Song:What's On Your Mind? (Pure Energy)
Album:Greatest Hits: Strange Haircuts/Cardboard Guitars/Computer Samples
I always thought Information Society was British because Kurt Harland sang with a British accent. But they're actually from Minnesota. What's On Your Mind was their biggest hit and most memorable song in 1988. But the group has been a staple on dance floors for over two decades. Information Society was formed in 1982 in Kurt Harland's dorm room at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. Harland, Paul Robb and James Cassidy liked to mess around with electronic music. They released a couple of albums independently and a couple of the songs became dance floor hits in New York City. They moved to New York and added Amanda Kramer to the group and signed with Tommy Boy Records. They had been with Twin Tone Records but Tommy Boy had more expertise in dance music and hip hop and bought out their contract. The 1988 album Information Society was their first album on Tommy Boy. It reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 200 and was certified Platinum. What's On Your Mind reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the song is a perennial dance floor favourite. It's known for the use of the Leonard Nimoy sample. Though Information Society is perceived as a one hit wonder, Walking Away reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. You can get all their hits on this Rhino comp. Subsequent albums didn't do as well and Information Society split up in 1992 though Harland continued to record under that name for several years. He is now a video game developer. Amanda Kramer is currently a member of The Psychedelic Furs. Harland gave up the Information Society name in 2006 to Robb and Cassidy so they could reform with new vocalist Christoper Anton. Paul Robb works in advertising and has won Clio Awards for his BMW ads. Information Society currently records for his label Hakatak. James Cassidy is a crop science instructor at Oregon State University. Here's the video for What's On your Mind? (Pure Energy) by Information Society.
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