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)"
Single by Information Society
from the album Information Society
Released	April 26, 1988 (US) June 21, 1988 (UK)
Genre	Synth-pop freestyle new wave
Length	4:33 (album version) 3:36 (single version)
Label	Tommy Boy – TB 911
Songwriter(s)	Paul Robb Kurt Harland
Producer(s)	Fred Maher
Information Society singles chronology
"Running" (1985) "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (1988) "Walking Away" (1989)
Audio sample
"Pure Energy" file help
Music video
"What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" 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

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)

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.

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

Charts

Chart (1988–89)	Peak position
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
US Billboard Hot 100[17]	52

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1988 (U.S.)

References

1. "Star Trek TOS Errand of Mercy clip".
2. John Leland (August 1988), Singles, Spin, p. 80
3. "VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s: Do You Agree?". EW.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
4. "Hot 100: Week of February 18, 1989". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
5. "The Hot 100: Week of December 1, 1990". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
6. "The Hot 100: Week of October 22, 1988". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
7. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=INFORMATION+SOCIETY&ti=WHAT%27S+ON+YOUR+MIND+%28PURE+ENERGY%29
8. Puig, Claudia (May 22, 1989). "Radio". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
9. http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+48-No.+26-October+15%2C+1988.pdf
10. http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+49-No.+4-November+12%2C+1988.pdf
11. http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5315&Itemid=52
12. http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+49-No.+5-November+19%2C+1988.pdf
13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2011-07-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
14. "Information Society: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
15. http://www.allmusic.com/album/information-society-mw0000652260
16. http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19881022.html
17. "Top 100 Hits for 1988". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 13 July 2014.