What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)
"What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" is a song by American synth-pop band Information Society that was released as a single in 1988. The "Pure Energy" subtitle derives from a sample of Leonard Nimoy's voice from the Star Trek episode "Errand of Mercy".[1] There is also a sample of DeForest Kelley's voice from the episode "I, Mudd". John Leland of Spin magazine called it a "pretty potent dance record".[2]
"What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" | ||||
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Single by Information Society | ||||
from the album Information Society | ||||
Released |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 4:33 (album version) 3:36 (single version) | |||
Label | Tommy Boy – TB 911 | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Fred Maher | |||
Information Society singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Pure Energy"
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Music video | ||||
"What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Single Length Version) on YouTube | ||||
"What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Album Length Version) on YouTube |
In 2009, VH1 ran a countdown of the 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s. Information Society's "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" placed at number 74 on the countdown[3] despite the fact that the group had two other top 40 hits: "Walking Away" (number 9)[4] and "Think" (number 28).[5]
The song was a big hit in the US, spending 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three in October 1988.[6]. The single was certified gold by the RIAA on January 18, 1989, selling 500,000 copies[7].
The song was featured in Loverboy and American Psycho. A remixed version was included in American Psycho's soundtrack.
In 1989, Pittsburgh radio station WYDD-FM executed an early viral marketing plan by playing this song non-stop in a loop for 25½ hours — focusing on a repeat of the "Pure Energy" sample from Leonard Nimoy as Star Trek's Mr. Spock. The marketing stunt caused listeners to call emergency services, concerned that some calamity had befallen the DJs and other station employees. Bob Hank, general manager at the time, told reporters he was only trying to draw attention to the station's switch in format and new call letters WNRJ (N-R-J = "energy"). "We were just trying to draw a little bit of attention," Hank said. "We never dreamed it would go this far".[8] The song also samples Star Trek in the intro, with the character Dr. McCoy saying "it's worked so far, but we're not out yet."
Track listings
1988
7": Tommy Boy * London / 886 420-7 (Netherlands)
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy Radio Edit) – 3:35
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Club Radio Edit) – 3:15
12": Tommy Boy / TB 911 (US)
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Club Mix) – 8:00
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (The 54 Mix) – 5:12
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Percappella) – 4:09
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy Mix) – 4:33
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (What's on Your Dub Mix) – 6:22
- tracks 1–3 remixed by "Little" Louie Vega, Roman Ricardo
- track four is the album version.
- also available on MC (TBC 911)
- also available on CD (TBCD 911)
12": London / LONX 211 (UK)
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Club Mix) – 8:00
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy Mix) – 4:33
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (What's on Your Dub Mix) – 6:22
- also available on CD (LONCD 211)
1998
12": Cleopatra Records CLP 0327
Side A
- "What's on Your Mind" (Girl Eats Boy Mix)
- "What's on Your Mind" (Remixed by David J of Love & Rockets)
Side B
- "What's on Your Mind" (Remixed by Christian B./Daren Kramer for CKB Production)
- "What's on Your Mind" (Remixed by Judson Leach and Exhibition)
- All of these remixes would make a second appearance on the remix album InSoc Recombinant.
2001
CD single: Tommy Boy silver label
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy 2001 Edit) – 3:48
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Boris & Beck Exit Edit) – 3:58
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Junior's Blue Zone Club Mix) – 9:08
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Boris & Beck Exit Mix) – 8:46
- "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Sugarpussy Psychic Funk Mix) – 6:38
Charts
Chart (1988–89) | Peak position |
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Canada RPM Canadian Dance Chart[9] | 2 |
Canada RPM 30 Retail Singles[10] | 6 |
Canada Canadian Singles Chart[11] | 11 |
Canada RPM Top Singles[12] | 14 |
Ireland IRMA[13] | 18 |
UK Singles Chart[14] | 81 |
US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 3 |
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play[15] | 1 |
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[15] | 2 |
US Modern Rock Tracks[15] | 10 |
US Cashbox[16] | 3 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1988) | Position |
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US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 52 |
References
- "Star Trek TOS Errand of Mercy clip".
- John Leland (August 1988), Singles, Spin, p. 80
- "VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s: Do You Agree?". EW.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- "Hot 100: Week of February 18, 1989". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- "The Hot 100: Week of December 1, 1990". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- "The Hot 100: Week of October 22, 1988". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=INFORMATION+SOCIETY&ti=WHAT%27S+ON+YOUR+MIND+%28PURE+ENERGY%29
- Puig, Claudia (May 22, 1989). "Radio". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+48-No.+26-October+15%2C+1988.pdf
- http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+49-No.+4-November+12%2C+1988.pdf
- http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5315&Itemid=52
- http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+49-No.+5-November+19%2C+1988.pdf
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2011-07-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Information Society: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/information-society-mw0000652260
- http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19881022.html
- "Top 100 Hits for 1988". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 13 July 2014.