View source for Adventures in Modern Recording

{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Adventures in Modern Recording
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[the Buggles]]
| cover      = AdventuresInModernRecording.jpg
| alt        = In a space with clouds, green grass of shading patterns, and a sky that fades from white to blue lies a plant with various fruits growing out of it and glasses reflecting a window, with the right shade broken and opening another dimension that's black-and-green and grid-like.
| caption    =
| released   = {{start date|1981|11|df=yes}}
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Sarm East Studios|Sarm East]], London<ref name="albumnotes"/>
| genre      = [[Progressive music#Electronic|Progressive electronic]]
| length     = 34:29
| label      = {{flatlist|
* [[Carrere Records|Carrere]]
* [[CBS Records International|CBS]]
}}
| producer   = {{flatlist|
* [[Trevor Horn]]
* [[Geoff Downes]]
* John Sinclair
}}
| prev_title = [[The Age of Plastic]]
| prev_year  = 1979
| next_title =
| next_year  =
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Adventures in Modern Recording
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[I Am a Camera (song)|I Am a Camera]]
 | single1date = 2 October 1981<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1981/Music-Week-1981-10-03.pdf|title=Music Week|page=30}}</ref>
 | single2     = Adventures in Modern Recording
 | single2date = 8 January 1982<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Buggles&titel=Adventures+In+Modern+Recording&cat=s|title=Buggles singles}}</ref>
 | single3     = Lenny
 | single3date = March 1982 (EU)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Buggles&titel=Lenny&cat=s|title=Buggles singles}}</ref>
 | single4     = On TV
 | single4date = 9 April 1982 (UK)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Buggles&titel=On+TV&cat=s|title=Buggles singles}}</ref>
 | single5     = Beatnik
 | single5date = 7 October 1982 (France)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Buggles&titel=Beatnik&cat=s|title=Buggles singles}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Adventures in Modern Recording''''' is the second and final studio album by English [[New wave music|new wave]] group [[the Buggles]], released in November 1981 by [[Carrere Records]]. Although the Buggles began as a duo of [[Trevor Horn]] and [[Geoff Downes]], the album ended up as mostly Horn's solo effort, as Downes left to join the English rock band [[Asia (band)|Asia]] on the day recording was originally scheduled to begin. It contains nine tracks, including a version of a track from the [[Yes (band)|Yes]] album ''[[Drama (Yes album)|Drama]]'' (1980), recorded during Horn and Downes' short initial tenure with the band.  Originally named "[[Into the Lens]]", the Buggles rendition is titled "I Am a Camera". 

A stylistically and sonically varied progressive electronic album, ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' depicts Horn perfecting his skill as producer and was described by journalists as a document for how he would produce his later works. It was one of the earliest albums to use the [[Fairlight CMI]], one of the first digital [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampling synthesizers]].

Upon its release, ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' faced mixed reviews from [[music journalist|music critics]] and performed poorly commercially in the United Kingdom, failing to make it on the [[UK Albums Chart]]. The album did well in other territories, such as in North America and mainland Europe, reaching number 161 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. Additionally, retrospective reviews praised how comparable in quality its sound was to music released in later years.

Five [[single (music)|single]]s were released from ''Adventures in Modern Recording'': "I Am a Camera", the title track, "On TV", "Lenny", and "Beatnik". Except for "Beatnik", the singles were minor hits in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, "Lenny" being a top-20 hit in the latter country. Both "We Can Fly from Here" and "Riding a Tide" (appearing as demos on the 2010 reissue) were re-recorded by Yes (with Horn as producer and Downes on keyboards) for their twentieth studio album ''[[Fly from Here]]'' (2011).

== Background ==
On the day studio sessions for ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' were to begin, [[the Buggles]]' keyboardist [[Geoff Downes]] left to form the English rock band [[Asia (band)|Asia]]. Although [[Island Records]]' publisher renegotiated with Downes, his departure gave the publisher a false impression that Buggles singer and bassist [[Trevor Horn]]'s career ended, resulting in Island dropping the duo; this in turn led to Horn's other industry acquaintances having a similar viewpoint. Horn recalled feeling "astounded" and "fucking angry [...] I hadn't even got started yet..."<ref name ="Ianpeel"/> Shortly afterwards, Horn's wife Jill Sinclair made a deal with French label [[Carrere Records]] to fund, promote and release the album.<ref name="Ianpeel">{{cite web|authorlink=Ian Peel (journalist)|last=Peel|first=Ian|date=1 January 2010|url=http://www.trevorhorn.com/horniculture/from_the_art_of_plastic_to_the.html|title=From the Art of Plastic to the Age of Noise|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231255/http://www.trevorhorn.com/horniculture/from_the_art_of_plastic_to_the.html |archive-date=11 November 2013|publisher=Trevor Horn|access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref>

While ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' was mostly a Horn solo project, Downes was still involved in the writing and production of "Vermillion Sands", "I Am a Camera" and "Lenny" (where he also handled the drum programming) and played keyboards on "Beatnik".<ref name ="Ianpeel"/><ref name = "2010renotes"/> Other collaboraters included [[Julian Mendelsohn]] and [[Gary Langan]] as engineers; [[Anne Dudley]], who would later form [[The Art of Noise]] with Langan and Horn, as keyboardist on "Beatnik"; Horn's long-time collaborator [[Luis Jardim]] as percussion on "Beatnik"; and [[Yes (band)|Yes]] bassist [[Chris Squire]] as providing "sound effects" for the title track.<ref name ="Ianpeel"/><ref name = "2010renotes"/> One of the tracks, "[[I Am a Camera (song)|I Am a Camera]]," started as a Buggles demo that turned into a "slightly more overblown" track for their [[Yes (band)|Yes]] collaboration album ''[[Drama (Yes album)|Drama]]'' (1980), named "[[Into the Lens]]"; although Horn appreciated the Yes version's "unadulterated" melody and complex arrangement, he liked the Buggles' recording more.<ref name ="Ianpeel"/>

== Concept and sound ==
{{Listen|filename=Vermilion Sands.ogg|title=Vermillion Sands|type=song|description=''Adventure in Modern Recording'' is a sonically and stylistically diverse album, as illustrated by "Vermillion Sands" alone; this part quickly goes from an upbeat [[jazz]] song to a dramatic piece of music.}}
A more left-field record than the Buggles' previous album ''[[The Age of Plastic]]'' (1980) as Horn planned it to be,<ref name ="Ianpeel"/> ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' is a [[Progressive music#Electronic|progressive electronic]] album containing both [[dance music|dance]] cuts and big-sounding tracks.<ref name = "SteelBananas"/><ref name = "Mojo review">{{cite web|url=http://www.salvo-music.co.uk/shop/cdtop.asp?Marid=277&arid=1292|title=Buggles Adventures in Modern Recording (CD)|publisher=Salvo Music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311053549/http://www.salvo-music.co.uk/shop/cdtop.asp?Marid=277&arid=1292|archive-date=11 March 2010|access-date=15 July 2013}}</ref><ref name = "Billrev">{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210184146if_/https://books.google.com/books?id=7SQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA70&dq=billboard%27s+%22adventures+in+modern+recording&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwie8aXvlt3uAhXtguAKHc3eA9cQ6AEwAXoECAAQAg%23v%3Donepage&q=billboard%27s+%22adventures+in+modern+recording&f=false#v=onepage&q=billboard's%20%22adventures%20in%20modern%20recording&f=false|archive-date=10 February 2021|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7SQEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard%27s+%22adventures+in+modern+recording&pg=PA70|title=Billboard's Recommended LPs|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=20 February 1982|page=70|access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref> It is stylistically and sonically diverse,<ref name = "SteelBananas">{{cite web|last=Grant|first=Patrick|date=15 August 2009|url=http://www.steelbananas.com/2009/08/by-the-wayside-vol-1-adventures-in-modern-recording/|title=By the Wayside Vol. 1: Adventures in Modern Recording|publisher=[[Steel Bananas]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611142030/http://www.steelbananas.com/2009/08/by-the-wayside-vol-1-adventures-in-modern-recording/|archive-date=11 June 2016|access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref><ref name = "Mojo review"/><ref name = "BBC review">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420082838/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/hqcg|archive-date=20 April 2010|last=Roberts|first=Chris|date=16 April 2010|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/hqcg|title=The Buggles Adventures in Modern Recording – Deluxe Edition Review|publisher=[[BBC Music]]|access-date=28 April 2013}}</ref> as heard in "Vermillion Sands" alone; compared by Chris Roberts of [[BBC Music]] to [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]",<ref name = "BBC review"/> the song consists of "[[Electropop|electro-pop]], harmony vocals, key signature changes, incongruous blasts of synthetic trumpet and boogie woogie piano and swing", described ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''{{'}}s David Buckley.<ref name = "Mojo review"/> The title track mashes together electronic and acoustically made instruments, as well as dreamy and "hyper-alert" vibes, analyzed Joe Stannard of ''[[The Quietus]]''.<ref name = "Quietus"/>

[[File:Bugglespromophoto.jpg|thumb|right|alt=In front a red background belies four people wearing a black tie and white tuxedo, with a spotlight shining on a white man with dark hair and glasses; a figure next to him wears headphones.|The Buggles line-up for ''Adventures in Modern Recording'': Horn (''third from the left'') in a tuxedo surrounded by similarly dressed dummies.]]
During the recording of the album, Horn also produced for the [[pop music|pop]] act [[Dollar (group)|Dollar]]; this influenced how he created ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' and in turn his works for Dollar. He envisioned the duo as a "[[Synth-pop|technopop]] orchestra" playing at the Vermillion Sands hotel (the subject of one of the album's tracks). This not only gave Horn the idea of songwriting and production concepts for ''Adventures in Modern Recording'', but also how the Buggles' visual aesthetic would change; the group went from two human players to a four-piece led by Horn and backed by three male dummies a la the [[Auton]]s and members of [[Kraftwerk]].<ref name ="Ianpeel"/>

Horn described producing ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' as a training of his production craft with experimentations of gear.<ref name ="Ianpeel"/> Retrospective pieces have labeled it a document of how he would produce his later works.<ref name = "BBC review"/><ref name = "Quietus">{{cite web|last=Stannard|first=Joe|date=6 April 2010|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/04035-the-buggles-adventures-in-modern-recording-album-reissue-review|title=Reviews: The Buggles – Adventures in Modern Recording|work=[[The Quietus]]|access-date=28 April 2013}}</ref><ref name = "Recordcollector">{{cite web|last=Staunton|first=Terry|date=6 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210182939/https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/adventures-in-modernrecording|archive-date=10 February 2021|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/adventures-in-modernrecording|title=Adventures in Modern Recording|work=[[Record Collector]]|access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref><ref name = "The Scotsman">{{cite web|first1=Fiona|last1=Shepherd|first2=Kenneth|last2=Walton|first3=Jim|last3=Gilchrist|date=19 April 2010|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/cd-review-buggles-adventures-in-modern-recording-1-800258|title=CD Reviews: Pop, Classical & Folk|work=[[The Scotsman]]|access-date=13 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005129/http://www.scotsman.com/news/cd-review-buggles-adventures-in-modern-recording-1-800258|archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> The album was one of the first commercially available albums to feature sounds from the [[Fairlight CMI]], one of the first digital [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampling synthesizers]],<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216200112/http://petervogelinstruments.com.au/history/|archive-date=16 February 2017|url=http://petervogelinstruments.com.au/history/|title=History (and future)|date=26 January 2011|publisher=Peter Vogel Instruments|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref> and was one of Horn's earliest times working with sampling techniques he'd later incorporate into his works for [[Grace Jones]], [[Art of Noise]] and [[Frankie Goes To Hollywood]].<ref name ="Ianpeel"/>

== Release and promotion ==
Initially, Carerre only planned three [[Single (music)|single]] releases of ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' tracks: "I Am a Camera" with a [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of "Fade Away" in October 1981, the title track with "Blue Nylon" as its B-side in January 1982 and "On TV" with a longer version of "Blue Nylon" later that year. However, the album's success in [[continental Europe]] led to the label releasing both "Lenny" and "Beatnik" as singles in 1982. "On TV" and "Fade Away" garnered an exclusive [[Flexi disc|flexidisc]] release via ''[[Trouser Press]]'' magazine, while the title track ran on the seventh issue of ''[[SFX Cassette Magazine]]'', where guest critic [[Richard Skinner (broadcaster)|Richard Skinner]] applauded Horn's singing and compared it to the works of [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]].<ref name ="Ianpeel"/>

== Critical reception ==
Reviews of ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' upon release were mixed.<ref name = "MPL">{{cite journal | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210183116/https://books.google.com/books?id=isAJAQAAMAAJ&q=%22on+four+of+the+eight+tracks%29%2C+they+would%22|archive-date=10 February 2021|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=isAJAQAAMAAJ&q=%22on+four+of+the+eight+tracks%29%2C+they+would%22 | title=Reviews | journal=Musician, Player and Listener | year=1982 | issue=39–50 | page=84|access-date=31 December 2013}}</ref><ref name = "Smash Hits"/><ref name = "MorningCall"/> Tim de Lisle of ''[[Smash Hits]]'' praised Horn's production and the first five tracks for having "enough strong tunes, witty ideas and funky noises", but generally found the album "much less than the sum of the parts, and Side Two deteriorates into tedious Yes-style pomposity".<ref name = "Smash Hits">{{cite magazine|last=de Lisle|first=Tim|title=Buggles: Adventures in Modern Recording (Carrere)|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=1 April 1982|page=19}}</ref> A reviewer from ''[[The Morning Call]]'' also made an unflattering Yes comparison towards some of the songs, like "Beatnik"; he wrote that while it has the "melancholic frenzy" of the duo's biggest hit "[[Video Killed The Radio Star]]", it also has the same Yes-style mixture of "pretentious, meaningless lyrics" and "soaring, grandiose harmonics".<ref name = "MorningCall">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/282652887/|title=Records|work=[[The Morning Call]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210183340/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/282652887/|archive-date=10 February 2021|date=8 May 1982|page=81 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref> Opined Mike Gardner in ''[[Record Mirror]]'', "Instead of an invigorating glimpse into their world of hi-sci techno wizardry, we get a weedy piece of whimsy."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gardner|first=Mike|date=6 March 1982|title=Adventures in Modern Recording|magazine=[[Record Mirror]]|pages=14–15}}</ref>

A ''Record Mirror'' review by Sunie Fletcher of the title track negatively compared it to the "yukky strain of studiedly bouncy, vacuous pop" of "Video Killed the Radio Star".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fletcher|first=Sunie|date=16 January 1982|title=Judge for Yourself|magazine=Record Mirror|page=9}}</ref> ''Smash Hits'' published an unfavorable review of "I Am a Camera", written by Fred Dollar.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dollar|first=Fred|title=Singles|magazine=Smash Hits|date=15 October 1981|page=23}}</ref> However, it also ran [[Martin Fry]]'s review for "On TV", which noted its ahead-of-the-curve production, particularly with its huge drum and clear recording quality.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fry|first=Martin|date=29 April 1982|title=Singles|magazine=Smash Hits|page=21}}</ref>

Retrospective reviews were far more enthusiastic, noting how ''Adventures in Modern Recording''{{'}}s sound was comparable in quality to music released in later years.<ref name = "Quietus"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Lester|first=Paul|date=18 August 2016|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-outer-limits-how-prog-were-buggles|title=The Outer Limits: How prog were Buggles?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926052545/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-outer-limits-how-prog-were-buggles|archive-date=26 September 2020|work=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]]|access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> [[AllMusic]]'s Jeri Montesan found the sound of it and ''The Age of Plastic'' better than the "unimaginative" pop of the 1990s.<ref name = "AllMusic">{{cite web|author=Montesano, Jeri|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/adventures-in-modern-recording-mw0000373034|title=Adventures in Modern Recording|publisher=AllMusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405204929/https://www.allmusic.com/album/adventures-in-modern-recording-mw0000373034|archive-date=5 April 2019|access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref> Roberts, on the other hand, felt that while Horn's project was ambitious, it had some outdated and chintzy-sounding moments.<ref name = "BBC review"/> Stannard called its songwriting "vastly more sophisticated and satisfying" than ''The Age of Plastic'',<ref name = "Quietus"/> while ''[[The Bolton News]]'' journalist Martin Hutchinson highlighted Horn's vocals.<ref name = "Bolton News">{{cite web|last=Hutchinson|first=Martin|date=4 March 2010|url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/leisure/boltonmusic/5043147.CD_Review__Buggles___Adventures_In_Modern_Recording/|title=CD Review: Buggles – Adventures in Modern Recording|work=[[The Bolton News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817142720/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/leisure/boltonmusic/5043147.CD_Review__Buggles___Adventures_In_Modern_Recording/|archive-date=17 August 2016|access-date=28 April 2013}}</ref>

== Commercial reception ==
Horn admitted to being uninterested in ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' near the end of production "because I didn’t think there was a single there".<ref name ="Ianpeel"/> In his home country of the United Kingdom, the album's economic performance confirmed that doubt, failing to make an impact.<ref name ="Ianpeel"/><ref name=theface1982>{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Fiona Russell|date=March 1982|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228202840/http://www.soundslogic.com/fisonic/_legacy/tchmostw.html|archive-date=28 December 2019|url=http://www.soundslogic.com/fisonic/_legacy/tchmostw.html|title=The Most Wanted Man in Pop|work=[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref> It was unable to enter the [[UK Albums Chart]], and the title track and "On TV" were only minor hits on the singles and airplay charts of UK magazine ''[[Record Business]]''.<ref name = "UKchart">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107223704/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Record-Business-IDX/IDX/80s/Record-Business-1982-02-01-S-OCR-IDX-7.pdf|archive-date=7 January 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Record-Business-IDX/IDX/80s/Record-Business-1982-02-01-S-OCR-IDX-7.pdf#search=%22buggles%20adventures%22|title=Bubbling Under Singles 101-150|work=[[Record Business]]|date=1 February 1982|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref><ref name = "Titletrackairplay">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108132454/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Record-Business-IDX/IDX/80s/Record-Business-1982-01-18-S-OCR-IDX-14.pdf|archive-date=8 January 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Record-Business-IDX/IDX/80s/Record-Business-1982-01-18-S-OCR-IDX-14.pdf#search=%22buggles%20adventures%22|title=Airplay Guide|work=[[Record Business]]|date=18 January 1982|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref><ref name = "ONTVairplay">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110011539/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Record-Business-IDX/IDX/80s/Record-Business-1982-05-10-S-OCR-OCR-Page-0014.pdf|archive-date=10 January 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Record-Business-IDX/IDX/80s/Record-Business-1982-05-10-S-OCR-OCR-Page-0014.pdf#search=%22buggles%22|title=Airplay Guide|work=Record Business|date=10 May 1982|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>

However, ''Adventures in Modern Recording'' fared better in North America and continental Europe, particularly France, the Netherlands and the US where it was the Buggles' only entry on the country's official ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard 200|200]] chart, peaking at number 161.<ref name ="Ianpeel"/><ref name = "Dutchchart"/><ref name = "Billboard200"/> "On TV" was certified gold by [[Music Canada]] for sales of 5,000 units.<ref name = "Music Canada">{{cite web|url=http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=&ica=False&sa=The%20Buggles&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist|title=Buggles certification search results|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526190704/https://www.webcitation.org/6IHOnDzQW?url=http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx%3Fst=&ica=False&sa=The%20Buggles&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist|archive-date=26 May 2024|publisher=[[Music Canada]]|access-date=8 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In the Netherlands, "I Am a Camera" was a minor hit and "Lenny" was in the top 20, particularly reaching number nine in Holland.<ref name ="Ianpeel"/><ref name = "NLD100">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117040706/https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Buggles|archive-date=17 November 2017|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Buggles|title=Discografie Buggles|language=Dutch|publisher=Dutchcharts.nl|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616225315/https://www.top40.nl/the-buggles/the-buggles-lenny-9605|archive-date=16 June 2019|url=https://www.top40.nl/the-buggles/the-buggles-lenny-9605|title=Buggles – Lenny|publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|language=Dutch|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616225307/https://www.top40.nl/the-buggles/the-buggles-i-am-a-camera-15220|archive-date=16 June 2019|url=https://www.top40.nl/the-buggles/the-buggles-i-am-a-camera-15220|title=Buggles – I Am a Camera|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=Dutch|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref>

This led to Horn [[lip sync|lip-syncing]] "Lenny" on the country's ''[[TopPop]]'' series (with [[ABC (band)|ABC]] as the backing band)<ref name ="Ianpeel"/> on an episode aired 10 April 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JYeveXiGH0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/-JYeveXiGH0| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=TopPop: Buggles – Lenny|publisher=[[TopPop]] Official YouTube Channel|date=13 December 2012|access-date=8 February 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The performance signaled the end of the Buggles project; Horn stated in the interview after the performance that while the Buggles were going downhill, he was more focused on his more successful venture as a producer for other acts.<ref name ="Ianpeel"/>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline        = Side one<ref name="albumnotes">{{cite AV media notes|title=Adventures in Modern Recording|others=[[The Buggles|Buggles]]|year=1981 |publisher=[[Carrere Records]], Perfect Recordings|id=CAL 131}}</ref>
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
|title1=Adventures in Modern Recording
|writer1={{flatlist|
* Simon Darlow
* [[Trevor Horn]]
* [[Bruce Woolley]]
}}
|extra1={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* John Sinclair
}}
|length1=3:46
|title2=Beatnik
|writer2=T. Horn
|length2=3:38
|extra2={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair
}}
|title3=Vermillion Sands
|writer3={{flatlist|
* [[Geoff Downes]]
* T. Horn
}}
|length3=6:48
|extra3={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* G. Downes
}}
|title4=[[I Am a Camera (song)|I Am a Camera]]
|writer4={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|length4=4:56
|extra4={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* G. Downes
}}
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = Side two<ref name="albumnotes"/>
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
|title5=On TV
|writer5={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* B. Woolley
* Rodney Thomlpson
}}
|length5=2:48
|extra5={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair
}}
|title6=Inner City
|writer6={{flatlist|
* S. Darlow
* T. Horn
}}
|length6=3:22
|extra6={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair
}}
|title7=Lenny
|writer7={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|length7=3:12
|extra7={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* G. Downes
}}
|title8=Rainbow Warrior
|writer8={{flatlist|
* S. Darlow
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair}}
|length8=5:22
|extra8={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair
}}
|title9=Adventures in Modern Recording (reprise)
|writer9={{flatlist|
* S. Darlow
* T. Horn
* B. Woolley
}}
|length9=0:51
|extra9={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair
}}
|total_length=34:29
}}
{{Track listing
|headline = Bonus tracks on the 1997 CD re-release and the 2010 CD re-release (B-sides)<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Adventures in Modern Recording|others=Buggles|year=1997 |publisher=Flavour of Sound|id=TFCK-87577}}</ref>
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
|title10=Fade Away
|writer10={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair
}}
|extra10=T. Horn
|length10=2:36
|title11=Blue Nylon
|writer11={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* S. Darlow
* J. Sinclair
}}
|extra11=T. Horn
|length11=2:25
|title12=I Am a Camera
|note12=12" mix
|writer12={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* G. Downes
}}
|length12=4:13
|extra12=T. Horn
|total_length=43:43
}}
{{Track listing
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
|headline =Bonus tracks on the 2010 CD re-release (Demos)<ref name = "2010renotes">{{cite AV media notes|title=Adventures in Modern Recording|others=Buggles|year=2010 |publisher=Salvo. [[ZTT Records]]|id=SALVOCD036}}</ref>
|title13=[[We Can Fly|We Can Fly from Here]]&nbsp;– Part 1
|writer13={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|length13=5:09
|extra13={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|title14=Dion
|writer14={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|length14=5:03
|extra14={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|title15=[[Videotheque]]
|writer15={{flatlist|
* S. Darlow
* T. Horn
}}
|length15=3:34
|extra15=T. Horn
|title16=On TV
|note16=Demo
|writer16={{flatlist|
* B. Woolley
* R. Thompson
* T. Horn
}}
|extra16={{flatlist|
* T. Horn
* J. Sinclair
}}
|length16=3:52
|title17=Walking on Glass
|note17=Original version of "Lenny"
|writer17={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|extra17=T. Horn
|length17=3:14
|title18=Riding a Tide
|writer18={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|extra18=T. Horn
|length18=4:50
|title19=We Can Fly from Here&nbsp;– Part 2
|writer19={{flatlist|
* G. Downes
* T. Horn
}}
|extra19=T. Horn
|length19=4:02
|total_length=73:27
}}

== Personnel ==
The following is taken from the liner notes of the 2010 re-issue of ''Adventures in Modern Recording''.<ref name = "2010renotes"/>
;Buggles
* [[Geoff Downes]]&nbsp;– [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]] (2–4, 7), drum programming (7), production (3–4, 7, 12)
* [[Trevor Horn]]&nbsp;– [[singing|vocals]], [[bass guitar|bass]] (1, 6, 9–11), [[guitar]] (2–4, 7), [[drum machine|drum]] [[programming (music)|programming]] (4), [[Record producer|production]]

;Other
{{div col|colwidth=50em}}
* John Sinclair&nbsp;– drum programming (1, 5–6, 8–11), [[cymbal]]s (1, 8–9), guitar (2), vocals (5), production (1–2, 5–6, 8–9, 16)
* Simon Darlow&nbsp;– keyboards and guitar (1, 5–6, 8–11)
* [[Chris Squire]]&nbsp;– [[sound effect]]s (1, 9)
* [[Anne Dudley]]&nbsp;– keyboards (2)
* [[Luís Jardim]]&nbsp;– percussion (2)
* [[Bruce Woolley]]&nbsp;– vocals (5)
* Danny Schogger, Rod Thompson&nbsp;– keyboards (7)
* [[Gary Langan]], [[Julian Mendelsohn]] – [[Audio engineer|engineering]]
* Stuart Bruce – assistant engineering
* Rory Kee – illustrator
* Glenn Travis Associates – design
{{Div col end}}

== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Weekly chart performance for ''Adventures in Modern Recording''
|-
!Chart (1982)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|26|artist=Buggles|album=Adventures in Modern Recording|access-date=9 April 2013|rowheader=true|refname="Dutchchart"}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|50|artist=Buggles|album=Adventures in Modern Recording|access-date=10 October 2011|rowheader=true|refname="Swedenchart"}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|161|artist=Buggles|access-date=6 February 2021|rowheader=true|refname="Billboard200"}}
|-
!scope="row"|US Top Adds Rock Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="Billboard 1982. p. 30">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1982/1982-02-20-Billboard-Page-0032.pdf#search=%22adventures%20in%20modern%20recording%22|title=Rock Albums & Top Tracks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214135659/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1982/1982-02-20-Billboard-Page-0032.pdf|archive-date=14 February 2021|magazine=Billboard|date=20 February 1982|page=30|access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{The Buggles}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Albums produced by Trevor Horn]]
[[Category:The Buggles albums]]
[[Category:1981 albums]]
[[Category:Carrere Records albums]]