Talking Loud and Clear

"Talking Loud and Clear" is a song by British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released as the second single from their 1984 album Junk Culture. The single was a European hit, reaching the Top 10 in Ireland and the Netherlands, and number 11 in the UK. It also charted at number 18 in Germany. The song was edited for its 7" single release.

"Talking Loud and Clear"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Junk Culture
B-side"Julia's Song"
Released4 June 1984
RecordedAir Studios, Montserrat
GenreNew wave
Length4:20 (album mix)
3:53 (7" mix)
8:50 (extended version)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Humphreys/McCluskey/Cooper
Producer(s)Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Brian Tench
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"Locomotion"
(1984)		 "Talking Loud and Clear"
(1984)		 "Tesla Girls"
(1984)

A 12" extended version was also issued. The remix is effectively divided into two parts starting with a solely instrumental section followed by a section featuring vocals and instrumentation, the whole piece lasting over eight minutes. The extended version featured on the deluxe remastered release of Junk Culture in 2015 features the second part only. The full extended recording is featured on So80s presents Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released in 2011.[1]

The 7" version of "Talking Loud and Clear" is featured on all OMD singles and greatest hits compilations.

Reception

Critic Dave Thompson in AllMusic praised the track as a "lovely" single, with "deftly penned" lyrics.[2] As guest singles reviewer in Smash Hits, John Taylor of Duran Duran described the song as "very charming" and a "good record".[3]

B-side

The B-side, "Julia's Song", is a radically different version from the same song recorded for the group's first album Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in 1980. This is a reworked version with newly recorded vocals, a slower tempo and brass added by the Weir Brothers more in line with the style of other tracks on Junk Culture. An extended version was issued for the 12" release and like the extended version of "Talking Loud and Clear" is divided into two parts. The second part features on the bonus disc of the deluxe remastered version of Junk Culture in 2015. The first part was issued as a 10" single for Record Store Day in 2015 under the title "Julia's Song (Dub Version)".

Track listing
7" and 7" picture disc
  1. "Talking Loud and Clear" – 3:53
  2. "Julia's Song" – 4:17
12"
  1. "Talking Loud and Clear" (extended version) – 8:50
  2. "Julia's Song" (extended version) – 8:33

Charts

Live recordings

A live performance of "Talking Loud & Clear" recorded at Birmingham NEC in December 1993 was issued on the limited edition CD single of "Universal" in 1996. The song was also part of the concert performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on 20 June 2009 at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool as documented by the Electricity DVD (2009).

References
  1. "Release - So80s Presents Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". musicbrainz.com. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  2. "Talking Loud and Clear" review at AllMusic
  3. Singles reviewed by John Taylor, Smash Hits, June 21, 1984 - p.35
  4. "Ultratop.be – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Talking Loud and Clear" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  5. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1 no. 19/20. 13 August 1984. p. 16. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Talking Loud and Clear". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Talking Loud and Clear" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  9. "OMD: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  10. "Offiziellecharts.de – OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – Talking Loud and Clear". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  11. "Jaaroverzichten 1984 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  12. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
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