Burning The Ground Exclusive
By 1988, Stacy Lattisaw was already a seasoned performer despite her young age. Discovered as a teenager, she had been recording since the late 1970s and built a reputation as one of R&B’s most promising voices. Known for her sweet yet powerful vocal style, Stacy seamlessly navigated ballads and uptempo tracks, earning her a loyal following throughout the ’80s.
“Call Me” was released as the third single from her ninth studio album, Personal Attention, which dropped on January 21, 1988, through Motown Records. The album itself represented an important chapter in Stacy’s career, as she worked to expand her sound with more contemporary late-’80s R&B production while keeping the soulful essence that had carried her through the decade.
The single “Call Me” is a sleek mid-tempo groove that showcases Stacy’s effortless vocal delivery over polished instrumentation. While it didn’t soar to the top of the charts, it managed to carve out its place, peaking at #80 on the Billboard R&B Chart. Even though it wasn’t a major hit, the track reflects the transitional sound of R&B at the time—blending smooth melodies with danceable rhythms that leaned toward the New Jack Swing era just around the corner.
Looking back, “Call Me” captures Stacy at an interesting point in her journey. Just a few years later, she would step back from the recording industry altogether, leaving behind a catalog that has continued to earn appreciation from collectors, DJs, and fans of ’80s soul and R&B.
For those who treasure late-’80s Motown releases, “Call Me” stands as a reminder of Stacy Lattisaw’s unique talent—an artist who began her career as a child prodigy and matured into a singer with undeniable warmth, sincerity, and groove.
SIDE A:
Call Me (12″ Remix) 6:15
SIDE B:
Call Me (7″ Version) 4:09
Call Me (Dubsky Bass) 4:56
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Call Me | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop | #80 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Motown – MOT-4615
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Funk, Soul
CREDITS:
- Executive-Producer – Debbie Sandridge
- Remix – Taavi Mote
- Written-By – The Blitz (2)
- Written-By, Producer – Lou Pace
NOTES:
Original version appears on the Stacey Lattisaw album, “Personal Attention”
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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I always liked Stacy’s voice on The Moments’ cover “Love On A Two-Way Street” as well as her big hit “Let Me Be Your Angel” and the dance track “Jump To The Beat”. She certainly was surrounded by great producers and stayed busy through the ’80s by releasing 10 albums before retiring from the business to sing gospel. What a voice!
My favourite song was always the catchy “Million Dollar Babe“. “Jump To The Beat” was a top 3 in the UK charts!
Thank you Paul for this high quality rip. What a fantastic song. Her powerful voice always stands out.I know I had the 12″ Promo back then and played it often.Somehow it got lost, and thanks to you, it found its way into my collection.
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad this one made its way back to you. Stacy’s voice really does cut through—powerful and soulful, no matter the production style. That 12″ promo is a great one, and it makes me happy knowing you’ve got it back in rotation again. Thanks for sharing the memory and for listening along!
Stacy Lattisaw really was a powerhouse. A shame this didn’t chart higher. But thank you Paul for these mixes and for shining the spotlight on her again – well deserved!! Have a great weekend, and you too Jeff, song_and_dance and everyone else here!
Retro Hound, you’re so right—Stacy truly was a powerhouse, and it is a shame this one didn’t climb higher on the charts. She deserved so much more recognition for gems like this. I’m really glad to give her a little spotlight again, she’s earned it!
Thank you for the kind words and for being part of the conversation. Wishing you a great weekend as well.
Hey Paul This Is A Catchy Jam. I Have The 12inch Promo Of This. I Always Thought That This Sounded Like Private Number By The Jets. Thanks For The Jam!!
Hey Mark! Glad you’re feeling this one—it really is a catchy jam. That’s awesome you’ve got the 12″ promo! I can definitely hear the similarity to “Private Number” by The Jets, they’ve got that same bright late-’80s groove. Thanks for pointing that out and for spinning along with me!
Thank you, Paul! Interesting that this would be classified as R&B, when it sounds exactly like Madonna at the time (albeit with slightly better vocal prowess)! I’m completely unfamiliar with this artist, but I really like it! I love when you dig up lesser known songs to broaden our horizons!
Axel, I love that observation! Stacy definitely leaned into that late-’80s polished pop/R&B sound, and you’re right—there’s definitely a “Madonna-esque” vibe here, though Stacy’s vocal chops really shine through. She had such a versatile voice that could slip between R&B, pop, and soul with ease.
I’m thrilled you enjoyed discovering this one! Digging up these hidden gems and sharing them is exactly what makes doing the blog so rewarding. Thanks for listening with open ears! My favorite by her is a track called “Nail It To The Wall” from 1986.
Thanks for the tip! I will definitely check that song out along with some of her other releases!
Insanely great mix of motown and synths, so much depth, like Motown meets Depeche Mode! Love it, thanks!
Raymond, I love how you put that—Motown meets Depeche Mode is such a perfect description! Stacy’s “Call Me” really does capture that late-’80s balance of soulful roots with the new synth-driven production. I’m so glad you picked up on that depth and enjoyed the blend. Thanks for listening and for such a cool perspective!
What a voice! I fell in love with Stacy Lattisaw ever since her, “Let Me Be Your Angel” song hit the airwaves! Thank you, Paul, for a song I’m not sure I know, but I love these undiscovered treasures you bring out that deserve a further listen! I am excited!
Thanks for another fabulous week of music! Paul, have a lovely weekend!!
Have a great weekend, also, to Retro Hound, Martika, Song _and_Dance, DJ Xrey, ING, Grant, MusicMan3, and the rest!!!
Jeff
Jeff, I couldn’t agree more—Stacy’s voice is such a gift! “Let Me Be Your Angel” was a magical introduction, and it’s always stuck with me too. I’m so glad “Call Me” caught your ear—it’s one of those overlooked gems that didn’t make a big splash on the charts but really shows off her smooth delivery.
Thank you, as always, for the kind words and for listening along. Wishing you a wonderful weekend too, my friend!