Crush | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 17 June 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1984–1985 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 38:37 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | Stephen Hague | |||
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark chronology | ||||
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Singles from Crush | ||||
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Crush is the sixth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 17 June 1985 by Virgin Records. It is the first of two OMD studio albums to be produced by Stephen Hague. Aimed primarily at the US market, Crush is notable for moving the group towards a more polished sound, although elements of earlier experimentation are still present. During recording the band employed a greater use of organic instrumentation than in the past.
Crush was completed within a limited timescale, with group members later expressing regret over not challenging label-enforced time constraints. The hectic recording and promotion schedule served to diminish morale among the band, who also had reservations about Hague's sleek production; co-founder Paul Humphreys briefly quit the group during the making of the album. Crush nevertheless received positive reviews and became OMD's only top-40 album on the US Billboard 200. It remained on Canada's RPM chart for 43 weeks from 13 July 1985 to 17 May 1986. [1] Of the three singles taken from the record, "So in Love" became the group's first hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 25.
A long-form video, Crush: The Movie, was also released, showing the band discussing their career and performing the songs from the album.
With OMD's Gramophone Suite studio now dismantled, the band commenced work at the more sophisticated Amazon Studios (also in Liverpool) in late 1984. The group booked Amazon for two months and tried to embrace a more relaxed, almost spontaneous approach to songwriting. Bandleaders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys averaged a new composition every two days, with much of the lyrical content coloured by McCluskey's blossoming relationship with girlfriend (and future wife) Toni. OMD continued to make use of the Fairlight CMI sampler keyboard, which had been introduced on predecessor Junk Culture (1984). [2] The group employed a greater use of organic instrumentation during the sessions, [3] as many of the Fairlight-generated sounds came to be replaced by the live playing of Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes (and session musicians Graham and Neil Weir). Humphreys explained, "We were looking for a more band-type sound, since a lot of people have been telling us for ages that they like the way we sound on stage." [2]
As OMD set their sights on breaking America, Virgin Records suggested American producer Stephen Hague, of whom the band were fans. [4] The group began recording with Hague in spring 1985 at The Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell. Hague would heavily influence the feel of Crush, employing a meticulous approach and largely streamlining the band's sound. OMD had reservations about Hague's production, which McCluskey felt approached "dullness"; Humphreys admitted publicly at the time, "It's a little smoother than we would have done it ourselves." [2] [5] Mixing was completed at Advision, London. The pressure of finishing the album on time, while working 19-hour days in a basement room with "very peculiar acoustics", served to damage rapport between the exhausted group members. [2] Humphreys briefly quit the band during the making of the record. [6]
Despite its polished sound, Crush features elements of the group's trademark early experimentation. [7] [8] Sampling was extensively used on both the title track and "The Lights Are Going Out", with the former utilising tuned snippets of Japanese television commercials recorded by McCluskey; Humphreys' then-wife Maureen provided additional vocals on both songs. [9] Elsewhere, "88 Seconds in Greensboro" was inspired by a TV documentary about the Greensboro massacre of 1979, and was recorded in one live take. [9] "Hold You" was considered as the follow-up single to "So in Love", and a music video was made, but the band ultimately reneged on the idea. [9] Other tracks considered for inclusion were "Heaven Is" and "Southern". [9] The title Crush refers to the number of love songs on the album. [9]
OMD intended to use a painting by American artist Edward Hopper for the sleeve art. Martin Kirkup, the band's then-manager, stated, "I remember Andy McCluskey telling me the reason he wanted a Hopper-style painting on the cover of Crush was that he had always felt there was a lot of melancholy in the paintings of Hopper and he felt that it matched the melancholy that was in the songs." After learning of the enormous fees required to reproduce Hopper's work, the group instead hired artist Paul Slater to imitate Hopper's style (in conjunction with XL Design). Slater based his artwork on Hopper's Early Sunday Morning (1930). [9]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
All Music Guide to Rock | [10] |
Calgary Herald | B+ [11] |
Mercury & Herald | 9/10 [12] |
Number One | [13] |
Orlando Sentinel | [14] |
Record Mirror | [15] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [16] |
The Sault Star | [17] |
Smash Hits | 8/10 [18] |
Winnipeg Free Press | [19] |
Crush met with positive reviews. [2] [20] It received five-star ratings from Debbi Voller of Number One and Robin Smith at Record Mirror , the former writing, "Crush... is a collection of remarkable songs. Each one has a life and mood of its own and OMD have cleverly combined atmosphere with instant appeal." [13] [15] Melody Maker 's Helen Fitzgerald named Crush the best OMD album to date, adding, "As a pop record it's sublime, intricate and unyieldingly persuasive, it doesn't give up its secrets lightly and the excitement is in the chase." [8] According to Ian Cranna of Smash Hits , the album delivers "what OMD do best – strong, melodic songs – in a more lush, er, orchestral setting while retaining that passionate punch... it's the welcome return of the thinking person's dance music." [18] The Guardian 's Robin Denselow said that while the group had reined in their sonic experimentation, they were "still able to roll out the strong melodies" and "swirling pretty songs". [21]
American magazine Cashbox noted the "accessible" nature of Crush, whose increased use of organic instrumentation yields a "warmer, more inviting sound than [on] previous outings". [3] Glen Gore-Smith of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote, "On Crush, the band has found a missing link between pop art and commerce. And, rather than compromising itself, OMD maneuvers with integrity." [19] The Calgary Herald 's James Muretich said of the record, "It emphasizes danceable electro-pop at the expense of experimentation... Crush won't bowl one over, but will seduce one gradually with its elegance and wit." [11] Len Righi of The Morning Call suggested that fans of the group's earlier output "may be shaking their heads... Which is not to say the songs aren't catchy or well-crafted." [22]
In a retrospective review, AllMusic journalist Dave Connolly unfavourably compared Crush to previous OMD efforts, observing a "lightweight" album that "represents a nearly complete reinvention of the band's original ideals." [23] On the other hand, the record was awarded a full five stars in the All Music Guide to Rock (2002), where editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine asserted that it "may be less adventurous than [OMD's] earlier work" but is still a "thoroughly winning album". [10] Trouser Press saw Crush as the beginning of a sustained shift toward the mainstream for OMD, but allowed that the record "isn't half-bad". [24] Paul Evans of Rolling Stone wrote, "With Crush, pure, luscious melody rules. Disowned (of course) by the band's cult, Crush is OMD at its most purely pop—'So in Love' and 'Secret' are flawless." [16]
Crush has been listed among the best and most-played albums of 1985. [25] [26] [27] [28] It was placed at no. 141 in CMJ's "Top 1000, 1979–1989". [29] When including OMD's Architecture & Morality (1981) in his 2023 list of "The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time", Paste journalist Matt Mitchell stated that Crush and 1980's Organisation – both excluded under a "one album per artist" rule – were "equally worthy". [30] Kevin Hearn of rock group Barenaked Ladies recalled "loving" Crush. He added, "The title track, with its wonderfully strange sequence of samples, particularly appealed to my expanding musical tastes." [31]
Humphreys feels "there's some nice things on [Crush]", although he and McCluskey have expressed regret over not challenging label-enforced time constraints. [32] [33] McCluskey also believes that the record's production does not sound like OMD. [34] Considerable resources were expended on trying to make Crush a success in the US, Humphreys noting, "We had a saying: 'In trying to break America, America broke us'... We got the success we craved, but we exhausted ourselves getting it." Morale would continue to fracture during the making of 1986 follow-up The Pacific Age (also produced by Hague), preceding a line-up split in the late 1980s. [4]
All tracks are written by OMD, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "So in Love" |
| 3:29 |
2. | "Secret" | 3:56 | |
3. | "Bloc Bloc Bloc" | 3:28 | |
4. | "Women III" | 4:26 | |
5. | "Crush" | 4:27 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "88 Seconds in Greensboro" | 4:15 |
7. | "The Native Daughters of the Golden West" | 3:58 |
8. | "La Femme Accident" | 2:50 |
9. | "Hold You" | 4:00 |
10. | "The Lights Are Going Out" | 3:57 |
Total length: | 38:37 |
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Crush. [35]
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Additional musicians
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [45] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [46] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band formed on the Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978. The group consists of founding duo and principal songwriters Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, along with Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw (drums). Regarded as pioneers of electronic music, OMD combined an experimental, minimalist ethos with pop sensibilities, becoming key figures in the emergence of synth-pop; McCluskey and Humphreys also introduced the "synth duo" format to British popular music. In the United States, the band were an early presence in the MTV-driven Second British Invasion.
George Andrew McCluskey is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is best known as the lead singer and bass guitarist of the electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), which he founded alongside keyboard player Paul Humphreys in 1978: McCluskey has been the group's sole constant member. He has sold over 40 million records with OMD, and is regarded as a pioneer of electronic music in the UK. McCluskey is noted for his frenetic onstage "Trainee Teacher Dance".
Paul David Humphreys is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the keyboardist and secondary vocalist of the electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), which he founded alongside lead singer and bassist Andy McCluskey in 1978. The Quietus remarked, "If, roughly speaking, McCluskey is the intellect and inquisitive nature in the group, then Humphreys is the heart." The pair have been recognised as pioneers of electronic music.
Dazzle Ships is the fourth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 4 March 1983 by Virgin Records. Its title and cover art allude to a painting by Vorticist artist Edward Wadsworth based on dazzle camouflage, titled Dazzle-ships in Drydock at Liverpool.
Junk Culture is the fifth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 30 April 1984 by Virgin Records. After the commercial disappointment of the experimental Dazzle Ships (1983), OMD and Virgin intended for the group to shift towards a more accessible sound on its follow-up release. The band retained much of their early experimental approach but embraced a wider range of influences than previously, drawing inspiration from pop, dance, Latin and black music. Frontman Andy McCluskey characterised Junk Culture as "the catchiest, poppiest album [OMD] ever made".
Architecture & Morality is the third studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 6 November 1981 by Dindisc. Inspired by religious music, the group sought to broaden their musical palette by utilising elaborate choral samples, the Mellotron, and other new instruments to create a more naturalistic, emotive sound. The artwork was designed by longtime OMD collaborator Peter Saville, along with associate Brett Wickens, while its title was derived from the book Morality and Architecture by David Watkin.
Organisation is the second studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 24 October 1980 by Dindisc. On Organisation the group worked with a producer for the first time, enlisting former Gong bass player Mike Howlett, while session musician Malcolm Holmes became the band's full-time drummer. The record is noted for its dark, melancholic tone in comparison to other OMD releases.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark is the debut studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 22 February 1980 by Dindisc. Recorded at the group's Liverpool studio, it showcased their minimal synth-pop style and peaked at number 27 on the UK Albums Chart. "Electricity" and "Red Frame/White Light" were released as singles; a re-recorded version of "Messages" provided OMD with their first hit in the UK, reaching number 13.
Universal is the tenth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 2 September 1996 by Virgin Records. Frontman Andy McCluskey opted for a more organic, acoustic sound on the record, which peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart. It was generally well received by music critics, although the British media's overall resistance to OMD – who had been rendered unfashionable by the prevalence of grunge and indie rock – prompted McCluskey to dissolve the group. Universal was their last album until 2010's History of Modern.
The Pacific Age is the seventh studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 29 September 1986 by Virgin Records. It was the last of two OMD studio albums produced by Stephen Hague, after Crush (1985). The record exhibits the same refined production values as its predecessor while venturing into the realm of mid-1980s sophisti-pop, retreating further from the group's experimental beginnings.
Sugar Tax is the eighth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 7 May 1991 by Virgin Records. It was the group's first studio album since 1986's The Pacific Age, and the first of three recorded without co-founder Paul Humphreys, who had departed in 1989. Featuring singer Andy McCluskey alongside a new backing band, Sugar Tax leans towards the then-prevalent dance-pop genre, with McCluskey's songwriting at times being influenced by the breakdown of his relationship with Humphreys.
Liberator is the ninth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 14 June 1993 by Virgin. Recorded by OMD frontman Andy McCluskey along with musicians enlisted for the multi-million selling Sugar Tax (1991), the album ventures further into the dance-pop style explored by its predecessor.
The Best of OMD is a compilation album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), 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 to 1984, while side two is drawn from the group's 1984–1988 efforts.
"So in Love" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their sixth studio album Crush (1985). It reached the top 30 of both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their first entry on the latter. The track was a top 10 hit in Belgium and Holland.
"Secret" is a 1985 song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the second single from their album Crush. Paul Humphreys sings lead vocals on the track. It became their second US Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 63, and also made number 34 on the UK Singles Chart.
The discography of English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) includes 14 studio albums and 46 singles, among other releases. The group issued their debut single, "Electricity", in 1979, and achieved several international top 10 hits during the 1980s and 1990s, including their signature songs "Enola Gay" (1980) and "If You Leave" (1986). OMD's albums Architecture & Morality (1981), The Best of OMD (1988) and Sugar Tax (1991) were certified platinum or higher in the UK; the gold-certified Dazzle Ships (1983) became one of the band's more influential works.
"Dreaming" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark initially released in January 1988 as a single from their compilation album The Best of OMD.
English Electric is the twelfth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and their second since the 2006 reformation of the group. Preceded by lead single "Metroland" on 25 March 2013, it was released on 5 April by 100% Records. Unlike predecessor History of Modern (2010), which was compiled remotely via the Internet, English Electric saw OMD co-founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys write and record in person, with the aim of recreating their artistic chemistry in years past. The album was largely inspired by McCluskey's then-recent divorce.
The Punishment of Luxury is the thirteenth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and the third since their 2006 reformation. Produced by OMD, it was released on 1 September 2017 by 100% Records in the UK and White Noise elsewhere. In July of that year, the band commenced a tour of North America and Europe in support of the record.
Bauhaus Staircase is the fourteenth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and the fourth since their 2006 reformation. Released on 27 October 2023 by White Noise Records, it is their first album in six years since The Punishment of Luxury (2017). The record was largely inspired by world politics during the late 2010s and early 2020s. Its release was preceded by three singles: the title track, "Slow Train", and "Veruschka".
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