Tag: John “Jellybean” Benitez

September 25, 2026

Naked Eyes – Always Something There To Remind Me (American Remix) (UK 12″) (1982)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today’s post is dedicated to the memory of Pete Byrne, lead vocalist and co-founder of Naked Eyes, who passed away peacefully in Los Angeles on September 14, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 74. News of his passing was announced this week.

For anyone who came of age during the early days of MTV, Byrne’s voice is instantly recognizable. Along with keyboardist Rob Fisher, he created some of the most memorable British synth-pop to cross the Atlantic during the early ’80s.

Naked Eyes formed in Bath, England, with Byrne and Fisher emerging from the earlier band Neon. As Naked Eyes, the pair signed with EMI and began working with producer Tony Mansfield. Their debut album, Burning Bridges, arrived in the UK in 1983 and was released in a slightly altered form in the United States simply as Naked Eyes.

Their breakthrough was a dramatic electronic remake of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition “Always Something There To Remind Me.”

The song already had a long history by the time Naked Eyes recorded it. Lou Johnson first released it in 1964, while Sandie Shaw took her version all the way to No. 1 in the UK later that year. Naked Eyes took the familiar song and rebuilt it for the synthesizer generation, surrounding Byrne’s vocal with programmed rhythms, keyboards, and Tony Mansfield’s polished production.

While Naked Eyes never became a major chart act in their native country, America was another story. “Always Something There To Remind Me” climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, followed by another major U.S. hit, “Promises, Promises,” which reached No. 11.

Ironically, the record that helped define the early-’80s British synth-pop sound was much less successful in Britain. After being re-promoted following its American success, “Always Something There To Remind Me” entered the UK Singles Chart in July 1983 and peaked at No. 59.

Today’s record is the UK 12″ on EMI, catalog number 12EMI 5334, backed with the non-LP track “Pit Stop.”

And this is where things get interesting.

The A-side is the “American Remix,” and my copy runs exactly 5:43. This is the John “Jellybean” Benitez remix, though the history of the various mixes has become surprisingly muddled over the years.

The original extended version of “Always Something There To Remind Me,” mixed as part of Tony Mansfield’s original production, runs approximately 6:13. It was issued in the United States on the promotional 12″ SPRO-9891 as the “Long Version.”

A second U.S. promotional 12″, SPRO-9924, contained a newer “Remixed Version” by John “Jellybean” Benitez. That version runs approximately 5:41 and, unlike the earlier mix, begins with drums. The Jellybean mix was subsequently issued in the UK as the “American Remix.” My UK pressing runs 5:43, putting it squarely in this Jellybean remix family.

If that sounds confusing, it gets worse.

Over the years, reissues and compilations have sometimes mixed up the credits. The One Way/EMI collection Everything And More reportedly included the Jellybean mix while identifying it as the Tony Mansfield 12″ mix. Other discographies have also attributed the UK “American Remix” to Mansfield. The more recent Chrysalis edition of the debut album identifies the approximately 5:40 version as the “Jellybean Extended Remix.”

So, for collectors keeping score:

The approximately 6:13 version is the earlier Tony Mansfield long version.

The approximately 5:41 to 5:43 version beginning with drums is the John “Jellybean” Benitez remix.

Sometimes the grooves tell the story better than the liner notes.

The B-side, “Pit Stop,” was written by Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher and produced by Tony Mansfield. It was not included on the original UK Burning Bridges LP, making it another reason this 12″ is worth having.

Sadly, both halves of the original Naked Eyes partnership are now gone. Rob Fisher died in 1999. Pete Byrne continued making music and eventually revived Naked Eyes, performing the songs for audiences who had never forgotten them.

There is something especially poignant about listening to “Always Something There To Remind Me” following Pete Byrne’s passing. A song written decades before Naked Eyes recorded it became forever linked to his voice, and its words about memory and the things we can never quite leave behind seem particularly appropriate today.

Pete Byrne helped give the early ’80s a distinctive voice. Thankfully, the records remain.

Rest in peace, Pete Byrne.

SIDE A:
Always Something There To Remind Me (American Remix) 5:43
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Written-By – Bacharach & David*

SIDE B:
Pit Stop 3:30
Written-By – Byrne, Fisher

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart (1983)	Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	7
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	9
New Zealand (RIANZ)	2
UK Singles (Official Charts)	59
US Billboard Hot 100	8
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	31
US Billboard Dance/Disco	37
US Cash Box Top 100	7

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI – 12EMI 5334
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer – Tony Mansfield

NOTES:
Taken from the LP and Cassette “Burning Bridges”

Manufactured in the UK by EMI Records Limited.

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

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July 14, 2026

Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero (UK 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2026 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

I had already planned to begin this new series with Bonnie Tyler before hearing the sad news of her passing. Now, this post carries a meaning I never expected it to have.

Bonnie Tyler passed away on July 8, 2026, at the age of 75. With her unmistakable voice and powerful delivery, she gave us some of the most dramatic and memorable recordings of the 1970s and 1980s. She could turn almost any song into a full-scale event, and “Holding Out For A Hero” remains one of the greatest examples.

Released in 1984 as part of the soundtrack for the motion picture Footloose, “Holding Out For A Hero” was written by Jim Steinman and Dean Pitchford and produced by Steinman. The song was later included on Bonnie’s 1986 studio album Secret Dreams And Forbidden Fire.

From its opening blast of drums, racing piano, blaring horns, and urgent backing vocals, the record never slows down. Everything about it is oversized, breathless, and wonderfully theatrical. Then Bonnie enters with that rough, commanding voice, sounding as though she is not merely waiting for a hero. She is demanding that one arrive immediately.

No one could have sung this song halfway. It required a vocalist who could rise above Jim Steinman’s enormous production without becoming lost inside it. Bonnie did more than rise above it. She owned every second.

The song was originally released in the UK in 1984, reaching only number 96. It was reissued the following year and became a major hit, climbing to number two and remaining there for three weeks. It also reached number one in Ireland and number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The Footloose soundtrack was packed with hit singles, but “Holding Out For A Hero” brought a different kind of energy to the album. It was louder, stranger, and more dramatic than almost anything surrounding it. Even without the movie, the recording creates its own frantic action sequence inside your head.

For this post, I am using the original UK 12-inch single. The A-side features the extended dance remix by John “Jellybean” Benitez. Jellybean stretches the song to more than six minutes while keeping the force and urgency of Jim Steinman’s original production. The remix gives the arrangement more room to breathe, but it never loses its momentum.

The B-side opens with the instrumental version of “Holding Out For A Hero.” Removing Bonnie’s lead vocal puts more attention on the layers buried within the production, including the dramatic piano, pounding percussion, guitars, synthesizers, and backing vocals. It is a great companion to the extended remix and shows just how much is happening underneath Bonnie’s performance.

The final track is “Faster Than The Speed Of Night,” the title song from Bonnie’s hugely successful 1983 album. Also written and produced by Jim Steinman, it makes this UK 12-inch feel more substantial than the usual soundtrack single. All three tracks capture Bonnie during one of the strongest periods of her career.

I previously posted this record in April 2019. For this new 2026 edition, I returned to the vinyl and created an entirely new transfer from the beginning. This is not a recycled or lightly updated version of the previous post. It is a brand-new transfer with meticulous audio restoration while preserving the power, movement, and excitement of the original recording.

This post also begins my new series, Ladies Of The 80s: Soundtrack Edition. Throughout the series, I will be featuring female artists who released singles connected to motion pictures during the 1980s.

It is bittersweet to begin the series this way, but I cannot think of a stronger song or a more deserving artist. Bonnie Tyler gave the decade a voice that could sound wounded, fearless, romantic, and larger than life, sometimes within the same recording.

Thank you, Bonnie, for the music, the drama, and that unforgettable voice.

SIDE A:
Holding Out For A Hero (Special Extended Remix) 6:22
Written By – J. Steinman/D. Pitchford
Written-By – D. Pitchford, J. Steinman

SIDE B:
Holding Out For A Hero (Instrumental) 5:17
Written By – J. Steinman/D. Pitchford
Written-By – D. Pitchford, J. Steinman

Faster Than The Speed Of Night 4:41
Written-By – J. Steinman*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Bonnie Tyler: Holding Out For A Hero (1984)	Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	44
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	19
Canada (Billboard)	17
Europarade Top 40	12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	8
Ireland (IRMA)	1
Japan (Oricon Singles Chart)	38
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	33
South Africa (Springbok Radio)	23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	19
UK Singles Chart (1984 release)	96
UK Singles Chart (1985 reissue)	2
US Billboard Hot 100	34
West Germany (Official German Charts)	19

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS – TA 4251
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer, Directed By – Jim Steinman
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez (tracks: A, B1)

NOTES:
From the original soundtrack of the Paramount motion picture “Footloose”.

Side A – Mix name on front cover is “Extended Remixed Version”.
Side A – Also known as “Dance Version-Jellybean Remix”.

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.

August 21, 2025

Corey Hart – Dancing With My Mirror (Canada 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

By the mid-1980s, Canadian pop star Corey Hart had already carved out an impressive career. With the global smash Sunglasses at Night (1984) and the stirring anthem Never Surrender (1985), Hart became one of the most recognizable new voices of the decade. In 1986, he released his third studio album Fields of Fire, a record that further showcased his evolution as both a songwriter and producer.

The third single lifted from the album was “Dancing With My Mirror,” released in early 1987. Produced by Corey Hart and Phil Chapman, the track finds Hart combining his signature emotional intensity with a sleek pop-rock sound tailored for the late ‘80s airwaves. It’s a song full of energy and reflection—literally so, as the lyrics deal with confronting one’s own image, both physically and metaphorically.

Chart-wise, “Dancing With My Mirror” saw moderate success. In Canada, it reached #33 on April 18, 1987, while in the U.S. it peaked at #88 on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks earlier, on April 4. While not among Hart’s biggest hits, the single demonstrated his consistency as a chart presence through the decade.

Musically, the track blends driving guitars, bright synthesizers, and Hart’s trademark passionate vocal delivery. The song’s theme—dancing alone, facing your own reflection—captures the mix of confidence, vulnerability, and theatrical flair that defined Hart’s best work. It’s both playful and introspective, making it stand apart from the more straightforward pop ballads he was also known for.

Looking back, Fields of Fire was a pivotal album in Hart’s catalog. It balanced arena-ready anthems with moments of vulnerability, and “Dancing With My Mirror” perfectly reflects that balance. Though not as widely remembered today as some of his earlier hits, it’s a track that showcases Hart’s ambition, artistry, and ability to translate personal reflection into pop-rock energy.

For fans exploring Corey Hart beyond the obvious staples, this single is a rewarding listen—a snapshot of a rising artist navigating fame, identity, and creativity in the mid-‘80s.

MIRROR 1
Dancin’ With My Mirror (LP Version) 4:17

Dancin’ With My Mirror (Extended Version) 4:56
Remix – C. Hart, P. Northfield

MIRROR 2
Dancin’ With My Mirror (Instrumental Mix) 4:34
Remix – C. Hart, P. Northfield

Angry Young Man (Instrumental Mix) 5:06
Producer – R.Cannata
Remix – “Jellybean” Benitez*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	Dancing With My Mirror	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#88

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Aquarius Records (3) – AQ 12025
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: Canada
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design, Photography By – Erika Gagnon
Producer – C. Hart*, P. Chapman*

NOTES:
Remixed At – Le Studio

Album is 100% MAPL content

On the sleeve, is written Angry Young Man (Extended Mix) instead of (Instrumental Mix)

Album version from the LP “FIELDS OF FIRE”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

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

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

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.

June 7, 2024

Bobby “O” – I’m So Hot For You (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982

“I’m So Hot For You” was the debut 12″ single release by an American record producer, indie record label owner, songwriter, and musician. Bobby Orlando (aka Bobby’O). He is regarded as an innovator in the Hi-NRG genre for developing his signature sound, using a “powerful beat” and “new wave-style” vocals with the help of a “heavy [synthesizer] bass”, synthesizers, piano, guitars, cowbells his style was referred to as Boystown or just simply gay disco.

“I’m So Hot For You” peaked at #17 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart the track was remixed by FunHouse DJ supreme – John “Jellybean” Benitez.

Despite being known as a hyper-macho, incredibly cocky, rampantly homophobic ex-boxer who made gay disco. Bobby Orlando made his strange mark on LGBTQ+ music even producing hits for gay icons Divine, and Pet Shop Boys. Bobby Orlando became a legend in the ’80s through many disco and Hi-NRG records released on his independent label, O Records.

“I’m So Hot For You” is currently used in the Gay nightclub scene in the Netflix original series “Eric”.

A music video was not filmed for this release.

SIDE A:
I’m So Hot For You 5:13

SIDE B:
Still Hott 4 U 4:06

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1982	I’m So Hot For You	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#17

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: “O” Records – OR 718
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop, Disco

CREDITS:

Mastered By – AM*
Mixed By [Dance Mix] – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Producer [Assistant] – Cathy Pescevich, Denny O’Connor, Tom Lazarus
Producer [Associate] – Danny Weiss
Producer, Written-By – Bobby Orlando

NOTES:
Manufactured
and Distributed by Vanguard Recording Society, Inc.

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 3.0 (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.