Tag: Promo

March 18, 2026

U2 – Discothèque (US 12″ Promo) (1997)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

When U2 returned in 1997 with “Discothèque,” it felt like a shock to the system—in the best possible way.

Released as the lead single from their ambitious album Pop, “Discothèque” saw the band diving headfirst into electronic dance music, club culture, and the glossy excess of the late ‘90s. Produced by Flood, Howie B, and Steve Osborne, the track fused U2’s signature anthemic sound with pulsing beats, distorted grooves, and a heavy dose of irony.

From the opening filtered guitar riff by The Edge, it’s clear this isn’t the same band that gave us The Joshua Tree. Instead, “Discothèque” leans into a sleazy, neon-lit atmosphere—more underground club than stadium rock. Bono delivers lyrics that flirt with decadence and spiritual longing, blurring the line between indulgence and introspection: “You can reach, but you can’t grab it…”

The single was a commercial success, hitting #1 in the UK and topping charts across Europe, while also making a strong showing on the Billboard Hot 100. In the U.S., it also became a major club hit, proving that U2 could successfully reinvent themselves yet again—this time for the dancefloor.

Of course, no discussion of “Discothèque” would be complete without its unforgettable video. Directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, the clip features the band dressed in outrageous costumes—most notably their appearance inside a giant mirrorball—poking fun at both themselves and club culture excess. It perfectly captured the era’s playful, anything-goes aesthetic while reinforcing the band’s willingness to take risks.

For longtime fans, “Discothèque” was initially divisive. Those expecting another With or Without You or One were instead met with a bold stylistic pivot. But in hindsight, that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. Much like their earlier reinvention during the Achtung Baby era, this track showed that U2 refused to stand still.

On the 12-inch and CD single formats, “Discothèque” truly came alive. Various remixes expanded the track’s club appeal, stretching its hypnotic groove into extended dancefloor workouts that fit perfectly alongside the late ‘90s electronic scene. The US 12″ promo that I am featuring today is especially noteworthy, as it includes the “Discothèque (DM Tec Club Mix),” which, as far as I know, remains exclusive to this particular release—making it a must-have for collectors and completists.

Nearly three decades later, “Discothèque” stands as one of the most daring singles in U2’s catalog. It’s a time capsule of late ‘90s experimentation, excess, and transformation—and a reminder that even the biggest bands can still surprise you when they’re willing to take risks.

SIDE A:
Discothèque (DM Deep Club Mix) 6:59

SIDE B:
Discothèque (DM Tec Club Mix) 7:20

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – U2: *Discothèque* (1997)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#1	1997
US Billboard Hot 100	#10	1997
US Billboard Mainstream Rock	#6	1997
UK Singles	#1	1997
Scottland Singles	#1	1997
Norway	#1	1997
New Zealand	#1	1997
Ireland	#1	1997
Italy	#1	1997
Finland	#1	1997
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	#2	1997
Canada Dance/Urban	#1	1997
Canada Rock/Alternative	#1	1997
Australia	#3	1997

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Island Records – PR12 7398-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genres: Electronic, Pop
Styles: House

CREDITS:

Decks [Original], Loops [Original], Recorded By [Original] – Howie B.
Mastered By [Original] – Howie Weinberg
Mixed By [Original] – Conal Markey
Mixed By [Original], Recorded By [Original] – Mark “Spike” Stent*
Producer [Original] – Flood
Recorded By [Original] – Femio Hernandez, Rob Kirwan
Remix – David Morales, Satoshi Tomiie

NOTES:
For Promotional Use Only – Not For Sale

“Discothèque” contains samples from “Fane” by Freeform. Courtesy of Skam Records.

Mastered at Masterdisk – New York

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

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.

March 11, 2026

Oran “Juice” Jones – The Rain (Remix) (US 12″ Promo) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Smooth R&B Meets Street-Corner Drama

Released in 1986, The Rain by Oran ‘Juice’ Jones became one of the most memorable and unconventional R&B hits of the decade. Blending smooth soul with a spoken-word monologue that unfolds like a dramatic confrontation, the track stood apart from nearly everything else on radio at the time. Its cinematic storytelling and unforgettable mid-song breakdown helped make it an instant classic of 80s R&B.

An Unlikely Hit for Def Jam

Jones, born in Houston, Texas, was among the first R&B artists signed to Def Jam Recordings, the pioneering label founded by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. During the mid-80s, Def Jam was primarily known for groundbreaking hip-hop acts such as LL Cool J and Beastie Boys, making Jones’ polished R&B sound somewhat of an outlier on the roster.

Still, the label took a chance—and it paid off. “The Rain” showcased that Def Jam could reach beyond hip-hop and deliver a crossover R&B smash.

The Monologue That Made History

Musically, the song begins as a slick mid-80s soul groove built on drum machines, shimmering synths, and Jones’ smooth vocals. But halfway through, the track takes an unexpected turn when Jones launches into a spoken tirade after catching his girlfriend with another man.

The monologue—equal parts heartbreak, anger, and biting humor—plays out like a late-night street argument set against a rainy city backdrop. Lines like “I saw you—and him—walking in the rain…” instantly became part of pop culture lore, giving the song a theatrical edge rarely heard in mainstream R&B.

Chart Success and MTV Rotation

Despite its unusual structure, the single was a massive hit. “The Rain” topped the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

The dramatic music video—featuring Jones confronting his unfaithful lover in the rain—became a staple on MTV, further cementing the song’s place in 80s pop culture.

From the Album Juice

“The Rain” was the standout single from Jones’ debut LP Juice. While the album produced a few additional singles, none matched the cultural impact or staying power of his breakout hit.

A Timeless 80s Moment

Nearly four decades later, “The Rain” remains one of the most distinctive singles of the 1980s. Its blend of smooth R&B, storytelling, and spoken-word drama turned what could have been a typical slow jam into something unforgettable.

Whether remembered for its catchy groove or its legendary spoken confrontation, “The Rain” still stands as one of the most unique hit records of its era.

SIDE A:
The Rain (Remix) 5:12
Juice’s Groove (Bonus Beats) 2:46

SIDE B:
The Rain 5:09

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Oran “Juice” Jones: *The Rain* (1986)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#9	1986
US Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop	#1	1986
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#7	1986
Australia (Kent Music Report)	#85	1986
UK Singles Chart	#4	1986

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label:Def Jam Recordings – CAS 2496, Columbia – CAS 2496
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk / Soul
Style: Rhythm & Blues

CREDITS:

Producer – Russell Simmons, Vincent F. Bell*

NOTES:
Demonstration Not For Sale.
Taken from the Def Jam/Columbia LP Oran “Juice” Jones

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.

February 24, 2026

Erasure/Depeche Mode – World Beyond Blue (US 12″ Promo) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

WORLD BEYOND BLUE

Razormaid Digital Mixes by Art Maharg
a DjPaulT Custom 12″ Single.

There are moments in synth-pop history where two parallel worlds feel destined to collide.

On one side, you have the romantic sweep and melodic grandeur of Blue Savannah — all widescreen emotion and soaring drama. On the other, the sensual restraint and hypnotic pulse of World in My Eyes — minimalist, shadowed, intimate.

Both were released in 1990.
Both club staples.
Both were transformed in the underground by Razormaid.

This custom 12″ — World Beyond Blue — imagines a promotional DJ pressing that could have existed at the height of remix service culture, when vinyl still ruled the booth and extended mixes were crafted with surgical precision.

The Remixes

Both tracks were remixed by Art Maharg, co-founder of the legendary Razormaid Remix Service.

Maharg’s approach was never about excess — it was about architecture. Precision edits. Clean digital transitions. Rebuilt intros and outros designed for seamless beatmatching. His mixes weren’t just longer — they were engineered for DJs.

The “Digital Mix” designation feels especially appropriate here. In 1990, that word carried weight. It meant modern. It meant crisp. It meant future-facing.

Why These Two Tracks?

Blue Savannah is expansive and emotional — almost celestial in tone.
World In My Eyes is grounded and physical — a whisper in the dark.

Together, they represent two poles of early 90s electronic pop:
light and shadow, devotion and desire, horizon and interior.

World Beyond Blue lives in the space between them.

The Sleeve Concept

I designed this to feel like a minimalist promotional pressing, the sleeve embraces a midnight blue-to-black gradient — a distant glowing horizon fading into darkness. No band photography. No logos. Just typography and atmosphere.

It’s meant to feel discovered. Like something that surfaced from a DJ crate three decades late.

The Era

1990 was a turning point.

Erasure were riding the success of Wild!
Depeche Mode had just released Violator — a record that would redefine their trajectory.

Razormaid, operating quietly in the background, was reshaping how club versions functioned. These weren’t label-sanctioned commercial remixes — they were tools. Functional, extended, and often superior for the dancefloor.

This custom 12″ pays tribute to that craft.

There’s something beautiful about imagining alternate vinyl histories — releases that never officially existed but absolutely should have.

World Beyond Blue is one of those records.

Turn it up.
Dim the lights.
Let the horizon glow.

— Paul

SIDE A:
Erasure – Blue Savannah (Digital Mix) 6:40
Remix [Digital Mix] – Art Maharg
Taken From Razormaid This Is Only A Test!

SIDE B:
Depeche Mode – World In My Eyes (Digital Mix) 7:40
Remix – Art Maharg
Taken From Razormaid Cycle Two – Sector Three

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Razormaid Records – c2-s3, Razormaid Records – SP-013
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Custom Sleeve Artwork [Design] – DjPaulT

NOTES:
For Promotional Use Only

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

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.

February 4, 2026

Information Society – Informedleymation (US 12″ Promo) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today I’m spotlighting a very special 12″ release built for the dancefloor faithful and the Information Society deep divers. This one pulls together two Hot Tracks–exclusive remixes from the American electronic band Information Society, hailing from Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, at a moment when Hack was still pulsing through clubs and radio alike.

Side A features Informedleymation, a Hot Tracks medley crafted by Glenn Cattanach that dives deep into the band’s second studio album, Hack. Rather than leaning solely on the obvious choice, Cattanach smartly anchors the mix around the era’s hit “Think”, while seamlessly weaving in four additional cuts from the album. Working directly from the Hack CD and assembling the mix via DAT, he achieved a crystal-clear, full-frequency medley that still sounds pristine today. It’s a masterclass in early-’90s remix craftsmanship—clean, punchy, and designed to keep momentum locked from start to finish.

Flip the record and Side B delivers the Digital Remix of “How Long,” originally released as the second single from Hack in 1991. Here, the track gets an entirely new lease on life thanks to a remix by legendary DJ, remixer, and producer Chris Cox. Cox brings his unmistakable touch to the mix, sharpening the track’s rhythmic edge while preserving its emotional core. It’s sleek, club-ready, and unmistakably built for serious sound systems—proof of how a great remix can reframe a song without losing its soul.

Together, these two Hot Tracks mixes form a perfectly balanced 12″: one side celebrating the album as a whole through a thoughtfully constructed medley, the other zeroing in on a single track and pushing it straight onto the dancefloor. For fans of Information Society, remix culture, or the golden era of DJ record pools, this release is a reminder of just how inventive and influential that moment truly was.

A killer slice of early ’90s electronic history—pressed loud, mixed smart, and made to move bodies.

SIDE A:
Informedleymation 8:07
DJ Mix [Megamix] – Glenn Cattanach
Written-By – Maher, Valaquen, Robb*

1 – Come With Me
2 – Think
3 – Move Out
4 – How Long
5 – Now That I Have You

SIDE B:
How Long (Digital Remix) 6:17
Remix Chris Cox
Written-By – P. Robb*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Custom

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Hot Tracks – SA 9-9, Hot Tracks – SA 10-1
Series: Hot Tracks Series – 9-9, Hot Tracks Series – 10-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Compilation, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Pop
Style: House, Hip-House, Hi NRG, Euro House, Garage House

CREDITS:

Compilation Producer – Chris Cox
Custom Sleeve [Artwork] – DjPaulT

NOTES:
DJ Use Only

Buy Hot Tracks SA 9-9 at DISCOGGS

Buy Hot Tracks SA 10-1 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.