Burning The Ground Exclusive
“I Got My Mind Made Up” is a 1978 disco-funk classic by Instant Funk, released on Salsoul Records. A defining track of the era, the song became a massive dancefloor hit, fusing deep funk grooves, hypnotic rhythms, and high-energy production.
From Simple R&B to a Club Anthem
The song’s original production was a simple 3-minute R&B track recorded on an 8-track tape, but that was only the beginning. It was transferred to 24-track tape at Blank Tapes, NYC, where producer Bunny Sigler and engineer Bob Blank began transforming it into a club anthem. Among the many enhancements, Bunny brought in a woman to deliver the now-iconic “Say what?” throughout the track. As she recorded, Bunny stood behind her, shouting instructions like “Scream!”, which were amplified and incorporated into the mix.
The Grueling Manual Remix Process
Remixing was a meticulous, manual process—no computerization was involved. Initially, legendary DJ Walter Gibbons attempted a remix but abandoned the project due to religious beliefs. Then, Ken Cayre, the owner of Salsoul Records, took a shot before it ultimately landed in the hands of Larry Levan. Working in Blank Tapes’ old Studio A, on a console without automation, the mix was assembled through painstaking tape splicing. To extend the groove that defines the song, four bars of the groove section were manually edited and repeated to create its now-familiar format. Bob Blank estimated that it took over 60 hours of mixing to finalize the versions that exist today.
The Legendary 12″ Versions
The original 12″ vinyl release of “I Got My Mind Made Up” featured what later became known as the “Disco Version”, running 9:46—marking Larry Levan’s second-ever remix credit! This version has appeared on all subsequent CD releases.
BUT… the flip-side of the 12″ featured a version running 7:11, a mix that has never been repressed or released in digital format—EVER! This makes the original 12″ pressing a sought-after collector’s item.
Chart Success & Lasting Influence
Upon release, “I Got My Mind Made Up” became a major success, spending three non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart, briefly interrupted by Sister Sledge’s “He’s the Greatest Dancer.” It also reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Disco chart, cementing its status as a dancefloor staple.
However, in a tragic turn of events, Salsoul Records removed and destroyed all of their multi-track masters from Blank Tapes in 1985—hundreds of recordings lost forever. Thankfully, some were saved by John Morales, and this master was one of them, preserving its legacy.
The song’s impact has lasted well beyond the disco era. Whether played in classic funk sets, sampled in modern productions, or rediscovered by new generations, “I Got My Mind Made Up” remains one of the most electrifying club anthems ever recorded.
*Vinyl-only
SIDE A:
I Got My Mind Made Up (Special 12 Inch Disco Mix) 9:46
SIDE B:
I Got My Mind Made Up (Special 12 Inch Disco Mix Edit)* 7:11
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | I Got My Mind Made Up | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #20 |
| 1978 | I Got My Mind Made Up | U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | #1 |
| 1978 | I Got My Mind Made Up | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance / Disco | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Salsoul Records – SG 207
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Indianapolis
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Funk, Disco
CREDITS:
- Executive-Producer – Joe Cayre, Ken Cayre, Stan Cayre
- Mixed By – Larry Levan
- Producer – Bunny Sigler
- Written-By – K. Miller*, R. Earl*, S. Miller*
NOTES:
Special 12 Inch Disco Mix
Produced for Bundino Productions
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.