The Best of OMD
Compilation album by
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Released29 February 1988 (1988-02-29)[1]
Recorded1979–1988
GenreSynthpop
Length53:54 (LP and cassette)
73:41 (CD, MiniDisc, and DCC)
LabelVirgin
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.

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[6]
Encyclopedia of Eighties Music[7]
Great Rock Discography8/10[8]
MusicHound[9]
Number One[10]
Tom Hull – on the WebA−[11]
The Village VoiceB+[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, 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."Talking Loud and Clear"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperJunk Culture3:53
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 HagueCrush3:28
4."Secret"Humphreys, McCluskeyCrush3:56
5."If You Leave"Humphreys, McCluskey, CooperPretty in Pink4:28
6."(Forever) Live and Die"Humphreys, Weir, WeirThe Pacific Age3:34
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, McCluskeyDazzle Ships3:43
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
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[34] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[35] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[36] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[37] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[39] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Cat.no.
UK 1988 LP Virgin OMD1
Musicassette TCOMD1
Compact Disc CD OMD
VHS VVD247
1992 DCC 458604
1998 MiniDisc MD OMD1

Credits

  • "Electricity" and "Dreaming" are produced by OMD.
  • "Messages", "Enola Gay" and "Souvenir" are produced by OMD and Mike Howlett.
  • "Joan of Arc" and "Maid of Orleans" are produced by OMD and Richard Manwaring.
  • "Telegraph" and "Genetic Engineering" are produced by OMD and Rhett Davies.
  • "Tesla Girls", "Locomotion" and "Talking Loud and Clear" are produced by OMD and Brian Tench.
  • "So in Love", "Secret", "(Forever) Live and Die", "We Love You" and "La Femme Accident" are produced by Stephen Hague.
  • "If You Leave" is produced by OMD and Tom Lord Alge.

References

  1. ↑ "Index". Record Mirror. 27 February 1988. p. 10.
  2. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. ↑ "The Definitive Tesla Girls guide". omd-messages.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Lois (30 September 2019). "OMD". Record Collector. Retrieved 10 June 2021. We did a Greatest Hits; we didn't want to.
  5. ↑ "OMD interview - Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys (part 3)". FaceCulture. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  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.
  8. ↑ Strong, Martin C (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate US. p. 1129. ISBN 9781841956152.
  9. ↑ Graff, Gary (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. p. 504. ISBN 9780787610371.
  10. 1 2 Bell, Max (12 March 1988). "Albums". Number One. p. 44.
  11. ↑ Hull, Tom. "Rock (1980s): Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  12. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". The Village Voice. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Oermann, Robert K (20 March 1988). "Gladys, Vern, OMD Warm Up Turntable". The Tennessean. p. 192 (Showcase, p. 24).
  14. ↑ Graff, Gary (21 March 1988). "On the Records". Detroit Free Press. p. 18 (Sound Judgement: 3B).
  15. ↑ Thompson, Sally (21 August 1988). "Half-Year Report: UK Best Sellers". The Observer. p. 33.
  16. ↑ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: The Best of OMD". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  17. ↑ Wade, Ian (8 April 2013). "Souvenirs: Andy McCluskey Of OMD's Favourite Albums". The Quietus. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Top 20 Compilation Albums". Classic Pop. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0958". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 15. 9 April 1988. p. 30. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  23. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "Charts.nz – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  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.
  26. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  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.
  29. ↑ "Top 100 Albums of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 13. ISSN 0033-7064 – via World Radio History.
  30. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  31. ↑ "1988 Year End Eurocharts – Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 31. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  32. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  33. ↑ "Top 100 Albums – Year-End Chart 1988" (PDF). Music Week Awards. Music Week. 4 March 1989. p. 8. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  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 26 December 2020.
  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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