How far Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark progressed from the time they released that first limited edition 7” pressing on Factory records in the summer of 1979 so swiftly. A re-release of the single on the new Virgin-backed label DinDisc by September alongside a high-profile support act slot for Gary Numan on his first solo live tour. The Gramophone Suite studio and release of their second single and debut album in the early months of 1980. And then by Spring, the big breakthrough with the lush re-recording of ‘Messages’ and first singles chart success. Hardly time to take breath before Autumn and even bigger, international success with ‘Enola Gay’ and, on its way, their second album, ‘Organisation’. Whew!
Archive for the ‘Memorabilia’ Category
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: ‘Music 1977-80’ book (1980, UK, Dinsong Ltd)
Monday, December 28th, 2020Button badge goodness: Ultravox [Part 2]
Monday, December 21st, 2020A second instalment of some Ultravox button badges, following on from Part One – more of a mixed bag here from various eras spanning both the John Foxx and Midge Ure ’70s/’80s line-ups. The ‘Ha!-Ha!-Ha!’ is much larger than the rest, which are all much more of the standard button badge sizing. The ‘Three Into One’ design is derived from the illustration on the cover (and used more wholesale on the press adverts of the time) – I had another one of these in bright green, if I recall. Enjoy!
Button badge goodness: Ultravox [Part 1]
Saturday, November 28th, 2020A selection of Ultravox badges from 1981’s ‘Rage In Eden’ tour merchandise and general era. I wasn’t able to make any of the live dates at the time, the tour badges would come along later – my first one of this era was the Smash Hits giveaway one, if I recall. I had a few from 1980 though, they will be published in the next part of this ongoing series…
Button badge goodness: Assorted record company logo pins
Saturday, November 14th, 2020For no reason other than on my travels over the years I have come across these and I do love a nice little enamel lapel pin, here are a few record company logo badges. The most unusual is probably the Genetic Records badge – Martin Rushent’s label back in the day. The Capitol and Parlophone ones came via an early Record Store Day goodie bag courtesy of London’s fine Sister Ray records on Berwick Street.
John Foxx ‘The Quiet Man’ book (2020) / Ultravox ‘Past, Present and Future’ fanzine (1980)
Saturday, November 7th, 2020Newly published, the long journey of John Foxx and his story of ‘The Quiet Man’ has eventually surfaced in book form, with this hardback edition. ‘The Quiet Man – Short Stories by John Foxx’. Along the way, there have been many side paths and distant echoes of the quiet man’s footsteps heard, most notably the ‘Quiet Man’ CD release from 2009 and of couse, ’London Overgrown’, alongside the new book, I thought I would focus on the first time I recall one of those excerpts, published way back in 1980 as part of the ‘In The City’ fanzine’s Ultravox special, ‘Past Present and Future’ (and with reference to ‘Church’ and ‘Cathedral Oceans’ along the way too, which have also featured excerpts of the story that find their way into the new book).