Showing posts with label OMD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OMD. Show all posts

Wednesday 4 November 2009

La femme accident - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

For some reason, I've listened to the 12" extended remix of 'La femme accident' a lot more than the original single version over the last ten years. So it was delightful to play this single again after such a long time.

'La femme accident' is a great lightweight pop track from the synthpop masters OMD. It was the third and last single release from their 1985 album 'Crush'. It reached number 42 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 352
Found: V&D, December 1985
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'La femme accident' / 'Firegun'

Sunday 25 October 2009

Tesla girls - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Tesla girls' was the third single to be taken from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1984 album 'Junk culture'. The accompanying music video was a parody on the style of American music videos who relied heavily on attractive young female models posing in them. Subsequently, the media slammed the music video as being 'sexist'.

The single reached number 22 in both the UK singles chart and the Irish singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2877
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 28, 1997
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Tesla girls' / 'Telegraph (live)'

Saturday 17 October 2009

Talking loud and clear - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Talking loud and clear' was released as the second single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1984 album 'Junk culture'. The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

I remember not being very impressed with OMD's 1984 singles. They sounded too lush compared to the stark synth sound of their earlier singles. Fortunately time has been friendly to their music and it's a very pleasant listen now.

My collection: 7" single no. 4113
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Talking loud and clear' / 'Julia's song'

Thursday 15 October 2009

Joan of Arc - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The second single from OMD's third album 'Architecture & Morality' was the beautiful 'Joan of Arc'. Not to be confused with 'Maid of Orleans', which was subtitled 'The waltz of Joan of Arc', which was the next single and would be a worldwide hit.

This single was less successful worldwide, although it did reach number 5 in the UK singles chart, only one place lower than 'Maid of Orleans'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2493
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Joan of Arc' / 'The romance of the telescope (unfinished)'

Sunday 11 October 2009

Enola gay - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark

'Enola Gay' is named after the aeroplane, a USAAF B-29 Superfortress which dropped 'Little Boy', the first atomic bomb to be used in an act of War, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 to bring an end to the Second World War. The lyric attacks the decision to use the bomb, suggesting that the bombing was unnecessary ('It shouldn't ever have to end this way').

The song appears on OMD's second album 'Organisation' (1980) and when it was released as a single in September 1980, it reached number 8 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2763
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Enola gay' / 'Annex'

Sunday 27 September 2009

Maid of Orleans - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The intro of 'Maid of Orleans' is one of the strangest sounds I'd ever heard in 1982. It piqued my interest, and with the aid of the intriguing music video, this became one of my favourite tracks of the year. About the intro, Andy McCluskey explained: 'The idea came about because we actually had the song recorded but thought the track started oddly and needed something else to announce its arrival. It's not meant to "mean" anything specific, just set up a feeling to let the track grow out of the strange noises. I think that it worked well! Most of the noises are mellotron vocal sounds slowed down/sped up and greatly distorted simply by completely overdriving the old Helios desk in The Manor Studio. Pink noise and snare drum in lots of reverb.'

The song was a big success, peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 308
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Maid of Orleans' / 'Navigation'

Friday 18 September 2009

Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

'Messages' is the third single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The single provided OMD with their first top 40 hit in the UK, reaching number 13. In the Netherlands, the single narrowly missed the Dutch Top 40.

A rerecorded version of 'Messages' appears on OMD's debut album. The B-side 'Taking sides again' is an instrumental dub version of 'Messages'.

My collection: 7" single no. 2761
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 20p
Tracks: 'Messages' / 'Taking sides again'

Saturday 29 August 2009

So in love - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark

'So in love' was the last song written for OMD's album 'Crush'. It was originally dropped until band member Martin Cooper persuaded Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys to make a demo for the song. Andy McCluskey said it was about the painful end of a relationship.

Released as the first single from the album, it was a good success for the band. For years they tried to make it in the USA, and with this single, they did: it peaked at number 26 in the US Billboard Hot 100. In the UK singles chart it reached number 27, while in the Netherlands, it reached number 7. This limited edition double single features two extra tracks.

My collection: 7" single no. 2743
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 1996
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'So in love' / 'Concrete hands' // 'Maria Gallante' / 'White trash (live)'

Friday 31 July 2009

Locomotion - OMD

'Locomotion' was the first single taken from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1984 album 'Junk culture'. The track was a departure from the group's synth-based tracks and was, according to critics, a deliberate step towards a more commercial 'mainstream' sound.

It was a success. Where previous single 'Telegraph' only managed to reach number 42 in the UK singles chart, this one peaked at number 5. In the Netherlands, it reached the exact same position. Things were looking up for OMD!

My collection: 7" single no. 3909
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Locomotion' / 'Her body in my soul'

Friday 30 January 2009

Stand above me - OMD

When Paul Humphreys left Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) in 1989, Andy McCluskey retained the name of the band and continued to record and tour as OMD. The first album he recorded was 'Sugar Tax' (1991), and then he followed this up with 'Liberator' (1993). The first single taken from 'Liberator' was 'Stand above me', an upbeat song with a strong hookline.

This promotional 12" single features two ten minute remixes of 'Stand above me'. I didn't play this 12" single a lot, and the reason is those remixes: they are a bit boring, really. The 12 inch mix contains a sample from the next single 'Dream of me', strangely enough, and both remixes are just a random selection of beats and bleeps. Buying tracks you don't know: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

My collection: 12" single no. 216
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1992
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Stand above me (A 10 minute therapy session into hyperlife mix)' / 'Stand above me (7" mix)', 'Stand above me (12" mix)'
Download: here

Thursday 8 January 2009

Souvenir - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark

'Souvenir' was released as the first single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1981 album 'Architecture & Morality'. A tape consisting of slowed-down loops of a choir tuning up had been the initial inspiration for the song. Although very displeased with the original version, they decided it had some merit after all, after having re-recorded it previously.

The tune has a very strong synthesised melody, with a rare lead vocal by Paul Humphreys. Although he is not the band's main singer, he was satisfied with his attempts, and would do lead vocals for some of OMD's other well-known releases. An extended version of the song (with an additional verse) was released as a 10" single.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: House of Rhythm, London
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Souvenir (extended)' / 'Motion and heart (Amazon version)', 'Sacred heart'
Download: here

Monday 29 December 2008

Telegraph - OMD

'Telegraph' was the second single taken from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1983 album 'Dazzle Ships'. After the success of 'Maid of Orleans' a year earlier, the singles from 'Dazzle Ships' did considerably worse. 'Genetic engineering' only made no. 20 in the UK singles chart, while this single only reached no. 42.

When I see that Esprit Mailorder is currently selling this picture disc for almost 13 euros, I'm glad I found my copy last weekend for a quarter of that price.

My collection: 7" single no. 3509
Found: Record Mania, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Telegraph' / '66 and fading'
Download: here

Tuesday 25 November 2008

She's leaving - OMD

OMD scored a big hit in Europe with 'Maid of Orleans'. It was a number one hit in the Netherlands as well. As beautiful as I thought it was, by the time it had left the charts I was tired of it. How wonderful that the next single was fresh and exciting again: 'She's leaving' was released, and from the first time I heard it I was totally fascinated. There was this cold, emotionless synthesizer, combined with passionate vocals. I loved the musical theme of the song.

When I bought the single, it was a bargain. It hadn't reached the charts and the shop offered it for a discount price within weeks. I was very happy to have this one, and I have played it regularly since - although these days it's obviously become the mp3 I play the most.

My collection: 7" single no. 231
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'She's leaving' / 'The romance of the telescope'
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