Messages (OMD song)

"Messages"
Sleeve of the UK 7" single
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
B-side	"Taking Sides Again" "Waiting for the Man"
Released	2 May 1980 (1980-05-02)
Format	7" vinyl, 10" vinyl
Recorded	Advision Studios, London
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:59 (7" version) 4:06 (album version) 4:41 (10" version)
Label	DinDisc
Writer(s)	Paul Humphreys Andy McCluskey
Producer	Mike Howlett
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"Red Frame/White Light" (1980) "Messages" (1980) "Enola Gay" (1980)

"Messages" is the third single of the synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). The single has a re-recorded version of the song found on their debut album Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The single provided OMD with their first top 40 hit in the UK, reaching number 13^[1]. The original grey two tone labels incorrectly state the producer as Chester Valentino, later editions feature different coloured record labels that correctly credit Mike Howlett for the production. The song was featured in the second series of Ashes to Ashes (2009).

Song versions and B-sides

The re-recorded versions differ strongly from the album version. The 7" version is an early fade out of the 10" version. The 10" version is found on the compilation albums The Best of OMD (1989), The OMD Singles (1998) and Messages: Greatest Hits (2008), which takes its title from this song and also includes the music video. The 10" version was also added as a bonus track on the remastered Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album, released in 2003.

An early version of "Messages", recorded on 20 August 1979, appears on the group's Peel Sessions 1979–1983 album, showing that the song originally had a slower tempo than either the single or album versions.

An instrumental dub version of "Messages", titled "Taking Sides Again" is featured as the B-side on both the 7" and 10" singles.

Live performances of "Messages" can be found on the DVD's OMD Live: Architecture & Morality & More (2007) and Electricity: OMD with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (2009).

On the 10" single, a cover version of The Velvet Underground's song "I'm Waiting for the Man" was included, retitled "Waiting for the Man". Both B-sides can be found as bonus tracks on the remastered Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, only "Waiting for the Man" was included on the Navigation: The OMD B-Sides compilation album, released in 2001.

Sleeve design

There are different sleeves for the 7" and 10". Both were designed by Peter Saville and Brett Wickens. The photography was done by Trevor Key.

Tracklisting

7" vinyl

• UK: DinDisc DIN15

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Messages" (7" version)	Paul Humphreys, Andy McCluskey	3:59

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Taking Sides Again"	Humphreys, McCluskey	4:19

10" vinyl

• UK: DinDisc DIN15/10

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Messages" (10" version)	Humphreys, McCluskey	4:41

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Waiting for the Man"	Lou Reed	2:54
2.	"Taking Sides Again"	Humphreys, McCluskey	4:19

References

1. ^ "Chart Stats - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Messages". http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=8807. Retrieved 2010-02-23. 

External links

• Lyrics for "Messages".