"Berlin" is the third solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in October 1973 by RCA Records. This concept album narrates the tragic story of a couple grappling with drug addiction and abuse. While initial critical reception was mixed, opinions have shifted over time; in 1973, Rolling Stone referred to it as "a disaster," but by 2012, it was ranked No. 344 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
The album presents a rock opera about a doomed couple, Jim and Caroline, addressing themes such as drug use, prostitution, depression, domestic violence, and suicide. The concept originated when producer Bob Ezrin suggested to Reed that, despite the engaging beginnings of his songs, they often lacked a resolution. Specifically, Ezrin wanted to explore what happened to the couple from the song "Berlin," which appeared on Reed's first solo album.
One of the tracks, "The Kids," depicts Caroline losing her children to authorities, incorporating the sounds of children crying for their mother.
Upon its initial release, Reed and Ezrin planned a stage adaptation of the album but shelved those plans due to mixed reviews and poor sales. In 2007, Reed revived the concept by touring the album with a large band, including 12 choristers and Anohni. Director Julian Schnabel filmed the concert, which was released in 2008 as Berlin: Live at St. Ann's Warehouse, receiving strong reviews. The album was later digitally re-mastered and re-released on compact disc to celebrate this event.
Musically, Reed primarily plays acoustic guitar, and several songs on Berlin were reworked from earlier recordings. The title track, for instance, is simplified and arranged for solo piano. "Oh, Jim" incorporates elements from a Velvet Underground outtake titled "Oh, Gin." "Caroline Says II" is a reimagining of "Stephanie Says," which was not released until 1985. The Velvet Underground had also recorded a different version of "Sad Song," with milder lyrics. Additionally, "Men of Good Fortune" had been performed by the Velvet Underground as early as 1966, with an archival live recording available only at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
The album cover, designed by Pacific Eye & Ear, features a collage of characters from the concept album alongside the first lyrical lines of "Berlin."
