Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today, we’re stepping into the smooth, late-80s/early-90s pop world of Breathe, the English band best known for their soft-focus, heartfelt hits “Hands to Heaven” and “How Can I Fall?” But in 1990, as the group tried to evolve their sound and keep pace with a new decade, they released the underrated “Say a Prayer.”

While not as widely remembered as their earlier chart-toppers, “Say a Prayer” stands out as one of Breathe’s most confident singles—lush, melodic, and built around David Glasper’s unmistakably warm and soulful voice. It was the lead single from their second and final album, Peace of Mind. In the U.S. the track reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, giving the band one last significant moment on American radio.

The Sound

“Say a Prayer” is classic early-90s adult contemporary pop—smooth keys, soft rhythmic guitar, a steady mid-tempo beat, and that signature late-80s sheen that still had one foot in the previous decade. Glasper’s vocals carry the whole thing: emotionally direct without being over-the-top, and full of that breathy, intimate quality that helped Breathe stand out from their peers.

Lyrically, the song continues the band’s familiar themes—love, hope, longing—but with a slightly more mature tone than their 1988 material. If “Hands to Heaven” was the dream-pop ballad and “How Can I Fall?” was the heartbreak moment, “Say a Prayer” feels like the hopeful resolution.

Why It Matters

“Say a Prayer” didn’t reach the iconic status of Breathe’s earlier hits, but it has aged remarkably well. It’s one of those turn-of-the-decade singles that beautifully captures the transition from 80s pop romanticism into the sleek sound of the early 90s.

For fans of the band—or anyone who loves exquisitely crafted pop with emotional sincerity—“Say a Prayer” is a gem worth revisiting. Its warm production, thoughtful lyrics, and Glasper’s gorgeous vocal delivery make it a perfect reminder of why Breathe’s catalog continues to resonate long after their short time in the spotlight.

If you grew up with their music (or discovered them later), this one hits all the right nostalgic notes.

SIDE A:
Say A Prayer (Save My Soul 12″) 6:32
Say A Prayer (Save My Soul Dub) 5:47
Say A Prayer (LP Version) 3:49

SIDE B:
Say A Prayer (Oh Mercy! House 12″) 6:33
Say A Prayer (Oh Mercy! House Dub) 6:10
Say A Prayer (Oh! Mercy! House 7″) 3:52

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records – 75021 2337 1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: House

CREDITS:

• Edited By – Chep Nunez*
• Producer – Bob Sargeant, Breathe (3)
• Producer [Additional], Remix – Daniel Abraham (tracks: A1, A2)
• Programmed By [Keyboard Programming] – Merv DePeyer*
• Written-By – David Glasper, Marcus Lillington

NOTES:
Original version appears on the A&M album, cassette & compact disc “Peace Of Mind”

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

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