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Messages (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)

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"Messages"
Song
B-side"Taking Sides Again"
"Waiting for the Man"

"Messages" is the third single of the synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released in 1980. The song originally featured on their eponymous debut album, but a re-recorded version provided OMD with their first Top 40 hit single in the UK, reaching number 13.[1] As with debut single "Electricity", the band embraced the concept of machines singing the song's chorus.[2]

Most copies of the original 10" pressing with the album version were scrapped on behalf of the Band (because they wanted to re-record the song), but a handful did escape destruction. Some of these were given away as part of a competition for the OMD fan club in 1980. These pressings can only distinguished by the shorter track time and different runout information.

The later Grey two tone labels incorrectly state the producer as Chester Valentino. Mike Howlett is the producer, as the track was remixed and times at 4:48 - later editions again feature Grey labels correctly attributed to Mike Howlett and were also issued with different coloured record labels including Red, Green and a Pink/White combination. These labels also correctly credit Mike Howlett for the production.

The song was featured in the second series of Ashes to Ashes (2009). It has been covered by the artists White Town and Ganymede.[3]

AllMusic critics Ned Raggett and Dave Thompson praised the re-recorded single version, which would later appear on the band's compilation albums;[4][5] the former called it a "far more stunning reworking".

Song versions and B-sides

An early version of "Messages" was recorded on 20 August 1979 and broadcast by John Peel on his Radio 1 programme on 3 September.[6] Although the song structure and lyrics remained the same, the song originally had a much slower tempo than either the single or album versions, the latter being the first to be officially released on the band's debut album in February 1980.[7]

The song was re-recorded for the release as a single in May 1980 and this new version differs strongly from the album version. The single was produced by Mike Howlett who would go on to produce the band's highly successful follow up single Enola Gay and their second album Organisation later in the year. The 7" version is slightly shorter than the 10" with an earlier fade out. The 10" version is featured on the compilation albums The Best of OMD (1989), The OMD Singles (1998) and Messages: Greatest Hits (2008), which takes its title from this song and also includes the music video. The 10" version was also added as a bonus track on the remastered Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album, released in 2003.

An instrumental dub version of "Messages", titled "Taking Sides Again" is featured as the B-side on both the 7" and 10" singles. On the 10" single, a cover version of The Velvet Underground's song "I'm Waiting for the Man" was included, retitled "Waiting for the Man". Both B-sides can be found as bonus tracks on the remastered Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, only "Waiting for the Man" was included on the Navigation: The OMD B-Sides compilation album, released in 2001.

Sleeve design

There are different sleeves for the 7" and 10". Both were designed by Peter Saville and Brett Wickens. The photography was done by Trevor Key.

TV promotion and chart performance

The band performed the song live for a showcase appearance on the BBC music programme The Old Grey Whistle Test in May 1980. The performance was later featured in the "Synth Britannia at the BBC" programme following the Synth Britannia documentary first broadcast in October 2009. The group also made their Top of the Pops debut on 8 May 1980 when the single was at just no. 53 in the UK Singles chart. Sheffield electronic music band The Human League also made their Top of the Pops debut on the same show. Although Messages made slow progress in the charts, the band made a second performance on the programme on 29 May when it was at no. 26 for the second week running. The single eventually made it to no. 13 but was not featured on Top of the Pops again due to the UK Musicians Union strike.

Live performances

The song has been regularly performed live by the band during concerts since 1979. Official audio releases can be found on "Live at Leigh Rock Festival 1979" (released 2006), "Access All Areas" (1980 performance, CD/DVD released 2015), "Universal" CD single (1993 performance, released 1996), "Dazzle Ships at The Museum of Liverpool" (2014 performance, CD/DVD released 2015) and "Architecture & Morality / Dazzle Ships – Live at the Royal Albert Hall" (2016). Video releases of live performances of "Messages" can be found on the DVDs OMD Live: Architecture & Morality & More (2007) and Electricity: OMD with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (2009) as well as on the "Access All Areas" and "Dazzle Ships at The Museum of Liverpool" DVDs.

The band performed their version of "Waiting For the Man" during live shows in 1979 and 1980, and later performed a radical reworking of the song featuring brass instruments on their Junk Culture tour in 1984. A recording of the latter version at the Hammersmith Odeon in London features on the 12" version of the "Never Turn Away" 12" single release in 1984.

Track listing

7" vinyl

  • UK: DinDisc DIN15
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Messages" (7" version)Paul Humphreys, Andy McCluskey3:59
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Taking Sides Again"Humphreys, McCluskey4:19

10" vinyl

  • UK: DinDisc DIN15/10
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Messages" (10" version)Humphreys, McCluskey4:41
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Waiting for the Man"Lou Reed2:54
2."Taking Sides Again"Humphreys, McCluskey4:19

References

  1. ^ "Chart Stats - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Messages". Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Interview: Andy McCluskey, OMD". PRS for Music Online Magazine. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013. Many of our songs use the synth melody as the chorus. There are verses but generally the melody is the chorus.
  3. ^ Messages: Modern Synthpop Artists Cover OMD. AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  4. ^ Ned Raggett (22 February 1980). "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  5. ^ Dave Thompson. "Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Peel Sessions 20/08/1979 - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark". discogs.com. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
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