This triple LP release compiles OMD's forty singles from 1979 - 2019. From a Discogs comment:
"Completists take note and rejoice! Track 3, Messages, is the
(relatively) rare 7" remix, and not the Lp version. It is a short
version of the 10" remix that appears almost everywhere else. This is
the first time that this version of this track has appeared on cd, I
believe."
While the vinyl set contains one new track (Don't Go), the deluxe CD box set has a lot more material, including a bunch of unreleased tracks. This is a cool compilation.
The triple LP version was released on clear vinyl and includes tunes recorded in Liverpool on October 6th and 7th, 2018. Some of the reviews were harsh, but, overall, I alike this effort. Stanlow is a triumph on its own, though the audience ruined the end of the track by breaking into applause way too soon.
Allmusic awards this record 3.5 stars, which I think is too parsimonious. It's far better than that, even if simply because of Isotype, which is a great single. I think the previous two records were better, but this is pretty darn good.
I have no idea what the proper title of this record is.
From Discogs:
"Limited to 1,000 copies via Pledge Music in three panel gatefold sleeve
of the OMD concert held at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 9th May 2016."
The above explains why the prices on Discogs start at £60 and run up to £99.95! The triple LP was bundled with 2 CD-Rs, which were also released separately. That's right! Bizarrely, these are CD-Rs, not CDs. Why? And yet, these CD-Rs are pricey too.
The following is taken from a comment on this item on Discogs:
Unearthed live recording from the ITV archives. To be precise, this
concert was recorded at the Nottingham Playhouse, UK on 28th July 1980,
for ITV's Rockstage programme (aired in April 1981). It was a rare
one-off summer show and they played two songs from the yet to be
recorded album 'Organisation'. This is the first time that the original
'Enola Gay' (unfinished) version is released. Notice the absence of the
drum machine, its slightly different structure and original verses.
Then, despite the short set, the quality of the recording is
surprisingly good. Lighting was less gloomy than the classic Theatre
Royal Drury Lane 1981 concert.
The CD/DVD version was released in 2015, with a CD version and LP version appearing the following year. The LP is, of course, a picture disc. Access All Areas refers to a unlimited backstage pass, also known as AAA. Access all Areas is also the name of a series of recordings from various acts.
'Julia's Song (Dub Version)' is the same track as the first part of 'Julia's Song (Extended Version)', b-side to the 1984 Talking Loud And Clear 12" single, the second part of which has been released on the 2015 Deluxe edition of Junk Culture.
I believe that this was a limited edition, but I am not sure. The flipside is 10-1.
Who would have thought that the year 2015 would bring one of OMD's best records? I am still stunned by how good this record is. It pays overt respect to Dazzle Ships and it also has a good deal of glossy electronic pop that would appeal to any OMD fan.
Night Cafe, on it's own, is magical, a return to some Architecture and Morality sounds, with a beautiful melody and polished electronic sound. My fav tune might be Metroland, which is a delicious Kraftwerkesque tune. On the other hand, Dresden is also pretty cool.
The question about Kissing the Machine is which is the better version, this or the 1993-original with Karl Bartos. It's a tough call, as they are so similar. This is an excellent record, which is a bit better the History of Modern.
The History of Modern Part I compact disc is packed with stuff, like parts II, III, and IV, plus five remixes of Part I and four other tracks. This 10" single has only two edits of History of Modern Part I plus VCR and The Grand Deception, which are not on the History of Modern LP. This, as noted on Discogs, is true:
"Track B1 and B2 are erroneously swapped on sleeve and label"
Surprisingly, this 10" disc goes for, on average, north of $35. Even more surprisingly, the CD goes for much more.
By my count, this is the second OMD record, after Dazzle Ships, to be credited to OMD rather than to Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. Some singles have that credit too. I wonder why they opted to use the acronym from time-to-time. Perhaps it was a design consideration.
The original line-up reformed for this release, after the Sugar Tax, Liberator, and Universal albums, which were really Andy McCluskey solo records.
History of Modern is a fabulous record. I think it's a real return to form. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this is a truly great record. Both McCluskey and Humphreys argue that the subsequent record is better. That is probably true, but it doesn't undermine how good this is.
This record was pressed in 2010 and 2018. I have the original first pressing which came with the CD.
4000 copies of this numbered, deluxe edition were released in 2018. It contains a CD of the entire show, recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on May 19th, 2007. Previously, the album was released on CD in 2008. An LP version, on coloured vinyl, appeared in 2014. This is a good set packed with great tunes, including the entire Architecture & Morality LP, but with a different running order.
Here's another gripe with Discogs, which is always overly fastidious about how it credits records. The title, printed on the cover, is Live Architecture & Morality & More, which I have transcribed as Live, Architecture & Morality & More. A comma seems necessary. Discogs views it this way: Live (Architecture & Morality & More). It's interesting, but wrong, in my humble opinion.
Call My Name is also from Sugar Tax. My UK 12" has the 12" version of Call My Name plus a mix of Brides of Frankenstein. I didn't love this period of OMD without Paul Humphreys. I don't hate this period either, but it's a little less wonderful than the earlier and later OMD periods.
Once Paul and Andy went in separate directions, the band became less interesting, at least to me. Andy soldiered on under the OMD banner, and Paul did other things. This is OK, but I think its far too commercial, top 40ish, or something. This is miles and miles away from Messages. Still, I do like some tracks.
My version of this 12" single has four edits of the title track (originally from the Sugar Tax album), plus Sugar Tax, the title track to the Sugar Tax LP that wasn't even on that LP.
It took almost five years, but OMD finally released its eighth album on May 7, 1991. Because it was released in 1991, it's not easy to obtain on vinyl, especially in North America. In fact, I have never seen a copy anywhere in any store since it came out.
The second odd thing is that Paul Humphreys left the band after the last record, so Andy McCluskey soldiered on by himself. Oddly, McCluskey's name appears nowhere on the record or jacket or inner sleeve. Instead, credit is given simply to OMD.
The last weird thing is that the song Sugar Tax appears on the b-side of Then you Turn Away, because it was not ready in time for the record's release date. It also appears on the 12" releases of Pandora's Box and Sailing on the Seven Seas.
This record has more of a pop dance feel than OMD's previous efforts. McCluskey recorded three records as OMD without Paul, and then he, too, called it quits, for a while anyway.
This is a promotional copy (not for sale!) that has 5 versions of the titular track. These are:
Dancing On The Seven Seas
Sailing On The Seven Seas (Larrabee Mix)
Sailing On The Seven Seas (Original Mix)
Sailing On The Seven Seas (Extended Mix)
Floating On The Seven Seas
The record comes in a plain black cardboard sleeve. My copy is lacking the hype sticker that Discogs references:
"Sticker:
Orgasmic Musical Delights
Here's 3 uptempo and 2 sleaze remixes of Sailing On The Seven Seas
Get Ready To Dance"
