OMD* – Dazzle Ships

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Dazzle Ships album cover

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Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Synth-pop, Experimental
Year:	1983

Tracklist

		Radio Prague	1:18
		Genetic Engineering	3:42
		ABC Auto-Industry	2:06
		Telegraph	2:57
		This Is Helena	1:58
		International	4:26
		Dazzle Ships (Parts II III & VII)	2:21
		The Romance Of The Telescope	3:26
		Silent Running	3:33
		Radio Waves	3:44
		Time Zones	1:49
		Of All The Things We've Made	3:23

Credits (21)

B. Wickens*
Design
K. Kennedy*
Design
M. Garrett*
Design
P. Saville*
Design
P. Pennington*
Design
Brian Tench
Engineer

Notes

OMD's fourth studio album, first released on 4 March 1983.

Peter Saville had seen the painting Dazzle Ships In Drydock At Liverpool (1919) by the painter Edward Wadsworth and was struck by the image.

Dazzle Ships were World War 1 warships that had been painted in fractured and disjointed lines to confuse the enemy as to their exact size and distance. Wadsworth himself supervised the dazzle painting of many ships. After suggesting the idea and title to Andy, Saville carried the theme over to the sleeve design.

The initial sleeve was a gatefold which opened to show a map of the world with a series of holes that revealed the inner sleeve. This featured a yellow triangle against a pink background with a pink triangle against a yellow background on the reverse.

Although OMD had now switched to parent company Virgin following the collapse of the DinDisc subsidary, there was a feeling that OMD would benefit from appearing to maintain an independent position. This led to Dazzle Ships (and the subsequent singles) being issued on a made-up subsidiary label called Telegraph.

Versions

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84 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album	Virgin – BFE 38543, Epic – BFE 38543, Virgin – 38543, Epic – 38543	US	1983	US — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 205 295, Telegraph (2) – 205 295, Virgin – 205 295-320, Telegraph (2) – 205 295-320	Europe	1983	Europe — 1983
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	UK	1983	UK — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album	Telegraph (2) – VL 2261, Virgin – VL 2261	Canada	1983	Canada — 1983
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Telegraph (2) – TCV 2261	UK	1983	UK — 1983
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 811561-1	Greece	1983	Greece — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – 811561-4	Greece	1983	Greece — 1983
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album	Virgin – 205 295, Telegraph (2) – 205 295	France	1983	France — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	Scandinavia	1983	Scandinavia — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Gatefold	Virgin – I-205.295	Spain	1983	Spain — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Promo, Gatefold	Virgin – I-205.295	Spain	1983	Spain — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	Italy	1983	Italy — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Gatefold	Telegraph (2) – 611605, Virgin – 611605	Portugal	1983	Portugal — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album, Dolby System	Virgin – D 405295, Virgin – D-405.295	Spain	1983	Spain — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album	Telegraph (2) – V 2261, Virgin – V 2261	New Zealand	1983	New Zealand — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album	Telegraph (2) – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIRG-6040	Japan	1983	Japan — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	UK	1983	UK — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, gatefold	Jugoton – LSVIRG 11027, Virgin – V 2261	Yugoslavia	1983	Yugoslavia — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – 405 295-352	Europe	1983	Europe — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – 7 91006-4	US	1983	US — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – BET 38543, Epic – BET 38543, Telegraph (2) – BET 38543	US	1983	US — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	Australia	1983	Australia — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – TCV 2261	Scandinavia	1983	Scandinavia — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Promo	Telegraph (2) – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIRG-6040	Japan	1983	Japan — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album, Stereo	Virgin – VL4 2261, Telegraph (2) – VL4 2261	Canada	1983	Canada — 1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – VNC 5034	Zimbabwe	1983	Zimbabwe — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Promo	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	Australia	1983	Australia — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – 405295	France	1983	France — 1983
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Gatefold	Virgin – VNC 5034	South Africa	1983	South Africa — 1983
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album, Orange cassette	Virgin – VK 72261	Italy	1983	Italy — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label	Virgin – 205 295	Germany	1983	Germany — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	UK	1983	UK — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – 405 295, Virgin – 405 295-352, Telegraph (2) – 405 295-352	Germany	1983	Germany — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album	Virgin – 707405	Portugal	1983	Portugal — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Gatefold	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	Iceland	1983	Iceland — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Gatefold	Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261	Ireland	1983	Ireland — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Stereo	Virgin – 3018		1983	1983	Recently Edited
	Dazzle Ships Cassette, Album, Paper Labels	Virgin – TCV 2261	UK	1983	UK — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships LP, Album, Carrollton pressing	Epic – BFE 38543, Virgin – BFE 38543	US	1983	US — 1983	New Submission
	Dazzle Ships CD, Album	Virgin – CDV 2261, Telegraph (2) – CDV 2261	Europe	1984	Europe — 1984	Recently Edited

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Reviews

tonylaibach Nov 6, 2024
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Album, Reissue) 0602567731630
Great album, love every song. Great pressing apart from "International" which suffers severe sibilance.
sugarrichio Oct 2, 2024
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold) V 2261
Some record co executives must have had a moment when this was presented to them and highlights what many groups would / should make when left to their own devices without the pressure of sales revenues. It’s still very relevant in 2024, some catchy melodies, deep and dark in places laced with random noises and samples.
I’ve had the original version from new and every so often when it hits the platter it brings a comforting familiarity, it’s like something that exists within you and you just get it, but also kind of hope no one else walks in the room to have to explain it to them.
Back in the day, you could also tune into Radio Prague on short wave radio, and yes, that track was lifted from what I remember being the “on the hour” news intro (or something like that), which made it even more fascinating.
SurrealChemist Jul 27, 2024
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Album) BFE 38543
Confirming from almost 20 years later that this is a complete classic and secretly OMD’s best.
Studavbro Jun 22, 2024
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Reissue, Repress, Silver, LP, Blue, All Media, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo, 40th Anniversary Edition) 0602448814920
Bought this with a little apprehension due to recent reviews… I played it twice and sounds really sharp and the bass is nice and deep nice to ears sounds great, Played thru a Rega P6 with a Denon PMA-900HNE amp.
bonirex May 21, 2024
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Reissue, Repress, Silver, LP, Blue, All Media, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo, 40th Anniversary Edition) 0602448814920
I was wary of buying one of these, based on the reports of the quality of the pressing, but I picked up a copy cheap and I think it sounds great. I guess they're not all bad...
merzbow1 Mar 3, 2024
Edited 10 months ago
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold) V 2261
Fantastic, interesting, experimental album that has aged really well, it's my favourite OMD album without a doubt. Consider it their Kid A (in concept, not sound); it's just a shame that they didn't continue to explore the avant-garde itch on further albums. This pressing is really good, no noise and crystal clear dynamics. The cover is of course a lovely thing too.
roeek Jan 10, 2024
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Album) 205 295-320
הויניל בהדפסה ישראלית
העטיפה מיובאת
והיא כוללת חיתוכים
ככל הנראה יבוא מאירופה
גם העטיפה הפנימית מיובאת
matthewdake Jul 31, 2023
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Reissue, Repress, Silver, LP, Blue, All Media, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo, 40th Anniversary Edition) 0602448814920
Seconding the comments about noise/nonfill at the beginning of sides A and B. I don’t find it nearly as intrusive as the other commenter seems to, it’s barely there on my copy, but it is there and noticeable. It’s a shame, because other than that the cut sounds amazing, so if you can live with a little bit of surface noise this is highly rec’d.
t1202j Jun 20, 2023
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, LP, All Media, Limited Edition, Stereo, 40th Anniversary Edition) 602448631305
Well, I was really looking forward to receiving this. Sadly, this edition sounds like trash. I couldn't be more disappointed... sending it back :(
vinyljunkie1966 May 2, 2023
Edited one year ago
referencing Dazzle Ships (LP, Reissue, Repress, Silver, LP, Blue, All Media, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo, 40th Anniversary Edition) 0602448814920
I've listened to 2 copies of this reissue and there seems to be some major issue with the pressing. There is this horrible staticky noise that appears at the very beginning of Record 1 on both side 1 and 2 for about a minute or so which is quite loud and distracting as these "musical" intros are fairly quiet for the most part. I tried to wet-vac clean the record but this made no difference at all. Quite the shame as otherwise the pressing is excellent and very dynamic for the rest of the sides.

***Update 05/15/23***
Tried a third copy at a completely different store and the very same staticky noise is again present throughout the first instrumental tracks on both sides. I'm betting the whole production run was released like this. So shameful that Universal doesn't give a crap abut quality control. The reissue from a couple years ago on black vinyl was way better and quieter. Avoid this pressing. Want the extra 18 minutes of music? Buy the CD instead.