Architecture & Morality
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
| BBC | (positive)[5] |
| Pitchfork Media | (8.7/10)[6] |
Architecture & Morality is the third album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1981. It is the group's most commercially and critically successful album, selling over 3 million copies[5]. Released just eighteen months after their debut album, it demonstrated both OMD's continuing musical maturity and advancement of their style. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. According to the album's credits, the album title was suggested to the band by Martha Ladly, formerly of Martha and the Muffins, after the 1977 book Morality and Architecture by David Watkin [1].
Musically, the album was notable for making liberal use of the mellotron, a mechanical tape-replay keyboard more commonly associated in Britain with progressive rock bands of the early 1970s than with the synthpop of the 1980s.
The artwork was produced by Peter Saville and Brett Wickens. Architecture & Morality was released several times with varying artwork, most notably in yellow, blue and grey but even green versions are available. The original cover from 1981 is light yellow/orange in a die-cut sleeve.
The tenth through sixteenth tracks of the remastered album are bonus tracks and were B-sides from the album's three singles, except "Gravity Never Failed" which was out-take from the album sessions, originally intended to have been a single A-side, but not released until 1988, as the B-side of "Dreaming".
Remixes of "The Romance Of The Telescope" and "Of All The Things We've Made" appeared on OMD's next album, Dazzle Ships, which was released in 1983. "Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" is often simply referred as "Maid of Orleans", released as a single with the title "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)".
All of the album's songs were included in the first part of the setlist on OMD's 2007 comeback tour.
Track listings
All songs were written by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, except where noted.
Original release
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The New Stone Age" | McCluskey | 3:22 |
| 2. | "She's Leaving" | 3:28 | |
| 3. | "Souvenir" | Humphreys, Martin Cooper , Dave Hughes | 3:39 |
| 4. | "Sealand" | 7:47 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Joan of Arc" | McCluskey | 3:48 |
| 2. | "Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" | McCluskey | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Architecture and Morality (Instrumental)" | 3:43 | |
| 4. | "Georgia" | 3:24 | |
| 5. | "The Beginning and the End" | 3:48 |
2003: remastered CD
- UK: Virgin / DIDCDR12
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The New Stone Age" | McCluskey | 3:22 |
| 2. | "She's Leaving" | 3:28 | |
| 3. | "Souvenir" | Humphreys, Cooper | 3:39 |
| 4. | "Sealand" | 7:47 | |
| 5. | "Joan of Arc" | McCluskey | 3:48 |
| 6. | "Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" | McCluskey | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Architecture and Morality (Instrumental)" | 3:43 | |
| 8. | "Georgia" | 3:24 | |
| 9. | "The Beginning and the End" | 3:48 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Extended Souvenir" | Humphreys, Cooper | 4:16 |
| 11. | "Motion and Heart" (Amazon version) | 3:07 | |
| 12. | "Sacred Heart" | 3:30 | |
| 13. | "The Romance of the Telescope" (Unfinished) | 3:22 | |
| 14. | "Navigation" | 3:00 | |
| 15. | "Of All the Things We've Made" | 3:25 | |
| 16. | "Gravity Never Failed" | 3:24 |
2007: remastered CD with DVD
- UK: Virgin / DIDCDRX12
Disc One: CD
Same tracks as the remastered CD from 2003.
Disc Two: DVD
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Souvenir" (promo video) | Humphreys, Cooper | |
| 2. | "Joan of Arc" (Live at Top of the Pops, 29-10-1981) | McCluskey | |
| 3. | "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz of Joan of Arc)" (promo video) | McCluskey |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Almost" | ||
| 5. | "Mystereality" | ||
| 6. | "Joan of Arc" | McCluskey | |
| 7. | "Motion and Heart" | ||
| 8. | "Maid of Orleans" | McCluskey | |
| 9. | "Statues" | McCluskey | |
| 10. | "Souvenir" | Humphreys, Cooper | |
| 11. | "The New Stone Age" | McCluskey | |
| 12. | "Enola Gay" | McCluskey | |
| 13. | "Bunker Soldiers" | ||
| 14. | "Electricity" | ||
| 15. | "She's Leaving" | ||
| 16. | "Julia's Song" | McCluskey, Humphreys, Julia Kneale | |
| 17. | "Stanlow" |
Personnel
- Paul Humphreys – synthesisers, piano, mellotron, acoustic and electronic percussion, organ, rhythm programming, radios, melodica and vocals
- Andy McCluskey – synthesisers, mellotron, guitar, bass, rhythm programming, acoustic and electronic percussion, reed horns, organ and vocals
- Malcolm Holmes – drums, electronic and acoustic percussion, bass synthesiser
- Martin Cooper – saxophone
- Michael Douglas – synthesisers, piano and electronic organ
Chart performance
| Chart (1981/1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Netherlands Albums Chart [7] | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart [8] | 3 |
| Austrian Albums Chart [9] | 16 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart [10] | 22 |
| Swedish Albums Chart [11] | 28 |
References
- ^ a b c "OMD DISCOGRAPHY | ALBUMS 1980 - 84". Official OMD website. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b c "OMD DISCOGRAPHY | SINGLES 1979 - 84". Official OMD website. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Q & A". Official OMD website. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Raggett, Ned. "Architecture & Morality > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b Patel, Amar (20 April 2007). "Review of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Architecture And Morality". BBC. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Plagenhoef, Scott (18 July 2003). "Album Reviews: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark / Organisation / Architecture & Morality". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Chart Stats - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Architecture And Morality". Retrieved 7 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Chart Stats - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Architecture And Morality". Retrieved 7 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) - Architecture & Morality - austriancharts.at [[:Template:De icon]]". Retrieved 7 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "charts.org.nz - OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) - Architecture & Morality". Retrieved 7 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "swedishcharts.com - OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) - Architecture & Morality". Retrieved 7 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)
External links
- Album lyrics at official OMD website