Tag: 1989

December 18, 2025

Bobby Brown – “Every Little Hit” Megamix (US 12″ Promo) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

When Bobby Brown released Don’t Be Cruel in 1988, he didn’t just dominate radio—he owned the dance floor. Even years after its initial release, the album continued to generate club interest, and one of the more intriguing artifacts from that era is the promo-only single “Every Little Hit (Megamix)”, issued in the United States as a promo single sent out to radio stations, and DJ record pools.

Unlike a standard commercial release, Every Little Hit (Megamix) was created strictly as a DJ tool, servicing clubs and radio mix shows that were hungry for nonstop Bobby Brown energy. Rather than focusing on a single track, the megamix stitches together highlights from Don’t Be Cruel, effectively functioning as a rapid-fire celebration of the album’s biggest moments. It’s Bobby at full throttle—hooks stacked on hooks, beats barely given time to breathe, and an overall sense that this was designed to keep dance floors moving without interruption.

Megamixes like this were a staple of the late ’80s and early ’90s club scene. They served multiple purposes: a sampler for casual listeners, a transition-friendly weapon for DJs, and a reminder of just how many hits an artist had accumulated in a short period of time. In Bobby Brown’s case, the format made perfect sense. Don’t Be Cruel was packed with chart-toppers and club favorites, and hearing them collide in one continuous mix only reinforced how dominant his run truly was.

Because it was promo-only, Every Little Hit (Megamix) never received the kind of widespread recognition that his commercial singles did. It was not found in record store bins, and many fans never knew it existed unless they were plugged into club culture or radio at the time. That scarcity has helped turn it into a bit of a cult item today—especially among collectors who appreciate the unique role promo 12″s played in shaping how dance music was heard and experienced.

Every Little Hit (Megamix) stands as a snapshot of an era when remix culture was booming, DJs were tastemakers, and record labels understood the power of the club. It may not be the most talked-about Bobby Brown release, but it’s a fascinating reminder that sometimes the most exciting records were the ones never meant for the general public—only for the booth, the floor, and those lucky enough to hear them in the moment.

SIDE A:
“Every Little Hit” Mega Mix (Club Version) 8:58
A.1 Every Little Step
A.2 On Our Own
A.3 Don’t Be Cruel
A.4 My Prerogative

SIDE B:
“Every Little Hit” Mega Mix (Radio Edit) 6:11
B.1 Every Little Step
B.2 On Our Own
B.3 Don’t Be Cruel
B.4 My Prerogative

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – L33-18116
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: RnB/Swing

CREDITS:

Co-producer – Bobby Brown (tracks: A.4, B.4)
DJ Mix [Megamix] – Steve Anderson
Executive-Producer – Louil Silas, Jr.*
Producer – Gene Griffin (tracks: A.4, B.4), L.A. And Babyface* (tracks: A.1 to A.3, B.1 to B.3)

NOTES:
Includes special edits of “Every Little Step”, “On Our Own”, “Don’t Be Cruel” and “My Prerogative”. Inspired by Bobby’s mega hit “Dance… Ya Know It!” and “Don’t Be Cruel” albums.

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
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.

December 16, 2025

Coldcut – Coldcut’s Christmas Break (UK 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Coldcut’s “Christmas Break” — A Radical Holiday Groove from 1989

Every holiday season has its classics — songs that get replayed every year, stitched into the soundtrack of winter memories. Then there are the oddball gems: tracks that might never reach evergreen status but capture a moment, an attitude, and a scene. “Coldcut’s Christmas Break” is one of those unique entries in the festive music canon.

Coldcut — the English electronic duo made up of Matt Black and Jonathan More — had already made waves in the UK underground and dance scenes by the late 1980s. Renowned as pioneers of sample-heavy, cut-and-paste production and foundational figures in the evolution of breakbeat and electronic music, Coldcut had established themselves not just as DJs and producers but as innovators in the very language of club culture sampling.

Released as a standalone single in late 1989, “Coldcut’s Christmas Break” is a playful, genre-bending track that subverts traditional holiday music expectations. Rather than a straightforward carol or pop ballad, the song is built from Coldcut’s signature blend of electronic beats, breakbeat rhythms, and creative sampling — wrapped in a festive theme but with all the experimental edge you’d expect from these forward-thinking producers.

Though it didn’t climb high in the charts, the single did make a respectable showing during its brief run — spending three weeks on the UK Singles Chart and peaking at #67 in December 1989. In a musical landscape dominated by more conventional seasonal fare, that chart presence speaks to the duo’s ability to bring something fresh and off-beat to the table.

The release came at a pivotal moment for Coldcut. 1989 was also the year they issued their debut album “What’s That Noise?”, expanded their creative horizons into multimedia and video work, and collaborated with other artists who would go on to greater fame.

“Coldcut’s Christmas Break” stands today as a fascinating footnote — a festive artifact that reflects both its era and the innovative spirit Coldcut embodied. It’s fun, it’s unconventional, and it’s a great reminder that not every holiday song needs sleigh bells and syrup to be memorable. If you’re digging deep into late-’80s electronic music or looking for a Christmas track that defies the ordinary, this one is worth dusting off.

SIDE A:
Coldcut’s Christmas Break 6:27
Mixed By – George Shilling, Mark Saunders
Producer – Coldcut

SIDE B:
Break It Up 5:54
Edited By – Dean*
Producer – Coldcut

Santa’s House 6:40
Producer – Coldcut

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Ahead Of Our Time – CCUT 7T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Breaks, Holiday

CREDITS:

Sleeve [Gift Wrapped By] – Designland
Written-By – More*, Black*

NOTES:
A Merry Christmas To Everybody.

Made in England.

Pressed on heavy black vinyl, possibly 180 gram.

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

**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.

September 4, 2025

Ready For The World – Cowboy (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

By the late 1980s, Ready For The World had firmly established themselves as one of the premier R&B acts of the decade. With their signature mix of Minneapolis-inspired funk grooves, lush balladry, and crossover pop appeal, the Flint, Michigan sextet built a strong reputation thanks to smash hits like “Oh Sheila,” “Love You Down,” and “Digital Display.”

“Cowboy,” however, marked a different chapter. Released in early 1989 as the fourth and final single from the group’s third studio album, Ruff N’ Ready (issued September 19, 1988, via MCA Records), the track stood out not only for its title but also for its adventurous sonic direction.

At a time when New Jack Swing was dominating R&B radio, “Cowboy” blended Ready For The World’s smooth harmonies and dance-driven production with a playful Western theme. Built around slinky funk basslines, tight percussion, and the group’s signature vocal layering, the song injected a unique character into late-’80s R&B. The lyrics and styling played with the cowboy archetype—romantic, mysterious, and bold—yet kept it firmly rooted in the urban contemporary soundscape.

While Ruff N’ Ready didn’t achieve the multi-platinum success of the band’s earlier work, it still showcased their willingness to evolve. Alongside ballads like “My Girly” (a Top 10 R&B hit), “Cowboy” proved that the group wasn’t afraid to experiment, even if it meant stepping outside traditional R&B boundaries.

For DJs and collectors, the U.S. 12″ is a real highlight. MCA tapped remix heavyweight Louil Silas Jr.—who was behind countless late-’80s and early ’90s R&B club mixes—to reimagine the track for dancefloors. His mixes gave “Cowboy” extra punch and extended its groove, with precise edit work by Greg Royal, another trusted name in the remix scene. The result is a set of versions tailored for the clubs, keeping the spirit of the original intact while stretching it into something DJs could ride.

Although “Cowboy” didn’t reach the commercial heights of earlier singles like “My Girly” or “Love You Down,” it stands as an underrated piece of the Ready For The World catalog—an example of their willingness to experiment, push genre boundaries, and embrace the remix culture of the late 1980s.

For fans of deep R&B cuts, “Cowboy” remains a gem worth saddling up with.

SIDE A:
Cowboy (Extended Version) 8:28

SIDE B:
Cowboy (Instrumental) 8:22
Cowboy (Bassapella) 4:47

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23948
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Funk

CREDITS:

Design – Georgopoulos/Imada*
Edited By [Edits By] – Greg Royal
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – David Bianco
Executive-Producer – Louil Silas, Jr.*
Management – Denny Vosburgh, Machat Productions, Steven Machat
Producer – Ready For The World
Remix – Louil Silas, Jr.*
Tracking By [Overdubs By] – Jeff Lorber
Written-By – G. Valentine*, M. Riley*

NOTES:
Original version appears on the MCA LP, “Ruff ‘N’ Ready”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.

August 26, 2025

Stevie Nicks – Long Way To Go (UK 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in July 1989, Long Way to Go was the second single from Stevie Nicks’ fourth solo album The Other Side of the Mirror. Coming off the Top 20 success of “Rooms on Fire,” the follow-up single showcased a grittier, more rock-driven side of the album.

Lyrically, the song brims with defiance, often interpreted as Nicks working through the fallout of past relationships. With sharp guitar riffs, heavy percussion, and Stevie’s urgent vocal delivery, it carried an edge that set it apart from the more dreamlike, ethereal textures elsewhere on the record.

Chart-wise, the single found a stronger reception on rock radio than the pop charts. It reached #11 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and climbed to #60 on the U.K. Singles Chart, though it did not appear on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite its modest commercial showing, the track has remained a fan favorite, with its fiery spirit and biting lyrics standing out as one of the album’s highlights.

Over time, “Long Way to Go” has earned its place as an overlooked gem in Stevie’s solo catalog—proof of her ability to channel heartbreak into strength and resilience. Even when the road ahead seemed uncertain, her music made clear she was determined to keep moving forward.

I couldn’t find a music video for this single. According to the internet, one was released in May 1989.

SIDE A:
Long Way To Go (Remix) 6:23
Engineer, Mixed By – Stephen W. Tayler
Producer – Rupert Hine
Songwriter – C. Judge*, Rick Nowels, Stevie Nicks

SIDE B:
Long Way To Go (7″ Version) 4:01
Producer – Rupert Hine
Songwriter – C. Judge*, Rick Nowels, Stevie Nicks

Real Tears 4:42
Mixed By – Shelly Yakus
Songwriter – Rupert Hine, Stevie Nicks

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	Long Way To Go	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock	#11

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI – 12EM 97, Modern Records – 12EM 97
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: Aug 1989
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Design – Bill Smith Studio
Lacquer Cut By – Arun*
Photography By – Paul Cox (5)

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.