European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 4, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Not just another pop machine Story by Anita Gosch staff writer even if the song take my Brea la away from the movie top gun wins an Oscar later this month the California Rock group Berlin won t ride on the Coal Lails of the smash single. In act the ban members have no intention of Ever recording another song Mikeil and they la never again work with us writer music producer Giorgio Moroder. To guarantee themselves a people think we re crazy ii we Don t capitalize taking chances Tunger Terr hum left drummer Hob Brill Bat Alst John Crawford. Sha ii take anyone t breath away. Photo by Anita c on it said drummer Rob Brill in a recent interview in Frankfurt where Berlin opened a concert of Frankie goes to Hollywood. They look at us As some sort of pop band and ask Why in t this band out making loads of Money or themselves but that s not what we re True if it had t been for the song s Success Brill Singer Terri Nunn and bassist John Crawford would still be pounding the los Angeles club circuit rather than being the International stars they now Are. But tha tune in no Way reflects the style of Berlin s album count three and Pray. Rather it s a classic example of machines said Brill a Slick but sterile sounding Lechno pop Ballad the contrasts starkly to the hard Rock vitality and sense of urgency conveyed by the album s 10 remaining tracks. And ii Nunn s vocals sound teary cod on Taka my breath away on other songs her voice takes on a provocative tailing Edge so is thl the quintessential Deal with the Devil a Means to an end in this Caso the end being mass popularity Brilt is Quick to Point out that take my breath away was an entirely different project from the album and that the band had no idea the song would be so successful. Moroder who had worked with Berlin on a previous Tuno simply asked the ban members if they would be in arrested in performing a song he needed to Complete the top gun soundtrack Berlin agreed but it was Only after the insistence of the record company Geffen records that the band members also agreed to put the song on their album. As tar As they were concerned Moroder s studio wizardry did t fit in with Thair goals. Our approach was to go in the studio and capture feel spirit rawness said Brill rather than having the individual musicians Lay Down separate tracks he explained Berlin wanted to Lake a live approach to recording in which the musicians would All perform Al the same Lime. Like you do at a concert everyone bounces Ott everyone else. Ii you Don t have that you have Prelly much a sterile after four fruitless months with a British producer Berlin finally met up with Bob Zenn known for his work with Alice Cooper Pink Floyd and Rod Stewart. Ezrin brought along David Gilmour for some guitar work on the album Ted Nugent and Elliot Easlon of the cars also added some rills. Berlin May be stars in the United states Righi now but Here was a time not Loo Long ago when the band outraged the american Public with their suggestive lyrics. In 1983, when the band still had six members and performed synth dance music Berlin released the song sex i m a.,. On their debut up pleasure victim. The song which described sexual tendencies irom a woman s Point of View was banned by most radio stations but ii became an underground Rul if you listen to it now it s Prelly harmless stuff said Brill. But Back then in created this hype that helped fuel the when the up sold 25,000 copies in just a Tew weeks. Gelfen look notice and signed the band. For their first album. The 1984 release love Hie. Berlin decided to dispel the Sleazy sex Rock image they had acquired. We tended to Lone things Down and played in very Safe recalled Brill. I think it was a mistake. Everybody just became very Safe and satisfied complacent Berlin had become like a Pool of water with no Ripples in it and the band decided to make some member changes. Only the three most stubborn ones remained. Count three and Pray is a backlash to the complacency said Brill. Tho album s name derives from the tact that Berlin was again willing to take chances in Iho style of music the approach to recording and. Most of ail. In the struggle id keep our goals and ideals the album to me is 10 inc starting Point of Iho phase that i want to see the band go Inlo he said. Hopefully we can gel across to people Hal it re a band Hal s inner sled in a Long lorm career and not a Short Lerm huge Money making one and Ihen you Don l hear from Iho band Ever again. We want people to realize this band is not going to be just another pop wednesday March 4, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 17
