Crush is the title of the sixth studio album by British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in June 1985. As well as going Top 20 in the UK[1] Crush was also the bands' first chart album in the US [2]. Although not completely moving away from OMD's more experimental sound, many tracks represent the group's desire to break the US market. The lead single So In Love was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, although the follow-up Secret fared less well in both countries, only just making the Top 40 in the UK. A third single La Femme Accident failed to make the Top 40.
The overall sound and success of Crush however gave the group more recognition in the US and they were consequently invited to make a contribution to the soundtrack of the teen-movie Pretty in Pink. The track If You Leave reached no.4 on the American Hot 100 in May 1986 and remains one of their best known songs in the US. The single featured 88 Seconds in Greensboro on the B-side, a song chronicling the Greensboro massacre of November 1978, which also features on the Crush album.
Facts and figures
| Chart entry placing: | 13 (peak) |
| UK Chart entry date: | 23 June 1985 |
| Weeks in Top 40: | 04 |
| US chart peak: | 38 (23 November 1985) |
Tracklisting
original release Virgin CDV2349
- So In Love 3:30
- Secret 3:56
- Bloc Bloc Bloc 3:28
- Women III 4:26
- Crush 4:27
- 88 Seconds In Greensboro 4:16
- The Native Daughters Of The Golden West 3:58
- La Femme Accident 2:50
- Hold You 4:00
- The Lights Are Going Out 3:57
vinyl LP and cassette (V2349 & TCV2349) break between tracks 5 & 6.
Crush The Movie
- The album issue was supplemented by a feature length movie documenting the making and recording of Crush, issued by Virgin Video on VHS.[3]
Notes
- Crush is the first album is the OMD canon not to have been remastered or been given the 'deluxe' re-issue treatment. The album's last re-issue was on CD on both the Virgin and Disky (NL) labels in 1996.
- Likewise, Crush The Movie has never been re-issued on DVD or any other digital format.
- Secret is the group's second single, after Souvenir, to feature Paul Humphreys on lead vocals. The track also featured sampled vocals by Maureen Humphreys, Paul's wife at the time.
- The cover illustration by Paul Slater is reminiscent of paintings by American artist Edward Hopper. The figures depicted in the windows on the back of the sleeve / inside cover are band core-members A. McCluskey and P. Humphreys.
- The inner sleeve of the LP also features black & white photographs of the two. Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes are also listed as band members.
- Brass parts are played by brothers Graham and Neil Weir who would join the group during live concerts and go on to become part of the band for the successive album The Pacific Age.
- Producer Stephen Hague also contributes musically and co-wrote the lead single and opening track So In Love.
- A 'special American dance remix' of So In Love featured on the US 12" release only.
- Secret and La Femme Accident were both issued as extended remixes on their respective 12" releases.
- Although So In Love and Secret feature on all the group's 'greatest hits' albums, La Femme Accident is always left out. Their first compilation album (1988) does however featured the 12" version of the track.
- La Femme Accident references French saint Joan of Arc (see also Joan of Arc and Maid of Orleans from the Architecture & Morality album).
- A promo video was also made for Hold You, although the track was never released as a single.
Related tracks
the following tracks were issued as single B-sides or bonus tracks:
- Concrete Hands (7" and extended 12" versions) - b-side to So In Love. Shorter version features on Navigation: The OMD B Sides.
- Maria Gallante - bonus tracks on So In Love 2x7" & 12". Remains unique to this release.
- White Trash (live) - bonus track on So In Love 2x7". Track from Junk Culture, remains unique to this release.
- Drift - B-side to Secret 7" & 12". Instrumental track, remains unique to this release.
- Firegun - B-side and bonus track on 7", 12" and 2x12" releases of La Femme Accident. Features on Navigation: The OMD B Sides.
- Extended versions of So In Love and Secret feature on So80s (SoEighties) Presents Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (2011).[4]
Live performances
- The issue of Crush was backed with a full UK and European tour.
- The live gig at Sheffield City Hall on 14 June 1985 was recorded and transmitted by the BBC on BBC Two, 23 July 1985 as part of a special documentary on the group.
1985-0
