The Best of OMD
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Best of OMD
| type = compilation
| artist = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
| cover = The Best of OMD.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1988|2|29|df=yes}}{{cite magazine|date=27 February 1988|title=Index|magazine=Record Mirror|page=10}}
| recorded = 1979–1988
| studio =
| genre = Synth-pop
| length = 53:54 (LP and Cassette)
73:41 (CD, MiniDisc, and DCC)
| label = Virgin
| producer = {{hlist|OMD|Mike Howlett|Richard Manwaring|Rhett Davies|Brian Tench|Stephen Hague|Tom Lord Alge}}
| prev_title = The Pacific Age
| prev_year = 1986
| next_title = Sugar Tax
| next_year = 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Orchestral+Manoeuvres+In+The+Dark#search_section | title=Gold & Platinum | publisher=Recording Industry Association of America }} "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;{{cite web|url=http://www.omd-messages.co.uk/the-definitive-tesla-girls-guide/|title=The Definitive Tesla Girls guide |publisher= omd-messages.co.uk|accessdate= 2018-08-15}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/omd|title=OMD|last=Wilson|first=Lois|date=30 September 2019|website=Record Collector|access-date=10 June 2021|quote=We did a Greatest Hits; we didn't want to.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzQjKnnxVW4&t=4m28s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/zzQjKnnxVW4 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=OMD interview – Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys (part 3)|date=29 April 2013|publisher=FaceCulture|access-date=4 October 2016}}{{cbignore}}
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |first=Mike |last=DeGagne |title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Best of OMD |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-omd-mw0000539734 |publisher=AllMusic}}
| rev2 = Encyclopedia of Eighties Music
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music|publisher=Virgin Books|year=1997|isbn=0753501597|page=350}}
| rev3 = Great Rock Discography
| rev3Score = 8/10{{cite book|last=Strong|first=Martin C|author-link=Martin C. Strong|date=2004|title=The Great Rock Discography|edition=7th|publisher=Canongate US|page=1129|isbn=9781841956152}}
| rev4 = MusicHound
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Graff|first=Gary|author-link=Gary Graff|date=1996|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|page=504|isbn=9780787610371}}
| rev5 = Number One
| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Bell|first=Max|title=Albums|magazine=Number One|date=12 March 1988|page=44}}
| rev6 = Tom Hull – on the Web
| rev7 = The Village Voice
| rev7Score = B+{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Orchestral+Manoeuvres+in+the+Dark|title=Consumer Guide: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|work=The Village Voice|accessdate=1 August 2014}}
}}
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." 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."{{cite news|first=Robert K|last=Oermann|author-link=Robert K. Oermann|title=Gladys, Vern, OMD Warm Up Turntable|work=The Tennessean|date=20 March 1988|page=192 (Showcase, p. 24)}} Detroit Free Press critic Gary Graff referred to the compilation as a "stellar collection of singles".{{cite news|first=Gary|last=Graff|author-link=Gary Graff|title=On the Records|work=Detroit Free Press|date=21 March 1988|page=18 (Sound Judgement: 3B)}} 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.{{cite news|first=Sally|last=Thompson|title=Half-Year Report: UK Best Sellers|work=The Observer|date=21 August 1988|page=33}}
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". Trouser Press called the record "a concise recapitulation of the band's artistic development",{{cite web|url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark/|title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: The Best of OMD|website=Trouser Press|access-date=1 June 2021}} while Quietus writer Ian Wade dubbed it "one of the greatest singles collections ever".{{cite magazine|first=Ian|last=Wade|title=Souvenirs: Andy McCluskey of OMD's Favourite Albums|url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/andy-mccluskey-omd-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-favourite-albums/|magazine=The Quietus|date=8 April 2013|access-date=1 June 2021}} It was ranked 13th in Classic Pop{{'}}s "Top 20 Compilation Albums".{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2022/09/top-20-compilation-albums/|title=Top 20 Compilation Albums|date=1 September 2022|website=Classic Pop|access-date=25 January 2023}}
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=
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Album
| total_length = 27:08
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Electricity
| writer1 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra1 = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
| length1 = 3:30
| title2 = Messages
| writer2 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra2 = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
| length2 = 4:44
| title3 = Enola Gay
| writer3 = McCluskey
| extra3 = Organisation
| length3 = 3:31
| title4 = Souvenir
| writer4 = Humphreys, Cooper
| extra4 = Architecture & Morality
| length4 = 3:34
| title5 = Joan of Arc
| writer5 = McCluskey
| extra5 = Architecture & Morality
| length5 = 3:47
| title6 = Maid of Orleans
| writer6 = McCluskey
| extra6 = Architecture & Morality
| length6 = 4:09
| title7 = Talking Loud and Clear
| writer7 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper
| extra7 = Junk Culture
| length7 = 3:53
}}
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Album
| total_length = 26:46 (53:54)
| headline = Side two
| title1 = Tesla Girls
| writer1 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra1 = Junk Culture
| length1 = 3:33
| title2 = Locomotion
| writer2 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Gordian Troeller
| extra2 = Junk Culture
| length2 = 3:53
| title3 = So in Love
| writer3 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Stephen Hague
| extra3 = Crush
| length3 = 3:28
| title4 = Secret
| writer4 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra4 = Crush
| length4 = 3:56
| title5 = If You Leave
| writer5 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper
| extra5 = Pretty in Pink
| length5 = 4:28
| title6 = (Forever) Live and Die
| writer6 = Humphreys, Weir, Weir
| extra6 = The Pacific Age
| length6 = 3:34
| title7 = Dreaming
| writer7 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra7 = Previously unreleased
| length7 = 3:54
}}
=Compact Disc, MiniDisc and Digital Compact Cassette =
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Album
| total_length = 73:41
| title1 = Electricity
| writer1 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra1 = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
| length1 = 3:30
| title2 = Messages
| writer2 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra2 = Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
| length2 = 4:44
| title3 = Enola Gay
| writer3 = McCluskey
| extra3 = Organisation
| length3 = 3:31
| title4 = Souvenir
| writer4 = Humphreys, Cooper
| extra4 = Architecture & Morality
| length4 = 3:34
| title5 = Joan of Arc
| writer5 = McCluskey
| extra5 = Architecture & Morality
| length5 = 3:47
| title6 = Maid of Orleans
| writer6 = McCluskey
| extra6 = Architecture & Morality
| length6 = 4:09
| title7 = Telegraph
| writer7 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra7 = Dazzle Ships
| length7 = 3:43
| title8 = Tesla Girls
| writer8 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra8 = Junk Culture
| length8 = 3:33
| title9 = Locomotion
| writer9 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Troeller
| extra9 = Junk Culture
| length9 = 3:53
| title10 = Talking Loud and Clear
| writer10 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper
| extra10 = Junk Culture
| length10 = 3:53
| title11 = So in Love
| writer11 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Hague
| extra11 = Crush
| length11 = 3:28
| title12 = Secret
| writer12 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra12 = Crush
| length12 = 3:56
| title13 = If You Leave
| writer13 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Cooper
| extra13 = Pretty in Pink
| length13 = 4:28
| title14 = (Forever) Live and Die
| writer14 = Humphreys, Weir, Weir
| extra14 = The Pacific Age
| length14 = 3:34
| title15 = Dreaming
| writer15 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra15 = Previously unreleased
| length15 = 3:54
| title16 = Genetic Engineering
| writer16 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra16 = Dazzle Ships
| length16 = 3:35
| title17 = We Love You
| note17 = 12" Version
| writer17 = Humphreys, McCluskey, Hague
| extra17 = The Pacific Age
| length17 = 6:14
| title18 = La Femme Accident
| note18 = 12" Version
| writer18 = Humphreys, McCluskey
| extra18 = Crush
| length18 = 6:16
}}
=VHS Video=
{{Track listing
| title1 = Electricity
| title2 = Messages
| title3 = Enola Gay
| title4 = Souvenir
| title5 = Maid of Orleans
| title6 = Talking Loud and Clear
| title7 = Tesla Girls
| title8 = Locomotion
| title9 = So in Love
| title10 = Secret
| title11 = If You Leave
| title12 = (Forever) Live and Die
| title13 = Dreaming
| title14 = Telegraph
| title15 = We Love You
| title16 = La Femme Accident
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for The Best of OMD ! scope="col"| Chart (1988) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|48|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|album=The Best of OMD|rowheader=true|access-date=26 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Canada|19|chartid=0958|rowheader=true|access-date=26 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|4|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|album=The Best of OMD|rowheader=true|access-date=26 December 2020}} |
| scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/88/M&M-1988-04-09-OCR-Page-0016.pdf |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Albums |magazine=Music & Media |volume=5 |issue=15 |date=9 April 1988 |page=30 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}
| 4 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Germany4|8|id=687|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|album=The Best of OMD|rowheader=true|access-date=26 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|album=The Best of OMD|rowheader=true|access-date=26 December 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Spanish Albums (AFYVE){{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |isbn=84-8048-639-2}}
| 19 |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|16|artist=OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|album=The Best of OMD|rowheader=true|access-date=26 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|2|date=19880313|rowheader=true|access-date=26 December 2020}} |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark/chart-history/billboard-200 |title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Billboard 200) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=26 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418113916/https://www.billboard.com/music/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark/chart-history/billboard-200 |archive-date=18 April 2019}}
| 46 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for The Best of OMD}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark|title=The Best of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1988|certyear=1988|date=28 April 1988|access-date=26 December 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=OMD|title=Best of OMD|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1988|certyear=1991|access-date=26 December 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=O.M.D.|title=The Best of|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1988|certyear=1989|access-date=16 July 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark|title=The Best of OMD|award=Platinum|type=album|id=1988-06-10|source=newchart|date=13 June 1988|access-date=23 November 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=OMD|title=Best of OMD|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=1988|certyear=2001|id=6718-1296-2|date=9 March 2001|access-date=26 December 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Orchestral Manoeuvres in Dark|title=The Best of OMD|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1988|certyear=1991|date=11 March 1991|access-date=26 December 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}
Release history
| class="wikitable"
!Country !Date !Format !Label !Cat.no. |
| rowspan="6" | UK
| rowspan="4" | 1988 | LP | rowspan="6" | Virgin | OMD1 |
| Musicassette
| TCOMD1 |
| Compact Disc
| CD OMD |
| VHS
| VVD247 |
| rowspan="1" | 1992
| DCC | 458604 |
| rowspan="1" | 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080808113432/http://www.omd.uk.com/html/song_best.html Album lyrics]
{{Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Best of Omd, The}}
Category:1988 greatest hits albums
Category:Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark albums
Category:Albums produced by Rhett Davies
Category:Albums produced by Mike Howlett
Category:Albums produced by Stephen Hague
Category:Albums produced by Tom Lord-Alge
Category:Music video compilation albums