Side 2 of an Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark mixtape, compiled 4th to 5th June 1990. I clearly had nothing better to do on a Monday and Tuesday night, back then...! I was a massive fan of O.M.D. as a teenager, having been introduced to the first four albums by my older brother and of course seeing and hearing them regularly on TV and BBC Radio 1. They were the second band I saw live (on 27th October 1986, a more productive Tuesday night!) and, to date, the last-but-one gig I've been to full stop (on 8th November 2019, a more respectable Friday night gig).
All Wrapped Up - title nicked from an Undertones compilation and also the title of a track from O.M.D.'s 1984 album Junk Culture - was split across two volumes/C90 cassettes. The first, and arguably, best covers the years 1980-1983 so you get the aforementioned unbeatable quartet of albums, along with a selection of B-sides. Gravity Never Failed is an outtake from the Architecture & Morality sessions and was eventually released as a B-side to 1988 flop single Dreaming. To these ears, it sounds like the song was given a 1980s buff and remix, but it's a great song nevertheless.
O.M.D. were pretty unfashionable by the time I started buying their records for myself. I don't think their videos particularly helped, especially Talking Loud And Clear, but I and my mate Stuart loved them. Listening to this mixtape brings it all back. Sounds even better, if possible.
1) Radio Prague (1983)
2) Telegraph (Album Version) (1983)
3) VCL XI (1980)
4) Navigation (1981)
5) Annex (Single Version) (1980)
6) Julia's Song (Album Version) (1980)
7) Red Frame / White Light (Album Version) (1980)
8) Sacred Heart (1981)
9) Georgia (Album Version) (1981)
10) The Romance Of The Telescope (Unfinished) (Single Version) (1981)
11) Motion And Heart (Album Version) (1980)
12) Gravity Never Failed (1981)
13) This Is Helena (1983)
14) The Beginning And The End (1981)
1980: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark: 6, 7
1980: Enola Gay EP: 51980: Organisation: 3, 11
1981: Architecture & Morality: 9, 14
1981: Souvenir EP: 8
1981: Joan Of Arc EP: 10
1982: Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans) EP: 4
1983: Dazzle Ships: 1, 2, 13
1988: Dreaming EP: 12
I Love OMD. I think due to the stupid name and their geeky look they have been treated a little shabbily by the music press. I'm pleased in the 21st Century more critics have got on board with Architecture and Morality and Dazzle Ships. The last 10 years have brought about some excellent OMD material too.
ReplyDeleteThose last three albums have been really good. Hard to believe it's nearly 5 years since The Punishment Of Luxury. Surely time for another album?!
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