Berlin

While best known for the Giorgio Moroder-produced "Take My Breath Away" (#1, 1986) from the Top Gun soundtrack, Berlin's real raison d'être is probably better divined from the title of its panting, quasi-pornographic song "Sex (I'm a...)" (#62, 1983). A vehicle for teen actress (in Lou Grant)-turned-singer Terri Nunn, Berlin combined her moaning boy-toy image with the rhythm section of John Crawford and Rob Brill (three different groups of musicians backed them on album). The resulting slick synth pop and a steamy video brought Pleasure Victim (#30, 1983) some commercial success. Love Life (#28, 1984) successfully repeated the debut album’s formula. Count Three & Pray (#61, 1986) featured cameos by Ted Nugent, David Gilmour, and Elliot Easton. While the Top Gun track soared, the rest of the album sputtered, and when Nunn left in 1987, Berlin called it quits. Crawford went on to form the Big F in 1989.

In 1990, Berlin found themselves back on the charts in England, as “Take My Breath Away” was used in a series of car commercials, reissued, and reached #3. The group reunited in 1999 and performed a show of both old and new material, which was recorded and released in 2000 as Berlin Live: Sacred and Profane.

from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)