Information Society "Repetition (USA, Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM Single & Video, Tommy Boy, TB 928)"

"Repetition" is a 1989 ballad and single by Information Society. The song peaked at number 76 in the Billboard Hot 100.

The music video, shot in black and white, shows the band between building ruins and old things, that complete the sad line of the lyrics.

Tracks

7" Single

1. "Repetition (Edit)" 4:00
2. "Something in the Air" 4:53

12" Single

1. "Repetition" (LP Version) 4:32
2. "Something in the Air" (Extended Club Edit) 6:24
3. "Something in the Air" (Dub) 6:24

CD Single

1. "Repetition" (Edit) 4:00
2. "Repetition" (LP Version) 4:32

Note on sleeve and labels: “It ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at.”

Information Society "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (USA, Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single & Video, Tommy Boy, TB 911)"

"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". There are also samples of DeForest Kelley (the character Dr. McCoy) in the song's introduction, saying, "it's worked so far, but we're not out yet." and Richard Tatro's (The Android Norman) voices from the episode "I, Mudd". John Leland of Spin magazine called it a "pretty potent dance record".

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.

The song was a big hit in the US, spending 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three in October 1988. The single was certified gold by the RIAA on January 18, 1989, selling 500,000 copies.

The song was featured in the feature films Loverboy and American Psycho. A remixed version was included in American Psycho's soundtrack.

In 1989, Pittsburgh radio station WYDD-FM played 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."

The song started out as a 10-minute instrumental jam, when Information Society was trying to record their first album. Tommy Boy Records grew frustrated that the band was spending so much money in the studio but had nothing to show for it, and pressured them to make a hit. Paul Robb came up with a chorus he said was partly inspired by "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel, as well as Duran Duran. After the chorus, he wrote verses with Kurt Harland.

Robb emulated minimalist New Wave artists such as Gary Numan and Devo by trying to write lyrics that "said as little as possible". He said the verses were "just sort of a random collection of emotional impressions. ... But when you look back at it now, it's a clear narrative about the difficulty that people have communicating with each other. At the time, we weren't writing it with that in mind, but it's so clear when you just read through the lyrics. It's a very simple and very clear-cut story."

Track listings

1988

7": Tommy Boy * London / 886 420-7 (Netherlands)

1. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy Radio Edit) – 3:35
2. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Club Radio Edit) – 3:15

12": Tommy Boy / TB 911 (US)

1. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Club Mix) – 8:00
2. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (The 54 Mix) – 5:12
3. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Percappella) – 4:09
4. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy Mix) – 4:33
5. "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)

1. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Club Mix) – 8:00
2. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy Mix) – 4:33
3. "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

1. "What's on Your Mind" (Girl Eats Boy Mix)
2. "What's on Your Mind" (Remixed by David J of Love & Rockets)

Side B

1. "What's on Your Mind" (Remixed by Christian B./Daren Kramer for CKB Production)
2. "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

1. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Pure Energy 2001 Edit) – 3:48
2. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Boris & Beck Exit Edit) – 3:58
3. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Junior's Blue Zone Club Mix) – 9:08
4. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Boris & Beck Exit Mix) – 8:46
5. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (Sugarpussy Psychic Funk Mix) – 6:38

Recorded at Platinum Island, NYC

Mastered at Frankford-Wayne, NYC

Information Society "Walking Away (USA, Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single & Video, Tommy Boy, TB 919)"

Information Society (also known as InSoc) is an American electronic band from Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota, initially active from 1982 to 1997, primarily consisting of Kurt Harland Larson, Paul Robb, and James Cassidy; the latter two reconvened the band in 2006, initially with Christopher Anton as lead vocalist, then with Harland rejoining them as lead vocalist by 2008.

"Walking Away" is a 1988 song by American synth-pop group, Information Society. Released as a single in late 1988, the song peaked at No. 9 in the United States in February 1989, No. 5 in the Hot Dance Club Play chart and No. 15 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Walking Away" is the second single from the band's eponymous album. The music video was directed by Mark Pellington.

The song contains samples of William Shatner as James T. Kirk saying "It is useless to resist us" from the Star Trek episode, "Mirror, Mirror", and James Doohan as Scotty saying "Let's Go See!" from the Star Trek episode, "Wolf in the Fold".

Singer Paul Robb said,

"Walking Away" was a song where I sat down and said, "I want to write a song that's kind of like "What's on Your Mind," but it's going to be directed to some former members of our band who had sort of quit the band at an importune moment. As a matter of fact, they both quit right before we made it big with "Running." So if you listen to the lyrics of "Walking Away," it's basically just someone complaining about people who left. That's because that's exactly what it is. It's a very transparent song - there's no deep meanings in that one.

Track listings:

EP

1. "Walking Away" (S.M.D. Mix) – 7:09
2. "Walking Away" (House Dub) – 6:09
3. "Walking Away" (Radio Version) – 3:59

12" single

1. "Walking Away" (Space Age Mix) 6:36
2. "Space Age Dub" 7:57
3. "Make It funkier" (Boot It Up Vocal) 2:56
4. "Walking Away" (S.M.D. mix) 7:09
5. "Walking Away" (House Dub) 6:09
6. "Walking Away" (Radio Version) 3:59

CD single

1. "Walking Away" (Radio Version) 3:58
2. "Walking Away" (LP Version) 5:01
3. "Walking Away" (Space Age Mix) 6:36
4. "Walking Away" (S.M.D. mix) 7:08

A pressing variation exists with silhouette figures inverted