Tag: US

June 3, 2025

Donna Summer – This Time I Know It’s For Real (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

The Queen of Disco meets the Kings of Hi-NRG.

To kick off Pride Month with absolute euphoria, I’m posting one of Donna Summer’s finest late-’80s dance anthems—“This Time I Know It’s For Real”. Released in 1989, this track marked a bold comeback and a stunning collaboration with UK production powerhouse Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW). And yes—it still hits.

After years of genre-hopping in the ’80s, Donna returned to her roots on the dancefloor with this glossy, synth-loaded smash. It climbed to #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a major hit worldwide—her first UK Top 10 in almost a decade.

The 12″ version stretches the joy a little longer, and if you grew up hearing this in the clubs—or maybe roller-skating under mirror balls—it’s pure serotonin. For many of us, Donna Summer wasn’t just a disco icon; she was a spiritual mother of the dancefloor. Her music was freedom, sweat, style, and everything Pride stands for.

This song is also a nod to new beginnings—proof that it’s never too late for a second act, for reinvention, for love that finally feels real.

🌈 Pride Month Note:
There’s no better way to honor Pride than by turning up a Donna Summer track—because whether you were on the floor at Studio 54 or twirling in your bedroom, her voice gave us permission to feel fabulous, free, and fearless.

Happy Pride. Long live the Queen. Turn it UP.

SIDE A:
This Time I Know It’s For Real (Extended Remix) 7:22
Written-By – Summer, Stock Aitken Waterman

SIDE B:
If It Makes You Feel Good (LP Version) 3:45
Written-By – Stock Aitken Waterman*

This Time I Know It’s For Real (Instrumental) 3:34
Written-By – Summer, Stock Aitken Waterman

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	This Time I Know It’s For Real	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#7
1989	This Time I Know It’s For Real	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#2
1989	This Time I Know It’s For Real	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs	#5
1989	This Time I Know It’s For Real	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic – 0-86415
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Backing Vocals – Dee Lewis, Mae McKenna, Mike Stock
Design – David Howells
Drums – A Linn*
Engineer – Karen Hewitt, Yoyo
Guitar – Matt Aitken
Hair – Andrene
Keyboards – George De Angelis, Matt Aitken, Mike Stock
Mixed By – Mixmaster Pete Hammond*
Photography By – Lawrence Lawry
Producer – Stock, Aitken & Waterman
Stylist [Styling] – Kelly Cooper

NOTES:
Recorded at PWL

Printed in U.S.A.

A. Remixed from Atlantic LP 81987 – “Another Place And Time”
B1. From Atlantic LP 81987 – “Another Place And Time”

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

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.

May 30, 2025

Grace Jones – I Need A Man (US 12″ Promo) (1977)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: October 4, 2011

“I’m looking for a real man… Strong hands, sweet lips, a warm heart!”

Before she was a New Wave fashion icon, avant-garde provocateur, and the fierce dominatrix of the 1980s, Grace Jones made her dance floor debut with the bold and unapologetically funky “I Need A Man.” Released in 1975 in France and later re-recorded for the U.S. market in 1977, this track marked the beginning of her transformation into a queer and club culture legend.

Originally written by Pierre Papadiamandis and Paul Slade and first released as a B-side, “I Need A Man” got a second life when it was reworked for the burgeoning disco scene. The 12-inch version—especially the U.S. promo pressing on Beam Junction/Island—delivered a punchier, extended arrangement that became a favorite in underground gay clubs, particularly in New York’s vibrant disco scene. It quickly gained momentum, ultimately landing Grace her first #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1977.

Produced by disco pioneer Tom Moulton, the remix retained all the raw sensuality of the original while dialing up the groove and extending it to nearly 8 minutes of funk-fueled seduction. With her commanding presence and deep contralto, Jones doesn’t just ask for a man—she demands one, flipping the script on gender dynamics and asserting herself with the kind of dominance that would soon become her signature.

The track’s thumping bassline, rhythm guitar licks, and gospel-inspired backing vocals give it a distinctly pre-disco feel—almost like a bridge between glam rock and Studio 54—making it one of the more unique dance singles of the mid-’70s.

This release would be the first in a string of club hits for Grace, laying the groundwork for her 1977 debut album Portfolio, and eventually leading to her more experimental collaborations with Sly & Robbie and Jean-Paul Goude in the ’80s. But it all started here—with a simple, sultry, and powerful declaration: “I Need A Man.”

If you’ve only known Grace Jones from her more aggressive ’80s output like “Pull Up to the Bumper” or “Slave to the Rhythm,” this early disco gem shows a different side of her artistry—flirtatious, fearless, and already way ahead of her time.

SIDE A:
I Need A Man (Disco Mix) 7:37

SIDE B:
I Need A Man (Instrumental Version) 4:57

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1977	I Need A Man	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#83
1977	I Need A Man	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance / Disco	#1

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Beam Junction – 12-BJ 1004
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco

CREDITS:

Artwork – Richard Bernstein
Mastered By – José Rodriguez
Producer, Mixed By – Tom Moulton

NOTES:
“A TOM MOULTON MIX”
Promotional Copy Not For Sale
Made In U.S.A.

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

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.

May 28, 2025

Information Society – What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Special Radio Promo) (US 12″ Promo) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

“Pure energy…”

Bursting onto the late-’80s synthpop and freestyle scene with a sound that was futuristic, funky, and fueled by digital obsession, Information Society made their mark with the infectious 1988 hit “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy).” Blending electronic dance rhythms with sci-fi aesthetics and a now-iconic sample from Star Trek, the track became an enduring staple of club culture and pop radio alike.

🚀 A New Wave of Synth

Formed in Minneapolis and later based in New York, Information Society fused the sharp, sequenced sensibility of synthpop with the bass-heavy grooves of freestyle and electro. Produced by Fred Maher and Paul Robb, “What’s On Your Mind” showcases the band’s flair for melodic hooks layered over state-of-the-art digital programming—cutting-edge for its time.

The track prominently features vocal samples of Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock, licensed from Star Trek, delivering the phrase “pure energy,” which gave the song its subtitle. It was an early example of a pop hit using prominent sampling not just as texture, but as a hook.

📈 Chart Success

“What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Dance Club Songs chart in 1988. It marked the band’s commercial breakthrough and remains their signature song. The track also helped establish Tommy Boy Records as a label at the forefront of electronic dance music in the U.S.

🎧 Timeless Techno-Romanticism

At its core, “What’s On Your Mind” is about communication breakdown in relationships—wrapped in shiny digital armor. It’s cold, clinical, and emotional all at once. With its clever use of sci-fi sampling and dancefloor drive, it captured the moment when synthpop crossed into the mainstream without losing its cool.

💿 About This Promo

While I’ve previously featured the commercial US 12″ single, this Special Radio Promo offers something a bit more exclusive—two rare radio edits that were originally scattered across various formats, including cassette singles and promotional CDs.

This promo was never commercially released, pressed in limited quantities strictly for radio station use. Designed to boost airplay, it features tailored edits that are harder to find and a must-have for collectors and completists alike.

This promo was issued in a TB 911 commercial retail picture sleeve with a cut in the corner; the back cover lists the tracks incorrectly.

SIDE A:
What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Pure Energy Mix) 4:35
Mixed By – Fred Maher, Roey Shamir

What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Pure Energy Radio Edit) 3:35
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Mixed By – Fred Maher, Roey Shamir

SIDE B:
What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Club Radio Edit) 3:19
Edited By – Chep Nunez, The Latin Rascals
Mixed By – “Little” Louie Vega, Roman Ricardo

What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (Club Mix) 7:58
Edited By – The Latin Rascals
Mixed By – “Little” Louie Vega*, Roman Ricardo

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988-89	What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#3
1988-89	What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	#10
1988-89	What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1988-89	What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Maxi-Singles Sales	#2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Tommy Boy – TB 911 PRO
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Retail Sleeve
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Arranged By, Programmed By – Fred Maher, Paul Robb
Producer – Fred Maher
Written-By – K. Valaquen*, P. Robb*

NOTES:
Special radio Promo

Tracks are listed incorrectly on the sleeve.

From the album “INFORMATION SOCIETY”

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.

May 27, 2025

OMD – Sailing On The Seven Seas (US 12″ Promo) (1992)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Released in the UK on 18 March 1991, “Sailing on the Seven Seas” was the lead single from OMD’s eighth studio album, Sugar Tax. It marked a new chapter for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, as founding member Andy McCluskey carried on the band name as a solo venture following the departure of co-founder Paul Humphreys.

Bold and unexpectedly bombastic, the track blends OMD’s pop-electronic roots with glam rock swagger. With lyrical nods to Sister Ray by The Velvet Underground and My Generation by The Who, McCluskey described the sound as “OMD goes glam rock.” The result is a hook-heavy, dancefloor-ready anthem that injected new life into the band’s career.

The single was a major success, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart, their biggest hit since “Souvenir” in 1981. It also found favor on U.S. dance floors, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Dance Chart—despite not receiving a full commercial release in the States. In the U.S., “Sailing on the Seven Seas” was issued only as a 12” promotional vinyl and a cassette single, making its chart success there even more impressive.

A powerful reinvention and a statement of resilience, “Sailing on the Seven Seas” proved that OMD could navigate the shifting tides of the early ’90s music scene—and still come out riding high.

SIDE A:
Dancing On The Seven Seas 4:44
Engineer [Engineered By] – Phil Coxen*

Sailing On The Seven Seas (Larrabee Mix) 3:55
Remix [Remixed By] – Alan Meyerson

Sailing On The Seven Seas (Original Mix) 3:45

SIDE B:
Sailing On The Seven Seas (Extended Mix) 5:45
Floating On The Seven Seas 4:45

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1982	Sailing On The Seven Seas	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – DMD 1802
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Engineer [Engineered By] – Guy Forrester (tracks: B1 to B2)
Producer [Produced By], Written-By – OMD*
Written-By – Kershaw*

NOTES:
Sticker:
Orgasmic Musical Delights
Here’s 3 uptempo and 2 sleaze remixes of Sailing On The Seven Seas
Get Ready To Dance!

Promotional Copy – Not For Sale

Original version available on Sugar Tax on Virgin Cassettes and Compact Discs. 91715

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.