Berlin - 2018 European RCA label Remastered 10-track Reissue - Incl. Booklet

2018 reissue of Lou Reeds tragic 1972 rock opera about a doomed couple - his third album themed on abuse and degradation, pill-induced violence, depressiona and suicide... the not so sunny side of life.  Far away from the upbeat, catchy and groovy glam rock classic Transformer. The album was poorly received when release - Rolling Stone reviewer Stephen Davis called the album a 'Disaster' in his 1972 review and tough Creem reviewer Robert Christgau labelled the music 'only competent'. Times chanmges and today Berlin is hailed as a classic.  Pitchforks Ryan Schreiber called it "one of Reed's best pieces of work" when adding a rating 0f 9.2/10 noting Reed's general attitude throughout the record as one of having lost hope, citing Reed: "there's no way to win, and I don't give a fuck." Schreiber states that "it's an attitude that's been copped by numerous bands on some of their classic works." and that " ranks up there with the best of them. But as with most records that are ahead of their time, Berlin was generally underrated, and simply hasn't been given another chance to prove itself."

The album features some quite outstanding musicians friom the timw: a powerhouse rhythm section of Jack Bruce on bass and Aynsley Dunbar on drums as well as Steve Winwood on keyboards guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner .... produced by Bob Ezrin... who worked with Kiss, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Alice Coope a.o. 

Berlin spawned a couple of singles How Do You Think It Feels and Caroline Says I

Remastered under Lou Reeds direct personal supervision - comprises a replica of the original 1973 8-pages lyric booklet - housed in a picture cover featuring the original artwork.

Tracklisting:

Side 1.
1. Berlin   3:23
2. Lady Day   3:40
3. Men Of Good Fortune   4:37
4. Caroline Says I   3:57
5. How Do You Think It Feels   3:42
6. Oh, Jim   5:13

Side 2.
1. Caroline Says II   4:10
2. The Kids   7:55
3. The Bed   5:51
4. Sad Song   6:55

All songs are written and composed by Lou Reed

Recorded at Morgan Studio, London; and at Record Plant, New York City

Credits:
Lou Reed – vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Bob Ezrin – piano, Mellotron, choir
Steve Hunter – electric guitar
Dick Wagner – electric guitar, backing vocals
Jack Bruce – bass guitar except "Lady Day" & "The Kids"
Aynsley Dunbar – drums except "Lady Day" & "The Kids"
Steve Winwood – Hammond organ, harmonium
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
Randy Brecker – trumpet
Tony Levin – bass guitar on "The Kids"
B. J. Wilson – drums on "Lady Day" & "The Kids"
Allan Macmillan – piano on "Berlin"
Gene Martynec – acoustic guitar, synthesizer and vocal arrangement on "The Bed", bass guitar on "Lady Day"
Jon Pierson – bass trombone
Blue Weaver – piano on "Men of Good Fortune"
Steve Hyden, Elizabeth March, Dennis Ferrante – choir

Technical Credits:
Bob Ezrin – production, arrangement
Allan Macmillan – arrangement
Peter Flanagan, Robin Black - Recording engineers
Richard Lewzey - Engineer - Overdubbing, CTS Studios
Danny Turbeville, Dennis Ferrante, Ed Sprigg, Greg Calby, Jay Messina, Jim Frank, Jim Reeves, Joe Lopes, Pat Martin, Shelley Yakus - Engineer - Overdubbing, Record Plant
Randy Kling - Mastering (Original 1973 album)

Artwork:
LA Legion, Saint-Jivago Desanges - Photography
Pacific Eye & Ear - Album concept, album design
Bill Garland - Calligraphy