The Official Secrets Act (album)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Official Secrets Act
| type = Album
| artist = M
| cover = M - The Official Secrets Act album cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = 7 November 1980{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Week-1980-11-08.pdf|title=Music Week|page=35}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = New wave
| length = 40:02
| label = Sire
| producer = Robin Scott
| prev_title = New York • London • Paris • Munich
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Famous Last Words
| next_year = 1982
}}
{{album ratings|noprose=yes
| rev1 = Allmusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r43751|tab=review|first=Dan|last=LeRoy|accessdate=January 30, 2012}}
| rev2 = Smash Hits
| rev2score = 8/10{{Cite magazine|last=Deane|first=Geoffrey|url=https://archive.org/details/smash-hits-1980-11-27/page/n22/mode/1up|title=Albums: M – The Official Secrets Act (MCA)|magazine=Smash Hits|location=Peterborough|publisher=EMAP National Publications, Ltd.|volume=2|issue=24|page=29|date=27 November – 10 December 1980|issn=0260-3004|access-date=11 December 2024}}
}}
The Official Secrets Act is M's second album, released in 1980 on Sire Records. The track "Official Secrets" was released as a single and charted in the UK at No. 64 in November 1980. The follow-up single was "Keep It To Yourself". The track "Maniac" featured Level 42 members Phil Gould on drums and Mark King on bass.
The album title is a reference to the various UK Official Secrets Acts.
Track listing
=LP: MCF 3085=
==Side one==
- "Transmission (The World Is at Your Fingertips)" – 4:30
- "Join the Party" – 3:39
- "Working for the Corporation" – 3:35
- "Your Country Needs You" – 3:20
- "M'aider" – 5:26
==Side two==
- "Relax" – 3:42
- "Maniac" – 3:22
- "Keep it to Yourself" – 3:34
- "Abracadabra" – 2:51
- "Official Secrets" – 6:03
=1997 Westside CD Reissue: WESM 502=
- "Transmission" – 4:30
- "Join the Party" – 3:39
- "Working for the Corporation" – 3:35
- "Your Country Needs You" – 3:20
- "Mayday" – 5:26
- "Relax" – 3:42
- "Maniac" – 3:22
- "Keep it to Yourself" – 3:34
- "Abracadabra" – 2:51 (1)
- "Official Secrets" – 6:03
- "Abracadabra (Sunset–Sunrise Mix) – 2:51
- "Danube" – 3:33 (1)
- "The Wedding Dance" – 3:37 (1)
- "Mambo La" – 2:29 (2)
- "Don't Believe What the Papers Say" – 1:12
- "The Bride of Fortune" – 4:20 (3)
All tracks written by Robin Scott except,
(1) "Abracadabra", "Danube" & "The Wedding Dance" written by Scott/Novik
(2) "Mambo La" written by Unknown
(3) "The Bride of Fortune" written by Scott/Westwood
Personnel
- Robin Scott - vocals, guitar
- Brigit Vinchon - vocals
- David Vorhaus, Wally Badarou - synthesizer
- Julian Scott - bass guitar
- Philip Gould - drums
- Mark King - guitar, drums; bass on "Maniac"
- Gary Barnacle - saxophone
with:
- Paddy Keenan - Uilleann pipes on "Keep It to Yourself"
- Dónal Lunny - arrangement on "Keep It to Yourself"
- Bill Whelan - arrangements on "Relax" and "Official Secrets"
- The Dublin Symphony Orchestra - orchestra on "Relax" and "Official Secrets"; Audrey Parkes - leader
- Billy Brown, Brigit Vinchon, Deidre Costello, Denis Blackham, Des Smith, John Keogh, Mog Aherne, Robin Scott - vocals and whistling on "Working for The Corporation"
;Technical
- Dave Aston, Denis Blackham, Philip Begley - engineer
- Peter Ashworth - front cover photography
References
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