OMD - The OMD Singles

After releasing "Electricity" in 1979, OMD quickly became one of the more influential electro-pop bands to emerge from England. While the premise of a singing synthesizer duo may now be a fairly conventional concept, Andy McClusky and Paul Humphreys had very few role models when they first developed their unusual style. This package pulls together two full decades of OMD's distinctive pop craftsmanship. From the early sounds of "Enola Gay" to radio classics like "Joan of Arc" and "Souvenir," OMD's polished, dramatic readings influenced everyone from Depeche Mode to the Pet Shop Boys. Late-'80s tunes like "If You Leave" and "(Forever) Live and Die" round out this collection. While not displaying all the more offbeat aspects of OMD's music, this package certainly delivers the hits. --Mitch Myers Amazon.com

Half the story

I would give this album 5 stars based only on the 18 tracks it includes, but any OMD fan that owns their albums knows that at best, this collection represents half the story of the great catchy pop songs and excludes the other side of OMD, the side of brilliant and diverse songs like " The misunderstanding " "88 seconds in greensborough " and " the native daughters of the golden west " just to name a few. I read the two and three star reviews and while I agree with their complaints that virgin records excluded some obvious choices like " secret " "Dreaming" and " Stand above me " and others. {I would include "Speed of light" We love you " and "Stay" myself just to name afew , which brings me to my main point. Virgin records has to release a 2 cd definative OMD collection with 40 songs remastered without any B sides (If a song isn't good enough to be on an album, it's definately not good enough to be on a best of collection) , Besides it would take away a spot from a better song, and OMD like most bands already has a collection like that out.
I could easily put together 40 songs that will both represent the diverse music of OMD, and provide the listener with 40 great songs, leaving hard core fans like myself debating weather "Mystereality " or the " pacific age " should have been included as well. But you get my point, If not a 4 cd box set of most of their material which we all like to a certain degree, at least a double cd with 40 cuts that will showcase the diversity and brilliance of this truely unique and great band.
PS
Enola Gay is one of the best songs ever written, Even though I somewhat disagree with the premise of the lyrics. November 6, 2008

Oldies

The OMD Singles album is a great CD. It has alot of their great hits on it. I would recommend this album to anyone who saw the movie PRETTY IN PINK. April 20, 2008

Pop Music at its Best?

I haven't taken this CD out of the player yet in a month. I bought the CD because as a teenager in the UK I remembered all the early singles and being a sad 40-something year old now, I wanted to re-live my youth a little.

If the early tracks are good (they are), the later singles are even better. The CD chronicles the changing musical direction of a band that perfected the pop single. It's a great collection without any fillers - there's not a bad track to be found.

I think OMD represent 80's and early 90's pop music at its very best. This isn't throw-away, bubble-gum pop music. It sounds as good today as it did 25 years ago.

My wife likes it, even my two kids love it - it doesn't get any better than this. August 23, 2007

I have no Secret.

This album has no bad song on it, that is for sure. But it is by no means perfect and it does not cover all of OMD's classic great tunes. The absence of "Genetic Engineering", a phenomenal and unique OMD hit, and one of OMD's biggest hits "Secret" are simply unforgivable.

This band was too good to be covered on a single greatest hits CD. You would in fact be very lucky to fit the required songs for covering this bands significant songs on a 2 CD set. This is a good intro to the band, but by no mean are you getting all of their best songs by buying this CD. These guys really need a boxed set, they are the best synth band that has ever existed and have a huge library of unbelievably good music.

There are very few actual filler songs on any single album these guys produced. They simply produced great music and every song is worth listening too. We need a 3-4 CD boxed set from these guys with 50-60 songs in high quality sound. I would buy it on the first day of release for sure. February 15, 2007

The Best OMD Compilation that's out there! Great Sound Quality Too!

This is by far the best compilation of OMD that's currently out there. The tracks selections cover chronologically every great track that they've ever done from "Electricity" to "Walking On the Milky Way" and so unlike the other earlier compilation that was released about 10 years earlier, this version more truly represents the best that OMD have ever done. Perhaps the most important reason why this is the better version is the brilliant sound quality. Having also heard the other version, I can tell you that they have done a brilliant mastering/mixing job on this disc so that the sound quality is very, very good. It's even better than many allegedly remastered discs that I've heard. If you are into the early 80's New Wave and early Techno scene and most of all, just great songs, this is the best compilation of OMD that you can find and with 18 tracks, is very good value for money as well. Highly recommended. January 24, 2006

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