CARRIE - Secrets 12" Vinyl LP Album

- "Secrets" is the first (debut) and only full length album released by the German Heavy Metal band: Carrie

Album cover art for Carrie’s Secrets featuring a surreal scene with a red vintage car labeled SECRETS, a mystical woman in white emitting a beam of light toward a glowing orb, a castle in the background under a stormy sky with lightning, and shadowy figures on the right.

CARRIE’s Secrets album, released in 1986, marks the debut of this German Heavy Metal band. Known for its powerful riffs, soaring vocals, and intricate melodies, the album blends classic heavy metal with a distinct Teutonic flair. With striking cover art and high-quality production by Ralph Hubert, Secrets is a hidden gem that captures the essence of 1980s heavy metal culture.

CARRIE's "Secrets" Unveiled: A German Heavy Metal Revelation
Album Description:

In the heart of the 80s, when heavy metal reigned supreme, a new force emerged from Germany: CARRIE. Their debut album, "Secrets," unleashed in 1986, was a blazing testament to the band's raw talent and unbridled energy.

Heavy Metal with a Teutonic Twist:

CARRIE didn't simply follow the well-trodden path of their contemporaries. "Secrets" showcased a unique blend of classic heavy metal with a distinct German flavor. The album's ten tracks were a whirlwind of powerful riffs, soaring vocals, and intricate melodies, all infused with a touch of Teutonic grit.

From the Vaults of Y.U.P. Studio:

The album's creation was a collaborative effort, helmed by the seasoned producer Ralph Hubert. His guidance, combined with the band's fiery passion, resulted in a sound that was both polished and raw. Recorded at the legendary Y.U.P. Studio 1, "Secrets" captured the essence of CARRIE's live performances, with every note dripping with intensity.

Beyond the Music:

The album's cover art, a striking image crafted by Rainer Maria Grossens, hinted at the mysteries and passions hidden within the music. The back cover, adorned with a photograph by Hucky Heppke, further fueled the intrigue surrounding CARRIE.

Music Genre:

German Heavy Metal 

Album Production Information:

The album: "CARRIE - Secrets" was produced by: Ralph Hubert for Y.U.P. Music GMBH, Axel Thubeauville, and Peter G Stiens

  • Axel Thubeauville – Music producer, record company owner

    One of those Essen metal fixers who seemed to have a hand on the faders, the contracts, and the pressing plant at the same time.

    Axel Thubeauville is the kind of German metal operator I learned never to ignore: while digging through 1980s heavy metal albums, I kept running into his name on dozens of sleeves, and sooner or later it dawned on me that this was no minor credit but one of the men quietly shaping the heavy metal scene from behind the desk. Out of Essen, he opened Earthshaker in 1983 to get Steeler on wax, then produced Brainfever in 1983-1986, Steeler in 1984-1985, Warlock in 1984, and Living Death across 1984-1985. By 1986 he had moved into Shark and Aaarrg territory, helping bring acts such as Sepultura, Stratovarius, and Virgin Steele to the German market. In the 1990s he stayed active as executive producer for Virgin Steele in 1994-1995 and At Vance in 1999-2001. I never saw him as a mere office man; he was one of the engine-room characters who kept German metal pressed and moving.

  • Ralph "Ralf" Hubert – Record Producer, Sound Engineer, Musician

    He is the guy who can make a mid-budget German metal band sound like it had a plan all along.

    Ralph "Ralf" Hubert is the kind of German studio hawk who makes a band sound sharper than they actually are (a compliment). Back in Sep-Nov 1984 I can place him behind the desk at Sound-Partner Studio in Kirchhellen, engineering Stormwind sessions with that clean, metallic bite. From 1985 onward he stepped out from the control room as bassist, writer and guiding hand in Mekong Delta, where precision riffing and surgical low-end are the whole religion. Across the late 1980s and beyond, his name keeps popping up in metal credits-usually where the drums are tight and the guitars stop flapping. Producer, engineer, musician: the link between sweaty rehearsal rooms and the cold, exacting final mix.

    • Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Ralph Hubert during January-February 1986

    Andre Chapelier - Sound Engineer, Bass Guitar

    • Andre Chapelier – Bass
      Andre Chapelier played bass for the German metal band Atlain from 1983 to 1986, contributing to their raw early sound before joining Holy Moses in 1986. His tight, fast bass work appears on the 1987 album “Finished With The Dogs.” After leaving Holy Moses later that same year, Chapelier stepped away from the music world entirely, closing his brief but memorable chapter in Teutonic metal.

    This album was recorded at: Y.U.P. Studio 1. Mastered at Studio Pauler by Günther Pauler himself

    Mastered at Studio Pauler, by G. Pauler himself

    Album Front cover : Rainer Maria Grossens

    Album Back cover Photo: Hucky Heppke

    Husky Heppke a photographer who has during the 1980s taken photos of a half a dozen Heavy Metal bands for their album covers, these bands include: Atlain, Darxon, Fact Faithfull Breath and Living Death.

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    Earthshaker ES 4016

    Media Format:

    12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

    Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

    Year & Country:

    1986 Made in Germany
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: CARRIE - Secrets
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Uwe Starck
    • Steffi Melz (F) - Keyboards
    • Annelen Middendorf (F) - Lead Vocals
    • Oliver Hermanns - Guitars
    • Wilfried Schneider - Guitars
    • Joergen Slavin
    Complete Track-listing of the album "CARRIE - Secrets"

    The detailed tracklist of this record "CARRIE - Secrets" is:

      Track-listing :
    1. The Show Is Over 03:44
    2. The Assassin 02:26
    3. Heroes Never Return 04:17
    4. Dance the Wire 02:10
    5. Got to Sort Myself Out 05:15
    6. My Own Way 02:52
    7. Secret Place to Hide 04:46
    8. Carrie 03:51
    9. Just for One Night 04:46
    10. We Rock the Nation 03:36

    High Quality Photo of Album Front Cover  "CARRIE - Secrets"

    The album cover artwork features a surreal and dramatic scene. In the foreground, there is a striking red vintage car with a license plate reading ‘SECRETS’. The car’s design suggests a classic Cadillac-style vehicle, hinting at a retro aesthetic. Near the car, a red high-heeled shoe lies abandoned on the ground, adding a mysterious and evocative element to the imagery.

    The central figure is a woman dressed in a white, flowing robe, exuding an ethereal or mystical aura. She is holding a staff or device that emits a bright, focused beam of light aimed at a glowing orb on the ground. The orb, shimmering with light and surrounded by a subtle glow, appears to be a source of intrigue or power.

    In the background, a medieval-style castle stands atop a hill, with jagged lightning bolts cutting through a dramatic, stormy sky. The scene is dark and moody, with hues of orange and brown dominating the palette, suggesting a desert or barren wasteland.

    To the right of the woman, shadowy figures, perhaps statues or robed individuals, stand silently, adding a sense of foreboding and mystery. The entire composition evokes a blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and gothic elements, creating an enigmatic visual narrative that complements the title, ‘Secrets’. The band name ‘Carrie’ is displayed prominently in metallic, futuristic lettering in the top right corner, adding a modern touch to the overall design.

    Album Back Cover

    Back cover of Carrie’s Secrets album featuring a two-panel design with a blue section listing Side A and Side B tracks, and a black section with production credits, acknowledgments, and a black-and-white photo of the band members dressed in 1980s rock attire.

    The back cover of the album features a two-panel design with contrasting black and blue sections.

    The blue background provides a clean and modern layout for the song titles and other text.

    - Right Panel (Black): The black section includes production and credits details in white text. It notes the album’s production by Ralph Hubert and its recording and mastering locations, along with acknowledgments and thanks to various contributors.

    The band name ‘Carrie’ is prominently displayed in metallic blue lettering, matching the logo style from the front cover. Below the credits is a black-and-white group photo of the band members. They are dressed in leather and rock-style attire, posing in a typical heavy metal fashion of the 1980s, exuding a confident and edgy aesthetic.

    The back cover effectively complements the front by maintaining a bold, polished style while providing all the necessary details about the album’s tracks and production. It conveys a professional and cohesive design that reflects the band’s hard rock and heavy metal identity.

    Close-up photo of the White EarthShaker Record Label 

    Record label of Carrie’s Secrets album with a white background, the red Earthshaker logo at the top, catalog number ES 4016, 33 RPM Stereo, GEMA logo, and copyright text in German around the outer edge

    The record label for Carrie’s Secrets album features a clean and professional design. It has a white background with black text and a striking red Earthshaker logo positioned prominently at the top. The logo is styled with a bold font and includes a wave-like visual element in the center, emphasizing the “shaker” theme.

    Below the logo, the label displays standard information, including the album title (Carrie – Secrets), the label name (Earthshaker), and technical details such as the catalog number (ES 4016), the playing speed (33 UpM Stereo), and the duration of the side. The label also includes the German copyright organization mark (GEMA) and a small logo for the record label.

    The outer edge of the label features text in German, warning against unauthorized duplication, rental, or performance, a standard copyright notice for records. The overall layout is symmetrical and functional, typical of mid-1980s vinyl releases, and reflects the professional quality of the production.