The Best of OMD

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The Best of OMD
The Best of OMD.jpg
Compilation album by
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Released29 February 1988 (1988-02-29) [1]
Recorded1979–1988
Genre Synth-pop
Length53:54 (LP and cassette)
73:41 (CD, MiniDisc, and DCC)
Label Virgin
Producer
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark chronology
The Pacific Age
(1986)		The Best of OMD
(1988)		 Sugar Tax
(1991)

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.

Contents

The album was a worldwide success, becoming a Top 5 hit across Europe and achieving 3× platinum sales in the United Kingdom and gold status in the United States. [2] "Dreaming" was released as a single and made little impact on the UK charts, reaching No. 50, but it was a hit in the US (No. 16), Germany (No. 26) and South Africa (No. 2).

The Best of OMD was named by The Quietus and Classic Pop as one of the best compilation albums in history.

Background

The version of "Electricity" used is the same as the one featured on their debut album (which itself is the band reworking Martin Hannett's original Factory version). The band was originally going to use their very first version of this song, but found the drumming to be inferior and so settled for the remix of the track instead. "Messages" is the more popular 10" single version; "Tesla Girls" is a compilation version not previously released; [3] and "Talking Loud and Clear" is the 7" edited version.

The worldwide CD, MiniDisc and DCC versions of the album are resequenced and feature four extra tracks not present on the LP version: "Telegraph" (a unique mix found only on this release, differing from the album version and both 12" versions), "Genetic Engineering", and 12" versions of "La Femme Accident" and "We Love You". The US CD adds only the latter two 12" versions. The Australian version of the vinyl album replaces "Secret" with "We Love You", since that song had been a popular hit there. There was also a video compilation released with the promo videos of some of the songs featured on the album.

The Best of OMD was the group's final album release of the decade, effectively closing a chapter on their history as co-founder Paul Humphreys left the following year. According to the band, they had no interest in releasing a hits compilation and did so in order to pay off seemingly inexplicable debts owed to Virgin Records. [4] [5]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [6]
Encyclopedia of Eighties Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Great Rock Discography 8/10 [8]
MusicHound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Number One Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Tom Hull – on the Web A− [11]
The Village Voice B+ [12]

Max Bell of Number One wrote, "Every song seems to be a classic in its own right... [The Best of OMD] is a timely reminder of just how good pop music can be." [10] Robert K. Oermann noted, "For years, OMD has been pumping out a steady stream of shimmering, shiny dance-pop singles, custom-made for those late nights spent bobbing and weaving to hypnotic rhythms. This [album] contains 14 perfect OMD sonic ripples." [13] Detroit Free Press critic Gary Graff referred to the compilation as a "stellar collection of singles". [14] In mid-1988, The Observer reported that The Best of OMD was the ninth best-selling CD album in Britain for the first half of the year. [15]

In a retrospective review, Mike DeGagne of AllMusic highlighted the band's knack for strong hooks, and described The Best of OMD as an "excellent compilation" from a group who "were responsible for some of the catchiest and brightest synth pop that the '80s had to offer". [6] Trouser Press called the record "a concise recapitulation of the band's artistic development", [16] while Quietus writer Ian Wade dubbed it "one of the greatest singles collections ever". [17] It was ranked 13th in Classic Pop 's "Top 20 Compilation Albums". [18]

Track listing

All songs written by OMD, except "Locomotion" written by OMD and Gordian Troeller, and "So in Love" written by OMD and Stephen Hague.

Vinyl LP and Music Cassette

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Electricity"Humphreys, McCluskey Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 3:30
2."Messages"Humphreys, McCluskeyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark4:44
3."Enola Gay"McCluskey Organisation 3:31
4."Souvenir"Humphreys, Cooper Architecture & Morality 3:34
5."Joan of Arc"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality3:47
6."Maid of Orleans"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality4:09
7."Talking Loud and Clear"Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper Junk Culture 3:53
Total length:27:08
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Tesla Girls"Humphreys, McCluskeyJunk Culture3:33
2."Locomotion"Humphreys, McCluskey, Gordian TroellerJunk Culture3:53
3."So in Love"Humphreys, McCluskey, Stephen Hague Crush 3:28
4."Secret"Humphreys, McCluskeyCrush3:56
5."If You Leave"Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper Pretty in Pink 4:28
6."(Forever) Live and Die"Humphreys, Weir, Weir The Pacific Age 3:34
7."Dreaming"Humphreys, McCluskeyPreviously unreleased3:54
Total length:26:46 (53:54)

Compact Disc, MiniDisc and Digital Compact Cassette

No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Electricity"Humphreys, McCluskeyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark3:30
2."Messages"Humphreys, McCluskeyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark4:44
3."Enola Gay"McCluskeyOrganisation3:31
4."Souvenir"Humphreys, CooperArchitecture & Morality3:34
5."Joan of Arc"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality3:47
6."Maid of Orleans"McCluskeyArchitecture & Morality4:09
7."Telegraph"Humphreys, McCluskey Dazzle Ships 3:43
8."Tesla Girls"Humphreys, McCluskeyJunk Culture3:33
9."Locomotion"Humphreys, McCluskey, TroellerJunk Culture3:53
10."Talking Loud and Clear"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperJunk Culture3:53
11."So in Love"Humphreys, McCluskey, HagueCrush3:28
12."Secret"Humphreys, McCluskeyCrush3:56
13."If You Leave"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperPretty in Pink4:28
14."(Forever) Live and Die"Humphreys, Weir, WeirThe Pacific Age3:34
15."Dreaming"Humphreys, McCluskeyPreviously unreleased3:54
16."Genetic Engineering"Humphreys, McCluskeyDazzle Ships3:35
17."We Love You" (12" Version)Humphreys, McCluskey, HagueThe Pacific Age6:14
18."La Femme Accident" (12" Version)Humphreys, McCluskeyCrush6:16
Total length:73:41

VHS Video

No.TitleLength
1."Electricity" 
2."Messages" 
3."Enola Gay" 
4."Souvenir" 
5."Maid of Orleans" 
6."Talking Loud and Clear" 
7."Tesla Girls" 
8."Locomotion" 
9."So in Love" 
10."Secret" 
11."If You Leave" 
12."(Forever) Live and Die" 
13."Dreaming" 
14."Telegraph" 
15."We Love You" 
16."La Femme Accident" 

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for The Best of OMD
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [34] Gold50,000^
Germany (BVMI) [35] Gold250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [36] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [37] Platinum15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [38] 3× Platinum900,000^
United States (RIAA) [39] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabelCat.no.
UK1988LP Virgin OMD1
MusicassetteTCOMD1
Compact DiscCD OMD
VHSVVD247
1992DCC458604
1998MiniDiscMD OMD1

Credits

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 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.

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

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<i>Junk Culture</i> 1984 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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<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.

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<i>Sugar Tax</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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

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

"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".

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<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.

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Messages: Greatest Hits is a compilation release by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), issued in 2008. At the time it was the most comprehensive of the band's retrospective packages, featuring a CD of 20 charting singles and a DVD of all the band's music videos. Material was drawn from the group's recording career from 1979 to their first disbandment in 1996.

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<i>The Punishment of Luxury</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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.

References

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  2. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. ↑ "The Definitive Tesla Girls guide". omd-messages.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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  6. 1 2 DeGagne, Mike. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Best of OMD". AllMusic.
  7. ↑ Larkin, Colin (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music. Virgin Books. p. 350. ISBN   0753501597.
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  17. ↑ Wade, Ian (8 April 2013). "Souvenirs: Andy McCluskey of OMD's Favourite Albums". The Quietus . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
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  25. ↑ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
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  27. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  28. ↑ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
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  34. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Best of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Music Canada. 28 April 1988. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  35. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (OMD; 'Best of OMD')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  36. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – O.M.D. – The Best of" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 16 July 2022.Enter The Best of in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1989 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  37. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Best of OMD". Recorded Music NZ. 13 June 1988. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  38. ↑ "British album certifications – OMD – Best of OMD". British Phonographic Industry. 9 March 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  39. ↑ "American album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in Dark – The Best of OMD". Recording Industry Association of America. 11 March 1991. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
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