Burning The Ground Exclusive
When Will To Power’s “Say It’s Gonna Rain” began gaining serious traction in U.S. dance clubs, Epic Records did what the best labels of the era often did: they went back to the multitracks and gave DJs something new to work with.
The result was a second U.S. 12″ single, titled “New Remixes”, released specifically to capitalize on the song’s growing club momentum. Rather than reusing earlier versions, Epic enlisted Justin Strauss and Murray Elias working together, a collaboration that brought a distinctly New York club sensibility to the project.
Together, Strauss and Elias reshaped the track with a clear understanding of dance-floor dynamics. Their remix emphasizes groove and atmosphere, allowing the song to breathe while subtly reinforcing its rhythmic drive. Alyson Williams’ vocal remains the emotional anchor, floating over a more streamlined, club-focused arrangement that feels tailor-made for late-night sets.
What makes this second 12″ particularly notable is its timing. It wasn’t issued as part of the song’s initial release campaign; instead, Epic responded directly to the record’s success in U.S. dance clubs. This kind of reactive release strategy—issuing fresh remixes after a song had already proven itself—was a hallmark of late-’80s club culture.
Today, the “New Remixes” 12″ stands as a snapshot of that moment when labels, remixers, and DJs were in close conversation. It’s not just a follow-up pressing, but a deliberate extension of the song’s life on the dance floor—and a reminder of how collaborative remix work could give a hit single renewed energy and relevance.
SIDE A:
Say It’s Gonna Rain (Popstand Remix) 8:37
Say It’s Gonna Rain (Acid Rain Dub) 6:39
SIDE B:
Say It’s Gonna Rain (Popstand Nueva York Remix) 7:27
Say It’s Gonna Rain (Orange Sunshine Dub) 6:33
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 49 07589
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Freestyle, Electro, House
CREDITS:
- Edited By – Chep Nunez*
- Engineer [Remix] – Hugo Dwyer
- Lacquer Cut By – Vlado*
- Producer – Bob Rosenberg
- Producer [Additional Production], Remix [Re-mix] – Justin Strauss, Murray Elias
- Written-By – B. Rosenberg*
NOTES:
Special Version From The Epic Lp: “Will To Power” FE 40940
Additional production & re-mix for Popstand Productions.
Edited for SOS Productions.
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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Hi Paul – thanks for this. Interested to see you credit the mighty Alyson Williams for vocals on this mix. Just wondered where that info came from – I wasn’t aware she sung with the group. Was it just this one remix she worked with them on? She wasn’t credited on the album. I’m intrigued
Yeah! I was waiting for this one! Love that one so much! Justin Strauss is one of my favourite remixers ever. I sometimes write with him on Instagram! And I congratulated him on his “old-school” new remixes of https://www.discogs.com/release/35008238-Venus-II-Oh-Boy , He has so many wonderful remixes: Tina Turner, Basia, Camouflage for example. Too many to list. But one of my all-time faves of his are the remixes of Deborah Sasson – Passion And Pain. That 12″ is soooooo good. Thanks for Will To Power, dear Paul!
Wow Paul, I don’t think I was even aware of this release!! Like others have mentioned, this really is icing on the cake coming after your last 3 Will To Power transfers! Looking forward to this and a heartfelt thank you!!
Thanks so much! I love when one of these slips under the radar and still gets to surprise people all these years later. 😊 You’re absolutely right — this one really does feel like icing on the cake after the last few Will To Power transfers, and I’m thrilled it’s connecting. Truly appreciate the kind words and the continued support!
Holy wow! Thank you for this one Paul!! What a treat.
After the Will to Power ‘triple feature’ we had recently I totally did not expect this (or any more Will to Power!). Way to keep us all on our toes 🙂
These are some hot remixes. As if the original wasn’t already an amazing track this single really builds on that and creates some really unique sounds. Definitely my favorite recent post!!
Thank you so much, JP! I love keeping everyone a little off balance 😊 — especially when it means more Will To Power sneaks in after that recent triple feature. You’re spot on about these remixes too; they really take an already great track and push it into some wonderfully unexpected places. Hearing that this is your favorite recent post truly means a lot. Thanks for the enthusiasm and for being along for the ride!
Thank you! I love Justin Strauss remixes! I still can’t believe that labels no longer put out remixes, especially when it would be so much easier nowadays to make and release remixes!
You’re very welcome, Axel! Justin Strauss really had (and still has) a gift for knowing exactly how to reshape a track without losing its soul. And I’m right there with you — it’s wild that remixes have largely disappeared as proper releases, especially when today’s tech makes them easier than ever to produce and distribute. Something special definitely got lost when labels stopped treating remixes as an art form in their own right.
Doesn’t get any better than this!! This is another example of how truly phenomenal the 1980s were when it came to dance music and the 12-inch disc!! I loved when the labels were so supportive of following a club record with new mixes. And how wonderful these mixes truly are! And records containing multi-edits made mixes extra special! Chep Nunez was so great and pioneering! I lament his passing to this day!
Thank you DjPaulT for you continually resurrecting the fiercest of mixes! What you do is a blessing to our ears! Grateful is an understatement!!
Jeff
Jeff, your passion leaps off the page! You’ve captured exactly what made the 12-inch era so extraordinary—the labels’ willingness to invest in multiple remixes gave DJs and fans endless ways to experience a track. Chep’s pioneering edits truly set the standard, and it’s moving to see how deeply his work still resonates today.
Thank you for honoring that legacy and for sharing your memories. It’s voices like yours that remind us why we keep resurrecting these mixes: together, we’re not just listening, we’re keeping the rhythm alive. 😊
YES!!! THE BIG THANK YOU!! I so, so, so love the 2 mixes on Side B! Popstand Nueva York Remix at 3:38 to 4:37 just S L A M S! I vividly remember dj’ing as well as being on the floor when that mix dropped! The Orange Sunshine Dub is awesome too. I can’t thank you enough, Paul! p.s. Much props to Chep’s work on this!
Fred, I love how vividly you describe that moment—those Side B mixes really do slam! 🔥 The Popstand Nueva York Remix has that perfect lift where the floor just erupts, and the Orange Sunshine Dub brings such a unique flavor. Your memories of DJ’ing and being on the floor capture exactly why these remixes mattered so much: they weren’t just alternate versions, they were experiences. And yes, Chep’s touch is all over this release—his pioneering edits gave these tracks their edge and ensured they still resonate decades later. Thank you for sharing your excitement and for keeping that spirit alive… Read more »
Yes!!! Thank you so much for posting this, Paul! I love it! These mixes are SO strong. The two Popstand remixes are my favs. I also love how some samples like “The Rhythm” have been used elsewhere, like in the Shep remixes of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation. It’s cool to have some of these common threads across remixes of different artists. It goes to show how remixes have evolved and progressed. I too love how some singles like this one were given more life by a second release of new and different mixes – it was really exciting. Thank you… Read more »
Totally agree! And that “Yes, the rhythm!” is none other than Public Enemy!
Thanks for sharing! Crazy how other artists were sampled in remixes. I remember hearing Madonna’s iconic “C’mon” from “Into The Groove” sampled in the Long Dutch Mix of “I Can’t Wait” by Nu Shooz.
I noticed the Labels, especially Sony/Epic/Columbia, were pretty relaxed on sampling artists from their own Label. Yes, I was very shocked back in the day that Madonna approved that to be sampled. It was, however, way back in 1985 when Madonna was just becoming a powerhouse and mainstream sampling was beginning.
MusicMan3, I love your enthusiasm! You’re absolutely right—the Popstand remixes have such incredible strength, and it’s fascinating how those samples weave into a bigger story across different artists. That “Rhythm” thread you mention is a perfect example of how remix culture built bridges between tracks, giving us those unexpected connections that made the era so exciting. I also agree that second releases with fresh mixes gave singles a whole new life—almost like rediscovering the song all over again. That sense of progression is what keeps these records timeless. Thank you for sharing your insights and for joining us in celebrating… Read more »
You’re right – it was such an exciting time for marketing and remixing! Sooooo much better than the sped up slowed down for TikTok stuff of late! Or the barrage of sometimes boring sound alike remixes utilizing little more than the main vocal stems that we got for a time. Funny, after your initial W2P posts I came across their Journey Home CD at a used shop! I just love discovering and rediscovering music from this exciting time in music history. Thanks for these rare mixes!!!
ING, I couldn’t agree more—those days really were electric! The creativity and marketing behind remixing in the ’80s gave singles a whole new life, and it’s inspiring to see how much joy those releases still bring. Your comparison to today’s remix trends really highlights just how groundbreaking that era was. I love that my posts led you to rediscover Journey Home—that’s exactly the kind of serendipity that keeps this music alive. Digging into these rare mixes isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about reconnecting with the artistry that made dance culture so exciting. Thank you for sharing your story and for… Read more »