Tag: 1988

George Michael – Monkey (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

NEW 2024 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date September 24, 2013

“Monkey” is a hit single by George Michael from his debut solo album, Faith (1987). Released as the album’s fourth single in 1988, the song became a major success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The track showcases a funky, dance-oriented style, blending elements of pop and R&B, and was co-produced by George Michael and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

The lyrics reflect themes of addiction and unhealthy relationships, with Michael imploring someone to choose between him and their “monkey”—a metaphor for a habit or dependency. Its infectious beat, layered production, and cutting-edge remixes, including the popular Jam & Lewis remix, contributed to its club appeal and chart-topping performance.

“Monkey” also stands out for its music video, directed by Andy Morahan, featuring energetic visuals, including Michael performing alongside dancers and showcasing his signature style during the Faith era. It remains a fan favorite and a testament to Michael’s versatility as an artist.

The remixes of “Monkey” played a significant role in its popularity, especially in the U.S. club scene. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, renowned producers known for their work with artists like Janet Jackson, created a special remix for the single release. This version amplified the track’s funky, percussive energy, enhancing its appeal on dance floors and radio stations alike. The remix was so impactful that it became the definitive version of the song played on U.S. radio.

In terms of chart performance, “Monkey” achieved significant success globally. While it became George Michael’s eighth #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, it also fared well on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Internationally, it charted within the top 10 in countries like Canada and Ireland, though it performed more modestly in the UK, peaking at #13 on the UK Singles Chart.

The single’s success cemented Michael’s reputation as one of the 1980s’ most versatile pop icons, capable of delivering everything from heartfelt ballads to irresistible dance tracks. “Monkey” also contributed to the massive commercial success of Faith, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1989.

SIDE A:
Monkey (Extended Version) 8:07

SIDE B:
Monkey (Acappella) 3:44
Monkey (Extra Beats) 3:43

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1988 Monkey U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
1988 Monkey U.S. Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Songs #8
1988 Monkey U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music  / Club Play #1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44 07849, Columbia – 44-07849
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Electro, Synth-pop, Dance-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
From the LP “FAITH”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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

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



Blue Mercedes – See Want Must Have (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

Blue Mercedes, the vibrant pop music duo from London, England, made waves in the late 1980s with their distinctive mix of style and danceable beats. “See Want Must Have,” released in April 1988, was the second single from their debut album Rich and Famous.

The track’s infectious energy and polished production made it a standout, earning it chart success on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.K., the song climbed to #57 on the Singles Chart, while in the U.S., it resonated with club-goers, reaching an impressive #18 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

“See Want Must Have” exemplifies the duo’s knack for blending catchy melodies with a playful sense of luxury, cementing their place in the late ’80s pop and dance music scenes. It’s a track that continues to evoke the era’s glamorous, carefree spirit and remains a favorite among fans of retro dance music.

+De-notes vinyl-only

SIDE A:
See Want Must Have (Street Latin Wolff II) 8:48
Mixed By – Phil Harding & Ian Curnow

SIDE B:
See Want Must Have (Funk Ass Mix) 6:48
Mixed By – Mixmaster Phil Harding*

See Want Must Have (Street Latin Wolff II Dub)+ 5:58
Mixed By – The Mixmaster (2), The Yo Boy*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1988 See Want Must Have U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play #18

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23857
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Original version appears on the Blue Mercedes LP “Rich And Famous”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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

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



Stacey Q – I Love You (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

“I Love You” recorded by Stacey Q was released as the second single from her sophomore album, Hard Machine. Written and produced by Jon St. James, the track showcases Stacey Q’s signature dance-pop sound with infectious beats and catchy melodies. Despite not reaching the mainstream heights of her earlier hit “Two of Hearts,” “I Love You” made its mark in the dance music scene, peaking at #49 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

The song’s production reflects the late-’80s club era, with vibrant synths and a driving rhythm that keeps the energy high. It’s a quintessential example of Stacey Q’s appeal during this period, blending pop sensibility with danceable grooves.

+All tracks are vinyl-only

SIDE A:
I Love You (Club Mix) 6:28
I Love You (Dub Mix) 6:13

SIDE B:
I Love You (St. James Mix) 7:38
Remix – Jon St. James

I Love You (I Love You Two Mix) 4:05
Engineer – Bob Broockman*
Remix, Producer – Scott Blackwell

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
I Love You U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play #49

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic – 0-86566
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Hi NRG

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Taken from the LP “Hard Machine”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net


THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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

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



Fat Boys – Are You Ready For Freddy (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1988

“Are You Ready for Freddy” is a single by the Fat Boys, released in 1988 to coincide with the release of “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.” This unique collaboration merges hip-hop with horror, as the song features Robert Englund himself, in character as Freddy Krueger, delivering his iconic lines. The track features the Fat Boys’ trademark humor and beatboxing style, making it both catchy and eerie.

In the song, Freddy raps alongside the Fat Boys, warning listeners to be “Ready for Freddy” as he claims his next victims. It’s a playful take on the horror genre, mixing Freddy’s menacing persona with the Fat Boys’ fun and energetic delivery.

In the video, Prince Markie Dee’s “Uncle Frederick” has died, and his lawyer (Bert Remsen) meets the group outside the Nightmare on Elm Street house. The lawyer informs Markie that he must spend the night inside Uncle Frederick’s home to earn his inheritance, so the group enters. Not long after, Freddy Krueger appears and begins to chase the band throughout the house, slashing with his claw while stopping to rap.

This track remains a memorable example of how hip-hop crossed over with other genres and pop culture phenomena in the 80s, creating unexpected and memorable pairings.

The song was also included in the Fat Boy’s LP “Coming Back Hard Again”.

+ All tracks are vinyl-only

SIDE A:
Are You Ready For Freddy (12″ Version) 7:00
Are You Ready For Freddy (7″ Version) 3:34

SIDE B:
Are You Ready For Freddy (Dub Version) 6:17
Back And Forth (12″ Version) 5:14

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Tin Pan Apple – 887 894-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: Pop Rap

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Latin Rascals Productions Inc.
Special Thanks to Kevin Benson, Tony Bongiovi, Freddy Krueger, Bill Stettner, and Joe Zynczak.
Original Version on the Tin Pan Apple/Polydor LP “Coming Back Hard Again” (835809-1)
Samples “For The Love Of Money” by The O’Jays.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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

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