Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)

Last updated

"Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)"
MaidofNewOrleans.gif
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Architecture & Morality
B-side
  • "Navigation"
  • "Of All the Things We've Made"
Released15 January 1982 (1982-01-15)
Recorded The Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire, England
Length4:09
Label Dindisc
Songwriter(s) Andy McCluskey
Producer(s) OMD and Richard Manwaring
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"Joan of Arc"
(1981)		"Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)"
(1982)		"Genetic Engineering"
(1983)
Music video
"Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Maid Of Orleans" on YouTube

"Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released in 1982 as the third single from their third studio album, Architecture & Morality . To prevent confusion with the group's previous single "Joan of Arc", the song was retitled "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" for its single release. Both songs are about the French heroine Joan of Arc and both reached the Top 5 of the UK Singles Chart—although this release was more successful internationally, topping the charts in several countries including Germany, where it was the biggest-selling single of 1982. "Maid of Orleans" has sold four million copies worldwide.

Contents

The single was the last release on the Dindisc label.

Background

"Maid of Orleans" had originally been written by Andy McCluskey on 30 May 1981, the 550th anniversary of Joan of Arc's death. The track has been described by McCluskey as OMD's "Mull of Kintyre". [1] It is in 6/8 time, and the main theme is played on the Mellotron (using its "3-Violins" sound). The intro is made of strange noises and was added later: [2]

The intro was a problem for radio and we did do edited versions where it was shortened.

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. At the time of A+M we were making a lot of music that was ambient soundscapes. The natural thing was to give the song an intro that set up the feel for the main themes to resolve out of the noises.

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!

BTW.. for the sound anoraks...most of the noises are melotron [ sic ] 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.

Reception and legacy

Ian Birch of Smash Hits wrote, "Once again the dreamboat duo come up with a scintillating intro before settling into a stately canter which becomes more hypnotic with each listen. It could easily be their 'Mull of Kintyre'." [3] "Maid of Orleans" became Germany's biggest-selling single of 1982, [1] as well as the 33rd-biggest seller in the UK that year. [4] The single has sold four million copies worldwide. [5]

Ned Raggett of AllMusic retrospectively described the song as "epic", concluding, "With another bravura [Andy] McCluskey lead and a mock-bagpipe lead that's easily more entrancing than the real thing, it's a wrenching ballad like no other before it and little since." [6] Music journalist Garry Bushell hailed the track as "pop genius". [7] In critics' lists, "Maid of Orleans" was named by Record Mirror 's John Shearlaw and Daniela Soave as one of the top three singles of 1982; [8] it placed 18th in Classic Pop 's "Top 100 Singles of the 80s", the magazine asserting, "As soon as you hear this you remember greatness." [9] The Deutsches Museum included the song in their article, "Best of the 1980s—The Masterpieces of Synth Pop", noting its "unmistakable, almost bagpipe-like mellotron" hook. [10] In 1989, Radio Veronica listeners voted the track as the 60th-best in history. [11]

"Maid of Orleans" was recorded by London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1996. [12] It was used during the climax and closing credits to the final episode of the second series of BBC television program Ashes to Ashes . [13]

B-sides

The songs on the B-sides are "Navigation" and "Of All the Things We've Made" (12" and CD single only). Both songs can be found as bonus tracks on the remastered versions of Architecture & Morality. "Of All the Things We've Made" was added to their next album Dazzle Ships , released in 1983. "Navigation" was the title track for the 2001 B-sides compilation album Navigation: The OMD B-Sides . The early 12" single sleeves list the track "Experiments in Vertical Take Off", but this song was never written.

Track listings

7" vinyl single

Side one

  1. "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" (Andy McCluskey) – 4:09

Side two

  1. "Navigation" (Paul Humphreys/McCluskey) – 3:26

12" vinyl single

Side one

  1. "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" – 4:09

Side two

  1. "Of All the Things We've Made" (Humphreys/McCluskey) – 3:31
  2. "Navigation" – 3:26

Two different sleeve designs were issued, firstly a silver coin design, and a stained-glass design (similar to the 7" picture sleeve) with three different variations. [14]

3" Mini CD single

  1. "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" (12" version) – 4:13
  2. "Joan of Arc" (12" version) (McCluskey) – 3:51
  3. "Navigation" – 3:30
  4. "Of All the Things We've Made" – 3:27

The sleeve erroneously states that there are 12" versions of "Maid of Orleans" and "Joan of Arc" on the CD single.

Promotional video

For the promotional video, the outdoor shots were made at Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey [15] [ failed verification ] near Aldfield, North Yorkshire in January 1982 during an unusually colder winter and the indoor shots at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire. The video was directed by Steve Barron and featured Julia Tobin, an actress from the Royal Shakespeare Company as Joan of Arc. [16] The promo video is included on the video version of The Best of OMD and on the bonus DVD of the 2007 reissue of Architecture & Morality.

In 1991, MTV Europe named the video as the 37th best ever made. [17]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI) [38] Gold500,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [39] Gold100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [40] Silver250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Sleeves

The cover was designed by Peter Saville, Carol Wilson and Brett Wickens and was inspired by a stained glass design by Anton Wolff.

There are more than one sleeve designs for the 12" version. The original sleeve design featured an embossed coin motif on a silver foil. It was only released for a limited time, because the band didn't like this design. It was replaced with a similar stained glass sleeve as the 7" version in several variations.

Alternative versions

There is only one studio recording of the song, identical for both the album and single releases. A remix entitled Maid of Orleans (Afterhours Mix) by Mulu was released on the remix disc which accompanied the French edition of The OMD Singles compilation album in 2003.

Live performances

The song has been performed at live shows on a regular basis since the Architecture & Morality tour in 1981. [41] A live performance from 1981 was filmed for the Live at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane concert in December 1981, initially released on VHS (1982) and laserdisc (1984) [42] and later on DVD [43]

Maid of Orleans was chosen as one of the songs to be performed with an orchestra for the Night of the Proms concert tour in December 2006, effectively McCluskey and Humphreys' first live performances together since the pair had split in 1988. The performances of Maid of Orleans and Sailing on the Seven Seas were issued on CD. [44]

Live recordings have been made available on the Walking on the Milky Way CD single (1996), the Architecture & Morality & More album (2008), Dazzle Ships at The Museum of Liverpool CD/DVD (2015) and on Architecture & Morality / Dazzle Ships – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2016). The song was also performed with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in June 2009 as documented by the Electricity DVD release. [45]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark</span> English band

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band formed in 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy McCluskey</span> British singer, songwriter and bass guitarist

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".

<i>Dazzle Ships</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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.

<i>Architecture & Morality</i> 1981 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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.

<i>Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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.

<i>The OMD Singles</i> Extended play by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The OMD Singles is a singles compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1998. It reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart. Originally, the compilation was to include a second disc of new remixes; however, this idea was abandoned due to budget limitations. The few remixes that were produced were released separately as The OMD Remixes. In 2003, The OMD Singles was reissued in France with the remix disc finally included, comprising the 1998 remixes as well as additional remixes. In the same year Virgin also released a two-disc box set comprising The OMD Singles and Navigation: The OMD B-Sides.

<i>The Best of OMD</i> 1988 compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1979 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Electricity" is the 1979 debut single by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), featured on their eponymous debut album the following year. Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys sing the lead vocals on the track together in unison. Recognised as one of the most influential singles of its era, "Electricity" was integral to the rise of the UK's synth-pop movement. It has garnered praise from music journalists and other recording artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So in Love (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1985 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"So in Love" is a 1985 song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their album Crush. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walking on the Milky Way (song)</span> 1996 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Walking on the Milky Way" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). It was released as a single on 5 August 1996 and appeared on their Universal album a month later. The song reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the group's first UK top-20 hit in over five years, and their last UK top-40 single. The band were flanked by a full string orchestra for their Top of the Pops performance of the song broadcast on 16 August 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan of Arc (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1981 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Joan of Arc" is a 1981 song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the second single from their third studio album Architecture & Morality. It was well-received by critics and became an international hit, reaching the Top 5 in the UK and Canada and number 13 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandora's Box (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1991 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Pandora's Box" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released by Virgin on 24 June 1991 as the second single from their eighth studio album, Sugar Tax (1991). The song, which deals with the less glamorous side of celebrity, was inspired by silent film actress Louise Brooks and is named after the 1929 film Pandora's Box in which she starred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messages (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1980 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Messages" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) from their self-titled debut studio album (1980). A re-recorded version of the song was released on 2 May 1980 as the album's third and final single, reaching number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming OMD's first top-40 entry. As with their debut single "Electricity", "Messages" features a melodic synth break instead of a sung chorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Locomotion (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1984 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Locomotion" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 2 April 1984 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Junk Culture (1984). It was one of the band's biggest European hits, charting within the Top 5 in the UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, while also peaking at No. 14 in Germany.

Dindisc was a UK record label, an imprint of Virgin Records but operating semi-independently, which issued new releases from mid-1979 through early 1982. It is no longer active, but CD reissues on Virgin still mention the label and have Dindisc catalogue numbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Souvenir (song)</span> 1981 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Souvenir" is a song written by Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper of English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and released as the first single from the group's 1981 album Architecture & Morality. Sung by Humphreys, the track is characterised by its use of slowed-down choral loops, and showcases OMD's early approach of utilising a synthesizer hook in place of a vocal chorus. The song has garnered praise from critics and fellow artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark discography</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetic Engineering (song)</span> 1983 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Genetic Engineering" is a 1983 song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their fourth studio album Dazzle Ships. The synthesized speech featured on the track is taken from a Speak & Spell, an educational electronic toy developed by Texas Instruments in the 1970s intended to teach children spelling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tesla Girls</span> 1984 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"Tesla Girls" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the third single from their fifth studio album, Junk Culture (1984). It peaked at No. 21 in the UK and Ireland, and No. 8 on the Dutch Top 40. Although only moderately successful on the charts, it became one of the group's biggest club hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreaming (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)</span> 1988 single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

"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.

References

  1. 1 2 Stanley, Bob. How to lose 3 million fans in one easy step. The Guardian . 7 March 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. ↑ McCluskey, Andy (20 September 2007). "Maid of Orleans intro" . Retrieved 20 September 2007.
  3. ↑ Birch, Ian (7–20 January 1982). "Singles". Smash Hits . Vol. 4, no. 1. p. 16.
  4. ↑ "The Official Top 50 best-selling songs of 1982". Official Charts. 5 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Houghton, Richard (2018). OMD: Pretending to See the Future. This Day in Music Books. p. 146. ISBN   978-1-999592-72-1.
  6. ↑ Ned Raggett (8 November 1981). "Architecture & Morality - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  7. ↑ Bushell, Garry (4 October 2019). "Bushell on the Blog". Garry Bushell... Online. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Discs of '82". Record Mirror . 1 January 1983. p. 7. No. 2 (Shearlaw); No. 3 (Soave).
  9. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of the 80s: 20-16". Classic Pop . March 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Deutsches Museum. "Best of the 1980s—The Masterpieces of Synth Pop". Google Arts & Culture . Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Radio Veronica (Holland) Top 500". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. 1989. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  12. ↑ Mitchell, Frank (30 June 1997). "Staples (supplement)". Liverpool Daily Post . ...a stirring rendition [of 'Maid of Orleans'] by London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [on 1996's Rock Dreams: Purple Rain].
  13. ↑ "S2E8: Who Am I, Really? - Ashes to Ashes Soundtrack". Tunefind. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "OMD - Maid of Orleans". discogs.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "Omd Q&A : Videos – Messages". Omd-messages.co.uk. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  16. ↑ Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike (1987). Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Messages. Sidgwick & Jackson. p. 103. ISBN   0-283-99234-4.
  17. ↑ "Top 100 Music Videos of All Time". MTV Europe. December 1991.
  18. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 224. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  19. ↑ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  20. ↑ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4342." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  25. ↑ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  26. ↑ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts O". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  27. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (2015). Sólo éxitos 1959–2012 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   978-84-8048-866-2.
  28. ↑ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  29. ↑ "OMD: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  30. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  31. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1982". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  32. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1982 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  33. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  34. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  35. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1982". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  36. ↑ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Jones, Alan (1983). "The Top 100 UK Singles". Chart File Volume 2. London: Virgin Books. pp. 80–81. ISBN   0-907080-73-1.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1982" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  38. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Orchestral Manoeuvr. in the Dark; 'Maid of Orleans')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  39. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Maid of Orleasn" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 22 December 2020.Enter Maid of Orleasn in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1982 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  40. ↑ "British single certifications – OMD – Maid of Orleans". British Phonographic Industry. 1 February 1982. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  41. ↑ "Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". setlist.fm. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  42. ↑ "Live at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane". discogs.com. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  43. ↑ "Architecture & Morality (Collector's Edition CD & DVD)". discogs.com. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  44. ↑ "Release - Night of the Proms 2006". musicbrainz.com. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  45. ↑ "Joan of Arc song". musicbrainz.com. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.