Living in the Background (album)
| Living in the Background | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Baltimora | ||||
| Released |
September 4, 1985 (Europe) April 1985 (United States) | |||
| Genre | Italo disco, new wave[1] | |||
| Length | 34:01 (original LP) | |||
| Label |
EMI-Manhattan Records (United States) EMI Records (United Kingdom) | |||
| Producer | Maurizio Bassi | |||
| Baltimora chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Living in the Background | ||||
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| Alternative covers | ||||
.jpg) UK version |
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 German version |
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Living in the Background is the debut album of Italy-based act Baltimora, released in 1985.
Overview
Jimmy McShane supposedly performed the lead vocals, although there is some controversy surrounding who the actual singer is, while the songs were written by Maurizio Bassi and Naimy Hackett. "Tarzan Boy," the first single released from the album became an international success, peaking at #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and at #3 in the United Kingdom. "Woody Boogie" and "Living in the Background" were also released as singles, with the latter becoming the group's only other song to crack the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #87 on the chart.
The album has been released with at least three different covers. The most-well known cover has a red background, featuring McShane in the air.
The album has also been released and re-released in various forms, though none of these different versions of the album seem to correlate with any particular one of the various album covers. A bonus track from one of these later pressings of the album, "Juke Box Boy" was also released as a single.+
The original CD issue of Living in the Background, from 2003, is out-of-print. An Italian CD release was issued in 2005, and that same year an unofficial Russian release circulated too.
Track listing
All tracks written by Naimy Hackett and Maurizio Bassi.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tarzan Boy" | 6:15 |
| 2. | "Pull the Wires" | 4:46 |
| 3. | "Living in the Background" | 6:06 |
| 4. | "Woody Boogie" | 5:50 |
| 5. | "Chinese Restaurant" | 5:14 |
| 6. | "Running for Your Love" | 5:50 |
| UK edition | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Tarzan Boy" (12" Summer version) | 6:41 |
| 2. | "Pull the Wires" | 4:46 |
| 3. | "Living in the Background" | 6:06 |
| 4. | "Tarzan Boy" (7" Summer version) | 3:27 |
| 5. | "Woody Boogie" (12" Jump mix) | 5:50 |
| 6. | "Chinese Restaurant" | 5:14 |
| 7. | "Running for Your Love" | 5:50 |
| 8. | "Woody Boogie" | 3:37 |
| Canada edition (1986) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Tarzan Boy" (Single version) | |
| 2. | "Living in the Background" (Remix by John Luongo) | |
| 3. | "Juke Box Boy" | |
| 4. | "Pull the Wires" | |
| 5. | "Woody Boogie" | |
| 6. | "Chinese Restaurant" | |
| 7. | "Running for Your Love" | |
| 8. | "Up with Baltimora" | |
| 1993 re-release | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 7. | "Tarzan Boy" (Summer version) | 6:40 |
| 8. | "Juke Box Boy" | 3:42 |
| 9. | "Up with Baltimora" | 2:51 |
| 10. | "Tarzan Boy" (Remix 1993) | 3:43 |
| 11. | "Jungle Life" (Dub) | 5:00 |
| 12. | "Tarzan Boy" (Extended mix) | 5:29 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[2] | Gold | 50,000^ |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
Personnel
- Mixed by Jurgen Koppers at "Paradise Studio", Munich
- Recorded by Paolo Mescoli at "Il Cortile Studio", Milan
- Cover illustration by Michele Bernardi
- Photography by Martin Beckett (UK Edition)
- Lele Melotti - drums, Linn Programmer Simmons EDS 7
- Pier Michelatti - bass
- Claudio Bazzari - electric guitars
- Giorgio Cocilovo - electric guitars
- Claudio Pascoli - sax
- Maurizio Bassi - keyboards and piano
- Leandro Gaetano - keyboards, Programmer CMI Fairlight, PPG Wave 2.3, Xpander, Oberheim, Yamaha Synthesizer
- Moreno Ferrara - chorus (background)
- Malcon Charlton - chorus (background)
- Silvano Fossati - chorus (background)
- Naimy Hackett - chorus (background)
- Lella Esposito - chorus (background)
- Jimmy McShane - chorus (background)
- Silver Pozzoli - chorus (background)
- Words by Naimy Hackett
- Music by Maurizio Bassi
- Arranged & Produced by Maurizio Bassi
Chart performance
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart[3] | 49 | 20 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 26 | ? |
| Swedish Albums Chart[4] | 18 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 200[5] | 49 | ? |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Tarzan Boy" | Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 12 |
| 1985 | "Tarzan Boy" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 6 |
| 1985 | "Tarzan Boy" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 13 |
| 1986 | "Living in the Background" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 87 |
References
- ↑ "60 Great Albums You Probably Haven't Heard". vulture.com. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Baltimora – Living in the Background". Music Canada.
- ↑ "Bienvenue au site Web BIBLIOTHÈQUE ET ARCHIVES CANADA | Welcome to the LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA website". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ↑ Steffen Hung (2012-02-17). "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ↑ "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-02-29.