what about just this?

my @records = split($/, $data);
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Update: Your original code will work if you add the /g modifier to the substitutions..

perl -le '$_="blah\r\nfoo\r\nstuff\r\n"; s/\012/\015/g; s/\015+/\015/g
+; print join ":", split(/\015/,$_)'
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