BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1989
“Batdance” is a song by Prince, from the 1989 Batman soundtrack. Helped by the film’s popularity, the song reached number one in the U.S., becoming Prince’s fourth number-one single, and first since 1986’s “Kiss”.
“Batdance” was a last-minute replacement for a brooding track titled “Dance with the Devil”, which Prince felt was too dark. Incidentally, although “Dance with the Devil” remains unreleased, some of the lyrics appear on the album’s liner notes.
“Batdance” is almost two songs in one—a chaotic, mechanical dance beat that changes gears into a slinky, funky groove before changing back for the song’s conclusion (except on single version in which it goes straight to the mechanical Joker laughter from the end of the movie and Prince saying “Stop”). The track is an amalgam of many musical ideas floating around at the time. Elements from at least seven songs (some unreleased) were incorporated into “Batdance”: “200 Balloons”, “We Got the Power”, “House in Order”, “Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic” (later released on the album, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic), “The Future”, and “Electric Chair”, as well as the 1966 “Batman Theme” by Neal Hefti. Some of these were mere snippets, and other segments showed up only in remixes of the track. The song was also loaded with dialog samples from the film.
The U.S. 12″ promo contains two different radio edits that are exclusive to this release.
BAT SIDE:
Batdance (The Bat Mix) 7:15
Batdance (The Bat Mix Radio Edit) 4:09
THIS SIDE:
Batdance (Vicki Vale Mix) 5:55
Batdance (Vicky Vale Mix Radio Edit) 4:13
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks | #1 |
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
| 1989 | Batdance | U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs | #18 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – PRO-A-3702
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Electro
Credits: Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Mark Moore, William Orbit
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – Prince
NOTES:
Promotion Only. Not For Sale.
From the Motion Picture Soundtrack album “BATMAN” a Warner Bros. film (1-25936)
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Any chance of re-uploading this? Would love to hear the edits!
Wow listening now even had this for a long long time. It’s awesome i would love more Prince rarities if you have any. The U.K. single mix of this is hard to find on CD i believe
DJPT,
Thank you very much. I haven’t even downloaded it yet, and I’m so excited. I passed on this as a CD single at a used CD store, and have been kicking myself ever since. I’ve been trying to find this forever. THANKS for sharing.
I still chuckle when I think of the glowing review Rolling Stone gave this soundtrack. It’s definitely not Prince’s finest moment, but I guess he had entered their Artists Who Can Do Not Wrong category by then. Still, I’m tempted to give this a listen again. I’m so forgiving these days I’ll probably love it now.
Love the blog, kind sir!
Thank you Glenn. Enjoy 🙂
Late to the Bat Party.
I must admit this “song” (if you can really call it that) didn’t click with me back in 1989. Too incoherent like Matt G said.
The fact that it went to #1 I think was largely due to the first Batman movie hype.
But it did stop another hit movie from scoring a #1. Ghostbusters 2!
While Prince did slow down Ray Parker Jr’s Ghosterbuster ascent to #1 back in 1984 with When Doves Cry (another of his movie singles), he was successful in blocking Bobby Brown’s On Our Own 5 years later.
Better late than never 🙂
Always liked this song. It was kind of different for its time, especially with snippets of dialogue from the movie included in the song. Even though it went to #1, it seems to be mostly forgotten nowadays and it still hasn’t appeared on any of Prince’s hits collections. He also had two more Top 40 hits from this soundtrack, “Partyman” and “The Arms Of Orion”, which seem to be even more forgotten about. Thanks for these mixes, Paul. I had never heard the edits before and they are different from the version that was released as a single. Thanks for… Read more »
Also just wanted to say that I never realized the Prince and Ghostbusters connection at the top of the charts in ’84 and ’89. Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting” also prevented “On Our Own” from going to #1 as well.
Thank you Paul!
You’re welcome Kasper 🙂
Oooohhhhh….great!!!
Enjoy Johan!
Very cool! I’ve never heard these 2 radio edits before. Didn’t know they existed. Thanks so much for putting them up (and in good sound quality too!)
You’re welcome Brian. Enjoy!
batdj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanx for this gem!!!!!!!!
love uuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!
You always make me smile 🙂 You’re welcome Giorgio!
Awesome! I have been wanting to hear these radio edits for a long long time. Thank you!
You’re welcome Conner. The edits are pretty good 🙂
Thank you for this rarity, Paul! Never heared the edits before!
You’re welcome Georde E. 🙂
great song , please up Two times strange but true 12″, thanksssssssssss
Nice work! I have the US Import of this on Vinyl but it doesn’t include the edits. The Bat Mix improves massively on the fun but incoherent Album Version. I maintain that Mark Moore is an unsung genius. The “Spatial Expansion Mix” of Hey Music Lover is still one of the greatest remixes ever made.
His and Orbit’s work on The Future & Electric Chair are worthy listens too.
Thanks for the upload!
M
You’re welcome Matt!