Just a single song this week, sorry. I have some good posts ready to go but I want to work on cleaning up the recordings a bit more, so hopefully you’ll be hearing stupid video game remixes and a bizarre version of “Telstar” soon.

Berlin
Overload (Terri Nunn Version)
I’m apparently a reputable source of information regarding the synth-pop band Berlin. I’m listed as a source on the band’s surprisingly in-depth Wikipedia page, which is hilarious to me.

Anyways, as a reputable source of information regarding the synth-pop band Berlin, I’m qualified to discuss this song in great detail. “Overload” is the B-side to Berlin’s very first single “Matter Of Time,” which was released on Renegade Records as a 7-inch single in 1979. Shortly thereafter, Berlin’s lead singer Terri Nunn would quit the group to pursue a career in acting. She would return to the group a short time later, but while she was gone the group recruited Virginia Macolino to replace her as the lead singer. With Macolino behind the mic, the band would re-record their first single, which was re-released by I.R.S. Records in 1980. The group also recorded a sole album with Macolino, the fabulous 1980 synth-punk classic Information. That album also included “Overload” and “Matter of Time,” of course with their current lead singer Virginia Macolino performing the vocals.

Nunn rejoined the band shortly after all of this and the group seemingly forgot their time with Macolino entirely, Information hasn’t been in print since it’s first release in 1980. When the time came for Berlin to release a greatest hits compilation in 1988, they included the then-rarity of “Matter Of Time” with Nunn’s vocals. But this B-side didn’t make the cut. To date, its only release has been on that very first pressing of the “Matter Of Time” single before they re-recorded it with Macolino (and the Macolino version is only on the second pressing of the single and the Information album, so it isn’t that much more common).

Synthpop in the late-70s was still wearing its punk/new wave influences on its sleeve and “Overload” is no exception thanks to its propulsive beat and sense of urgency. It’s must less polished than how Berlin would sound just a few years later on Pleasure Victim, and light years away from “Take My Breath Away.” Dope track for sure, and I’m surprised that it still hasn’t seen a proper re-release some 41 (holy shit) years later. 2020 is a garbage fire world, Berlin, please re-release Information sometime soon and make me feel happiness again.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 31st, 2020 at 8:21 am and is filed under B-sides, Berlin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.