OMD Release a Career-Spanning Boxset

Orchestral Manouvers in the Dark have released their first singles compilation since 1998. this one is very special as it also marks the 40th anniversary and this comprehensive collection includes OMD's hits from four decades, from "Electricity" to "What Have We Done", plus a brand new 40th single, "Don’t Go". 

A limited edition 5CD+2DVD career spanning boxset will also be released. Discs 1 and 2 are the same as the 2CD format – the 40 singles in chronological order. Disc 3 is a collection of 22 unheard and unreleased tracks from the OMD,  Disc 4 is a full live recording from the Mermaid Theatre in London, February 2011. Disc 5 is a newly discovered full live recording from the Hammersmith Odeon in May 1983 in support of the Dazzle Ships album. Disc 6 is a DVD featuring 23 OMD performances on the BBC. Disc 7 is a DVD featuring a live recording from the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in December 1981 in support of the Architecture & Morality album.

Accordingly the compilation is entitled 'Souvenir - The Singles 1979- 2019' nd it was released on October 6th. 

More details here.

Duran Duran's 'Girls on Film - 1979 Demo' Released

Cleopatra Records has released a rare debut recording by Duran Duran which was recorded in 1979. The four song EP is entitled 'Girls on Film - 1979 Demo' features the group's early frontman Andy Wickett alongside with the original members Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor. It includes the original version of the smash hit single “Girls On Film" plus “See Me Repeat Me,” which would later become “Rio,” and 2 other songs that the group shopped around to various labels, eventually signing with EM. The EP was released on December 29th 2017.

Wire to Release a New Album in March 2013

Wire have announced a new album for March next year. The album will be entitled 'Change Becomes Us' and as it is reported, it will include some unrecorded material originally written in 1979–80 which had only ever existed as quickly prepared sketches for one-off performance. This album is also the first time where Matthew Simms, previously Wire's touring guitarist, has been an integral part of the Wire recording process. The 13 track record is due on March 25, 2013 and we hope to get more official news soon. 

Instant Hit: Cowboys International- Aftermath

"Aftermath" was among the first single releases for the British group Cowboys International. The song was released in 1979 with "Future Noise" as a B-side. Both songs appeared on their debut album The Original Sin released in the same year. The album was reissued in 2003 with a title Revisited. It included songs from The Original Sin as well as other single releases form 1979 and 1980.

Instant Hit: Sparks- My Other Voice

"My Other Voice" was one of the outstanding tracks on the Sparks' album No1 Song in Heaven which was released in 1979. Although perfectly produced with electronic Cymbols and was one of the outstanding tracks on the album, it was never released as single. The whole album was produced by Giorgio Moroder.

Instant Hit: Gruppo Sportivo- Disco Really Made It

"Disco Really Made It" was a hit for the Hague based Dutch group back in 1979. The band name was inspired by a poster the they once saw and it was referring to the band as a team. Not really much disco sound here, more a story line, they provided a nice New wave gem at the crossroads between two decades. This was one of the first releases for Gruppo Sportivo on Ariola Benelux record label and the song also appeared on several single compilations during the 90's.

Instant Hit- The Associates- Boys Keep Swinging

"Boys Keep Swinging" was a debut single by the Scottish group The Associates. This song was actually released before the original one which was written and performed by David Bowie. By infringing the copyright, the band attracted a good deal of attention back then, but it remains as one of the best cover songs ever recorded.

Instant Hit: Gina X Performance- No GDM

The Cologne based German synth-pop disco act Gina X Performance led by Gina Kikoine made their debut in 1979 with "Do It Yourself". Their biggest hits followed after that, as they released "No G.D.M." and "Nice Mover". Both singles were club hits on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2003, "No G.D.M." was also released as an EP and included three different remixes of the song.

The Killers Cover Joy Division's Shadowplay for the Upociming Ian Curtis Bipoic

The Killers have covered the 1979 Joy Division song "Shadowplay" for the soundtrack to the forthcoming movie about the life of the band's front man Ian Curtis. The movie, Control, is based on the book Touching From A Distance, by Curtis' widow Deborah who also co-produced the movie. She is played by Samantha Morton. The film was directed by famed music video director Anton Corbijn. As previously reported on nme.com, New Order have recorded the incidental music for the movie, and are also mooted to be re-recording a number of Joy Division tracks. The biopic is set for a September 2007 release