubs at the time.
I’m really glad it still resonated with you now, though. It’s always fun to rediscover tunes that might’ve flown under the radar back then. Thanks for listening and for sharing your thoughts! 💿
One of my absolute Top 20 Remixes of the 80s. What a great upload and share, DJPaulT! Brings back wonderful memories and a whole lot of dance club joy. Cheers!
Wow—Top 20 Remixes of the ’80s? That’s high praise, and I’m honored to have brought it back to your ears! So glad this one stirred up those great dance floor memories. Thanks so much for the kind words and for being along for the ride—cheers to more shared nostalgia and club joy! 💿🕺✨