Burning The Ground Exclusive
After spending the first two entries of Ladies Of The 80s: Soundtrack Edition with the blockbuster Footloose soundtrack, I thought it was time to move toward something a little less obvious.
“Whole Wide World” by A’mé Lorain may not be tied to a movie as famous as Footloose, but the record became a major hit on its own and remains one of the most infectious pop singles released during the closing months of the 1980s.
The song appeared on the soundtrack to True Love, a 1989 independent comedy directed by Nancy Savoca and starring Annabella Sciorra and Ron Eldard. Set within an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, the film follows an engaged couple as wedding plans, family expectations, and second thoughts begin to test their relationship. True Love opened in October 1989 and won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
“Whole Wide World” was written by Arnie Roman and Elliot Wolff, with Wolff also handling the production. Wolff was on quite a roll at the time, having recently written and produced Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” and “Cold Hearted.” You can hear some of that same late-80s pop precision here, with tightly programmed rhythms, bright keyboards, and a chorus built to stay in your head.
From its opening seconds, “Whole Wide World” has an energy that sits right on the border between the 1980s and 1990s. The synthesizers and polished pop production are firmly rooted in the late 80s, while the beat points toward the New Jack Swing sound that was quickly taking over radio and dance floors.
A’mé Lorain’s vocal is playful, confident, and full of personality. She delivers the song with the excitement of someone who has fallen so completely in love that keeping it quiet is no longer an option. She wants everyone to know, and by the time the chorus arrives, she has probably convinced the listener to help spread the news.
It is pure pop, and it works.
A’mé Lorain was born Amy Trujillo and performed with The Family Affair, which included her brother Freddy Trujillo on bass and her then-husband Victor Indrizzo on guitar and drums. The group released the wonderfully titled album Starring In…Standing In A Monkey Sea on RCA Records in 1989. “Whole Wide World” appeared on both that album and the True Love soundtrack.
Although the record was released in 1989, its greatest chart success came during the spring of 1990. “Whole Wide World” climbed to number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving A’mé Lorain her first and only Top 10 pop hit. It also reached number nine on Billboard’s dance chart and finished at number 95 on the magazine’s year-end Hot 100 listing for 1990.
That chart run makes “Whole Wide World” an interesting choice for an 80s series. The single belongs to the decade by release date, but its success arrived just as the calendar turned. It captures that brief period when the sound and style of the late 80s continued moving forward before the new decade developed an identity of its own.
The film itself has become more of a cult favorite than a widely remembered box-office hit. The song followed a different path. Many listeners who have never seen True Love still remember “Whole Wide World” from radio, MTV, clubs, or a long-forgotten cassette recorded from the weekly countdown.
That is one of the great things about soundtrack singles from this period. A song did not always need the movie to become a hit. Sometimes the soundtrack gave a new artist an opening, radio took over from there, and the record developed a life entirely separate from the film.
“Whole Wide World” also brings a different type of artist into this series. Bonnie Tyler and Deniece Williams were already established stars when their Footloose singles were released. A’mé Lorain was a new face with a debut hit, suddenly competing on the charts alongside some of the biggest names in pop.
Her follow-up single, “Follow My Heartbeat,” reached number 72 on the Hot 100, but the success of “Whole Wide World” was never repeated. That has left the song frozen in a particular moment, colorful, catchy, slightly quirky, and unmistakably connected to the period when the 1980s were making their final exit.
It may not be the first title people think of when discussing great 80s soundtrack singles, but that is exactly why it belongs here.
Sometimes the most enjoyable selections are the ones that make you stop and say, “I had forgotten all about this.”
The whole wide world may not remember A’mé Lorain, but those who heard this record the first time around certainly have not forgotten the song.
SIDE A:
A’me Lorain – Whole Wide World (Elliot Wolff 12″) 5:37
A’me Lorain – Whole Wide World (Radio Mix) 3:51
SIDE B:
A’me Lorain – Whole Wide World (Wingate 12″ House Remix) 7:21
A’me Lorain – Whole Wide World (Wingate House Dub Remix) 6:09
Barrence Whitfield And The Savagess – Stop Twistin’ My Arm 2:52
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart (1990) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 90 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 9 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 37 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 13 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA – 9099-1-RD
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Alternate cover
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Funk / Soul
Style: House, Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, New Jack Swing
CREDITS:
- Edited By – Tuta Aquino (tracks: B1, B2)
- Mixed By, Remix – Mick Guzawski*
- Producer – Mike Costello (tracks: B3), Milton Reder (tracks: B3)
- Producer [Additional], Remix [Additional] – Trevor Bernard (tracks: B1, B2), Wingate (tracks: B1, B2)
- Producer, Arranged By, Remix – Elliot Wolff
NOTES:
Original versions on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album, “True Love,” 9819-1-R
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-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono 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
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: 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
PLEASE READ
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