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Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys make up Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, who were responsible for some of the catchiest and brightest synth pop that the '80s had to offer. O.M.D.'s material was a step above other keyboard pop music of the time, thanks to the combination of intelligently crafted hooks and colorful rhythms that bounced and jittered with pristine charm. Their squeaky-clean brilliancy initiated by both their synthesizers and subdued yet attractive vocal styles gave them a more mature sound over bands like Duran Duran and A Flock of Seagulls, who were attracting a younger audience. The Best of O.M.D. is an excellent compilation of their polished music, starting out with less provocative material like the basic electronic wash of "Electricity" and the bare but ebullient fervor of "Enola Gay." As this set moves along, so does the craftiness of their work, which is evident on tighter sounding songs like "Tesla Girls" and "Locomotion," where the intricacy of their formula begins to take a more resounding shape. O.M.D.'s best work came from 1985's Crush album, which harbored the midnight airiness found in "So in Love" as well as the adolescent innocence that streamed its way through "Secret," which are two of the best tracks on this set. Even though "If You Leave" was the highlight of Pretty in Pink's soundtrack, its adult feel and smooth transition from stanza to chorus makes it their most memorable song. With only four singles reaching the Top 40 in the '80s, all included here, the 18 tracks that make up this compilation prove that O.M.D.'s music was far more consistent and illuminating than the charts represent.
© Mike DeGagne /TiVo
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Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, MainArtist - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Paul Collister, Producer - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1980 Virgin Records Limited
Andy McCluskey, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Humphreys, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - MIKE HOWLETT, Producer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, MainArtist - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Paul Collister, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lawrence Diana, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Fairbairn, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1980 Virgin Records Limited
MIKE HOWLETT, Producer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, MainArtist - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1980 Dindisc Ltd
Martin Cooper, ComposerLyricist - Paul Humphreys, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - MIKE HOWLETT, Producer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, MainArtist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1981 Virgin Records Limited
Andy McCluskey, Composer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, MainArtist - Richard Manwaring, Producer
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1981 Virgin Records
Andy McCluskey, ComposerLyricist - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, MainArtist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1981 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rhett Davies, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy McCluskey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Humphreys, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Little, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Holmes, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Brian Tench, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Keith Nixon, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1983 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Synthesizer, Marimba, Computermusic Systems, AssociatedPerformer - Andy McCluskey, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Synthesizer, Computermusic Systems, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Humphreys, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Computermusic Systems, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Holmes, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, MainArtist - Brian Tench, Producer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Prent, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Synthesizer, Marimba, Computermusic Systems, AssociatedPerformer - Andy McCluskey, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Synthesizer, Computermusic Systems, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Humphreys, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Computermusic Systems, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Holmes, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, MainArtist - Brian Tench, Producer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Prent, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Troller, ComposerLyricist - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1984 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Synthesizer, Marimba, Computermusic Systems, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy McCluskey, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Synthesizer, Computermusic Systems, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Humphreys, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Computermusic Systems, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Holmes, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, MainArtist - Brian Tench, Producer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Prent, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1984 Virgin Records Limited
Stephen Hague, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, MainArtist - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1985 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Hague, Producer - Andy McCluskey, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Humphreys, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - David Jacobs, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Moakes, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Holmes, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, MainArtist - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1985 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Producer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, MainArtist - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Stephen Hague, Producer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, MainArtist - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Graham Weir, ComposerLyricist - Neil Weir, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
TOM LORD-ALGE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, MainArtist - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Pete Coleman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1988 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Rhett Davies, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy McCluskey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Humphreys, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Little, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Holmes, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Producer, Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Brian Tench, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - Keith Nixon, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1983 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Cooper, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Hague, Producer, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Holmes, ComposerLyricist - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Remixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Stephen Hague, Producer - TOM LORD-ALGE, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Remixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Paul David Humphreys, ComposerLyricist - George Andrew McCluskey, ComposerLyricist
(C) 1992 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1992 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1985 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys make up Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, who were responsible for some of the catchiest and brightest synth pop that the '80s had to offer. O.M.D.'s material was a step above other keyboard pop music of the time, thanks to the combination of intelligently crafted hooks and colorful rhythms that bounced and jittered with pristine charm. Their squeaky-clean brilliancy initiated by both their synthesizers and subdued yet attractive vocal styles gave them a more mature sound over bands like Duran Duran and A Flock of Seagulls, who were attracting a younger audience. The Best of O.M.D. is an excellent compilation of their polished music, starting out with less provocative material like the basic electronic wash of "Electricity" and the bare but ebullient fervor of "Enola Gay." As this set moves along, so does the craftiness of their work, which is evident on tighter sounding songs like "Tesla Girls" and "Locomotion," where the intricacy of their formula begins to take a more resounding shape. O.M.D.'s best work came from 1985's Crush album, which harbored the midnight airiness found in "So in Love" as well as the adolescent innocence that streamed its way through "Secret," which are two of the best tracks on this set. Even though "If You Leave" was the highlight of Pretty in Pink's soundtrack, its adult feel and smooth transition from stanza to chorus makes it their most memorable song. With only four singles reaching the Top 40 in the '80s, all included here, the 18 tracks that make up this compilation prove that O.M.D.'s music was far more consistent and illuminating than the charts represent.
© Mike DeGagne /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:14:05
- Main artists: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark (OMD)
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1992 Virgin Records Limited This Compilation ℗ 1988 Virgin Records Limited
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