OMD [Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark]: Maid of Orleans (1982)

This is the original 12" single for Maid of Orleans. These notes accompany the release information on Discogs:

"Original Sleeve Design (embossed coin motif on a special silver foil sleeve)."

The foil cover has incorrect information, though the record labels are correct:

"The single was originally to have featured a B side track titled Experiments In Vertical Take Off. The song hadn't actually been written at the time, but merely existed as a title. The single sleeves were subsequently printed with this title, but Andy and Paul had decided against the idea, and chose a brand new song called Navigation."

That's odd. It must have confused people. And this:

"The original sleeve design for the 12" version had used an embossed coin motif on a silver foil sleeve. The band weren't happy with this sleeve design, which led to the new stained glass version. A limited number of the coin foil sleeves, however, were issued."

I don't think that this foil version is really rare. I've seen a couple over the years. It would be nice to know how many were released. Finally, discogs notes:

"The 12" stained glass sleeve design was printed on a silver reflective background front and reverse. Later versions of the sleeve were non-reflective and featured a grey back. A third issue used a white back and made an attempt to correct the track listing. However, it listed the third track as 'Of All The Things We've Done'."

So, the correct track listing is Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Of Joan Of Arc) on side A with Of All The Things We've Made and Navigation on Side B. There are three other versions of this 12".

Needless to say, I love this track as well as Joan of Arc, the tune that precedes this one on Architecture and Morality. By the way, the songs carries the title Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Of Joan Of Arc) rather than Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans) in order to not have it confused with the previous single Joan of Arc from the same record.