Each June, Pride Month allows us to honor the LGBTQ+ community — to celebrate resilience, visibility, creativity, and most of all, love. For decades, this month has stood as a reminder of both how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go in building a world where everyone can live authentically, safely, and joyfully.
Here at Burning the Ground, where we celebrate the music that helped shape generations — from underground dance floors to radio waves and neon-lit nights — it’s impossible to ignore the deep connection between the LGBTQ+ community and the world of remix culture, club anthems, and boundary-pushing expression. Pride lives in these grooves, in the bold beats of self-discovery, in the joy of being seen and heard.
But let’s be real: not everyone sees Pride Month the same way. Some feel unsure, uncomfortable, or even disagree with aspects of it. And while we may not all come from the same place, this space was always meant to be about connection. Through music, we’ve all learned that difference doesn’t have to divide — it can unite. It can teach. It can inspire.
Whether you’re out and proud, still on a journey, an ally, or just someone passing through — you are welcome here. You don’t have to have it all figured out. What matters is that we approach one another with kindness and a willingness to listen. No rainbow flag should feel like a wall; it should feel like an open door.
This month, we continue to honor the artists, DJs, producers, and fans — many of whom were and are part of the LGBTQ+ community — who brought the dance floor to life, often against the odds. Their courage, creativity, and rhythm echo through every remix we post.
Let’s turn the volume up, keep our hearts open, and remember what this music taught us: freedom feels like a beat you can move to.
NEW 2025 Transfer NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Original post date: October 4, 2011
“I’m looking for a real man… Strong hands, sweet lips, a warm heart!”
Before she was a New Wave fashion icon, avant-garde provocateur, and the fierce dominatrix of the 1980s, Grace Jones made her dance floor debut with the bold and unapologetically funky “I Need A Man.” Released in 1975 in France and later re-recorded for the U.S. market in 1977, this track marked the beginning of her transformation into a queer and club culture legend.
Originally written by Pierre Papadiamandis and Paul Slade and first released as a B-side, “I Need A Man” got a second life when it was reworked for the burgeoning disco scene. The 12-inch version—especially the U.S. promo pressing on Beam Junction/Island—delivered a punchier, extended arrangement that became a favorite in underground gay clubs, particularly in New York’s vibrant disco scene. It quickly gained momentum, ultimately landing Grace her first #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1977.
Produced by disco pioneer Tom Moulton, the remix retained all the raw sensuality of the original while dialing up the groove and extending it to nearly 8 minutes of funk-fueled seduction. With her commanding presence and deep contralto, Jones doesn’t just ask for a man—she demands one, flipping the script on gender dynamics and asserting herself with the kind of dominance that would soon become her signature.
The track’s thumping bassline, rhythm guitar licks, and gospel-inspired backing vocals give it a distinctly pre-disco feel—almost like a bridge between glam rock and Studio 54—making it one of the more unique dance singles of the mid-’70s.
This release would be the first in a string of club hits for Grace, laying the groundwork for her 1977 debut album Portfolio, and eventually leading to her more experimental collaborations with Sly & Robbie and Jean-Paul Goude in the ’80s. But it all started here—with a simple, sultry, and powerful declaration: “I Need A Man.”
If you’ve only known Grace Jones from her more aggressive ’80s output like “Pull Up to the Bumper” or “Slave to the Rhythm,” this early disco gem shows a different side of her artistry—flirtatious, fearless, and already way ahead of her time.
NEW 2025 Transfer NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Original post date: June 17, 2014, February 21, 2018
Rhythm Is The Power
In 1988, Duran Duran returned to the dancefloor with a bold and funky new single that marked a sharp evolution in their sound: “I Don’t Want Your Love.” Released as the lead single from their Big Thing album, the track showed the band embracing a tougher, more club-oriented edge, blending their signature synth-pop sensibilities with house and funk elements that fit right into the late-’80s musical landscape.
Produced by Jonathan Elias and Duran Duran, and mixed by Shep Pettibone, this post features the UK 12″ promo, which includes the extended “Big Mix” and the rare “Dub Mix,” the latter of which remained exclusive to this promo for over a decade until it finally saw CD release on 1999’s Strange Behaviour remix compilation. The Big Mix, handled by the legendary Shep Pettibone, stretches out the track’s groove with bold synth layers, tight guitar riffs, and an elastic bassline that’s pure club gold. Meanwhile, the Dub Mix strips things down, zeroing in on rhythm and texture—essential for DJs and remix heads alike.
Lyrically, “I Don’t Want Your Love” was a defiant departure from the romanticism of earlier hits like “Save A Prayer.” Here, Simon Le Bon delivers a pointed, almost confrontational message, distancing himself from a manipulative relationship. The attitude was matched by a sleek, high-concept video directed by Steve Lowe, with courtroom drama imagery underscoring the song’s themes of judgment and rejection.
Despite—or perhaps because of—its shift in tone and style, “I Don’t Want Your Love” became a commercial success. It peaked at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #14 in the UK, giving the band one of their last major Top 10 hits in the States. For longtime fans, it signaled that Duran Duran wasn’t content to rest on their New Romantic laurels—they were ready to evolve with the times and challenge expectations.
This marks the third time I’ve transferred this 12″ for Burning the Ground—but with the benefit of time, experience, and cutting-edge tech, I truly believe the third time’s the charm. This brand-new 2025 transfer was done using my latest high-end setup, including the phenomenal Ortofon Concorde Music Black cartridge, delivering every nuance with stunning clarity and depth.
SIDE A: I Don’t Want Your Love (Big Mix) 7:34
Engineer [Mix] – Bob Rosa
Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Uncredited] – Alan Friedman
SIDE B: I Don’t Want Your Love (Dub Mix) 7:36
Engineer [Mix] – Bob Rosa
Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Programmed By [Uncredited] – Alan Friedman
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
Year
Single
Chart
Position
1988
I Don’t Want Your Love
U.S. Billboard Hot 100
#4
1988
I Don’t Want Your Love
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
#13
1988
I Don’t Want Your Love
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play
#1
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI – 12 YOUR DJ 1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: House, Synth-pop
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
