Tag: 1989

July 7, 2026

Rob Base – Turn It Out (Go Base) (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Remembering Rob Base.

“Turn It Out (Go Base)” was the first single taken from Rob Base’s 1989 solo album The Incredible Base, released on Profile Records. Coming off the huge success of It Takes Two with DJ E-Z Rock, Rob Base had already left a permanent mark on late 80s hip-hop and dance floors everywhere. That record was one of those moments where rap, club music, and pop culture all crashed into each other in the best way possible.

By the time “Turn It Out (Go Base)” arrived, expectations were high. How do you follow a monster like “It Takes Two”? That is never an easy job. Instead of trying to remake that record note-for-note, Rob came back with another party-ready track built for movement. It has that late 80s Profile Records punch, big drums, plenty of call-and-response energy, and the kind of groove that sounds right at home on a 12-inch single.

The Incredible Base was released in November 1989 and became Rob Base’s only solo studio album. While it did not match the massive success of It Takes Two, the LP still performed well, reaching #50 on the Billboard 200 and #20 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was also certified Gold in the United States.

Although “Turn It Out (Go Base)” did not reach the Billboard Hot 100, it did find action on several genre charts. The single peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, #16 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and #23 on the Dance Club Songs chart. It also reached #88 on the UK Singles Chart.

That feels about right. Some records are made for pop radio. Others are made for the floor. This one lands firmly in the second camp.

There is also something bittersweet about hearing it now after Rob Base’s passing. He had one of those voices that could fill a room without trying too hard. Confident, direct, and full of fun. He did not sound like he was asking the party to start. He sounded like he had already walked in and flipped the switch.

“Turn It Out (Go Base)” may not be the first song most people reach for when they think of Rob Base, but that is part of what makes revisiting it so much fun. It is a reminder that there was more to his catalog than one giant anthem. For collectors, DJs, and fans of late 80s hip-hop 12-inch singles, this is a nice piece of the story.

A quick note about the lyrics: the track does include the word “retard,” a term that was used more casually in 1989 but is now considered offensive and hurtful. The record is presented here as originally released, but I did not want to ignore that the word carries a much different weight today.

Rest in peace, Rob Base. Thanks for helping make the dance floor louder, happier, and a lot more fun.

SIDE A:
Turn It Out (Go Base) (Sky King Remix) 8:02
Engineer [Remix] – Rob Paustian
Producer [Additional Production], Remix, Edited By – Gail “Sky” King
Programmed By [Additional Keyboard Programming] – Joe Moskowitz*

Turn It Out (Go Base) (Percapella) 3:06

SIDE B:
Turn It Out (Go Base) (Sky King Dub) 6:34
Engineer [Remix] – Rob Paustian
Producer [Additional Production], Remix, Edited By – Gail “Sky” King
Programmed By [Additional Keyboard Programming] – Joe Moskowitz*

Turn It Out (Go Base) (Album Version) 5:31

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Rob Base: Turn It Out (Go Base) (1989)	Peak Position
US Billboard Hot Rap Singles	#4
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	#16
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#23
UK Singles Chart	#88

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Profile Records – PRO-7275
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: Breakbeat, Hip-House, Electro

CREDITS:

Executive-Producer – William Hamilton
Lacquer Cut By – HW*
Mastered By – Howie Weinberg
Photography By – Chris Carroll (4)
Producer – Rob Base, William Hamilton
Written-By – R. Ginyard*

NOTES:
Executive produced for World to World Records, Inc.
Recorded at Hillside Sound Studio, Englewood, New Jersey.
Tracks A1 & B1 additionally produced, remixed and edited for In The Spin Productions.
Tracks A1 & B1 remixes engineered at Shakedown Sound, N.Y.

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 26, 2026

Erasure – Drama! (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

For today’s entry in my “Soundtrack Of Pride” series, I wanted to feature one of synth-pop’s most beloved duos, Erasure.

Released in 1989, “Drama!” was the first single taken from the English duo’s fourth studio album, Wild!. Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the single became another major hit for Erasure, reaching #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #10 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart.

By this point, Erasure had already built a colorful world of electronic pop, one where heartache, humor, camp, and pure dance floor release could all live in the same song. “Drama!” is a perfect example of that magic. It is theatrical, sharp, and joyfully over the top, but beneath all the sparkle there is something much more serious going on.

The song takes aim at judgment, gossip, shame, and the way people love to point fingers from a safe distance. Throughout the track, the shouted “Guilty!” gives the record one of its most memorable hooks. That uncredited exclamation was provided by Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain, who were recording in the studio next door. It is one of those wonderfully odd pop music moments that sounds almost too good to be true.

That “Guilty!” also gives the song an extra bite. It turns the record into a kind of courtroom drama on the dance floor, with Andy Bell refusing to stand quietly while the world passes judgment.

That is where “Drama!” fits so beautifully into Pride.

Andy Bell’s voice has always carried a special kind of strength. He can sound wounded, funny, romantic, and defiant all at once. On “Drama!” he does not sound like someone begging to be accepted. He sounds like someone calling out the absurdity of being judged in the first place.

The line “We all have the ability, our freedom is fragile” lands especially hard. For LGBTQ+ people, freedom has never been something to take for granted. It has been fought for, danced for, marched for, and sometimes protected in the dark safety of a club while the outside world kept shouting its own accusations.

Erasure understood that pop music could be more than catchy. It could be a lifeline. Their records gave queer listeners joy without apology. They made emotions feel huge, colorful, and worth celebrating. In a time when LGBTQ+ lives were still too often framed by fear, silence, or scandal, Erasure gave us songs that were loud, proud, and full of feeling.

“Drama!” is not just a great pop single. It is also a reminder that the people who scream “guilty” the loudest are often the ones who should take a closer look at themselves.

The 12-inch versions gave the song even more room to strut, with “Drama! (Act 2)” and the “Krucial Mix” stretching the track into full club territory. The B-sides, “Sweet, Sweet Baby” and “Paradise,” added even more value to an already essential Erasure single.

For me, “Drama!” remains one of those records that could only come from Erasure. It is clever, camp, emotional, and completely danceable. It turns judgment into theater and shame into release.

And really, what is Pride without a little drama?

SIDE A:
Drama! (Krucial Mix) 7:07
Mixed By – Bob Kraushaar

Sweet, Sweet Baby (Medi-Mix) 4:22
Engineer – Mike Spencer
Mixed By – Dave Randall

Paradise (Lost & Found Mix) 5:48
Remix – George Holt

SIDE B:
Drama! (Act 2) 5:38
Mixed By – Mark Saunders

Sweet, Sweet Baby (The Moo-Moo Mix) 5:13
Mixed By – Mark Saunders

Paradise 4:10
Mixed By – Mark Saunders

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Erasure: Drama! (1989)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	157
Austria (Hitradio Ö3)	13
Denmark (IFPI)	3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	15
Ireland (IRMA)	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	35
Spain (AFYVE)	18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	15
UK Singles (OCC)	4
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)	11
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) with “Sweet, Sweet Baby”	10
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard) with “Sweet, Sweet Baby”	13
West Germany (GfK)	12

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-21356, Reprise Records – 0-21356, Sire – 9 21356-0, Reprise Records – 9 21356-0, Mute – 0-21356, Mute – 9 21356-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design [Designed By] – Me Company
Photography By – Pierre Et Gilles
Producer – Erasure, Gareth Jones (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B3), Mark Saunders
Written-By – Clarke/Bell

NOTES:
Specially-Priced Maxi-Single

“Drama” and “Paradise” recorded at The Church/Swing Studios.
“Sweet, Sweet Baby” recorded at Swing Studios.
A1 mixed at Sarm Studios.
A2 mixed at Arcantide Studios.
A3 remixed at Konk Studios.
B1, B2, B3 mixed at Konk Studios.

Original version of “Drama!” available on the Sire/Reprise album “Wild!“.

Made In U.S.A.

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 15, 2026

Waterfront – Cry (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Waterfront was a British pop duo made up of singer Phil Cilia and guitarist Chris Duffy. In 1988, the pair struck gold with their soulful debut single “Cry,” a heartfelt ballad that blended sophisticated pop with blue-eyed soul and a touch of adult contemporary polish. Released from their self-titled debut album, the song became an international hit and remains one of the most memorable one-hit wonders of the late 1980s.

Built around a smooth groove, emotional vocals, and a soaring chorus, “Cry” resonated strongly with radio audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, the single climbed all the way to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Waterfront’s only American chart hit. The song also found success in their home country, reaching #17 on the UK Singles Chart.

What made “Cry” stand out in 1989 was its understated sophistication. While much of pop radio at the time leaned heavily toward flashy production and bombastic hooks, Waterfront delivered something more mature and emotionally grounded. Phil Cilia’s expressive vocal performance gave the song a sincerity that connected immediately with listeners, while Chris Duffy’s tasteful instrumentation added warmth and texture.

The success of “Cry” helped Waterfront gain considerable exposure during the late 1980s, especially in the United States where MTV and adult contemporary radio embraced the single. The duo followed up with additional releases, but none managed to recreate the crossover success of their debut hit.

Listening today, “Cry” still sounds timeless. Its blend of soulful melodies and polished production captures the best elements of sophisticated late-80s pop. For many fans, the track remains a hidden gem of the era, one of those songs that instantly transports you back to a specific moment in time.

Whether you remember hearing it on late-night radio, catching the video on MTV, or discovering it years later, “Cry” remains a beautifully crafted pop song that deserved every bit of its chart success.

SIDE A:
Cry (Extended Version) 7:05
Remix – Bruce Forest

Cry (7″ Version) 3:51

SIDE B:
Cry (Club Mix) 6:32
Edited By – Roger Pauletta
Engineer [Remix] – P. Dennis Mitchell
Keyboards [Additional Programming] – Merv De Teyer
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Gail “Sky” King

Cry (Dub) 4:54
Edited By – Roger Pauletta
Engineer [Remix] – P. Dennis Mitchell
Keyboards [Additional Programming] – Merv De Teyer
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Gail “Sky” King

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Waterfront: Cry (1989)	Peak Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	7
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	61
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)	18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	30
UK Singles (OCC)	17
US Billboard Hot 100	10
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – 889 251-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Music By – Cilia*
Producer – Glenn Skinner
Written-By, Music By – Chris Duffy

NOTES:
From the Polydor album 422 837 970-1 “WATERFRONT”

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.

April 28, 2026

Yello – Of Course I’m Lying (UK 12″) (Record 1) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

As promised, Record 1 of the two-record set for Yello’s 1989 single “Of Course I’m Lying” has finally arrived — and it was absolutely worth the wait.

This first 12″ completes the set and includes Part 1 of The Yello Metropolitan Mixdown 1989, an ambitious megamix that pulls together the duo’s unique sonic world into one sprawling, seamless experience. For longtime fans, it’s a fascinating listen — less a straightforward dance medley and more a cinematic collage of rhythm, atmosphere, and signature Yello eccentricity. It’s the kind of mix that feels like flipping through radio stations in some futuristic late-night city, where every channel is tuned to a different dimension.

Also included is the Dance Mix of Oh Yeah, arguably the track most recognized by U.S. audiences. Thanks to its unforgettable appearance in films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Secret of My Success, “Oh Yeah” became Yello’s calling card in America — instantly recognizable from those opening vocal grunts alone. The Dance Mix stretches the groove further, giving the track even more room to breathe while keeping all of its playful swagger intact.

Rounding out the release is the edited version of “Of Course I’m Lying,” offering a more concise take on one of the duo’s most elegant and atmospheric recordings. While the full-length version unfolds like a smoky late-night conversation, the edit trims it down without losing its seductive tension. It remains one of the most sophisticated tracks in the Yello catalog — understated, mysterious, and endlessly replayable.

Together with Record 2 — which featured Part 2 of The Yello Metropolitan Mixdown, “Bostich,” and the full version of “Of Course I’m Lying” — this set feels like a perfect snapshot of where Yello stood in 1989: refined, adventurous, and completely in their own lane.

I always enjoy when a long-sought record finally lands, especially when it completes a release like this. There’s something satisfying about hearing both halves of a project the way it was originally intended. And as many of you mentioned in the comments, having both parts of the Metropolitan Mixdown in top quality makes the experience even better.

For me, this is another reminder of why I still love collecting physical media. Holding the record, seeing how the release was structured, and hearing these mixes as they were originally presented on vinyl adds something that digital files just can’t fully replicate.

So now, the full two-record story of “Of Course I’m Lying” is here — and it sounds just as stylish, strange, and sophisticated as Yello intended.

Of note: Track A2 would be better described as ‘Oh Yeah (Dance Mix Edit)’ as it only runs for approximately 5 minutes and 13 seconds, so as not to exceed the 20-minute limit that existed at the time. The full Oh Yeah (Dance Mix), running at 6.24, is found on the 12” version of The Race (The Pits Mix).

SIDE A:
Of Course I’m Lying (Edit) 3:52
Backing Vocals – Billy MacKenzie
Percussion – Beat Ash

Oh Yeah (Dance Mix) 5:13

SIDE B:
The Yello Metropolitan Mixdown 1989 Part I 11:02
DJ Mix [Megamix], Remix – Paul Dakeyne*

B.1 Dakeyne Intro
B.2 The Race
B.3 Bostich
B.4 Call It Love (Trego Snare)
B.5 Santiago
B.6 Tied Up
B.7 Vicious Games
B.8 I Love You
B.9 Oh Yeah

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – YELLO 312, Mercury – 872 945-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, 1/2
Country: UK & Europe
Released: Mar 23, 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Cover – Ernst Gamper
Lyrics By, Vocals – Dieter Meier
Music By, Arranged By – Boris Blank
Producer, Engineer – Yello

NOTES:
Release titled “Record I” on its gatefold sleeve, designed to add the second 12″ sold separately and called “Record II”

With sticker on gatefold front cover:
‘YELLO The ultimate collectors edtion
Contains record 1 of a 2 record set
Record 2 to be released Soon
YELLO 312’

Track B remixed for DMC.
Mastered at Townhouse Studios, London

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-Jec Tube Box DS2
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
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

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.