The Best Of Berlin 1979-1988

One of my favourite compilation albums has to be The Best Of Berlin 1979-1988. If ever an album could said to sum up the career of a band it's this one. The record starts with a previously unreleased recording Blowin' Sky High which I presume was from the Count 3 & Pray sessions as it bears all the hallmarks of that era of the band. It certainly is an explosive way to start such a mouthwatering selection. Next up is the big US hit More Than Words from the album Love Life(1984) which was the first recording the band made with Giorgio Moroder. It probably is the song that was the band's first stepping stone to worldwide success. Like Flames from Count 3 & Pray(1986) was sadly a minor hit in the UK but it has a really catchy melody all the same. Its sister single Take My Breath Away(written and produced by Giorgio Moroder) will always be the record that Berlin are remembered for but at least its more memorable than the film it comes from Top Gun. The calling card of Berlin in the early days was S.E.X.(I'm A...) from their mini album Pleasure Victim(1982). Now It's My Turn also from Love Life was a Stateside single. Masquerade is a bouncy little single from Pleasure Victim which was actually a cover while You Don't Know was the best single they ever released in my opinion that appeared on Count 3 & Pray. Debut single Matter Of Time from 1979 was re-recorded by the band after Terri's initial departure from the band but thankfully it's her vocal here. It shows the electronic roots of the band that gave way to a more rock orientated outfit later on. The Metro from their mini album is perhaps the band's theme tune and is representative of them more than any other song. Will I Ever Understand You is Count 3 & Pray's album opener and to end this collection we have a re-recording of All Tomorrow's Lies from Love Life which from its piano intro onwards is an improvement on the original. If you want to get to know Berlin for anything other than Take My Breath Away I recommend you order a copy of The Best Of Berlin straight away. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.