The Best of OMD

The Best of OMD is a compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1988; marking a decade since the band's beginnings.

The Best of OMD
Compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Released	12 March 1988
Recorded	1979–1988
Genre	Synthpop
Length	53:54 (LP & cassette) 1:06:22 (CD, MiniDisc, and DCC)
Label	Virgin
Producer	OMD Mike Howlett Richard Manwaring Rhett Davies Brian Tench Stephen Hague Tom Lord Alge
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark chronology
The Pacific Age (1986) The Best of OMD (1988) Sugar Tax (1991)

The record essentially delineates the group's experimental early years from their pop-oriented later work: side one features recordings from 1979–1984, while side two is drawn from the group's 1984–1988 efforts. It was a worldwide success, becoming a Top 5 hit across Europe and achieving 3x platinum sales in the United Kingdom and gold status in the United States.[1] "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).

Album information

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;[2] 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.

It was the group's final album release of the decade, effectively closing a chapter on their history, and just before founding members Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys split in 1989, leaving the group name to McCluskey. According to Andy McCluskey, OMD released the album in order to pay off debts owned to Virgin Records.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Robert Christgau	B+[5]

Robert Christgau noted that the album includes "technocratic dance-kitsch as amusing as 'Electricity' and 'Enola Gay', and 'Talking Loud and Clear', their cutest and catchiest romantic medium-tempo [song]". He added that "the many others here included will certainly entertain the hookily inclined."[5]

Mike DeGagne in AllMusic also highlighted the band's knack for strong hooks, and referred to 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".[4] Trouser Press called it "a concise recapitulation of the band's artistic development".[6]

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.	Title	Writer(s)	Album	Length
1.	"Electricity"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	3:30
2.	"Messages"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	4:44
3.	"Enola Gay"	McCluskey	Organisation	3:31
4.	"Souvenir"	Humphreys, Cooper	Architecture & Morality	3:34
5.	"Joan of Arc"	McCluskey	Architecture & Morality	3:47
6.	"Maid of Orleans"	McCluskey	Architecture & Morality	4:09
7.	"Talking Loud and Clear"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper	Junk Culture	3:53
Total length:				27:08

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Album	Length
1.	"Tesla Girls"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Junk Culture	3:33
2.	"Locomotion"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Gordian Troeller	Junk Culture	3:53
3.	"So in Love"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Stephen Hague	Crush	3:28
4.	"Secret"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Crush	3:56
5.	"If You Leave"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper	Pretty in Pink	4:28
6.	"(Forever) Live and Die"	Humphreys, Weir, Weir	The Pacific Age	3:34
7.	"Dreaming"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Previously unreleased	3:54
Total length:				26:46 (53:54)

Compact Disc, MiniDisc and Digital Compact Cassette

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Album	Length
1.	"Electricity"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	3:30
2.	"Messages"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	4:44
3.	"Enola Gay"	McCluskey	Organisation	3:31
4.	"Souvenir"	Humphreys, Cooper	Architecture & Morality	3:34
5.	"Joan of Arc"	McCluskey	Architecture & Morality	3:47
6.	"Maid of Orleans"	McCluskey	Architecture & Morality	4:09
7.	"Telegraph"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Dazzle Ships	3:43
8.	"Tesla Girls"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Junk Culture	3:33
9.	"Locomotion"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Troeller	Junk Culture	3:53
10.	"Talking Loud and Clear"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper	Junk Culture	3:53
11.	"So in Love"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Hague	Crush	3:28
12.	"Secret"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Crush	3:56
13.	"If You Leave"	Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper	Pretty in Pink	4:28
14.	"(Forever) Live and Die"	Humphreys, Weir, Weir	The Pacific Age	3:34
15.	"Dreaming"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Previously unreleased	3:54
16.	"Genetic Engineering"	Humphreys, McCluskey	Dazzle Ships	3:35
17.	"We Love You" (12" Version)	Humphreys, McCluskey, Hague	The Pacific Age	6:14
18.	"La Femme Accident" (12" Version)	Humphreys, McCluskey	Crush	6:16
Total length:				1:06:22

VHS Video

No.	Title	Length
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

Weekly charts Chart (1988) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 48 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] 19 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] 4 European Albums (Music & Media)[10] 4 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 8 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] 1 Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[13] 19 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 16 UK Albums (OCC)[15] 2 US Billboard 200[16] 46

Year-end chart Chart (1988) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[17] 54 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[18] 50 European Albums (Music & Media)[19] 37 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] 54 UK Albums (OCC)[21] 26

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22]	Gold	50,000^^
Germany (BVMI)[23]	Gold	250,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24]	Platinum	15,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]	3× Platinum	900,000^^
United States (RIAA)[26]	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. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Orchestral+Manoeuvres+In+The+Dark#search_section
2. "The Definitive Tesla Girls guide". omd-messages.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
3. "OMD interview - Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys (part 3)". FaceCulture. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
4. DeGagne, Mike. "Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – The Best Of OMD". AllMusic.
5. Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
6. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: The Best of OMD". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
7. "Australiancharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
8. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0958". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
9. "Dutchcharts.nl – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5 no. 15. 9 April 1988. p. 30. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
12. "Charts.nz – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
13. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
14. "Swisscharts.com – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – The Best of OMD". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
16. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
17. "Top 100 Albums of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 13. ISSN 0315-5994.
18. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
19. "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.
20. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
21. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1991). "Top 100 Albums: 1988". BPI YearBook 1989/90. London: British Phonographic Industry. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-9061-5410-6.
22. "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.
23. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (OMD; 'Best of OMD')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
24. "New Zealand album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Best of OMD". Recorded Music NZ. 13 June 1988. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
25. "British album certifications – OMD – Best of OMD". British Phonographic Industry. 9 March 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
26. "American album certifications – Orchestral Manoeuvres in Dark – The Best of OMD". Recording Industry Association of America. 11 March 1991. Retrieved 26 December 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.