Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 14 |
EPs | 5 |
Live albums | 10 |
Compilation albums | 9 |
Singles | 46 |
Video albums | 9 |
Music videos | 49 |
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). [1] [2] 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. [3] [4]
OMD disbanded in 1996 but reformed in 2006, and have since re-established themselves as a top 10 presence on international album charts. The group's overall record sales stand in excess of 40 million, [5] [6] [7] with sales of 15 million albums and 25 million singles as of 2019. [8]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [9] | AUS [10] | CAN [11] | GER [12] | NL [13] | NZ [14] | SPA [15] [16] | SWE [17] | SWI [18] | US [19] | |||
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | 27 | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | ||
Organisation |
| 6 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 15 | — | — | — | |
Architecture & Morality |
| 3 | 62 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 22 | 3 | 28 | — | 144 | |
Dazzle Ships |
| 5 | 100 | 25 | 11 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 38 | — | 162 |
|
Junk Culture |
| 9 | 54 | 74 | 32 | 12 | — | 27 | 32 | 28 | 182 |
|
Crush |
| 13 | — | 36 | 23 | 15 | 23 | — | 38 | — | 38 | |
The Pacific Age |
| 15 | 36 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 14 | — | — | 20 | 47 | |
Sugar Tax |
| 3 | 96 | 76 | 8 | — | — | — | 7 | 14 | — | |
Liberator |
| 14 | — | — | 17 | 59 | — | — | 20 | 32 | 169 | |
Universal |
| 24 | — | — | 39 | — | — | — | 34 | 28 | — | |
History of Modern |
| 28 | — | — | 5 | 97 | — | — | — | 63 | — | |
English Electric |
| 12 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 60 | — | 46 | — | |
The Punishment of Luxury |
| 4 | — | — | 9 | 95 | — | — | — | 44 | — | |
Bauhaus Staircase |
| 2 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 38 | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Peel Sessions 1979–1983 |
|
OMD Live: Architecture & Morality & More |
|
The History of Modern Tour – Live in Berlin |
|
Dazzle Ships at the Museum of Liverpool |
|
Access All Areas |
|
Architecture & Morality/Dazzle Ships – Live at the Royal Albert Hall |
|
Live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 06/10/18 |
|
Live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 07/10/18 |
|
Live at the Liverpool Empire |
|
Live at Eventim Hammersmith Apollo |
|
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [9] | AUS [10] | CAN [11] | GER [12] | NL [13] | NZ [14] | SPA [15] | SWI [18] | US [19] | |||
O.M.D. |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
The Best of OMD |
| 2 | 48 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 16 | 46 | |
The OMD Singles |
| 16 | — | — | 30 | 50 | — | — | — | — |
|
Navigation: The OMD B-Sides |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Messages: Greatest Hits |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
So80s (Soeighties) Present OMD – Curated by Blank & Jones |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
The Punishment of Luxury: B Sides & Bonus Material |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Souvenir – The Singles 1979–2019 |
| 18 | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | 70 | — | |
Architecture & Morality – The Singles |
| 45 | — | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
UK [9] | ||
The Unreleased '78 Tapes |
| — |
The OMD Remixes |
| 35 |
History of Modern (Part I) |
| — |
The Future Will Be Silent |
| — |
Dazzle Ships at the Museum of Liverpool |
| — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [9] | AUS [10] | BEL (FL) [28] | GER [12] | IRE [29] | NL [13] | NZ [14] | SPA [15] | US [30] | US Dance [31] | |||||
"Electricity" (released twice) | 1979 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Red Frame/White Light" | 1980 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 67 [upper-alpha 1] | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | ||
"Electricity" (third release) | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Messages" | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 67 [upper-alpha 1] | ||||
"Enola Gay" | 8 | 47 | — | — | 14 | — | 31 | 1 | — | 34 | Organisation | |||
"Souvenir" | 1981 | 3 | 57 | 16 | 39 | 9 | 38 | — | 1 | — | — | Architecture & Morality | ||
"Joan of Arc" | 5 | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |||
"Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" | 1982 | 4 | 78 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | |||
"She's Leaving" (Benelux-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Genetic Engineering" | 1983 | 20 | — | 18 | 20 | 11 | — | — | 6 | — | — | Dazzle Ships | ||
"Telegraph" | 42 | — | — | 39 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Locomotion" | 1984 | 5 | 30 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 32 | — | — | 61 | Junk Culture | ||
"Talking Loud and Clear" | 11 | — | 6 | 18 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Tesla Girls" | 21 | — | 32 | — | 21 | 33 | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Never Turn Away" | 70 | — | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"So in Love" | 1985 | 27 | 56 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 12 | — | — | 26 | 16 | Crush | ||
"Secret" | 34 | — | — | 25 | 24 | — | — | — | 63 | — | ||||
"La Femme Accident" | 42 | — | 17 | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | ||||
"If You Leave" | 1986 | 48 | 15 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 4 | — |
| Pretty in Pink soundtrack | |
"(Forever) Live and Die" | 11 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 14 | — | 19 | — | The Pacific Age | |||
"We Love You" | 54 | 18 | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | 16 | ||||
"Shame" | 1987 | 52 | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Dreaming" | 1988 | 50 | 33 | 26 | 26 | — | — | 37 | — | 16 | 6 | The Best of OMD | ||
"Brides of Frankenstein" (US and Canada-only release) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | Non-album single | |||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [9] | UK Indie [33] | AUS [10] | BEL (FL) [28] | GER [12] | IRE [29] | NL [13] | NZ [14] | SWE [34] | US Dance [31] | |||
"Sailing on the Seven Seas" | 1991 | 3 | — | 77 | 39 | 9 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 9 | Sugar Tax |
"Pandora's Box" | 7 | — | 53 | 19 | 11 | 19 | — | — | 7 | 11 | ||
"Then You Turn Away" | 50 | — | — | — | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Call My Name" | 50 | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Stand Above Me" | 1993 | 21 | — | — | 29 | 33 | — | — | 39 | 28 | 6 | Liberator |
"Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme)" | 24 | — | — | — | 53 | — | 22 | — | — | — | ||
"Everyday" | 59 | — | — | — | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Walking on the Milky Way" | 1996 | 17 | — | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | 49 | — | Universal |
"Universal" | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"If You Want It" | 2010 | 176 | 21 | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | History of Modern |
"Sister Marie Says" | 169 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Metroland" | 2013 | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | English Electric |
"Dresden" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Night Café" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Julia's Song" | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Junk Culture (deluxe edition) |
"Isotype" | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Punishment of Luxury |
"The Punishment of Luxury" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"What Have We Done" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"One More Time" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Don't Go" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Souvenir – The Singles 1979–2019 |
"Electricity" (fourth release) [upper-alpha 2] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
"Bauhaus Staircase" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Bauhaus Staircase |
"Look At You Now" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Title | Album details | Additional information |
---|---|---|
Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane | Live concert. A DVD of this concert came with the 2007 reissue of Architecture & Morality. | |
Crush – The Movie |
| Documentary on the band during the recording of Crush, with promo videos of the album's singles. |
The Best of OMD |
| Promo videos |
Souvenir |
| Documentary on the history of the band, including the reformation in 2006/2007. |
OMD Live: Architecture & Morality & More |
| Live concert |
Messages: Greatest Hits |
| Promo videos |
Electricity: OMD with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Live concerts |
Architecture & Morality/Dazzle Ships – Live at the Royal Albert Hall |
| Live concert |
Access All Areas |
| Live concert |
Title | Year | Director |
---|---|---|
"Electricity" | 1979 | Unknown |
"Red Frame/White Light" | 1980 | Russell Mulcahy |
"Messages" | ||
"Enola Gay" (version 1) | Unknown | |
"Enola Gay" (version 2) | ||
"Souvenir" | 1981 | Peter Saville |
"Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" | 1982 | Steve Barron |
"Genetic Engineering" | 1983 | |
"Telegraph" | Peter Sinclair | |
"Locomotion" | 1984 | Jean-Pierre Berckmans |
"Talking Loud and Clear" (version 1) | Simon Milne | |
"Talking Loud and Clear" (version 2) | Unknown | |
"Tesla Girls" | Simon Milne | |
"Never Turn Away" | ||
"So in Love" | 1985 | Andy Morahan |
"Secret" | ||
"La Femme Accident" | ||
"Hold You" | ||
"If You Leave" | 1986 | Ian Fletcher |
"(Forever) Live and Die" | Leslie Libman & Larry Williams | |
"We Love You" | Unknown | |
"Shame" (version 1) | 1987 | Leslie Libman & Larry Williams |
"Shame" (version 2) | Unknown | |
"Dreaming" | 1988 | |
"Sailing on the Seven Seas" (UK version) | 1991 | Martha Fiennes |
"Sailing on the Seven Seas" (US version) | Unknown | |
"Pandora's Box" (UK version) | Andrew Doucette | |
"Pandora's Box (It's a Long, Long, Way)" (US version) | Unknown | |
"Then You Turn Away" | ||
"Call My Name" | Andrew Doucette | |
"Stand Above Me" (Smoking version) | 1993 | Marcus Nispel |
"Stand Above Me" (Non-smoking version) | ||
"Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme)" | Pedro Romhanyi | |
"Everyday" | Mr. Reindherr | |
"Walking on the Milky Way" | 1996 | Howard Greenhalgh |
"Universal" | ||
"Enola Gay" (Sash! remix) | 1998 | Unknown |
"If You Want It" | 2010 | Lilah Vandenburgh |
"Sister Marie Says" | ||
"History of Modern (Part 1)" | Danilo Giannini, Bo Nordin, Björn Skallström | |
"Please Remain Seated" | 2013 | Henning M. Lederer |
"Decimal" | ||
"Atomic Ranch" | ||
"Metroland" | David O'Byrne | |
"Dresden" | ROBisROB | |
"Night Café" | Unknown | |
"Isotype" | 2017 | Henning M. Lederer |
"The Punishment of Luxury" | Luca Monterosso Wittmann | |
"What Have We Done" | Unknown |
Song | Year | Soundtrack |
---|---|---|
"Enola Gay" | 1981 | Urgh! A Music War |
"Enola Gay" | 1983 | Party Party |
"Tesla Girls" | 1985 | Weird Science |
"Sealand" | Static | |
"If You Leave" | 1986 | Pretty in Pink |
"We Love You" | Playing for Keeps | |
"Secret" | 1988 | Arthur 2: On the Rocks |
Film score (unreleased) | 1991 | For the Greater Good (TV) |
"Locomotion" | 1997 | Thank God He Met Lizzie |
"Enola Gay" | 2008 | Waltz with Bashir |
"Enola Gay" | 2009 | 1981 |
"Electricity" | 2010 | Worried About the Boy |
"If You Leave" | 2014 | Back in the Day |
"Secret" | The Skeleton Twins | |
"So in Love" | The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them | |
"If You Leave" | Horrible Bosses 2 | |
"Enola Gay" | Ex Machina | |
"So in Love" | 2015 | The D Train |
"Souvenir" | Mistress America | |
"Thrill Me" | Eddie the Eagle | |
"Enola Gay" | 2017 | Rock'n Roll |
"Electricity", "Enola Gay" | 2021 | Happily |
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.
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.
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.
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.
"If You Leave" is a 1986 song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). It was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Pretty in Pink (1986), in which it is played prominently during the final scene. Along with 1980's "Enola Gay", the track has been described as OMD's signature song.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"Telegraph" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and the second single from their studio album Dazzle Ships (1983). "Telegraph" was originally slated to be the first single released, but being unhappy with the mix and with pressure from Virgin, the group instead opted for "Genetic Engineering".
"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.
"(Forever) Live and Die" is a 1986 song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the first single from their seventh studio album, The Pacific Age. Paul Humphreys sings lead vocals on the track. The single peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It was a top 10 hit in Canada and several European territories, and a top 20 hit in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
"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.
In 1983 [OMD] released the slightly bonkers but deeply influential Dazzle Ships.
A lot of bands now cite Dazzle Ships as an influence.
Organisation went gold in both the UK and France.