Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

The book Messages, written by Johnny Waller and Paul Humphreys' brother Mike Humphreys, details the career of the band up to the time of The Best of OMD. For a more comprehensive discography see the Musicbrainz entry (http://musicbrainz.org/artist/7509421d-1074-442f-be8f-b526167afcb3.html) for this artist. There were two official magazines about the band, Telegraph, and, currently, Messages. Singles:. An album of unreleased material by the band is scheduled to be released in 2005. Live/Greatest Hits:. McCluskey would continue for another decade, joined by Liverpool musicians Lloyd Massett and Stuart Kershaw. Full-lengths:.

Though Humphreys left the band after The Best of OMD, he collaborated with McCluskey on the songwriting for Universal, the band's 1996 swan song. Both instruments are modifications of traditional six string electric guitar bodies with specific strings removed and different tunings. One of OMD's biggest hits, "If You Leave," (1985) was written specifically for the John Hughes movie Pretty in Pink. The Presidents are credited with creating the instruments known as the 'basitar' and the 'guitbass'. By now the band were seeing their critical and public popularity wane in the UK, whilst they struggled to break the US market. They also perform the theme music for The Drew Carey Show. This 6 piece line also released The Pacific Age (1986). They were noted for their amusing lyrics and simple, catchy guitar riffs, usually with guitars from which they had removed strings.

With the recording of Crush, (1985) Graham and Neil Weir began playing with the group (on guitar and brass), produced by Stephen Hague. They are a grunge pop group that had a sequence of hits in the mid 1990s, such as "Lump", "Kitty", and "Peaches". Two laserdiscs, Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (1982) and Crush the Movie (1985) were released only in Japan. The Presidents of the United States of America is an alternative band which was formed in 1989. 1984's Junk Culture saw a return to a more poppy sound and saw the band using digital sampling keyboards such as the Fairlight CMI and the Emu Emulator. "Some Postman" (2004). It was recorded by the 4-piece Humpreys/Holmes/Cooper/Mcluskey line-up, and produced by Rhett Davies. Last Girl On Earth (2001).

1983 saw the band lose commercial momentum somewhat, with the release of their 'difficult' Dazzle Ships albums, which mixed melancholy synth ballads and uptempo synth pop with musique concrete and short wave radio tape collages. Jupiter (2001). Hit singles Joan of Arc and Maid of Orleans were taken from the album. Jazz Guy (2000). They used it to add very atmospheric swatches of string, choir and other sounds to their palette. Nuthin' But Luv (2000). The album's striking sound saw OMD's original synth-pop sound augmented by the mellotron, an instrument previously associated with prog rock bands. Tiny Explosions (2000).

The 4-piece went into the studio with Richard Mainwaring producing, Cooper then temporarily dropping out and being replaced by Mike Douglas, but this changed being reversed by the time the album was released and a tour embarked upon. Teenage Girl (1999). 1981 would see the release of what many consider OMD's magnum opus (and it was also the peak of their commercial success in the UK and Europe) - the Architecture & Morality album. "George Of The Jungle Theme" (1999). It ushered in a striking lush choral electronic sound. Video Killed The Radio Star (1998). Howlett then presided over the recording of a further hit single, Souvenir, co-written by Cooper & Humphreys. Man (Opposable Thumb) (1997).

The tour for this album saw a 4-piece band line-up, with saxophonist Martin Cooper recruited for keyboard duties. Supersonics (1997). The album spawned the huge hit single Enola Gay, named after the plane which dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima. Volcano (1997). It was again produced by Howlett, and saw a rather moodier, dark feel. Supermodel (Oh Yeah) (1997). The second album Organisation followed later that year, recorded as a 3 piece with Humphreys, McCluskey and Holmes. Bug City (1997).

A tour followed, Winston the tape recorded being ditched for good, and replaced with live drums from Mal Holmes, and Dalek I Love You's Dave Hughs on synths. Tiki God (1996). DinDisc arranged for the song Messages to be re-recorded (produced by Gong bassist Mike Howlett) and released as a single - this gave the band their first hit. Ça Plane Pour Moi (1996). It had a simple, raw, poppy, melodic synthpop sound. "Cleveland Rocks (1996). The eponymous first album (1980) showcased the band's live set at the time, and was basically recorded by the Humphreys/McCluskey duo, although included some guest drums from Id drummer Mal Holmes, and saxophone from Wirral musician Martin Cooper. Mach 5 (1996).

Finding themselves on the cusp of an electronic new wave in British pop-music, they released a one-off single with legendary independent label Factory Records (the single sleeve was designed by Peter Saville, whose distinctive graphics provided OMD's public image well into the mid-80s), and were then quickly snapped up by Virgin subsiduary DinDisc. Dune Buggy (1996). They began to gig regularly as a duo, accompanied on stage by a Revox tape-recorder of backing tracks called "Winston". Back Porch (1996). McCluskey briefly sang with electronic Wirral quartet Dalek I Love You, however eventually rejoined Humphreys, and their VCL XI project was rechristened Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Peaches (1996). In 1978, The Id split due to the traditional musical differences. Naked And Famous (1995).

Meanwhile Humphreys & McCluskey collaborated on a side-project called VCL XI (named after a valve from the diagram on the cover of Kraftwerk's Radio-Activity album), where they pursued their more bizarre electronic experiments, often working with tape collages, home-made kit-built synthesiers, and circuit-bent radios. Kitty (1995). They had quite a following on the scene, and one of their tracks (Julia's Song) was included on a compilation record of local bands called Street to Street. Monkey River (1995). The group began to gig regularly in the Merseyside area, performing original material (largely written by McCluskey & Humphreys). Lump (1995). By 1977, McCluskey & Humphreys put together 7-piece (3 singers, 2 guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards!) Wirral 'supergroup' The Id, whose line-up included drummer Malcolm Holmes and McCluskey's girlfriend Julia Kneale on vocals. Fuck California (1994).

The pair shared a love of electronic music, particularly Brian Eno and Kraftwerk. Lump (1999) Greatest Hits. McCluskey would usually sing and play bass guitar, whilst electronics enthusiast Humphreys initially began as a roadie, graduating to keyboards. Pure Frosting (1998) with, live features. As teenagers, Humphreys and McCluskey were involved in several unsigned Wirral bands, including including Equinox, Pegasus, and the short-lived Hitlerz Underpantz. Rarities (1997) Greatest Hits.
. Love Everybody (2004).

McCluskey then retained the name and continued to record and tour as OMD with a new line-up. Freaked Out And Small (2000). The group was founded by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, and they formed the core of the outfit until 1989, when the group split. Pure Frosting (1998). Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark or OMD were a synth pop group from the Wirral, UK, who recorded for Virgin Records (originally for Virgin's DinDisc subsidiary). II (1996). The Best of OMD - 1988. The Presidents of the United States of America (1995).

Crush the Movie - 1985. The second C sharp is an octave higher. Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane - 1982. It consists of a normal six string guitar with only three strings, tuned to C sharp, G sharp and C sharp (lowest to highest). Crush the Movie - 1985. The guitbass acts as an electric guitar and was created by band member Dave Dederer to compliment Ballew's basitar. Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane - 1982. It consists of a normal (six string) guitar body fitted with two bass guitar strings on the two middle tuning pegs, tuned to C sharp and G Sharp (lowest to highest).

"The OMD Remixes" (5-inch CD single containing remixes of "Enola Gay," "Souvenir" and "Electricity"). The basitar was first created by lead singer Chris Ballew and acts as a bass guitar. "Universal" - 1996. Jason Finn (see also: Love Battery). "Walking on the Milky Way" - 1996. Dave Dederer. "Everyday" - 1993. Chris Ballew.

"Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme)" - 1993. "Stand Above Me" - 1993. "Call My Name" - 1991. "The You Turn Away" - 1991.

"Pandora's Box" - 1991. "Sailing on the Seven Seas" - 1991. "Dreaming" - 1988. "Shame" - 1987.

"We Love You" - 1986. "(Forever) Live and Die" - 1986 (also released as picture disc). "If You Leave" - 1986. "La Femme Accident" - 1985 (also released as shaped picture disc).

"Secret" - 1985. "So In Love" - 1985. "Never Turn Away" - 1984. "Tesla Girls" - 1984.

"Talking Loud & Clear" - 1984. "Locomotion" - 1984. "Telegraph" - 1983. "Genetic Engineering" - 1983.

"Maid of Orleans" - 1982. "Joan of Arc" - 1981. "Souvenir" - 1981. "Enola Gay" - 1980.

"Messages" - 1980. "Red Frame/White Light" - 1980. "Electricity" - 1979. Navigation - The OMD B-Sides - 2001.

The Peel Sessions -2000. The OMD Singles - 1998. Universal - 1996. Liberator - 1993.

Sugar Tax - 1991. The Best of OMD - 1988. The Pacific Age - 1986. Crush - 1985.

Junk Culture - 1984 (first copies came with enclosed one-sided 7-inch single, "The Angels Keep Turning (The Wheels of the Universe)"). Dazzle Ships - 1983. Architecture & Morality - 1981. - 1981.

O.M.D. Organisation - 1980. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - 1980.