Tag: Paul Northfield

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. HartP. Northfield

MIRROR 2
Dancin’ With My Mirror (Instrumental Mix) 4:34
Remix – C. HartP. 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:

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

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

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Men Without Hats – Pop Goes The World (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“Pop Goes the World” is a song recorded by Canadian new wave/synthpop group Men Without Hats. It was released in October 1987 as the lead single from the album of the same name. The song reached Number 1 in Austria, and No. 2 in Canada and Sweden while peaking at Number 20 in the United States.

The song very generally tells a story of “Johnny” and “Jenny,” the two members of a musical group called “The Human Race” (the members’ instruments of choice vary throughout the song, though Johnny is primarily a guitarist and Jenny is a bassist) on their quest for fame in the industry, though at one point the lyrics note that they come to the realization that they could make “more money on a movie screen.”

The “Edited Dance Mix” is exclusive to the North American release of the 12″ single. It is listed incorrectly on the record sleeve as “Extended Dance Mix”.

SIDE A:
Pop Goes The World (Dance Mix) 7:47
Pop Goes The World (Edited Dance Mix) 4:42

SIDE B:
Pop Goes The World (Dub Mix) 6:28
Pop Goes The World (Album Version) 3:38

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Pop Goes The World U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #20
1987 Pop Goes The World U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #27

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– 888 859-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Mixed By – Men Without Hats, Paul Northfield
Other [Management] – Paul King
Producer – Men Without Hats, Zeus B. Held
Written-By – Men Without Hats

NOTES:
Mastered at Sterling.
A2 credited as “Edited Dance Mix” on label.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Schiit Mani
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.