Ad

OMD* – Dazzle Ships

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Dazzle Ships album cover

More images

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

Tracklist

Radio Prague1:18
Genetic Engineering3:42
ABC Auto-Industry2:06
Telegraph2:57
This Is Helena1:58
International4:26
Dazzle Ships (Parts II III & VII)2:21
The Romance Of The Telescope3:26
Silent Running3:33
Radio Waves3:44
Time Zones1:49
Of All The Things We've Made3:23

Credits (21)

Notes

Released March 4th, 1983. (1983-03-04)

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

Filter by
    74 versions
    Image, – In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory
    		Version DetailsData Quality
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Virgin – BFE 38543, Epic – BFE 38543, Virgin – 38543, Epic – 38543
    +2 more labels...
    		US1983US — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Stereo
    		Virgin – 205 295, Telegraph (2) – 205 295, Virgin – 205 295-320, Telegraph (2) – 205 295-320
    +2 more labels...
    		Europe1983Europe — 1983
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261UK1983UK — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Telegraph (2) – VL 2261, Virgin – VL 2261Canada1983Canada — 1983
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Telegraph (2) – TCV 2261UK1983UK — 1983
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Virgin – 811561-1Greece1983Greece — 1983
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – 811561-4Greece1983Greece — 1983
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Virgin – 205 295, Telegraph (2) – 205 295France1983France — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Stereo
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261Scandinavia1983Scandinavia — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Gatefold
    		Virgin – I-205.295Spain1983Spain — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Promo, Gatefold
    		Virgin – I-205.295Spain1983Spain — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Stereo
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261Italy1983Italy — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Gatefold
    		Telegraph (2) – 611605, Virgin – 611605Portugal1983Portugal — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album, Dolby System
    		Virgin – D 405295, Virgin – D-405.295Spain1983Spain — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Telegraph (2) – V 2261, Virgin – V 2261New Zealand1983New Zealand — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Telegraph (2) – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIRG-6040
    +1 more label...
    		Japan1983Japan — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261UK1983UK — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, gatefold
    		Jugoton – LSVIRG 11027, Virgin – V 2261Yugoslavia1983Yugoslavia — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – 405 295-352Europe1983Europe — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – 7 91006-4US1983US — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – BET 38543, Epic – BET 38543, Telegraph (2) – BET 38543
    +1 more label...
    		US1983US — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-07-00, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261Australia1983Australia — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – TCV 2261Scandinavia1983Scandinavia — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Promo
    		Telegraph (2) – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIL-6040, Virgin – VIRG-6040
    +1 more label...
    		Japan1983Japan — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album, Stereo
    		Virgin – VL4 2261, Telegraph (2) – VL4 2261Canada1983Canada — 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Stereo
    		Virgin – VNC 5034Zimbabwe1983Zimbabwe — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Promo
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261Australia1983Australia — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – 405295France1983France — 1983
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Gatefold
    		Virgin – VNC 5034South Africa1983South Africa — 1983
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album, Orange cassette
    		Virgin – VK 72261Italy1983Italy — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-01-27, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label
    		Virgin – 205 295Germany1983Germany — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261UK1983UK — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – 405 295, Virgin – 405 295-352, Telegraph (2) – 405 295-352
    +1 more label...
    		Germany1983Germany — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album
    		Virgin – 707405Portugal1983Portugal — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Gatefold
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261Iceland1983Iceland — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, VinylDazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Gatefold
    		Virgin – V 2261, Telegraph (2) – V 2261Ireland1983Ireland — 1983
    New Submission
    No image available; add an image
    		Dazzle Ships
    LP, Album, Stereo
    		Virgin – 301819831983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-04-08, Reel-To-ReelDazzle Ships
    Reel-To-Reel, ¼", 4-Track Stereo, Stereo, 10.5" NAB Reel, Album, Ampex 456
    		Not On Label – 811 561-1UK1983UK — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1983-03-04, CassetteDazzle Ships
    Cassette, Album, Paper Labels
    		Virgin – TCV 2261UK1983UK — 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Dazzle Ships, 1984, CDDazzle Ships
    CD, Album
    		Virgin – CDV 2261, Telegraph (2) – CDV 2261Europe1984Europe — 1984
    Recently Edited

    Recommendations

    Reviews

    Show All 20 Reviews
    • robertdlackey's avatar
      robertdlackey
      After many years away from vinyl I started all over again , with OMD still one of my fav bands of all time , glad to see the prices here are not to bad for their stuff . this is one I havent got yet but I have ordered the re-issue coming out at the end of this month 40th year anniversary edition on Blue and White vinyl but I still want to get hold of an early copy

      • iampatrick's avatar
        iampatrick
        Just listening to my pressing of this, as I was considering the 40th anniversary one. Don’t think I’ll bother - this one sounds great to my ears!
        • kevinsingel's avatar
          kevinsingel
          This has got to be one of the most mind blowing CD’s (as far as sound quality) I own. Just beyond words phenomenal. Who needs remasters? I say it once again, STUNNING SOUND QUALITY.
          • david_carter1969's avatar
            david_carter1969
            Love this album, it was so ahead of its time, the last of peak OMD for me until a sense of something of a return much later on in their career.
            This is also a great pressing, probably the best of the four 2018 reissues and the Peter Saville Artwork has also been lovingly reproduced.
            • CrimsonSpacemen's avatar
              CrimsonSpacemen
              Beautiful reissue of a beautiful release! The sound quality is outstanding! Top-notch! Highly recommended!
              • themachinery's avatar
                themachinery
                Edited 2 years ago
                My copy of Telegraph ‎– CDV 2261, Telegraph ‎– 0777 7 86090 2 5, "Mould SID Code: ifpi 1538" AND "Matrix / Runout (Variant 3): 786090 2 @ 1 1-1-6 NL"
                • jeniferallan888's avatar
                  jeniferallan888
                  Time Zones leading to Of All The Things We've Made makes me want to cry its so beautiful.
                  • PatronSaintofScratch's avatar
                    PatronSaintofScratch
                    Edited one year ago
                    𝔻𝕒𝕫𝕫𝕝𝕖 𝕊𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕤. My first introduction to the concept of Musique Concrete.
                    An arresting and mind boggling venture that would prove not to be lucrative.
                    However, it is an album I go to again and again discovering new parts and I am
                    not surprised that so many artists were influenced by this avant-garde collective

                    Dazzle Ships certainly dazed the critics and confused them to no end. (Intentionally?)
                    They hated OMD for being experimental and then bemoaned them for being commercial
                    when they followed up with the almost mainstream Junk Culture. OMD couldn't win for losing.
                    (Or is that in reverse?)

                    Love it. Hate it. Give it a chance and don't go into it with preconceptions about pop
                    music realities. Meditative. Hyperactive. Streamlined. A wonderful stepping stone
                    that led me forward to Stockhausen, Cage, Crumb, Sobotnik and many others. It
                    can feel high brow and elite... but there is a homemade quality to OMD's process.
                    If you like electronic music with a dash of Czech radio signals... then listen to Dazzle Ships!

                    Favorite tracks:
                    "This is Helena", "Telegraph", "Silent Running" & "Of all the things we've made".

                    • sherbethead's avatar
                      sherbethead
                      my copy of this sounds great, very cool packaging too, great reissue!
                      • the_mobbed's avatar
                        the_mobbed
                        On my copy runout B is LSVRG 11027 B (without I). Does my copy have an error, or is it an error by the submitter above?

                        Master Release

                        Edit Master Release
                        Recently Edited

                        Marketplace

                        499 For Sale from $0.82
                        Buy a copySell a copy
                        Ad

                        Statistics

                        • Avg Rating:4.18 / 5
                        • Ratings:1404
                        Ad

                        Videos (3)

                        Edit

                        Lists

                        View More Lists →
                        Ad
                        Ad