OTR: Berlin - The Best of...1979-1988

Berlin actually have four proper studio albums (their 1982 debut, Pleasure Victim is technically an EP), two of which are represented on The Best of Berlin 1979-1988, in addition to Pleasure Victim. The two albums represented are Love Life (1984) and Count Three & Pray (1986) - the records of their 1980s heyday. Voyeur (2002) and 4 Play (2005) were both released after VH1 tracked down members of the group for their short-lived series "Bands Reunited." I don't think anybody has actually heard the songs from their non-eighties releases...at least no one I know has.

With Berlin, the 1980s are the way to go. It's funny that the time period they choose for this compilation is 1979-1988 since their earliest single - "A Matter of Time" - dates to 1980, not 1979. Meanwhile, the newest material on the disc is culled from Count Three & Pray, released in 1986. The only thing from 1988 here is the compilation itself, which incidentally features no new songs in order to get completests to part with their hard-earned cash.

As a "greatest hits" package it is perfect though. One of the reasons I own a fair number of greatest hits albums is because they are indispensable for DJing. Let's face it: when you have a large crowed of people in a room, they all want to hear that small sliver of songs they are all familiar with. They don't care about any deep album cuts by any "important" bands - they just want music they can get drunk and stupidly dance to. Any attempts by the DJ to "enlighten" their audience will be met with much pissing and moaning.

Of course, that is more true of clubs, school dances and weddings than college radio (where enlightenment should be the norm, rather than the exception).

But back to Berlin...I first became aware of this band around the age of five or six when "Take My Breath Away" was a mega-hit that enabled Berlin to get played on the type of bland top 40 stations that my parents listened to. Since the local station was only about songs that made it to the top 40, this was the only Berlin song I heard for a very long time. Then VH1 introduced me to "No More Words" through their constant rotation of 80s programs which aired throughout the mid to late 90s.

I would finally hear the rest of the songs on this disc upon joining WAIH. Suffice it to say that this band got a fair amount of play on my radio show(s). "Sex (I'm A...)" was sure to be heard by the captive audience in SUNY Potsdam's Student Union because it amused me to play something so bluntly offensive, yet technically FCC legal. Aside from that, "Like Flames," "No More Words," "The Metro," "Masquerade" and the Count Three & Pray album cut "Trash" were favourites.

Probably the only reason I'll ever eventually buy The Sisters of Mercy compilation A Slight Case of Overbombing will be for the Terri Nunn/Andrew Eldritch duet "Under The Gun." I suspect I may eventually get Count Three & Pray, as reviews indicate it to be the deepest (and most ignored) Berlin LP.

OTR: Big Audio Dynamite - This Is Big Audio Dynamite

This Is Big Audio Dynamite is, to put it mildly, an inconsistent album. Side A is good (to varying degrees) while Side B is...

Well, let's just say that these guys weren't about to give Public Image Ltd. or New Order a run for their money with Side B of this record. Frankly, closing Side A with "The Bottom Line," which is by far the best thing on this album, is misleading. A "side-turner" track encourages the listener to flip the record over, because it creates curiosity. The hapless listener, seduced by the delight of a well-written, well produced song closing the first act wishes to press on. My recommendation if you're listening to Big Audio Dynamite's debut on vinyl: do not flip the record over! There is nothing worth listening to on Side B. Alternately, if you have the CD (like I do), press "stop" after track 4.

So, for the bargain price of...whatever the hell I paid for it used, I own a mediocre album, but what could have been a pretty good EP. So, let's pretend it's an EP, okay? The disc opens with "Medicine Show," which is an enjoyable dance tune. "Sony" and "E=MC²" are acquired tastes, but are fairly enjoyable. The high point remains "The Bottom Line" - were this track not in the sequence, this album would not be worth buying at all.

I was actually going to start my foray into the music of Big Audio Dynamite by checking out their greatest hits compilation, Planet Bad. Unfortunately, in a twist of marketing chicanery, that disc contains an edited version of "The Bottom Line" which cuts off over a minute from the original song. A desire for the original song in it's entirety led me to get the LP proper. I doubt I'll be buying any of their other non-compilation releases, if this is any indicator...

Incidentally, joi_division was quite vociferous about how much she hated what she was hearing once Side B started playing.