I’ve got a secret…
When OMD returned with their sixth studio album Crush back in 1985 it marked a new evolution in how the band approached writing music. The arrival of Stephen Hague handling production duties also contributed to this change of approach where OMD’s sound morphed from their classic synth-pop sound to something much more organic and with more a feel for a band dynamic.
Crush saw the release of three singles in the form of ‘So In Love’, ‘Secret’ and ‘La Femme Accident’. There were a few quirks and oddities associated with these releases, particularly as record label Virgin really amped up their promotion in a bid to secure high chart positions. At the same time, there were a few variations and mixes that emerged, some of which may have flown under the radar of most OMD fans, especially as the band began to enjoy a larger presence in America.
The announcement that Crush was being reissued in October 2025 naturally invited debate on what bonus tracks would be included on the album. The official listing for the reissue appears to have struck a reasonable balance between unreleased material, extended versions and B-sides. Despite this, there are voices insisting that any reissue of an album should include everything: every mix, every bonus track and also the video documentary Crush The Movie. Many of the completists seem to have been unaware that both Crush The Movie (and the 1985 Sheffield concert) are featured on the 2019 Souvenir box set.
Setting that debate aside, in this feature we look at the various official mixes of the Crush single releases in order to lend some clarity to an often confusing discography.
SO IN LOVE
The original UK 12” release of ‘So In Love’ was released in May 1985, heralding the parent album. The lush pop approach was largely well received, although fans of OMD’s imperial era were unhappy that the band were pushing a much more commercial sound.
Straight away, this initial release invited some confusion. Virgin’s promotional campaign saw initial copies of the 7” release bundled with a bonus disc featuring an additional B-side and a live take on Junk Culture song ‘White Trash’. However, the 12” release didn’t feature the traditional extended version of the lead track (although it did include an extended mix of B-side track ‘Concrete Hands’). It’s possible that the band had yet to decide on a mix they liked (this issue also plagued the 1983 release of the 12” version of ‘Telegraph’).
Whatever the reasons, this omission was corrected with a new 12” release.
SO IN LOVE (EXTENDED VERSION)
The second 12” release of ‘So In Love’ sees an intro that replaces the repeating tone of the 7” version with a ‘sparkling’ effect that gives the song a clean, brighter feel. Elements of Andy McCluskey’s high register vocals are also weaved into the opening. Meanwhile, the first verse is mixed down, removing some rhythm elements to appear flatter. The sparkling effect is also brought back in for the ending where it fades out.
It’s unclear when this mix was made but it’s very likely to have been one of several that the band picked over early on. It’s obvious that this release was fast-tracked because Virgin didn’t bother crafting new sleeves or labels, even though this version runs with a catalogue number of VS76613 (the record label is identical to the original 12” reading “VS766/12”). Instead, the front has a sticker picked out in black/red that reads: “VS76613 New Extended Version!”
Where to find it:
So In Love (Extended Mix) VS766/13 12” (with black/red sticker on front).
So80s Curated By Blank & Jones Presents OMD (094370) Compilation album featuring several OMD 12” versions and remixes.
SO IN LOVE (SPECIAL AMERCIAN DANCE REMIX)
This version was originally released in America as a special mix by OMD’s US label A&M to again help boost the single’s chart position stateside. It was later released in the UK as both a new 12” release and also as a 12” picture disc (which also marked OMD’s first picture disc on that format).
This mix runs slightly longer than the previous extended version but retains some of the elements of that mix: Sparkling intro, high register Andy refrain mixed in, but it sounds a little more ‘spacey’ in places. The first verse is similarly flatter as with the previous mix, but there’s tinkling electronic elements also mixed in. Around the halfway point there’s also some ‘instrumental noodling’ which also has some of the synth lines given an echo wash.
This mix also ends quite abruptly rather than fading out, as on the original.
Where to find it:
So In Love (Special American Dance Remix) 12” SP-12143 US release
So In Love (Extended Mix) 12” VS766/14
So In Love (Extended Mix) 12” Picture Disc VSY766/14
SECRET
For the second single from Crush, Virgin ramped up the promotional gimmicks with the 7” single packaged in a poster sleeve, while the 12” was also expanded with a bonus 12” of earlier OMD single ‘Red Frame/White Light’. That choice seems a little odd in retrospect, although at the time it was probably the rarest 12” release by the band and this seemed like a move to favour collectors.
The remix history of ‘Secret’ is a little more complicated…
SECRET (EXTENDED MIX)
This is the original standard UK mix and is the one that most OMD fans will be familiar with.
The intro has a big drum sound alongside some scattered vocal snippets of the “Secret” refrain and elements culled from the main lyrics. It gives the intro a dreamy feel before the song drops into the first verse.
Around the halfway point, the arrangement breaks down into a looser instrumental segment with the bass synth riff carrying things forward. Then the song shifts gears up again as the line “Everyday, you’re always there…” kicks in. The remainder of the song plays around with the earlier loose, spacey sound and some echoing refrains of “Secret” to close.
Where to find it:
Secret (Extended Mix) VS796-12 12″ Single
Secret(Specially Remixed Version) SP-12161 12″ Single US release
So80s: OMD (094370) CD
SECRET (VERSION REMIX)
A slightly more obscure mix culled from a French promotional release which runs slightly shorter than the standard 12” mix.
The drums on the intro are different from the standard 12” release with a busier rhythm. The synth elements are then gradually weaved into the mix. The first verse is mixed down and sounds a little softer. There’s a much more washed-out feel for this mix overall with plenty of echo effects used and the rhythmic percussion more prominent.
Ends with a single “Secret” vocal element echoing and a spaced-out percussive hit.
Where to find it:
Secret (Version Remix) SA 3028 12″ Promo
Maxi Singles 80 Rare 80’s 12″ Versions Extended & Remixes (3207262) CD
SECRET (NEW 12″ REMIX)
As The Best Of OMD arrived in 1988, there was an effort in the US to tap into the promotion of the album with this special 12” release (the sleeve’s use of the classic Andy and Paul photo ties it to the 1988 compilation album).
This mix seems to pull from both the previous versions in some ways. The drums on the intro are much more prominent and the inclusion of ghostly vocal elements also mixed in. Meanwhile, the first verse is flatter, lacking the synth rhythms.
The rest of the mix is a little more robust and not quite as washed-out as the French mix. Around the 3:30 mark, there’s more of an instrumental breakdown but again with the drum elements high in the mix.
It fades out on Paul Humphreys’ vocal refrain.
SECRET (NEW 7″ REMIX)
The same 12″ release also features the original UK mix (here titled ‘Secret (Old 12″ Remix)’) alongside a new 7″ mix of ‘Secret’ which had previously not been released.
The intro is similar to the new 12″ mix on the same record and the arrangement is more or less the same as the original 7″ version, although the drums (as above) are much more prominent in the mix. This version runs around 10 seconds shorter than the standard 7″ version.
Where to find them:
Secret (New 12″ Remix) SP-12272 US 12″ release.
LA FEMME ACCIDENT
‘Secret’ failed to improve OMD’s chart ventures in the UK and the release of a third single seems to have been made in desperation by Virgin. Again, some promotional gimmicks were employed, chiefly in once again bundling the 12” release with an additional disc (featuring ‘Enola Gay’ and a live version of ‘Locomotion’). There was also a special shaped picture disc issued. As an aside, it’s the single edition of 12″ release that’s actually rarer than the double-pack, likely due to the poor chart sales of ‘La Femme Accident’.
The mixes for the 12” release of ‘La Femme Accident’ saw New York-based engineer Tom Lord-Alge come onboard. Lord-Alge had already chalked up some impressive names on his CV including Malcolm McLaren, David Johansen and would also win a Grammy Award for his work on Steve Winwood’s 1986 album Back in the High Life. In the OMD book Messages, Andy McCluskey comments that Lord-Alge had “introduced OMD to the New York hip-hop scene… and the big drum sound in particular”. This is echoed in Lord-Alge’s own comments in a later profile piece for Sound On Sound magazine: “For me, bass, drums and vocals are really important, and I like to make them sound pronounced and aggressive.”
LA FEMME ACCIDENT (12″ MIX)
Recorded in New York during time off from the band’s support tour with The Power Station, the 12” mix of ‘La Femme Accident’ drew immediate attention due to it’s muscular take on the more pastoral pop of the original. The into opens with a tweaked version of the vocals with the song title, but then opens up with powerful drums and some quirky vocal ‘yelps’ in the mix.
While some OMD fans had quibbles about the band’s new direction into a (arguably) lighter American sound profile, the 12” mix of a lacklustre single release (it barely scrapped into the UK top 50) sounded like a complete reworking of the original. The percussion is the main foundation here, but the arrangement of other synth elements also helps super-charge the song into something special (so much so that it was later included as a bonus track on the 1988 compilation The Best Of OMD).
Where to find it:
La Femme Accident (12” Mix) VS811-12 UK 12” Single
The Best of OMD CDOMD 1
LA FEMME ACCIDENT (REMIXED VERSION)
‘La Femme Accident’ didn’t receive a single release in the US, but this mix appears as the B-side to 1986 single ‘If You Leave’. It also appears on a further 12” single which was crafted as a tie-in with the John Hughes film Pretty In Pink.
This version of ‘La Femme Accident’ comes in shorter than the UK 12″ release and the intro is more in line with the standard 7” mix, but with the additional drums giving it more power. It uses some elements of the original 12” mix, but is less elaborate. The ending is also subtly different, favouring a slight extension of the synth line continuing after the drums end. All in all, it’s a worthy remix but perhaps lacks the impact and dynamics of the original 12” mix.
Where to find it:
If You Leave (Extended Version) SP-12176 12″ Single US release
If You Leave · La Femme Accident · 12″ Mixes 12″ Single Canadian release
CRUSH 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
As outlined above, the planned reissue of OMD’s 1985 album also came with news that an additional disc of extended versions, demos and B-sides was also to be included1. For clarity, here is a list of what is due to appear on the October reissue2 (and what isn’t):
Included:
Secret (Extended Mix)
So In Love (Special American Dance Remix)
So In Love (Extended)
La Femme Accident (12″ Mix)
Not included:
Secret (New 12″ Remix)
Secret (Version Remix)
Secret (New 7″ Remix)
La Femme Accident (Remixed Version)
Crush – Deluxe 40th Anniversary edition is released via Universal on 10 October 2025 via UMR/Virgin.
Order via: https://omd.uk.com/
Notes:
1 At the time of writing, it’s unclear if the track titles for the Crush reissue match up with the actual tracks they denote. This feature will be revised later in the year if there are any differences.
2 Outside of the B-sides and extended mixes, there are some other interesting omissions from the reissue, including versions of ‘Heaven Is’ and ‘Southern’. It also omits the era-specific tracks featured on the Unreleased Material Archive Vol 1 release. For brevity, these are being glossed over for this feature.
