Rhinestone Cowboy (Bontempi ’92 Remix) – Burning The Ground: DjPaulT's 80's and 90's Remixes

Burning The Ground Exclusive

I’m back today with another custom 12-inch, and this one is a bit of a curveball—in the best possible way.

Originally released in 1975, “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell became one of the defining hits of his career—and a massive crossover success. Written by Larry Weiss, the song tells the story of a struggling performer chasing fame and recognition, a theme that resonated deeply with Campbell himself at the time.

After a brief lull in his chart success, “Rhinestone Cowboy” marked a major comeback. The single shot to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Singles chart, while also reaching the top spot in several international markets. Its blend of country storytelling and polished pop production helped cement Campbell’s place as one of the era’s most versatile crossover artists, and the track would go on to become his signature song.

Fast forward to 1992, and the track found new life in an unexpected place: the dancefloor.

Enter the UK remix service Music Factory Mastermix, a staple of the early ‘90s club scene, known for delivering exclusive reworks to professional DJs. It was here that “Rhinestone Cowboy” received a bold reinvention with the Bontempi ’92 Remix.

Remixed by the production duo Two Little Boys—consisting of Amadeus Mozart and Guy Garrett—this version takes the familiar and flips it into something completely unexpected. Driven by punchy house rhythms, bright keyboard stabs, and a playful Eurodance sensibility, the remix leans fully into early ‘90s club culture while never losing sight of what makes the original special.

And that’s really the magic here.

Campbell’s unmistakable vocal remains front and center, gliding effortlessly over the upbeat production. It shouldn’t work—but somehow it absolutely does. The contrast between the earnest, storytelling vocal and the carefree, almost novelty-style dance backing gives the track a unique charm that’s hard to resist.

Like many Mastermix exclusives, this remix wasn’t commercially released in the traditional sense. Instead, it lived its life in DJ booths and on promo compilations, making it a bit of a hidden gem for collectors and remix enthusiasts alike.

This custom 12″ imagines what a proper promotional pressing might have looked like at the time—something you could easily picture spinning in a UK club circa 1992, tucked between house anthems and pop-dance crossovers.

A rhinestone cowboy… on the dancefloor.

Stranger things have happened—but not many this fun.

A Bit Of Fun

As a bonus, I had a little fun with this one and put together a BTG Radio Edit—a shorter, more to-the-point mix that trims things down without losing the charm of the remix.

Hope y’all like it, partner.

See what I did there? 🤠

SIDE A:
Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy (Bontempi ’92 Remix) 4:21
DJ Mix [Megamix] –Two Little Boys

SIDE B:
Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy (BTG Rides Again Edit) 2:54
Remix Edit – DjPaulT

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Music Factory – MFMM77
Series: Music Factory Mastermix Issue – 77
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1992
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Eurodance

CREDITS:

Art Direction, Design – DjPaulT

NOTES:
SIDE A: Taken from Music Factory Mastermix Issue – 77

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