Tag: US

July 10, 2025

The Cover Girls – Inside Outside (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

💔 “You turn me inside out, you leave me outside in…”

Emotion, melody, and beat—freestyle heartbreak at its finest.

Today on Burning the Ground, we’re diving into a stone-cold freestyle gem from The Cover Girls—“Inside Outside.” Released in 1988 as the third single from their debut album Show Me, this track captures everything that made freestyle one of the defining dance genres of the late ’80s: high drama, lush synths, and an infectious rhythm you couldn’t escape on dance floors from NYC to Miami.

By this point, The Cover Girls—originally Angel Clivillés, Caroline Jackson, and Sunshine Wright—were riding high off the success of earlier singles like Show Me and Because of You. Inside Outside continued the streak, reaching #12 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and making its way onto the Hot 100, where it peaked at #55—a testament to freestyle’s growing mainstream appeal in 1988.

Song & Production
Written by Alex Cabrera, Andy Tripoli, and Tony Moran, “Inside Outside” marked a pivotal moment for The Cover Girls. While not as mainstream as their future crossover ballads, it still reached #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and soared to #12 on the Dance Club Songs chart, earning heavy rotation in clubs and on mixshows across the country.

The 12″ single on Fever Records was a DJ’s dream, featuring a fierce Extended Mix alongside a Drumapella and two Dub versions. The track was mixed by Andy “Panda” Tripoli and The Latin Rascals, whose legendary tape-edit techniques are on full display. Sharp edits, rhythmic dropouts, and echo-laden vocals turn the Extended Mix into a peak-hour freestyle workout.

Legacy
While not as commercially dominant as some of their later crossover hits, Inside Outside has earned its place as a freestyle essential—a track that’s still spun at old-school nights and freestyle festivals to this day. Its mix of heartbreak and high energy is a perfect example of why this era and genre continue to resonate with so many fans decades later.

There was no music video filmed for this single.

SIDE A:
Inside Outside 6:48
Inside Outside (Drumapella) 5:37

SIDE B:
Inside Outside (Dub 1) 6:29
Inside Outside (Dub 2) 5:27

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Inside Outside	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#55
1988	Inside Outside	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Songs	#12

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Fever Records – SF 824
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle

CREDITS:

Design [Album Design] – Mendel*
Edited By – Chep Nunez*, Dennis Muyet
Executive-Producer – Sal Abbatiello
Hair [Hair Stylist] – Francel Montane
Lacquer Cut By [Runout Etching ¢] – Tom Coyne
Make-Up – Be-nard Giles
Mixed By, Producer – Andy “Panda” Tripoli, The Latin Rascals
Photography By – Patrick Pacheco
Written-By – A. Cabrera*, A. Tripoli*, T. Moran*

NOTES:
Jacket made in Canada

Edited for SoS Entertainment

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

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.

July 9, 2025

Joyce “Fenderella” Irby – Mr. D.J. (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

“Mr. D.J.” marked the solo breakout for Klymaxx founding member Joyce “Fenderella” Irby—bass player, songwriter, and all-around groove generator. Coming off her years of success with “I Miss You” and “Meeting in the Ladies Room,” Joyce hit the late ’80s club scene with this funk-driven jam featuring none other than the Original Human Beatbox, Doug E. Fresh.

Released in 1989 as the lead single from her debut solo LP Maximum Thrust, the track kicks off with Doug E.’s unmistakable vocal percussion before sliding into Joyce’s sweet and soulful plea for the DJ to keep her dancing. It’s an early example of R&B merging with hip-hop elements—before it became the mainstream formula.

The track was co-produced by Dallas Austin, who Joyce helped launch into the industry. He’d go on to produce hits for TLC, Boyz II Men, and Madonna—but this is where it all started.

“Mr. D.J.” hit #2 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and cracked the Dance charts too. It’s infectious, smartly produced, and undeniably funky.

This 12″ mix stretches the groove for the dancefloor, extending Doug E.’s beatbox breakdowns and giving the instrumental room to breathe. If you love that New Jack swing/R&B/hip-hop crossover sound of ’88–’90, this one deserves a spot in your rotation.

SIDE A:
Mr. D.J. (Extended Version) 6:32
Featuring – Doug E. Fresh

SIDE B:
Mr. D.J. (Radio Edit) 4:07
Featuring – Doug E. Fresh

Mr. D.J. (Instrumental) 6:10

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	Mr. D.J.	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#2
1989	Mr. D.J.	U.S. Billboard Dance Music / Club Play	#23

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Motown – MOT-4634
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk / Soul
Style: Contemporary R&B

CREDITS:

Arranged By – Dallas Austin, Fenderella*
Executive Producer – Jheryl Busby, Joyce “Fenderella” Irby
Producer – Fenderella*
Remix – Timmy Regisford

NOTES:
Produced for Diva I Productions

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.

June 23, 2025

Quarterflash – Walking On Ice (Remix) (US 12″ Promo) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

🌈 Pride Month – Off the Beaten Path 🌈

Every June, I like to mix things up a bit — blending the obvious Pride floor-fillers with songs that carry an emotional weight, or simply capture the spirit of resilience, intensity, and passion that defines so much of the LGBTQ+ experience. Today’s post is one of those unconventional choices.

This is the 1985 single remix of Quarterflash’s “Walking on Ice,” taken from their third studio album, Back Into Blue.

Released on Geffen Records, this version was featured on both the 7″ single and a rare US 12″ promo sent to radio stations. The remix is subtle yet effective, smoothing out the original album version and giving it a more polished, radio-friendly edge without losing the moody tension that makes the song so compelling.

Quarterflash, fronted by the incredible Rindy Ross, were known for their fusion of rock, pop, and that unmistakable saxophone. While they’re most associated with early hits like “Harden My Heart,” it’s songs like “Walking on Ice” that reveal their darker, more emotionally complex side.

“I walk on ice, I play with fire / For loving you, baby, I’d dance on wire…”

The lyrics paint a picture of love as risk, as danger — a balancing act that many LGBTQ+ listeners, especially those who came of age in the ’80s, will recognize all too well—loving boldly, despite fear. Risking it all to be true to yourself. These are Pride themes, even if they come wrapped in a rock ballad rather than a club banger.

🎧 This remix may not be flashy or well-known, but it has a place in the Pride Month soundtrack — a moment to reflect, to feel, and to remember that Pride isn’t just about celebration. It’s also about survival, truth, and heart.

SIDE A:
Walking On Ice (Remix) 3:46

SIDE B:
Walking On Ice (Remix) 3:46

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records – PRO-A-2400
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Producer – Steve Levine
Remix – Mike Shipley
Written-By – Marv Ross

NOTES:
Promotion Copy – Not For Sale

From the Quarterflash album “Back Into Blue”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

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.

June 17, 2025

Depeche Mode – Strangelove (US 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: July 22, 2013

Today’s Pride Month post dives deep into one of Depeche Mode’s most seductive and emotionally tangled singles: “Strangelove.” Originally released in 1987 as the lead single from Music for the Masses, it marked a sonic and thematic shift for the band—moody, magnetic, and rich with contradiction.

“Strangelove” is all about duality—desire vs. guilt, pleasure as pain, salvation wrapped in sin. And for anyone who’s ever loved in secret, or wrestled with their identity in the shadows, lines like “I give in to sin because I like to practice what I preach” hit like a thunderclap. At a time when queer love was often hidden or coded, Depeche Mode gave us a space to feel seen, without ever having to say it outright.

For today’s post, I’m spinning the 1988 U.S. 12″ of “Strangelove”—a stateside-exclusive remix known as the Highjack Remix, remixed by Bomb the Bass. It’s a version that takes the original’s dark sensuality and launches it into overdrive: thumping bass, fractured samples, and a jacked-up energy that’s ready for the club floor and the mirrorball of your mind.

The B-side features a standout too—“Nothing (Zip-Hop Mix)”—remixed by the legendary Justin Strauss. Sleek, rhythmic, and full of low-end bounce, it’s one of those understated Depeche tracks that quietly demands your attention.

This 12″ remains a fan favorite and club essential. It peaked at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #24 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 1988, but more importantly—it struck a deep chord. It became an anthem not just for synth lovers, but for anyone navigating the gray zones of desire, shame, and self-discovery.

For Pride Month, “Strangelove” stands as a reminder that identity and emotion are rarely simple—and that’s where their power lies. Depeche Mode has long held a special place in LGBTQ+ hearts, offering music that embraces complexity, intensity, and unflinching honesty.

SIDE A:
Strangelove (Highjack Remix) 6:31
Remix – Bomb The Bass

Strangelove (Remix Edit) 3:50
Remix – Bomb The Bass

SIDE B:
Nothing (Zip-Hop Mix) 7:03
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Hugo Dwyer
Programmed By [Additional] – Eric Kupper
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss

Nothing (Dub) 6:38
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Hugo Dwyer
Programmed By [Additional] – Eric Kupper
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Justin Strauss

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	Strangelove (1988)	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#50
1988	Strangelove (1988)	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	#24

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-21022, Sire – 9 21022-0, Mute – 0-21022, Mute – 9 21022-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: Aug 23, 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Design, Photography – T&CP Assoc.*
Producer – David Bascomb*, Depeche Mode
Written-By – M.L. Gore*

NOTES:
Also known as Strangelove ’88.

The mix of track B1 is also known as “Justin Strauss Mix”

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.