Tag: Promo

October 2, 2025

Jody Watley – When A Man Loves A Woman (US 12″ Promo) (1994)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in 1994 as the final single from her fourth album, Intimacy (1993), Jody Watley’s When a Man Loves a Woman stands out as one of the most intriguing singles of her career. Co-written with Larry Campbell, the song paired Watley’s poetic, philosophical spoken-word style with a sultry midtempo R&B/hip-hop groove, offering something bold and different from her previous chart-toppers.

Charts

The single became a success on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.S., it climbed to #11 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart, while in the UK, it reached #33 on the Singles Chart, becoming Watley’s first Top 40 hit there since “Friends” in 1989. In clubs, it fared even better, soaring to the top of the UK Club Chart, thanks in part to strong remixes.

Critical Reception

Critics praised the single’s originality and risk-taking:

Billboard (Larry Flick): Called it a “clever and unusual single,” noting Watley “waxes poetic and philosophical about relationships, chatting over an insinuating, midtempo hip-hop groove,” enhanced by “imaginative, format-stretching remixes.”
Gavin Report (Bill Speed & John Martinucci): Described it as “a monologue observing key elements of an unconditional relationship between a man and a woman.”
Music Week (Andy Beevers): Awarded four out of five stars and Pick of the Week in Dance, praising the BBG remixes that “have taken the track to the top of the RM Club Chart.”
Music & Media: Highlighted the socially conscious lyrics, noting the subtle message about AIDS and fidelity.
Record Mirror (James Hamilton): Called it a “mumbling slinky swayer (not the Percy Sledge classic),” remarking on its “sultrily muttered instructions about the right ways to treat the one you love without giving them AIDS.

Music Video

The music video for When a Man Loves a Woman marked Jody Watley’s directorial debut, giving her the chance to craft her own visual vision to accompany the single.

US Promo Release

In the U.S., at least three promo 12″ singles were issued, all featuring exclusive remixes never released commercially. Most of these versions have not appeared digitally or on CD, making them rare and highly collectible among Watley fans.

Legacy

Though not as universally recognized as her chart-topping hits Looking for a New Love or Real Love, When a Man Loves a Woman reflects Jody Watley’s artistry at its most daring—merging spoken-word poetry, house and R&B grooves, social commentary, and creative independence. It remains an essential piece of her catalog, a track that connected powerfully with audiences in clubs and on the charts while showcasing her growth as both an artist and visionary.

SIDE A:
When A Man Loves A Woman (D.J.’s Club Mix) 7:33
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Darryl James
Written-By – Jody Watley, Larry “Rock” Campbell

When A Man Loves A Woman (D.J.’s Bentley’s Mix) 6:07
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Darryl James
Written-By – Jody Watley, Larry “Rock” Campbell

SIDE B:
When A Man Loves A Woman (D.J.’s Dub Mix) 5:01
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Darryl James
Written-By – Jody Watley, Larry “Rock” Campbell

When A Man Loves A Woman (D.J.’s Other Dub Mix) 5:33
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Darryl James
Written-By – Jody Watley, Larry “Rock” Campbell

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Jody Watley: *When A Man Loves A Woman* (1994)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#8	1994
US Billboard Under Hot 100	15	1994
US Billboard R&B Singles	#1	1994
UK Club Chart (Music Week)	#1	1994
UK Dance (Music Week)	#2	1994
UK Singles (OCC)	#33	1994

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA8P 2976
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1994
Genre: Electronic, Hip-Hop
Style: House, Garage House, Downtempo

CREDITS:

Executive-Producer – Jody Watley
Producer, Arranged By – Art & Rhythm

NOTES:
Original version appears on the Jody Watley album “Intimacy”

Housed inside MCA Records 12″ Single die-cut sleeve

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.

September 30, 2025

Taylor Dayne – Don’t Rush Me (US 12″ Promo) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released as the fourth single from Taylor Dayne’s multi-platinum debut album Tell It to My Heart (1988), “Don’t Rush Me” was written by Alexandra Forbes and Jeff Franzel. The song continued Dayne’s hot streak, becoming her third consecutive U.S. Top 10 hit. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1988 and also climbed the Adult Contemporary and Dance charts, solidifying her as one of the standout voices of the late ’80s.

The 12” I’m posting today is the U.S. promo-only release, which stands apart from the standard single. This pressing contains exclusive House Mixes that were originally only issued in the United States and France. These remixes gave “Don’t Rush Me” a club-friendly update, layering in deeper grooves and house beats while keeping Dayne’s dynamic vocal front and center.

Another gem from the golden era of the 12-inch single, this promo captures Taylor Dayne at the peak of her chart power while also giving DJs something fresh to spin.

SIDE A:
Don’t Rush Me (Continental Clubhouse Mix) 8:39

SIDE B:
Don’t Rush Me (Continental Dubhouse Mix) 5:37
Don’t Rush Me (Rushapella) 3:39

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Taylor Dayne: *Don’t Rush Me* (1988)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Dance Club Songs	#6	1988
US Billboard Hot 100	#2	1988
US Billboard RAdult Contemporary	#3	1988
U.K. Singles	#76	1988
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	#4	1988

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – ADP-9774
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House

CREDITS:

Engineer [Recording & Mix Engineer] – Bob Cadway
Overdubbed By [Keyboard Overdubs] – Rich Tancredi
Producer [Produced By], Remix [Remixed By] – Ric Wake
Remix [Remixed By] – Richie Jones
Written-By – Alexandra Forbes, Jeff Franzel

NOTES:
Produced For Bleux Productions

Loaned for promotion only

Manufactured By Arista Records, Inc. 6 W. 57th St., N.Y., N.Y. 10019

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.

August 22, 2025

Mr. Mister – Kyrie (US 12″ Promo) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released around Christmas 1985, “Kyrie” became the second single from Mr. Mister’s second studio album, Welcome to the Real World. By March 1986, the soaring track had reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for two weeks, cementing the band’s place in mid-80s pop-rock history.

Following the chart-topping success of their previous single, “Broken Wings,” “Kyrie” further established Mr. Mister’s distinctive blend of thoughtful lyricism and anthemic, radio-ready production. The song is built on a driving synth-rock arrangement, with shimmering guitars and Richard Page’s earnest, urgent vocal delivery pushing the melody skyward.

The title, “Kyrie,” comes from the Greek phrase Kyrie eleison, which translates to “Lord, have mercy.” While the song isn’t overtly religious, its lyrics reflect a deeper, spiritual plea set against the backdrop of personal and universal searching. It’s a reflective anthem disguised as a massive pop hit.

Interestingly, lyricist John Lang (a frequent Mr. Mister collaborator and Richard Page’s friend since high school) wrote the words after surviving a near-fatal accident. That brush with mortality infused the song with its sense of reverence and vulnerability.

The music video, a staple on MTV, featured tour footage mixed with scenes of the band traveling across the American heartland, perfectly capturing the song’s sense of journey—both literal and spiritual.

“Kyrie” resonated with a wide audience, not just because of its polished 80s production, but also because of its universal message of hope, redemption, and perseverance. Even decades later, its soaring chorus—“Kyrie eleison, down the road that I must travel…”—still feels like an anthem for anyone navigating life’s uncertain paths.

*This 12″ promo was pressed on 100% virgin vinyl, dynamically enhanced for radio.

SIDE A:
Kyrie (Fade End) 4:33

SIDE B:
Kyrie (Acapella End) 4:12

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Kyrie	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1985	Kyrie	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#11
1985	Kyrie	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA – JD-14248
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Drums – Pat Mastelotto
Guitar – Steve Farris (2)
Keyboards, Vocals – Steve George
Lead Vocals, Bass – Richard Page
Producer – Mr. Mister, Paul De Villiers
Written-By – Lang*, Page*, George*

NOTES:
From the “Welcome To The Real World” album.

Made in U.S.A.

Not for sale.

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 19, 2025

Charlie Sexton – Hold Me (US 12″ Promo) (1986)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1986, a teenage guitar prodigy from Austin, Texas was already making waves in the rock and pop world. Charlie Sexton, only 16 years old at the time, released Hold Me as the third single from his debut album Pictures for Pleasure.

Produced by hitmaker Keith Forsey—best known for his work with Billy Idol and producing the Flashdance and Breakfast Club soundtracks—the track showcases Sexton’s blend of youthful energy, guitar-driven rock, and glossy mid-80s production. While his earlier single Beat’s So Lonely became his breakout hit, Hold Me revealed a more melodic and vulnerable side to his artistry.

Pictures for Pleasure positioned Sexton as both a guitar slinger and a rising pop star, balancing polished hooks with the grit of his bluesy Texas roots. It was an impressive debut for someone who, at an age when most were still figuring out high school, was already signed to MCA Records, touring internationally, and appearing on MTV.

Though Hold Me didn’t climb the charts as high as its predecessor, it remains a strong entry in Sexton’s early catalog—a testament to his undeniable talent and the industry’s faith in his star potential. Listening today, the single still captures that mid-80s blend of sophistication and youthful intensity, with Sexton’s vocals carrying both polish and passion.

Charlie Sexton would go on to work with an incredible roster of artists—eventually becoming a longtime member of Bob Dylan’s touring band—but Hold Me is a reminder of his remarkable beginnings. At just 16, he wasn’t just chasing the dream; he was living it.

SIDE A:
Hold Me (Long Version) 4:27

SIDE B:
Hold Me (Short Version) 3:56

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – L33-17149
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Producer – Keith Forsey
Written-By – D. Oppenheim*, I. Schuster*, L.J. Little*

NOTES:
Management: Tim Neece

From the Charlie Sexton Album “Pictures For Pleasure”

12″ Promotional Single Not For Sale

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.