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The Best of OMD

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The Best of OMD
Compilation album by
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Released12 March 1988 (1988-03-12)
Recorded1979–1988
GenreSynthpop
Length53:54 (LP & cassette)
1:06:22 (CD, MiniDisc, and DCC)
LabelVirgin
ProducerOMD
Mike Howlett
Richard Manwaring
Rhett Davies
Brian Tench
Stephen Hague
Tom Lord Alge
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark chronology
The Pacific Age
(1986) 		The Best of OMD
(1988) 		Sugar Tax
(1991)

The Best of OMD is a compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1988; marking a decade since the band's beginnings.

The record essentially delineates the group's experimental early years from their pop-oriented later work: side one features recordings from 1979–1984, while side two is drawn from the group's 1984–1988 efforts. It was a worldwide success, becoming a Top 5 hit across Europe and achieving 3x platinum sales in the United Kingdom and gold status in the United States.[1] "Dreaming" was released as a single and made little impact on the UK charts, reaching no. 50, but it was a hit in the US (no. 16), Germany (no. 26) and South Africa (no. 2).

Album information

The version of "Electricity" used is the same as the one featured on their debut album (which itself is the band reworking Martin Hannett's original Factory version). The band was originally going to use their very first version of this song, but found the drumming to be inferior and so settled for the remix of the track instead. "Messages" is the more popular 10" single version; "Tesla Girls" is a compilation version not previously released;[2] and "Talking Loud and Clear" is the 7" edited version.

The worldwide CD, MiniDisc and DCC versions of the album are resequenced and feature four extra tracks not present on the LP version: "Telegraph" (a unique mix found only on this release, differing from the album version and both 12" versions), "Genetic Engineering", and 12" versions of "La Femme Accident" and "We Love You". The US CD adds only the latter two 12" versions. The Australian version of the vinyl album replaces "Secret" with "We Love You", since that song had been a popular hit there. There was also a video compilation released with the promo videos of some of the songs featured on the album.

It was the group's final album release of the decade, effectively closing a chapter on their history, and just before founding members Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys split in 1989, leaving the group name to McCluskey. According to Andy McCluskey, OMD released the album in order to pay off debts owned to Virgin Records.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Robert ChristgauB+[5]

Robert Christgau noted that the album includes "technocratic dance-kitsch as amusing as 'Electricity' and 'Enola Gay', and 'Talking Loud and Clear', their cutest and catchiest romantic medium-tempo [song]". He added that "the many others here included will certainly entertain the hookily inclined."[5]

Mike DeGagne in AllMusic also highlighted the band's knack for strong hooks, and referred to The Best of OMD as an "excellent compilation" from a group who "were responsible for some of the catchiest and brightest synth pop that the '80s had to offer".[4] Trouser Press called it "a concise recapitulation of the band's artistic development".[6]

Track listing

All songs written by OMD, except "Locomotion" written by OMD and Gordian Troeller, and "So in Love" written by OMD and Stephen Hague.

Vinyl LP and Music Cassette

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Electricity"Humphreys, McCluskeyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark3:30
2."Messages"Humphreys, McCluskeyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark4:44
3."Enola Gay"McCluskeyOrganisation3:31
4."Souvenir"Humphreys, CooperArchitecture & Morality3:34
5."Joan of Arc"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality3:47
6."Maid of Orleans"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality4:09
7."Talking Loud and Clear"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperJunk Culture3:53
Total length:27:08
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Tesla Girls"Humphreys, McCluskeyJunk Culture3:33
2."Locomotion"Humphreys, McCluskey, Gordian TroellerJunk Culture3:53
3."So in Love"Humphreys, McCluskey, Stephen HagueCrush3:28
4."Secret"Humphreys, McCluskeyCrush3:56
5."If You Leave"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperPretty in Pink4:28
6."(Forever) Live and Die"Humphreys, Weir, WeirThe Pacific Age3:34
7."Dreaming"Humphreys, McCluskeyPreviously unreleased3:54
Total length:26:46 (53:54)

Compact Disc, MiniDisc and Digital Compact Cassette

No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Electricity"Humphreys, McCluskeyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark3:30
2."Messages"Humphreys, McCluskeyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark4:44
3."Enola Gay"McCluskeyOrganisation3:31
4."Souvenir"Humphreys, CooperArchitecture & Morality3:34
5."Joan of Arc"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality3:47
6."Maid of Orleans"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality4:09
7."Telegraph"Humphreys, McCluskeyDazzle Ships3:43
8."Tesla Girls"Humphreys, McCluskeyJunk Culture3:33
9."Locomotion"Humphreys, McCluskey, TroellerJunk Culture3:53
10."Talking Loud and Clear"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperJunk Culture3:53
11."So in Love"Humphreys, McCluskey, HagueCrush3:28
12."Secret"Humphreys, McCluskeyCrush3:56
13."If You Leave"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperPretty in Pink4:28
14."(Forever) Live and Die"Humphreys, Weir, WeirThe Pacific Age3:34
15."Dreaming"Humphreys, McCluskeyPreviously unreleased3:54
16."Genetic Engineering"Humphreys, McCluskeyDazzle Ships3:35
17."We Love You" (12" Version)Humphreys, McCluskey, HagueThe Pacific Age6:14
18."La Femme Accident" (12" Version)Humphreys, McCluskeyCrush6:16
Total length:1:06:22

VHS Video

No.TitleLength
1."Electricity" 
2."Messages" 
3."Enola Gay" 
4."Souvenir" 
5."Maid of Orleans" 
6."Talking Loud and Clear" 
7."Tesla Girls" 
8."Locomotion" 
9."So in Love" 
10."Secret" 
11."If You Leave" 
12."(Forever) Live and Die" 
13."Dreaming" 
14."Telegraph" 
15."We Love You" 
16."La Femme Accident" 

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[23] Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Cat.no.
UK 1988 LP Virgin OMD1
Musicassette TCOMD1
Compact Disc CD OMD
VHS VVD247
1992 DCC 458604
1998 MiniDisc MD OMD1

Credits

  • "Electricity" and "Dreaming" are produced by OMD.
  • "Messages", "Enola Gay" and "Souvenir" are produced by OMD and Mike Howlett.
  • "Joan of Arc" and "Maid of Orleans" are produced by OMD and Richard Manwaring.
  • "Telegraph" and "Genetic Engineering" are produced by OMD and Rhett Davies.
  • "Tesla Girls", "Locomotion" and "Talking Loud and Clear" are produced by OMD and Brian Tench.
  • "So in Love", "Secret", "(Forever) Live and Die", "We Love You" and "La Femme Accident" are produced by Stephen Hague.
  • "If You Leave" is produced by OMD and Tom Lord Alge.

References

  1. ^ https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Orchestral+Manoeuvres+In+The+Dark#search_section
  2. ^ "The Definitive Tesla Girls guide". omd-messages.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. ^ "OMD interview - Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys (part 3)". FaceCulture. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b DeGagne, Mike. "Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – The Best Of OMD". AllMusic.
  5. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: The Best of OMD". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Australiancharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0958". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 15. 9 April 1988. p. 30. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Charts.nz – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  13. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  14. ^ "Swisscharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Albums of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 13. ISSN 0315-5994.
  18. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  19. ^ "1988 Year End Eurocharts – Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 31. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  21. ^ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1991). "Top 100 Albums: 1988". BPI YearBook 1989/90. London: British Phonographic Industry. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-9061-5410-6.
  22. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Best of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Music Canada. 28 April 1988. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (OMD; 'Best of OMD')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  24. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Best of OMD". Recorded Music NZ. 13 June 1988. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  25. ^ "British album certifications – OMD – Best of OMD". British Phonographic Industry. 9 March 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  26. ^ "American album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in Dark – The Best of OMD". Recording Industry Association of America. 11 March 1991. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
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