Burning The Ground Exclusive
German producer Frank Farian struck gold again in late 1988 with the release of “Baby Don’t Forget My Number,” the second single by pop-dance duo Milli Vanilli. Following the success of “Girl You Know It’s True,” the track helped catapult the group into international superstardom and cemented their place as one of the biggest pop acts of the late 1980s.
Released in December 1988 from the European debut album All Or Nothing, and later included on the U.S. counterpart Girl You Know It’s True (1989), “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” blended infectious dance grooves, catchy hooks, and polished production that dominated radio and dance floors alike. The single became Milli Vanilli’s first U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one in 1989, beginning a remarkable chart run that would eventually produce three consecutive U.S. chart-toppers.
Produced by Frank Farian, the mastermind behind acts such as Boney M., the song featured the signature late-80s Euro-dance sound that defined the era. Pulsating synths, heavy drum programming, and slick vocal arrangements made the track irresistible to pop audiences worldwide.
In the United States, “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” became a massive commercial success, earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Internationally, the single reached the Top 10 in seven countries and performed exceptionally well in Australia, where it remained on the charts for an impressive 36 weeks and also achieved gold certification.
The 12-inch single remains a favorite among collectors and club music fans, especially for its extended dance mixes that fully embraced the high-energy production style of the period. These longer versions stretched the groove into pure dancefloor bliss, giving DJs plenty of room for seamless club mixing during the peak of the late-80s dance-pop explosion.
Despite the controversy that would later surround Milli Vanilli, there is no denying the impact their music had on pop culture. Songs like “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” captured a specific moment in time when dance-pop ruled the airwaves, MTV was king, and extended 12-inch mixes were essential listening for club kids and radio fans alike.
Today, “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” stands as a nostalgic reminder of an era filled with flashy fashion, massive hooks, and larger-than-life pop production. Whether spinning on vinyl or blasting from a retro playlist, the track still delivers the same infectious energy that made it a worldwide smash nearly four decades ago.
SIDE A:
Baby Don’t Forget My Number (Pennsylvania Six-Five-Thousand Heart Line Mix) 8:56
Written-By – B. Nail, F. Farian
SIDE B:
Too Much Monkey Business 3:23
Written-By – B. Nail, F. Farian, H. Ruloffs, J. Davis
Baby Don’t Forget My Number (Radio Mix) 4:33
Written-By – B. Nail, F. Farian
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
Weekly charts
| Milli Vanilli: Baby Don’t Forget My Number (1988–1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 17 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 14 |
| Canada Retail Singles (The Record) | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 3 |
| Canada Dance/Urban (RPM) | 1 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 18 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 3 |
| France (SNEP) | 17 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 17 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 6 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 7 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 9 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 5 |
| Spain (AFYVE) | 3 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 11 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 10 |
| US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard) | 12 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 9 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 2 |
| West Germany (GfK) | 9 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Hansa – 611 841
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Breakbeat, Dub, Synth-pop, Pop Rap
CREDITS:
- Design [Cover-Design] – H. Wegner*
- Photography By – Esser & Strauss
- Producer – Frank Farian
- Vocals – Rob + Fab*
NOTES:
Recorded and Mixed at FAR Studios
Produced for FAR Music-Production 11/88
Printed in Germany
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-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono 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
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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
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Big fan! I love the US version of their album (it has the best mix/edits) — at least the CD I have. There are so many different mixes & edits of “Baby, Don’t Forget My Number” — my favourite is like the edit here, but cuts to the sequencers with no [original] jangly piano (0:19-0:28), removes the ‘crazy’ lyric line in the first verse, and cuts down on the special effects sounds throughout (makes it less cartoonish) — it is 4:17 in length. Sensible alterations, I say! There are so many different mixes, minor edits, and ‘radio versions’ of the… Read more »
The scandal surrounding Milli Vanilli is almost laughable now, from “more innocent” times when it was expected that the singers could hold a tune and the sounds were expected to naturally come from artists alone… That would never happen today, autotune vocals, and simply having their voices blended with the backup singers would be “enough” to pull off the illusion, now they might even brag about it once caught… It seemed pretty suspicious to me back in the day, first hearing them, the gravelly, soulful voice, sounded like a seasoned veteran soul singer in his 40’s/50’s yet the “singers” were… Read more »
Thank you Paul.I share Fred and Jeff’s opinion. Well, Frank Farian—that little rascal (in the best possible sense). No matter what anyone says, he influenced the music world, and Milli Vanilli songs are still floor-fillers; I still play them to this day. Many people have no idea just how many productions there are—or were—that featured “fake” singers (Den Harrow, Baltimora, Technotronic, and many more… just to name a few). Fun fact: I live near the FAR Studios, and many years ago, I met Brad Howell at a party; he is an absolutely funny, nice guy.
OUTSTANDING!! I echo what Fred said below! I didn’t care about the Milli Vanilli controversy very much because I judged them on what I kept hearing: High quality mixes, great beats, and terrific samples on a well-performed record! Because of my love of dance music, most of what I listen to is made by studio geniuses, producers, mixers, and editors. I concentrate on the finished product, and this is what gives me joy! I was sad for Rob and Fab, but this is what they were hired for. It’s just too bad that they were canceled the way they were.… Read more »
Jeff, beautifully said. I think you really nailed why so many dance music fans still connect with these records despite everything that happened afterward. For listeners like us, the focus has always been on the sound coming out of the speakers, the energy, the arrangement, the mix construction, and the emotional reaction the music creates on the dance floor. Late-80s remix culture was such a creative period because producers and editors were pushing boundaries constantly. Sampling was still somewhat of a wild frontier, and people were building these dense musical collages from bits of funk, hip-hop, film dialogue, orchestral hits,… Read more »
“Despite the controversy that would later surround Milli Vanilli, there is no denying the impact their music had on pop culture.” I have been preaching this for decades and sadly since the minute MV was exposed, they were cancelled and nobody would admit the smashing success of their music. Nobody would play their music. ever. again. Whoever created/invented the beats and samples on the mixes to this song and Girl You Know It’s True is a master in my book. The one song that comes extremely close to this style is Eric B. And Rakim – Paid In Full (Seven… Read more »
Fred, I completely understand where you are coming from. Once the scandal broke, the conversation immediately shifted away from the music itself, and a lot of people refused to separate the records from the controversy. Unfortunately, that meant some genuinely inventive late-80s dance production got thrown into the fire along with everything else. Those early Milli Vanilli singles were expertly constructed club records. The beats, sampling, editing, layering, and pacing on tracks like “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” and “Girl You Know It’s True” were absolutely designed with DJs in mind. They had that slick European dance-pop polish mixed with… Read more »