One of the important bands emerging in the late ’70s who helped to redefine Rock for a new generation was one by the daunting name of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Stylistically truncated to OMD, the duo of Paul Humphreys, and Andy McClusky released their first album in 1980, self-titled as an introduction. That album gave us “Electricity”, and other goodies. They followed up the same year with Organisation, another classic that yielded “Enola Gay”. The UK and New Zealand markets warmed up to OMD immediately. The US, along with the rest of the world, would hop on board by OMD’s third, Architecture & Morality. Released in 1981, that album produced three perfect singles (“Souvenir”, “Joan of Arc”, “Maid of Orleans”). From there, OMD ascended all markets and delivered around 40 singles and 13 studio sets. Synth pop never sounded so good!
On October 4, OMD celebrate their 40th Anniversary with the release of a 5CD/2DVD Box appropriately named Souvenir. In it, there will be a collection of the band’s singles spread over 2 full CDs, a CD filled with 22 archival outtakes previously unreleased, and 2CDs of live shows (Mermaid Theatre – London – 03-02-2011; Hammersmith Odeon – London – 10-05-1983). The two included DVDs will deliver a collection of television performances from Top of the Pops, the Old Grey Whistle Test, Pebble Mill, Later with Jools Holland, two live shows (Theatre Royal – 1981; Sheffield City Hall – 1985), and the band’s ‘making of’ documentary, Crush – The Movie from their 1985 Crush promo period. (This hour-long movie is available online and can be seen here.)
Souvenir will come with a hard-bound book filled with the requisite photos, essays, notes, credits, and memorabilia associated with the band’s vast career. A collection of art prints will accompany the set. And for the frugal-minded, there will be a 2CD package with just the singles. a 3LP vinyl set will also be made available. All sets will be downloadable on DD formats. The Box is definite acquisition point for the ultra OMD fan. (The box is on my list!) As a bonus to the set of singles, a brand new track is included (“Don’t Go”, heard below).
Souvenir – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD)
CD1 (Singles – 1979-1987)
01 Electricity
02 Red Frame/White Light
03 Messages
04 Enola Gay
05 Souvenir
06 Joan of Arc
07 Maid of Orleans
08 Genetic Engineering
09 Telegraph
10 Locomotion
11 Talking Loud and Clear
12 Tesla Girls
13 Never Turn Away
14 So in Love
15 Secret
16 La Femme Accident
17 If You Leave
18 (Forever) Live and Die
19 We Love You
20 Shame
CD2 (Singles – 1988-2019)
01 Dreaming
02 Sailing on the Seven Seas
03 Pandora’s Box (It’s a Long, Long Way)
04 Then You Turn Away
05 Call My Name
06 Stand Above Me
07 Dream of Me
08 Everyday
09 Walking on the Milky Way
10 Universal
11 If You Want It
12 Sister Marie Says
13 History of Modern (part 1)
14 Metroland
15 Dresden
16 Night Cafeì
17 Isotype
18 The Punishment Of Luxury
19 What Have We Done
20 Don’t Go
CD3 (Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks)
01 Brand New Science (06.1981)
02 Dumbomb (01.1986)
03 Violin Piece (09.1982)
04 Untitled 2 (06.1981)
05 Cut Me Down (03.1986)
06 Radio Swiss International (09.1982)
07 Untitled 3 (09.1982)
08 Weekend (04.1985)
09 Organ Ditty (05.1980)
10 Unreleased Idea (06.1981)
11 Cajun Moon (05.1986)
12 Guitar Thrash (09.1982)
13 SMPTE (12.1982)
14 American Venus (04.1990)
15 Liberator (02.1985)
16. Ambient 1 (04.1980)
17 Unused 1 (12.1980)
18 Flamenco (04.1990)
19 Andy’s Song (04.1985)
20 Dynamo Children (01.1985)
21 Flutey (03.1984)
22 Nice Ending (06.1981)
CD4 (Live – Mermaid Theatre, London [03/02/2011])
01 Messages
02 Tesla Girls
03 New Babies New Toys
04 History of Modern (Part 1)
05 (Forever) Live & Die
06 Souvenir
07 Joan of Arc
08 Maid of Orleans
09 New Holy Ground
10 Green
11 Walking on the Milky Way
12 Sister Marie Says
13 Locomotion
14.Sailing on the Seven Seas
15 Enola Gay
16 Electricity
CD5 (Live – Hammersmith Odeon [10/05/1983])
01 Dazzle Ships – Parts II,III & VII
02 ABC Auto Industry
03 Messages
04 She’s Leaving
05 Georgia
06 Almost
07 Julia’s Song
08 Joan of Arc
09 Maid of Orleans
10 Statues
11 The Romance of the Telescope
12 Souvenir
13 Telegraph
14 Radio Waves
15 Bunker Soldiers
16 Enola Gay
17 Silent Running
18 Electricity
19 Pretending to see the Future
20 Stanlow
DVD1 (Television Performances)
01 Messages (The Old Grey Whistle Test 04/15/1980)
02 Messages (Top Of The Pops 08/08/1980)
03 Messages (Top Of The Pops 05/29/1980)
04 Enola Gay (Top Of The Pops 10/09/1980)
05 Souvenir (Top Of The Pops 09/03/1981)
06 Joan of Arc (Top Of The Pops 10/29/1981)
07 Maid Of Orleans (Top Of The Pops 01/14/1982)
08 Genetic Engineering (Top Of The Pops 03/03/1983)
09 Locomotion (Top Of The Pops 04/19/1984)
10 Locomotion (Top Of The Pops 05/03/1984)
11 Talking Loud and Clear (Top Of The Pops 07/05/1984)
12 Tesla Girls (Top Of The Pops 09/13/1984)
13 So in Love (Top Of The Pops 05/30/1985)
14 La Femme Accident (The Old Grey Whistle Test 10/22/1985)
15 (Forever) Live and Die (Top Of The Pops 09/18/1986)
16 Dreaming (Wogan 06/27/1988)
17 Sailing on the Seven Seas (Top Of The Pops 05/02/1991)
18 Pandora’s Box (It’s a Long, Long Way) (Top Of The Pops 07/11/1991)
19 Pandora’s Box (It’s a Long, Long Way) (Top Of The Pops 07/25/1991)
20 Call My Name (Pebble Mill 12/11/1991)
21 Stand Above Me (Top Of The Pops 05/13/1993)
22 Walking on the Milky Way (Top Of The Pops 08/16/1996)
23 Enola Gay (Later With Jools Holland 05/31/2013)
DVD2 (Live; Crush – The Movie)
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (12/04/1981)
01 Almost
02 Mystereality
03 Joan Of Arc
04 Motion & Heart
05 Maid Of Orleans
06 Statues
07 Souvenir
08 New Stone Age
09 Enola Gay
10 Bunker Soldiers
11 Electricity
12 She’s Leaving
13 Julia’s Song
14 Stanlow
Sheffield City Hall (06/14/1985)
01 (Intro)The Romance Of The Telescope
02 Crush
03 Messages
04 Secret
05 Tesla Girls
06 White Trash
07 Talking Loud & Clear
08 Maid Of Orleans
09 Telegraph
10 Enola Gay
11 Electricity
12 The Romance Of The Telescope
Crush – The Movie
01 Bloc Bloc Bloc
02 The Native Daughters Of The Golden West
03 So In Love
04 88 Seconds In Greensboro
05 Hold You
06 Women III
07 La Femme Accident
08 Crush
09 Secret
10 The Lights Are Going Out