45 RPM single back cover detail
Charles sent Joan, who was about seventeen years old, to the
siege of Orléans as part of a relief army. She arrived at the city in April 1429,
wielding her banner and bringing hope to the demoralized French army.
Nine days after her arrival, the English abandoned the siege. Joan
encouraged the French to aggressively pursue the English during the
Loire Campaign, which culminated in another decisive
victory at Patay, opening the way for the French army to advance on
Reims unopposed, where Charles was crowned as the King of France with Joan at his side.
1876 illustration by A.C. Mihael
Joan was born in
Domrémy in northeast France in 1412. After the unsuccessful
siege of Paris in September 1429 and the failed
siege of La Charité
in November. Her role in these defeats reduced the court's faith in
her. In early 1430, Joan organized a company of volunteers to relieve
Compiègne, which had been besieged by the
Burgundians, French
allies of the English. She was captured by Burgundian troops on May 23 and handed to the English in
November. She was put on on accusations of
heresy,
which included blaspheming by wearing men's clothes, acting upon
visions that were demonic, and refusing to submit her words and deeds to
the judgment of the church. She was declared guilty and
burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, aged about nineteen.
Miniature of Joan's Execution from The Vigils of King Charles VII,
In 1456, an inquisitorial court reinvestigated Joan's trial and
overturned the verdict, declaring that it was tainted by deceit and
procedural errors. Joan has been described as an obedient member of the
Catholic Church, an early feminist, and a symbol of freedom and independence. She is popularly revered as a martyr. After the
French Revolution, she became a national symbol of France. In 1920, Joan of Arc was
canonized by
Pope Benedict XV and, two years later, was declared one of the patron saints of France. She is portrayed in
numerous cultural works, including films, literature, music, paintings, sculptures, and theater.
45 RPM single front cover detail
Cover Design [Stained Glass] by Anton Wolff
The short vocal by McCluskey is beautiful: passionate, reverent, soaring and warm. The instrumentation is intense and dramatic yet ethereal.
Maid Of Orleans
[Verse 1]
If Joan of Arc had a heart
Would she give it as a gift?
To such as me who longs to see
How an angel ought to be?
[Verse 2]
Her dream is to give her heart away
Like an orphan on a wave
She cared so much, she offered up
Her body to the grave
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Of Joan Of Arc)
Producer – Richard Manwaring
Written By McCluskey* - 4:09
Side 2:
Of All The Things We've Made
Written By McCluskey*, Humphreys* - 3:31
B2
Navigation
Written By McCluskey*, Humphreys* - 3:26
Credits:
• Design [Stained Glass] – Anton Wolff
• Mastered By – BilBo (3)
• Producer – OMD*
• Sleeve – Brett Wickens, Peter Saville (2)
Notes:
Mastered at Tape One.
℗ 1981 Dindisc/Dinsong Ltd.
© 1981 Dindisc Ltd.
This is the first issue with a special silver foil sleeve and b-side listed as "Experiments In Vertical Takeoff".
The 12" stained glass sleeve design has three variations:
1st issue (this entry) - silver foil (mirrored) sleeve (sword and wings are silver foil), silver foil back, b-side listed as "Experiments In Vertical Takeoff"
2nd issue Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Maid Of Orleans - silver printed sleeve (sword and wings are printed silver), white back, b-side listed as "Experiments iIn Vertical Takeoff"
3rd issue Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Maid Of Orleans - white sleeve (sword and wings are white), white back, b-side listed as "All The Things We've Done"
The single was originally to have featured a B side track titled “Experiments In Vertical Take Off.” The song hadn't actually been written at the time, but merely existed as a title. The single sleeves were subsequently printed with this title, but Andy and Paul had decided against the idea, and chose a brand new song called “Navigation.”
The original sleeve design for the 12" version used an embossed coin motif on a silver foil sleeve. The band weren't happy with this design, which led to the new stained glass version. A limited number of the coin foil sleeves, however, were issued.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
• Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, etched - Variation 1): DIN-40-12 A2
• Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, etched - Variation 1): DIN-40-12 B1 END STAGE THREE
• Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, etched - Variation 2): DIN-40-I2.A.I BILBO . TA1PE
• Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, etched - Variation 2): DIN.40.I2 B2 END STAGE THREE BILBO TAPE ONE
• Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, etched - Variation 3): DIN.40.12 A2
• Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, etched - Variation 3): DIN.40.12 B2 END STAGE THREE BILBO TAPE ONE
OMD* – Maid Of Orleans
Label: Dindisc – DIN 40-12
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Metallic Silver Sleeve
Country: UK
Released: Jan 15, 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style:
Synth-pop
Viewfinder links:
Post-Punk Monk ~ Rock GPA: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark [part 11]
YouTube links:
Styrous® ~ Monday, September 7, 2020
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