Tag: Berlin

Berlin – Like Flames (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Like Flames” is a song by American band Berlin released in 1986 as the lead-off single of their third album Count Three & Pray.

Berlin worked with Canadian producer Bob Ezrin on the album. The producer, best known for his work with Alice Cooper and KISS, gave the record a radically different ’80s pop-rock guitar sound than Berlin’s previous releases, which had a more new wave/synth-pop sound. Berlin singer Terri Nunn and their label, Geffen Records, were approving of the change of sound, but it did not sit well with founding member John Crawford and drummer Rob Brill, who wrote the song. The recording of the album wasn’t a relaxed affair, as differences of opinion between band members plagued the recording sessions. These clashes were further exacerbated by the recording of the group’s previous single, the worldwide #1 hit “Take My Breath Away” from the soundtrack of the film Top Gun, which Nunn was eager to record, while the other two members were not excited about due to the song not being written by them (it was written and produced by Giorgio Moroder), and with a sound not representative of the band.

“Like Flames” was released as the lead-off single from the album in October 1986 and, following up “Take My Breath Away”, a #1 record in September of that year, was expected to do well. However, the record and the album did not find chart success, peaking at #82 in the US and becoming their last chart hit in that country. In Europe, the record performed better on the strength of “Take My Breath Away”, reaching the top 20 in several countries, but still it was only a moderate hit. In the UK, “Like Flames” was released as the second single off the album in March 1987, following “You Don’t Know”, which was released as the next single elsewhere. It peaked at #47 there.

Nunn has blamed the lack of success to the sudden change of style for the band, which alienated their established fanbase of their synth-pop albums, and failing to gain new fans from their new-found fame with “Take My Breath Away”, because the album sounded nothing like it, although the hit song was included on the album at the insistence of Geffen to capitalize on its success. The record’s lack of success and their internal clashes eventually led to the demise of the band in 1987.

SIDE A:
Like Flames (Extended Version) 7:02
Edited By – David Leonard
Written-By – Rob Brill

SIDE B:
Trash 3:40
Producer – Berlin
Written-By –John Crawford

You Don’t Know (Extended Version) 5:32
Producer – Andy Richards, Berlin
Remix – David Leonard
Written-By – John Crawford

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Like Flames U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #82

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– MERX 240
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Bob Ezrin

NOTES:
Track A edited and track B2 remixed at Sunset Factory, Los Angeles.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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Berlin – Sex (I’m A…) (Australasia 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983

A. Front

12 Inches of “Sex…”

“Sex (I’m A…)” is a song by the American band Berlin from their second album Pleasure Victim. The song was co-written by group members John Crawford, Terri Nunn and David Diamond and sung as a duet by Crawford and Nunn.

Released as the album’s second single in February 1983, the single became a cult hit on American radio and brought the group into the mainstream. Despite the significant attention, the song’s racy lyrics resulted in it being banned from several radio stations. Perhaps because of this, the single ultimately peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in late March and early April 1983.The song was also the first single release from the band’s new label, Geffen Records.

As a bonus I have included the “Instrumental Version” which I lifted from the U.S. 12″ promo.

SIDE A:
Sex (I’m A…) (Extended 12″ Version) 8:06
Remix – DVP (2), The Maomen
Written-By – Diamond*, Nunn*

SIDE B:
The Metro 4:11
Sex (I’m A…) (Instrumental) 5:08

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1983 Sex (I’m A…) U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #62
1983 Sex (I’m A…) U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #10
1983 Sex (I’m A…) U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #8

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– 812 571-1, M.A.O. Records ‎– 812 571-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Australasia
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Producer – Daniel R. van Patten*
Written-By – Crawford*

NOTES:
Manufactured in Australasia.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Berlin – A Matter Of Time (US 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980

A. Front

REQUEST

“A Matter Of Time” was the debut single by American new wave band Berlin released in early 1979 on Zone-H Records. The single was re-issued in 1980 featuring a replacement vocalist, Virginia Macolino, after Terri Nunn had temporarily left the band to pursue an acting career. This was followed by the album Information.

The original 1979 version of “A Matter Of Time” featuring Terri Nunn on vocals was released on the compilation The Best Of Berlin in 1988.

The b-side “French Reggae” is an instrumental non album track.

SIDE A:
A Matter Of Time 3:47
Written-By –  John Crawford
Vocals [Uncredited] – Virginia Macolino

SIDE B:
French Reggae 2:22
Written-By – Jo Julian

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Zone-H ‎– IR 9015, I.R.S. Records ‎– IR 9015
Format: Vinyl, 7″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve Design] – Jewel (13)
Photography By [Back Photo] – Junichi*
Photography By [Front Photo] – Michael Nadeau
Producer – Jo Julian
Vocals [Uncredited] – Virginia Macolino

NOTES:
Manufactured and Distributed by A&M Records, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.

Find the 7″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Berlin – No More Words/Dancing In Berlin (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

A. Front

“No More Words” is a 1984 song by Berlin and the first single off the album Love Life. It was also their first Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 23 on May 12, 1984. The song was featured in the 1985 film Vision Quest. In the United States, the song was re-released in 1985 as a B-side to Madonna’s single, “Crazy for You”, which was also featured in the film.

The song was produced by the Italian producer Giorgio Moroder and Richie Zito. The 7″ single included the b-side Rumour Of Love. The 12″ single was paired with Dancing In Berlin and featured the Dance Remix of both songs. The mixes were made by Giorgio Moroder.

The music video saw the band re-enact a Bonnie and Clyde-style car chase and shoot-out, it was directed by Evan English & Paul Goldman, and appeared in Berlin Video 45 videocassette compilation in 1984. It received a lot of airplay in the early days of MTV.

SIDE A:
No More Words (Dance Remix) 5:44
Engineer –  Mick Guzauski

SIDE B:
Dancing In Berlin (Dance Remix) 5:16
Engineer [Mixing] –  Mick Guzauski
Engineer [Recording] – Brian Reeves

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 No More Words U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #23
1984 No More Words U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #25
1984 No More Words U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #6

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records ‎– 9 20195-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Art Direction – Richard Seireeni
Management [Personal Management] – Peregrine Watts-Russell
Photography – Phillip Dixon
Producer – Giorgio Moroder, Richie Zito
Written-By – John Crawford

NOTES:
From the Geffen LP “LOVE LIFE”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Speed Control:
Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi