What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)

"What's on Your Mind" redirects here. For the Erik B. and Rakim song, see Don't Sweat the Technique.
For the compilation album Pure Energy, see Pure Energy (Information Society album).
"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)
GenreSynth-pop
Length4:33 (album version)
3:36 (single version)
LabelTommy Boy – TB 911
Songwriter(s)
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"
Music video
"What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" on YouTube

"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 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".[2]

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]

The song was a big hit in the US, spending 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three in October 1988.[4] The single was certified gold by the RIAA on January 18, 1989, selling 500,000 copies.[5]

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."[6]

  1. ^ "Errand of Mercy clip". Star Trek. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Leland, John (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. ^ "The Hot 100: Week of October 22, 1988". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  6. ^ Puig, Claudia (May 22, 1989). "Radio". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 December 2015.