Tag: 1987

July 31, 2026

Pretty Poison – Catch Me (I’m Falling) (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

For today’s Ladies Of The 80s: Soundtrack Edition, we are heading back to 1987 for a record that seemed to be everywhere once it caught fire.

Pretty Poison’s “Catch Me (I’m Falling)” was featured in the comedy Hiding Out and became one of the biggest dance-pop crossover hits of the late 1980s.

This is also another new 2026 transfer.

I originally posted this single way back in January 2014. More than twelve years later, I returned to the vinyl and recorded it again from scratch using my current equipment and restoration process.

This is not a remaster of the files posted in 2014. It is a completely new transfer.

Pretty Poison formed in Philadelphia in the early 1980s, with Jade Starling on lead vocals and Whey Cooler as one of the group’s principal musicians and songwriters. Their early material leaned toward new wave before they moved into the electronic dance sound that would bring them national attention.

They had already found some club success with “Nighttime,” which reached number 14 on Billboard’s Dance chart in 1984.

But “Catch Me (I’m Falling)” changed everything.

Written by Jade Starling and Whey Cooler and produced by Kae Williams Jr. and Kurt Shore, the song became a regional hit around Philadelphia, selling roughly 20,000 copies through the independent Svengali label. Its success caught the attention of Virgin Records, which gave the record a much larger platform.

Its appearance in the 1987 comedy Hiding Out helped push it even further.

Directed by Bob Giraldi, Hiding Out stars Jon Cryer as Andrew Morenski, a twenty-nine-year-old Boston stockbroker hiding from organized crime who disguises himself as a high-school student named Maxwell Hauser.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Jon Cryer is a twenty-nine-year-old stockbroker pretending to be a teenager.

Only in the ’80s.

The soundtrack was actually quite strong, with Boy George, Public Image Ltd., Hue & Cry, Scarlett & Black, and Roy Orbison with k.d. lang joining Pretty Poison. “Catch Me (I’m Falling)” appears during a roller-rink sequence, which is about as perfectly 1987 as anything could be.

The song itself is pure late-’80s dance-pop and freestyle.

Electronic drums hit hard, synthesizers sparkle, and a thick bassline drives everything forward. Over it all is Jade Starling, delivering a playful, urgent vocal that sounds as though falling in love is happening at full speed.

The chorus is ridiculously infectious. Once “Catch me, I’m falling” gets into your head, good luck getting it back out.

The timing was perfect. Freestyle was moving from the clubs into mainstream pop, and Pretty Poison fit naturally into that world while still sounding like themselves.

The club audience got there first.

“Catch Me (I’m Falling)” reached number one on Billboard’s Dance Club chart in September 1987. Pop radio soon followed, sending the single all the way to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 by December.

For a group that had recently been selling records independently around Philadelphia, reaching the national Top 10 was quite a leap.

The single had less impact in the UK, peaking at number 85 in early 1988. It later appeared on Pretty Poison’s 1988 debut album, also titled Catch Me I’m Falling.

For 12-inch collectors, however, the single is where the real fun begins.

The 12″ Mix runs approximately 6:10, while the Dub Mix runs about 5:05. Both received additional production and remixing by New York DJ Bruce Forest, with Frank Heller engineering. The Dance Mix and Radio Mix retain the original production by Kae Williams Jr. and Kurt Shore.

Bruce Forest’s 12″ Mix gives the record more room without losing what made it work. The intro stretches out, the rhythm moves forward, and the electronic details have time to breathe before Jade takes over.

The Dub Mix pushes further into the production, breaking the track apart and spotlighting the percussion, keyboards, vocal fragments, and effects.

It is easy to hear why DJs embraced this record.

Even surrounded by all that production, Jade remains the center of attention. Her voice has enough personality to cut through every drum hit and synthesizer.

That may be one reason the record has aged so well.

It is completely, unapologetically 1987.

The drums are huge.

The synthesizers are bright.

The hair was probably even bigger.

Perfect.

Pretty Poison would score another Hot 100 hit with a new version of “Nighttime,” which reached number 36, but “Catch Me (I’m Falling)” remained the song that defined them for the widest audience.

For this new 2026 transfer, I went back to the vinyl and started over. My goal was to preserve the punch of the percussion, the depth of the bass, the layers of synthesizers, and Jade’s soaring vocal while bringing out as much detail as possible.

Pretty Poison may have started with a regional Philadelphia dance record, but “Catch Me (I’m Falling)” refused to stay regional.

The clubs caught it.

Virgin caught it.

Hiding Out caught it.

Then Top 40 radio caught it.

Now, more than twelve years after I first posted it on Burning The Ground, I’m catching it one more time.

Are you ready?

Here it comes.

CLUB REMIX SIDE:
Catch Me (I’m Falling) (12″ Mix) 6:13
Engineer – Frank Heller
Producer [Additional], Remix – Bruce Forest

Catch Me (I’m Falling) (Dub Mix) 5:18
Engineer – Frank Heller
Producer [Additional], Remix – Bruce Forest

RADIO MIX SIDE:
Catch Me (I’m Falling) (Dance Mix) 5:54
Engineer – Mr. Mitch

Catch Me (I’m Falling) (Radio Mix) 4:23
Engineer – Mr. Mitch

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart (1987–1988)	Peak Position
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1
US Billboard Hot 100	8
New Zealand Singles Chart	26
UK Singles Chart	85

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin ‎– 96752-0, Virgin ‎– 0-96752
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Freestyle, Dance-pop

CREDITS:

Featuring – Jade Starling, Whey Cooler
Management – City Lights Management, Inc.
Performer – Pretty Poison
Producer – Kae Williams Jr., Kurt Shore
Words By, Music By – Jade Starling, Whey Cooler

NOTES:
Recorded at Kajem/Victory Studios, Gladwyne, PA
Remixed at Sound Track Studios, NYC / Electric Lady Studios, NYC

Manufactured & distributed by WEA through arrangement with Atlantic Records

Taken from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the DEG film “Hiding Out.”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

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

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal.

I appreciate your help.

June 12, 2026

The B-52’s – Wig (UK 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Wig! The B-52’s Let Their Hair Down

Some songs tell you to fit in. Then there are songs like “Wig” by The B-52’s that practically dare you to stand out.

Released as a single in the UK in 1987 from the album Bouncing Off the Satellites, “Wig” is one of the most gloriously offbeat entries in The B-52’s remarkable catalog. It may not have achieved the commercial heights of later hits like “Love Shack” or “Roam,” but for longtime fans, “Wig” remains an irresistible celebration of individuality, self-expression, and having the confidence to be exactly who you are.

And really, what could be more fitting for Pride Month than that?

By the time Bouncing Off the Satellites finally arrived in record stores, The B-52’s had endured unimaginable heartbreak. Original guitarist Ricky Wilson had passed away in October 1985 from complications related to AIDS. Devastated by the loss of their friend, bandmate, and creative force, the group chose not to tour in support of the album’s original U.S. release.

Instead, the record became something of a transitional chapter. It captured the final recordings created with Ricky’s unmistakable musical fingerprints while hinting at the resilience that would eventually propel the band into their next era.

“Wig” perfectly embodies the playful absurdity that made The B-52’s unlike anyone else. Built around a buoyant groove and punctuated by Fred Schneider’s unmistakable spoken declarations, the song encourages listeners to throw caution to the wind and embrace transformation.

Need confidence? Put on a wig.

Need an attitude adjustment? Put on a wig.

Need a little extra fabulousness? You know what to do.

Beneath the campy humor lies a surprisingly empowering message. Long before conversations about authenticity and chosen identity became commonplace, The B-52’s understood that fashion, performance, and self-invention could be acts of liberation. Whether it was teased hair, thrift store glamour, vintage dresses, or outrageous accessories, they championed the idea that identity could be joyful, fluid, and entirely your own.

The UK embraced “Wig” enough to send it into the Top 80, peaking at No. 79 on the singles chart. Released to coincide with the delayed British issue of Bouncing Off the Satellites, it allowed the band to reconnect with audiences overseas through television appearances and promotional performances. Although it was a modest chart success, the song developed a devoted following among fans who appreciated its eccentric charm.

Years later, the band rediscovered their affection for the track and began performing it live again, beginning in 2010. A live version would eventually appear on their concert album With The Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA, proving that even deep cuts can have a second life when audiences are finally ready to celebrate them.

The B-52’s always occupied a unique space in popular music. Emerging from Athens, Georgia, in the late 1970s, they blended new wave, surf rock, kitsch, dance music, and pure art school weirdness into something entirely their own. Their thrift store aesthetic and joyful embrace of the unconventional made them icons for generations of outsiders.

For LGBTQ+ listeners especially, The B-52’s represented possibility. They invited everyone onto the dance floor. Misfits were welcome. Individuality was encouraged. The stranger you were, the better.

So this Pride Month, if the world feels a little too serious, take a cue from Fred, Kate, Cindy, Keith, and Ricky.

Turn up the volume.

Strike a pose.

Adjust your attitude.

And if all else fails…

Put on a wig.

Whether you remember buying the 7-inch back in 1987 or are discovering this wonderfully weird gem for the first time, “Wig” remains a reminder that self-expression should be celebrated, joy should never be underestimated, and life is simply more fun when you’re not afraid to be a little outrageous.

SIDE A:
Wig 4:30
Producer – Tony Mansfield
Written-By – The B-52’s

Summer Of Love (Remix) 4:00
Producer – Tony Mansfield
Remix [Re-Mix], Producer [Additional Production] – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – C. Wilson, K. Pierson, K. Strickland, R. Wilson

SIDE B:
Song For A Future Generation 3:59
Producer – Steven Stanley
Written-By – The B-52’s

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — The B-52’s: Wig (1987)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
UK Singles Chart	#79	1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label:Island Records – 12 BFT 2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: Jun 1987
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Design – Island Art
Photography By – Mike Prior (2)
Stylist [Styling] – Sue Venning

NOTES:
Track A2 Produced For – Mastermix Productions

But the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal.

I appreciate your help.

May 21, 2026

Meli’sa Morgan – If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (US 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1987, American R&B vocalist Meli’sa Morgan returned with one of the sassiest and most confident singles of her career, “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” Taken from her second studio album, Good Love, the track showcased Morgan’s fiery personality and commanding vocal style, continuing her successful run on the R&B charts.

Following the massive success of her breakthrough hit “Do Me Baby,” Morgan quickly established herself as one of the premier female voices in contemporary R&B during the mid-to-late 1980s. “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” carried that momentum forward with a bold message of independence and equality wrapped inside a slick funk-driven production.

Produced and written by Paul Laurence Jones, the single blended hard-hitting drum programming, punchy synth bass, and layered backing vocals into an irresistible club-friendly groove. Morgan delivers the lyrics with attitude and confidence, responding to a nightlife-loving partner with a clear statement that she can play the same game just as well. The song’s assertive theme fit perfectly within the era’s growing wave of empowered female R&B anthems. The Los Angeles Times described the track as a “funky bill of rights” aimed at her wandering mate.

“If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” became one of Morgan’s biggest hits. The single climbed to #2 on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1987, while also crossing over onto the Billboard Dance Chart, where it reached #27. Internationally, the song found success in the UK, peaking at #86 on the UK Singles Chart.

The parent album Good Love further solidified Morgan’s place in late 80s R&B. Released on, the album reached #11 on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart and also included the hit duet “Love Changes,” with Kashif.

Today, “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” remains a favorite among fans of classic 80s R&B and dance music. Its infectious groove, sharp production, and Morgan’s powerhouse vocal performance capture everything that made urban contemporary music during this period so exciting. More than three decades later, the song still sounds fresh, fearless, and unmistakably 1987.

SIDE A:
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Extended) 4:50
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Radio Edit) 3:54

SIDE B:
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Club House Mix) 5:02
If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Dub Version) 4:25

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Meli’sa Morgan: If You Can Do It I Can Too!! (1987)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop	#2	1987
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#27	1987
UK Singles Chart	#86	1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-15345
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Contemporary R&B

CREDITS:

Artwork [Logo], Design – Phillis Cuington
Executive-Producer – Beau Huggins
Producer – Paul Laurence
Remix – Ron Banks (2), Zack Vaz
Written-By – Paul Laurence Jones*

NOTES:
From the Melissa Morgan LP “Good Love”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal.

I appreciate your help.

May 14, 2026

Curiosity Killed The Cat – Free (UK 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in 1987, “Free” was the fifth and final single taken from the debut album Keep Your Distance by the British sophisti-pop band Curiosity Killed the Cat. Formed in London in 1980, the group consisted of singer Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, guitarist Julian Godfrey Brookhouse, bassist Nick Thorpe, and drummer Migi Drummond. While the band had already scored major UK success with singles like “Down to Earth” and “Misfit,” “Free” would become the closing chapter of an impressive run from their debut LP.

Built around a polished blend of funk-infused pop, soulful vocals, and sleek mid-80s production, “Free” showcased the band’s more reflective side. Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot’s unmistakable vocal style gives the track an emotional pull, while the sophisticated instrumentation perfectly captures the era’s smooth pop aesthetic. Although not as commercially successful as some of the group’s earlier singles, “Free” remains a favorite among fans of the band’s sophisticated sound.

“Free” reached #56 on the UK Singles Chart and climbed even higher in Ireland, peaking at #26. Interestingly, despite Curiosity Killed the Cat gaining some exposure internationally, the single was never released in the United States, making it somewhat of a hidden gem for American fans discovering the band years later through imports and compilations.

The parent album Keep Your Distance, released in 1986, became one of the defining sophisti-pop records of the decade. Produced by Stewart Levine, the LP delivered a string of stylish singles that blended pop hooks with jazz, funk, and soul influences. The album established Curiosity Killed the Cat as one of the standout British acts of the mid-80s scene.

The UK 12” single of “Free” featured a Dub version of the track along with additional versions that highlighted the band’s groove-oriented style. Like many British pop releases of the era, the extended format allowed the band’s musicianship and rhythmic arrangements more room to breathe, making it a sought-after release among collectors of 80s vinyl and extended mixes.

Though Curiosity Killed the Cat’s chart dominance would fade by the late 1980s, “Free” stands as a reminder of the elegance and sophistication that defined much of the UK pop scene during the decade. It remains a beautifully produced single that deserves rediscovery, especially for listeners who appreciate the refined sound of classic sophisti-pop.

SIDE A:
Free (Dub Master) 7:49

SIDE B:
Free 4:02
Free (Instrumental) 4:02

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance — Curiosity Killed The Cat: *Free* (1987)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
UK Singles Chart	#56	1987
Ireland	#26	1987

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – CATX 5, Mercury – 888-784-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Management – The Last Laugh Production Co Ltd
Mixed By, Overdubbed By – Paul Staveley O’Duffy
Photography By [Black And White] – Dean Freeman
Producer – Sly Dunbar And Robbie Shakespeare*
Sleeve – The Unknown (20)
Written-By – Curiosity*, Anderson*

NOTES:
Taken From The Album KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, Also Available On CD And Cassette.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

PLEASE READ

There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other

**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal.

I appreciate your help.