Tag: US

March 26, 2026

Joey Lawrence – Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix (US 12″) (1993)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

At the height of early ’90s pop, when teen idols were crossing over from television screens to radio playlists, Joey Lawrence made his musical debut with the infectious single Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix. Released on February 15, 1993, via MCA Records subsidiary Impact Records, the track introduced a 16-year-old Lawrence to the pop music landscape with a polished, radio-ready sound that perfectly captured the era.

Built around a bright, new jack swing–influenced groove and an undeniably catchy hook, “Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix” leans into the optimistic, feel-good energy that dominated early ’90s Top 40. It’s the kind of track that feels tailor-made for repeat spins—light, melodic, and effortlessly charming, much like Lawrence’s on-screen persona at the time.

The single made a respectable entrance on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at #68 on March 6, 1993. From there, it steadily climbed over a 20-week chart run, eventually peaking at #19 on May 8, 1993—no small feat for a debut single from a teen actor making the leap into music. Across the Atlantic, the song performed even better, reaching #13 on the UK Singles Chart, further cementing its international appeal.

Lifted from his self-titled debut album Joey Lawrence, the single remains the standout hit from his brief recording career. While many actor-turned-singers struggled to find credibility, Lawrence managed to carve out a genuine pop moment, thanks in part to strong production and a sound that fit seamlessly alongside contemporaries of the time.

Looking back, “Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix” is a perfect snapshot of 1993—an era when pop was playful, hooks were king, and teen idols could still dominate both TV and the charts. For those who lived through it, the track delivers a warm dose of nostalgia; for new listeners, it’s a reminder of a time when pop music didn’t take itself too seriously—and didn’t need to.

Whether you remember it from heavy radio rotation or are discovering it for the first time, this one still hits with that unmistakable early ’90s charm.

SIDE A:
Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix (Album Version) 4:05
Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix (D. Abraham Slam Mix) 4:01

SIDE B:
Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix (D. Abraham Alternate Extended Mix) 5:15

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Joey Lawrence: *Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix* (1993)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#19	1993
US Billboard Top 40 / Mainstream	#10	1993
US Billboard Top 40 / Rhythm Crossover	#34	1993
Canada (RPM)	#50	1993
UK Singles Chart	#13	1993
Australia (ARIA)	#68	1993
Ireland (RMA)	#22	1993

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label:mpact Records (3) – IPT12-54584, Impact Records (3) – IPT12 54584
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1993
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: New Jack Swing, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Executive-Producer – Randy Nicklaus
Executive-Producer, Producer – Steve Barri
Keyboards – Andy Marvell*
Producer – Tony Peluso
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Daniel Abraham (tracks: A2, B)
Producer, Written-By – Alexandra Forbes, Eric Beall
Written-By – Joey Lawrence

NOTES:
Original version appears on the self-titled Joey Lawrence album

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-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

**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.

March 25, 2026

Louie Louie – Sittin’ In The Lap Of Luxury (US 12″) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

The late ‘80s and early ‘90s were filled with larger-than-life personalities, and few embodied that flashy, genre-blending spirit quite like Louie Louie. A singer, dancer, and actor with undeniable charisma, Louie Louie carved out a unique space in pop with his 1990 hit “Sittin’ in the Lap of Luxury.” Now, with the news of his passing on March 20 at the age of 63, it feels like the right moment to revisit the song that brought him into the Top 40—and into the memories of pop fans everywhere.

Released as the lead single from his debut album The State I’m In, “Sittin’ in the Lap of Luxury” perfectly captured the slick, polished sound of its era. Built on a groove that blends pop, dance, and a touch of new jack swing attitude, the track showcased Louie Louie’s confident vocal style and flair for theatrical delivery. It wasn’t just a song—it was a statement. And audiences responded.

The single became Louie Louie’s only entry into the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, peaking at #19 in 1990. While he never repeated that level of mainstream chart success, the track remains a defining moment of his recording career—a glossy, infectious anthem of indulgence and ambition that still sounds right at home alongside the era’s biggest dance-pop hits.

Before his recording career took off, Louie Louie paid his dues as a dancer in Las Vegas, where he honed the stage presence that would later define his performances. That same charisma caught the attention of pop royalty—he famously appeared as the love interest in Madonna’s iconic 1984 video for “Borderline,” a role that gave him early exposure on MTV and helped establish his on-screen appeal.

By the time he stepped into the spotlight as a recording artist, Louie Louie had already built a strong visual identity—and that carried over into the music video for “Sittin’ in the Lap of Luxury.” Directed by a then up-and-coming Michael Bay, the clip is a stylish, high-energy affair filled with striking imagery and attitude, hinting at the cinematic flair Bay would later bring to Hollywood blockbusters.

Over the years, Louie Louie released four albums and even found himself connected to the orbit of Prince through collaborations tied to the Paisley Park scene. While he never became a household name on the level of his contemporaries, his work reflects a fascinating cross-section of late ‘80s pop—where dance, R&B, and visual storytelling collided in bold, colorful ways.

“Sittin’ in the Lap of Luxury” stands today as both a time capsule and a testament: a reminder of an artist who brought style, ambition, and undeniable presence to everything he did. With his recent passing, the song takes on an added poignancy—capturing Louie Louie at his brightest, living out the very dream he sang about.

For those who remember it, it’s a nostalgic return to a vibrant moment in pop history. And for those discovering it now, it’s a perfect introduction to an artist who, if only for a moment, truly sat in the lap of luxury.

SIDE A:
Sittin’ In The Lap Of Luxury (Sheps Jam – Louie’s Fav) 6:48
Sittin’ In The Lap Of Luxury (Shep’s Dub Deluxe) 6:40

SIDE B:
Sittin’ In The Lap Of Luxury (Shep’s / Dizzy Acid Mix) 5:06
Sittin’ In The Lap Of Luxury (Urban 7″) 4:14
Sittin’ In The Lap Of Luxury (Shep’s Shortcut) 4:26

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Louie Louie: *Sittin’ In The Lap Of Luxury* (1990)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
US Billboard Hot 100	#19	1990
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play	#11	1990
US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles Sales	#17	1990
US Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Singles	#74	1990
Australia (ARIA)	#51	1990
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	#34	1990

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: WTG Records – 41 73168
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: New Jack Swing, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Edited By – Tony Shimkin
Engineer [Remix] – Goh Hotoda
Producer – Frankie Blue, Les Pierce
Programmed By – Alan Friedman
Remix – Shep Pettibone
Written-By – Les Pierce, Louie Louie (2)

Also available: “The State I’m In” on WTG cassettes, compact discs and records.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.

March 24, 2026

Donna Lee – Do Or Die (US 12″) (1990)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Reader Request Spotlight
Made possible by a generous donation to acquire the vinyl for this post—thank you for supporting Burning the Ground.

By 1990, the freestyle movement that had dominated dance floors throughout the latter half of the ’80s was beginning to shift. The raw electro-Latin pulse that fueled classics from the genre’s golden era was gradually giving way to a sleeker, more house-influenced sound. It was in this transitional moment that Donna Lee emerged with her club-driven single “Do Or Die.”

Released on CBS Associated Records, “Do Or Die” fits squarely into that late-period freestyle mold—polished production, extended club arrangements, and a clear focus on DJs rather than radio. The single was produced by Ritchie Jones, whose work has spanned artists such as Taylor Dayne, Jennifer Lopez, Brenda K. Starr, and Paul Lekakis—adding notable pedigree to an otherwise under-the-radar release.

The standout “Clubhouse Mix” leans heavily into the evolving sound of the time, blending freestyle’s emotional vocal delivery with tighter house rhythms and layered synth textures. Meanwhile, the dub mixes strip things down for mixing flexibility—offering percussion-heavy breakdowns, extended intros, and instrumental passages that made records like this essential tools in club sets.

While Donna Lee never achieved the visibility of freestyle heavyweights like Trinere or Denine—artists who managed to break into broader recognition and even release full-length albums—her output represents a different but equally important side of the genre. She appears to have released only a handful of singles, with no known full album, placing her firmly in the category of freestyle’s lost voices—artists whose work lived primarily on vinyl and in the clubs.

That context makes “Do Or Die” all the more compelling. It’s not a crossover hit or a radio staple—it’s a DJ record, built for late-night sets, where extended mixes mattered and the dance floor dictated success. Records like this were often pressed in limited quantities, distributed to DJs and specialty shops, and rarely documented beyond their physical releases.

Freestyle itself was still thriving regionally at the time—especially in cities like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles—though by the early ’90s it would begin to fade from mainstream attention as house and other dance styles took over . That places “Do Or Die” right at the tail end of an era—one foot in freestyle’s emotional core, the other stepping toward the future of club music.

Today, the single stands as a deep-cut artifact of freestyle’s final chapter—the kind of record that never left the underground but continues to resonate with collectors and DJs who appreciate the genre’s evolution.

If you were digging through bins in the early ’90s, this is exactly the kind of record you hoped to find—something unfamiliar, mysterious, and built strictly for the dance floor.

And sometimes, those are the ones that last the longest.

SIDE A:
Do Or Die (Clubhouse Mix) 7:06
Do Or Die (“Do” Dub) 7:44

SIDE B:
Do Or Die (Crossover Mix) 4:42
Do Or Die (“Die” Dub) 5:02

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS Associated Records – 45 73367
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Freestyle

CREDITS:

Edited By [Edits By] – Chep Nuñez
Engineer [Engineered By] – Mario “Not Rude” Rodriguez*
Executive-Producer – Dr. Cool (4), Timothy “T.K.” Olphie*
Keyboards, Overdubbed By [Overdubs] – Eric Kupper
Producer – Danny Obadia, John Beltzer
Recorded By – Billy Esses*
Remix [Remix By] – Richie Jones
Written-By – D. Obadia*, J. Beltzer*

NOTES:
Manufactured and Distributed By CBS Records / CBS Inc. / 51 W 52 Street, New York, N.Y.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.

March 19, 2026

Newton – Sky High (US 12″) (1994)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In the mid-90s, when Eurodance and pop covers were dominating the charts, an unexpected revival of a 70s classic found its way back onto dance floors—this time with a glossy, Hi-NRG sheen.

British singer and former firefighter William Newton Myers—better known as Newton—stepped into the spotlight in 1994 with his debut single, a remake of Sky High, originally recorded by Jigsaw in 1975.

Produced by the hitmaking team of Mike Stock and Matt Aitken—best known for their work as part of the Stock Aitken Waterman empire—this 90s version of “Sky High” trades the original’s orchestral drama for a bright, synth-driven dance arrangement tailor-made for clubs and radio alike.

Interestingly, what began as a one-off studio project had deeper ties to the original than most covers. The track actually features vocals by Des Dyer, the original voice behind the 1975 hit. He even appears in the music video, bridging the gap between eras. Following the single’s success, Myers himself was brought forward as the face—and voice—of the project, giving it a consistent identity moving forward.

And success it was. “Sky High” climbed to No. 8 in Australia in April 1995, earning a gold certification and proving that a well-produced cover could still capture the public’s imagination nearly two decades after the original’s release.

Newton would go on to build a career largely centered around reimagining familiar songs for a new generation, finding particular success in markets like Australia, the UK, and Brazil. His polished vocal style and accessible dance productions made him a reliable presence in 90s pop.

In 1998, he released his debut album, Sweetest Secret, further cementing his place in the era’s pop landscape.

While purists may always favor the original, Newton’s “Sky High” stands as a perfect example of 90s nostalgia done right—respectful of its source, yet updated with enough energy and style to feel fresh all over again. For many club-goers of the time, this was their version—and it still soars.

SIDE A:
Sky High (Radio Edit) 3:58
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Peter Day
Mixed By – Seth & Jess Thethub
Written-By – C. Scott, D. Dyer

Sky High (Hiza Kite Mix) 6:48
Mixed By – Mobius Loop
Written-By – C. Scott, D. Dyer

SIDE B:
Sky High (Kaiser Height Mix) 6:28
Mixed By – The Red Baron
Written-By – C. Scott, D. Dyer

Up, Down Round & Round 3:51
Mixed By – Neon (15)
Written-By – J. Gingell, M. Stock, M. Aitken

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

Chart Performance – Newton: *Sky High* (1994)
Chart	Peak Position	Date
Australia (Kent Report)	#8	1994
UK Singles	#56	1994

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Critique – 01624 15536-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1994
Genre: Electronic
Style: Euro House

CREDITS:

Engineer – Peter Day
Engineer [Assisted By] – Dean Murphy
Musician – J. Gingell*, M. Stock, M. Aitken*
Producer [Uncredited] – Stock/Aitken

NOTES:
The label mistakenly credits Peter Day as the producer, but the correct producer and Peter Day’s actual role are listed above.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

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.