Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark - Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark (35th anniversary)

Today (February 22nd) marks the thirty fifth anniversary of the self-titled debut album Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark. In 1980,it peaked on the UK charts at number 27. The record was slightly retooled for the 1981 US release under the same name - compiling tracks from both this record and the band’s second UK release Organisation.

For more of this album review, click here.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Junk Culture

Today (April 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Junk Culture, the fifth studio album from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Across the globe, it charted at number 32 in Germany and number 9 in the Netherlands and the UK. Here in the US, it spent six weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 182.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Dazzle Ships

This week (March 4th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Dazzle Ships, the fourth studio album from the UK band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Like their earlier records, this one too went Gold in their native UK and reached number 5 on that charts. It also did well in the Netherlands (number 15), Germany (number 11) and New Zealand (number 10). Here in the US, it stalled at number 162 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark - Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark

The UK synth-pop band many refer to as OMD put out their self-titled debut album Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark in 1980. The album did very well on the UK charts (peaking at number 27). The record was slightly retooled for the 1981 US release under the same name - compiling tracks from both this record and the band’s second UK release Organisation. I’m going to review that US release as that is the version I am most familiar.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Architecture and Morality

The November 8th of 1981 release Architecture and Morality by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD, for short) was their third album release and one of their most successful commercially and critically. The Platinum seller went to number 144 on the US Billboard charts, number 22 in New Zealand, number 8 in Germany, number 3 in the UK and number 1 in the Netherlands. It also appears on the "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list.