Rocktrospectiva: The Danceable "Living In The Background" Turns 45

 

Released on 4 September 1985 "Living In The Background" was the debut studio album by Italian-based act Baltimora, released in the United States in April 1985 by EMI-Manhattan Records and in Europe on 4 September 1985 by EMI. The album spawned four singles "Tarzan Boy", "Living In The Background", "Woody Boogie" & "Juke Box Boy".

Back in early 1984, Maurizio Bassi, a music producer and musician from Milan, met Jimmy McShane, a native of Derry, Northern Ireland. They decided to form an act fronted by McShane, a trained singer, dancer and actor, who had previously tried to break into the West End theater scene and toured with Dee D. Jackson. McShane and Bassi chose the name Baltimora when, one evening together, McShane took a map of the United States, closed his eyes and happened to place his finger on Baltimore. They changed the final letter to an 'a' to make the name more in keeping with the act's Italian roots. 

Bassi recruited prominent Italian sessionmen to record their first album, including Giorgio Cocilovo on guitar and Gabriele "Lele" Melotti on drums. Fellow Italo disco producer Tom Hooker has claimed that Baltimora's lead vocals were performed by Maurizio Bassi, as he'd done with Carrara, with McShane sometimes providing the backing vocals. The bulk of Baltimora's song writing fell on Bassi and American lyricist Naimy Hackett, though McShane wrote the lyrics to their track "Survivor in Love".

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 number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number three 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 number 87 on the chart.

The album has been released with at least three different covers. The US and Canadian cover features Jimmy McShane jumping in the air on a red background with black text. The text is an extract from a prose poem by French poet Stéphane Mallarmé, "Le Phénomène Futur" (The Future Phenomenon).

Although Baltimora was often perceived as a one hit wonder, the full album featured several energetic tracks that carried the same infectious vibe. Songs like Living in the Background and Woody Boogie built on the same formula of pulsating beats and distinctive melodies that made Tarzan Boy a global smash. The album became an iconic part of the 1980s dance pop scene. With catchy synth lines, playful vocals, and heavy electronic production, it captured the Euro disco sound that was rising across clubs in both Europe and North America.

 

Living In The Background Track List:

 

1. Tarzan Boy

2. Pull The Wires

3. Living In The Background

4. Tarzan Boy 7"

5. Woody Boogie

6. Chinese Restaurant

7. Running For Your Love

8. Woody Boogie