Organisation (album)
Organisation is the second studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 24 October 1980 by Dindisc. On Organisation the group worked with a producer for the first time, enlisting former Gong bass player Mike Howlett, while session musician Malcolm Holmes became the band's full-time drummer. The record is noted for its dark, melancholic tone in comparison to other OMD releases.
| Organisation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 24 October 1980 | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:05 | |||
| Label | Dindisc | |||
| Producer |
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| Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Organisation | ||||
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Organisation received generally favourable reviews and provided OMD with their first top-10 album in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number six on the UK Albums Chart. "Enola Gay" was the only single taken from the record, and was the group's fourth entry on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number eight. Organisation was remastered and re-released in 2003, with several bonus tracks.
Background
OMD wrote the bulk of Organisation in June and July 1980. Dindisc requested a new studio album before Christmas; lead vocalist Andy McCluskey recalled, "We were too naive to disagree."[1] Backing tracks were recorded at the band's Gramophone Suite in Liverpool. They later moved on to Ridge Farm in Rusper to record vocals and additional instrumentation, working with Mike Howlett (former bass player of Gong).[1][2] This marked the first time the group had worked with a producer; keyboardist Paul Humphreys said, "We learned a lot from [Howlett]. We were young and didn't understand the recording process and he guided us and pushed us – he was sensitive to our more esoteric, experimental side."[2] Additional recording was completed at Advision, London, and The Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell.[1][3]
Organisation features a darker, more melancholic tone than OMD's other work.[4] The band had been Factory label-mates, and had played many gigs with Manchester group Joy Division, whose frontman Ian Curtis died by suicide during the writing of the album. OMD's compositions were influenced by Joy Division's moody sound, with "Statues" being partially inspired by Curtis himself;[2][3] the record also drew from krautrock influences.[4] McCluskey handled the majority of the songwriting, as Humphreys devoted more time to his relationship with California-based Maureen Udin.[1] Malcolm Holmes, who had drummed for precursor outfit the Id and provided session musicianship for OMD (notably on "Julia's Song", from the group's debut studio album), was recruited as a full-time band member, replacing the TEAC tape recorder named "Winston".[4][5]
Sole single "Enola Gay" had little in common with the downbeat feel of the rest of the record, despite its bleak subject matter.[6] The song was written at the same time as the band's debut studio album, as was "Motion and Heart", which was considered as a second single.[7] "The Misunderstanding" is a holdover from the Id.[3] "The More I See You" is a cover of a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren in 1945, and popularised by Chris Montez in 1966. The track began as an original composition, but McCluskey found himself singing the words to "The More I See You" over the song, which morphed into a cover version.[3] OMD's arrangement is radically different from that of previous versions.[8]
"Promise" features Humphreys' first lead vocal, and represents his first solo composition on an OMD album.[3] "Stanlow" was written about the Stanlow Refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, where McCluskey's father and sister worked. OMD cherished the view of the refinery lit up at night, often observing it when returning from tours. McCluskey's father granted the band access to the site to sample sounds from the machinery; a diesel pump forms the rhythmic opening of "Stanlow".[2][3] "VCL XI" was the name of McCluskey and Humphreys' short-lived, pre-OMD group, which itself was named after a valve on the back of Kraftwerk's 1975 album Radio-Activity album (the name of the valve is written "VCL 11" on the Radio-Activity sleeve).[2][3] The record's title is a homage to the band Organisation, a precursor to Kraftwerk.[9]
As with all of OMD's early album covers, the artwork was designed by Peter Saville Associates. It features a photograph by Richard Nutt of the cloud-covered peak of Marsco in the Red Cuillin hills, on the Isle of Skye.[10]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [11] |
| Alternative Rock: The Best Musicians & Recordings | 8/10[12] |
| The Big Issue | [13] |
| Future Music | 7/10[14] |
| Q | [15] |
| Record Mirror | [16] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [17] |
| Sounds | [18] |
| Tom Hull – on the Web | A−[19] |
| Uncut | 7/10[20] |
Organisation met with largely positive reviews.[1][21] Dave McCullough of Sounds awarded the album a full five stars, asserting, "[OMD] are a youth-mirror more valuable than any Street-Chic punk outfit I can imagine... warmer than your so-called 'warm' bands, your [Bruce] Springsteens and your [Graham] Parkers could ever be. They reflect the young horror of where and how we live but, in their songs at least, they face the problems with an irrepressible intuitive sense that makes the best pop of any time."[18] Record Mirror's Daniela Soave said of the record, "Full of drama and numerous layers, it conjures up many images, so much so that it could almost be a film soundtrack... outstanding."[16] Flexipop noted that Organisation sees "the best of all the electric bands come up with another winner".[21]
In The Age, John Teerds wrote, "Much of the music is hook-laden and highly-memorable. Orchestral Manoeuvres... have a very distinctive sound which is hard to beat when you're looking for the best in a modern, electronic style."[22] Lynden Barber of Melody Maker observed, "OMD have produced not so much a collection of songs as a pervading mood, a feeling of restlessness spiked by an unsettling edge that never allows the music to descend into complacency... a very healthy step forward."[1] Smash Hits journalist Mark Ellen was indifferent to the record, encouraging OMD to "cease clinging to the idea of being a serious 'experimental' band and go all-out for the shameless synth-pop single."[23]
In a retrospective article, Ryan Leas of Stereogum dubbed Organisation "one of the great albums from the early synth-pop era", on which OMD were "forging new sonic territory but also capturing the feeling of the times".[4] Trouser Press wrote, "[Organisation] pays attention to ensure variation in the tunes... With nods to John Foxx and David Bowie, OMD overlays melodies to dramatic effect; the performances are excellent."[24] Critic Dave Thompson praised the record's "smart lyrics, sharp songs... and genuinely innovative use of electronics",[12] while AllMusic's Ned Raggett said it is "packed with a number of gems, showing [OMD]'s reach and ability continuing to increase".[11]
Legacy
Organisation has been recognised as a "lost" classic, overshadowed by subsequent OMD albums and other music of the period.[4][25] The record, and its cover art, have nevertheless been ranked among the best of 1980.[26] In an article for Fact, Minimal Wave Records founder Veronica Vasicka identified Organisation as one of the mainstream releases to have influenced the development of the minimal wave genre.[27] Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson named the album as an influence and one of his "top 5 not-so-guilty pleasures of all time", saying, "It's not [OMD's] biggest record, but I think it's probably their best. It's got that Teutonic, Germanic kind of cold wave thing going on, which I've always been a sucker for."[28]
Elsewhere, Organisation has garnered praise from DJ/producer Paul van Dyk and composer Yann Tiersen, both of whom cite it as the first album they ever acquired.[29][30] Van Dyk stated, "It was extremely influential. Early electronic, but also melodies and poppy elements, the general imprint of what later came for me in music."[29] Graphic designer and musician Brett Wickens, who co-founded the bands Spoons and Ceramic Hello, was affected by Organisation's marriage of artwork and music. He identified the record sleeve as the standout from OMD's catalogue, and said of the musical component, "It was extremely moving. I used to listen to it driving in the dark a lot."[31] Physicist and musician Brian Cox wrote in 2018, "I eventually persuaded my parents to buy Organisation, an album of gentle darkness beneath clouded skies, which I fell in love with aged 12 and still love today."[32]
In an interview with BBC Radio 6 Music in April 2020, Britain's Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, was asked to select a song from history for airplay: he chose Organisation's closing track, the near seven-minute "Stanlow".[33]
Track listing
Original release
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Enola Gay" | Andy McCluskey | 3:33 |
| 2. | "2nd Thought" | McCluskey | 4:15 |
| 3. | "VCL XI" |
| 3:50 |
| 4. | "Motion and Heart" |
| 3:16 |
| 5. | "Statues" | McCluskey | 4:30 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "The Misunderstanding" |
| 4:55 |
| 7. | "The More I See You" | 4:11 | |
| 8. | "Promise" | Humphreys | 4:51 |
| 9. | "Stanlow" |
| 6:30 |
| Total length: | 40:05 | ||
US release (OMD)
Organisation was not formally released in the US; instead Epic Records released a compilation in 1981. This US release collects material from Organisation and the first OMD studio album, but retains the sleeve-art of the debut LP.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Enola Gay" | McCluskey | 3:31 |
| 2. | "2nd Thought" | McCluskey | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Bunker Soldiers" |
| 2:51 |
| 4. | "Almost" |
| 3:46 |
| 5. | "Electricity" |
| 3:32 |
| 6. | "Statues" |
| 4:08 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "The Misunderstanding" |
| 4:45 |
| 8. | "Julia's Song" |
| 4:32 |
| 9. | "Motion and Heart" |
| 3:13 |
| 10. | "Messages" |
| 3:59 |
| 11. | "Stanlow" |
| 6:30 |
2003 remaster
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Enola Gay" | McCluskey | 3:33 |
| 2. | "2nd Thought" | McCluskey | 4:15 |
| 3. | "VCL XI" |
| 3:50 |
| 4. | "Motion and Heart" |
| 3:16 |
| 5. | "Statues" | McCluskey | 4:30 |
| 6. | "The Misunderstanding" |
| 4:55 |
| 7. | "The More I See You" |
| 4:11 |
| 8. | "Promise" | Humphreys | 4:51 |
| 9. | "Stanlow" |
| 6:40 |
| 10. | "Annex" |
| 4:33 |
| 11. | "Introducing Radios" (live) |
| 1:27 |
| 12. | "Distance Fades Between Us" (live) |
| 3:44 |
| 13. | "Progress" (live) |
| 2:57 |
| 14. | "Once When I Was Six" (live) |
| 3:12 |
| 15. | "Electricity" (DinDisc 1980 version) |
| 3:43 |
| Total length: | 59:37 | ||
Notes
"Annex" was the B-side to "Enola Gay". "Introducing Radios", "Distance Fades Between Us", "Progress", and "Once When I Was Six" are 1978 performances at The Factory that were originally available on a 7" released with the first 10,000 copies of Organisation, and initial copies of the cassette (which had a special silver cover/inserts).
Personnel
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
- Paul Humphreys – synthesizers, electronic organ, electronic and acoustic piano, rhythm programming, acoustic and electronic percussion and vocals
- Andy McCluskey – synthesizer, bass guitar, electronic organ, treated acoustic piano, rhythm programming, acoustic and electronic percussion and vocals
- Malcolm Holmes – drums and percussion
Charts
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[38] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ a b c d e f Waller, Johnny; Humphreys, Mike (1987). Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Messages. Sidgwick & Jackson. pp. 75–80. ISBN 0-283-99234-4.
- ^ a b c d e Wilson, Lois (30 September 2019). "OMD". Record Collector. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Organisation". OMD. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Leas, Ryan (23 October 2020). "OMD's Organisation Is One Of The Great, Lost Synth-Pop Albums". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Cummings, Sue (11 December 1986). "Audiences Catch On to OMD". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Ware, Gareth (4 March 2013). "OMD: Of All The Thing We've Made: Dazzle Ships At 30". DIY. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ Browne, Paul (24 October 2020). "Organisation: These Games You Play". Messages. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. "The More I See You – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ Porter, Christopher (28 September 2010). "Synthesized Past: 'History of Modern,' OMD". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Fulton, Rick (20 November 2020). "Don't call us a nostalgia band". Daily Record.
- ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Organisation – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ a b Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock: The Best Musicians & Recordings. Backbeat Books. p. 779. ISBN 978-0879306076.
- ^ Miller, Paul (21 February 1994). "When Synthesisers Rocked the Earth". The Big Issue.
- ^ Jones, Andy (May 2003). "OMD: Organisation". Future Music. No. 135. p. 85.
- ^ Eddy, Todd (May 2003). "The Synthesists (supplement)". Q. No. 202.
Darker and more robust than their debut [album]... the sound of two Merseyside kids happening upon electro greatness.
- ^ a b Soave, Daniela (25 October 1980). "OMITD Get Organised". Record Mirror. p. 22.
- ^ Evans, Paul (2004). "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 607. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ a b McCullough, Dave (25 October 1980). "Young Is Chic". Sounds.
- ^ Hull, Tom. "Rock (1980s): Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ Dalton, Stephen (December 2018). "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Organisation". Uncut. p. 47.
- ^ a b "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Flexipop. No. 2. January 1981. pp. 12, 28.
- ^ Teerds, John (11 December 1980). "Records". The Age. p. 49 (GG: 12).
- ^ Ellen, Mark (30 October – 12 November 1980). "Albums". Smash Hits. No. 50. p. 33.
- ^ Grant, Steven; Robbins, Ira; Reno, Brad. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ Huggett, Stuart (17 May 2016). "OMD's Cold War Album Comes In From The Cold: Dazzle Ships Live". The Quietus. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- "1980 Best Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- "1980 Year-End List". OOR. Retrieved 29 April 2022 – via Acclaimed Music.
- "Top 100 Albums of 1980: Slicing Up Eyeballs' Best of the '80s — Part 1". Slicing Up Eyeballs. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- Soave, Daniela (27 December 1980). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 31.
10. Organisation, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
- "1980 Poll Results". Record Mirror. 10 January 1981. pp. 16–17.
- ^ Vasicka, Veronica (26 January 2010). "The 20 best Minimal Wave records ever made". Fact. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Bosso, Joe (17 September 2012). . MusicRadar. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ a b Moayeri, Lily (21 April 2020). "20 Questions With Paul van Dyk: The Trance Icon on Growing Up in East Berlin & Why Social Distancing 'Is Incorrect' as a Term". Billboard. from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Interview with Yann Tiersen". Fifteen Questions. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ Browne, Paul (15 February 2014). "Brett Wickens Interview". Messages. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ Houghton, Richard (2018). "Foreword". OMD: Pretending to See the Future. This Day in Music Books. ISBN 978-1999592721.
- ^ "Simon Armitage". Guy Garvey's Finest Hour. 27 April 2020. BBC Radio 6 Music. British Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ "Charts.nz – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Organisation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ "Chart File – Top 100 Albums 1980" (PDF). Record Mirror. 4 April 1981. p. 38. ISSN 0144-5804 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "British album certifications – OMD – Organisation". British Phonographic Industry. 8 January 1981. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
External links
- Organisation at Discogs (list of releases)