"What have I been doing in 1997? I've been writing songs for a girl group that myself and a management team in Liverpool have put together. Since the group was actually formed, in July, the plan has altered somewhat.It became increasingly obvious to me that I cannot write conventional pop songs for a girlie group; so myself, Stuart Kershaw, Pete & Ken from the management team, and Paul Humphreys have all begun working towards a band that has a rather weird sound, made of disparate musical ideas, samples and anything strange that takes our fancy. We are trying to create a hybrid pop sound for the new millenium - very catchy, but also very odd.The band consists of:- Jo Jeffries, Heather Leigh, Joanne Mannion and Rebecca Rudd.Jan Carr (who did some TV work with OMD last year) is involved in styling and choreography and may end up joining the band as well. There isn't a name as yet.It has been quite strange and often hard work to get other people to sing mysongs. I am so used to singing on my own and knowing the way I would do it myself. I am, however, optimistic about the project.

As for OMD matters, I have delayed writing this newsletter until I had some concrete facts to tell everyone. There will be an OMD complete Hit Singles Collection - to be released world-wide in Spring 1998. Virgin has set a date of March 30, though these things usually get delayed. But unless there is a major problem, the record will be out before summer.After much consideration, myself, my management and Virgin agreed that if 'Walking on the Milky Way' was not a big hit, it was difficult to imagine me writing an even better song to lead the compilation campaign. Also, given the reluctance of Radio 1 in Britain to play anything by OMD, it would probably be a waste of time. However, the idea that everyone liked was that of remixing some of the classic singles like 'Electricity', 'Enola Gay',etc. In the past I have always been against this. I know that people usually like their favourite songs to be left alone. The plan is that the album will hopefully be divided into two discs. One CD will contain 18 or 20 songs in their original form and mix and then a second CD will contain all the remixes - we hope to have as many as possible to make this really worth buying. The double pack will probably be limited to 6 months, and then the CD will become a single disc item for the future simply containing the original tracks. If I could arrange it, I should like to include one totally new track on the extra CD, as most of you reading this, and many other people who have long supported OMD will  already have most of the tracks in one form or another.

I will do interviews to promote the record. We will have to wait to see how the re-mixes turn out before we assess which track might be available as a single, to be played on the radio. Like it or not, Virgin feel that a remix by some trendy remixer of 'Enola Gay', for example, stands a better chance of chart and radio success than a totally new song. Reluctantly, I have to say that I agree with them,but it is perhaps also an opportunity to prove to people who don't know, or have forgotten, that our early songs were an important part of the history of electronic music. So these re-mixes are a way of helping people to reasses the songs.This, so far, is the plan. As for a video for the single, we will have to see... TV appearances: again, we will have to wait and see. Touring will also have to wait,but I am not against the possibility of a short farewell tour.I would be interested to hear all opinions - so please write.

PS I've tried Virgin with the idea of a 'B' Sides CD, but they won't go for it !

Proposed Track List for Disc One : Electricity; Messages; Enola Gay; Souvenir;Joan of Arc; Maid of Orleans; Talking Loud & Clear; Locomotion; Tesla Girls; So in Love; Secret; If You Leave; Dreaming; Forever Live & Die; Sailing on the 7 Seas; Pandora's Box; Call my Name; Dream of Me; Walking on the Milky Way.'Maybe's' : Telegraph; Stand Above Me; Genetic Engineering.It will be obvious to most of you that this is the 1988 Album plus five or six new songs, but it is important to me that it is a complete collection for the future- OMD's Epitaph.

Finally, HELLO to all of those fans I met at the OMD Convention in Liverpool at the end of September. I had not intended to be involved, but since Paul Browne, one of the organisers, said it could be the last of these gathering, I thought I would take the opportunity to say hello. As anticipated, the questions were poignant and interesting, and I really enjoyed meeting everyone ! 

The next Newsletter, ( probably the last one from the Info Service) in early Spring,should confirm everything about the Compilation Album.

Bye for now..."

Andy

YOU ASK. ANDY REPLIES.

 1. "Where was the 'Souvenir' video shot, and what happened to the

Karman Ghia featured in it ?" (Will Nedley, Glasgow.)

 "It was shot in the park at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, and also at the Stowe School. The red car belonged to Peter Savile, our long-time sleeve-designer; he also directed the video. He sold the vehicle not long after the filming."

 2. "Will there be any live concerts available on video in the future ?"

(John Adam, Balloch.)

"No plans for any. It is possible that Virgin will release a compilation video for next year's definitive collection."

"Sorry. There are no plans for this to be available."