The Official Secrets Act is the second studio album by the English band M, released in 1980 on Sire Records. The track "Official Secrets" was released as a single and charted in the UK at No. 64 in November 1980. The follow-up single was "Keep It To Yourself". The track "Maniac" featured Level 42 members Phil Gould on drums and Mark King on bass.
The album title is a reference to the various UK Official Secrets Acts.
Track listing
LP: MCF 3085
Side one
- "Transmission (The World Is at Your Fingertips)" â 4:30
- "Join the Party" â 3:39
- "Working for the Corporation" â 3:35
- "Your Country Needs You" â 3:20
- "M'aider" â 5:26
Side two
- "Relax" â 3:42
- "Maniac" â 3:22
- "Keep it to Yourself" â 3:34
- "Abracadabra" â 2:51
- "Official Secrets" â 6:03
1997 Westside CD Reissue: WESM 502
- "Transmission" â 4:30
- "Join the Party" â 3:39
- "Working for the Corporation" â 3:35
- "Your Country Needs You" â 3:20
- "Mayday" â 5:26
- "Relax" â 3:42
- "Maniac" â 3:22
- "Keep it to Yourself" â 3:34
- "Abracadabra" â 2:51 <sup>(1)</sup>
- "Official Secrets" â 6:03
- "Abracadabra (SunsetâÂÂSunrise Mix) â 2:51
- "Danube" â 3:33 <sup>(1)</sup>
- "The Wedding Dance" â 3:37 <sup>(1)</sup>
- "Mambo La" â 2:29 <sup>(2)</sup>
- "Don't Believe What the Papers Say" â 1:12
- "The Bride of Fortune" â 4:20 <sup>(3)</sup>
All tracks written by Robin Scott except,<br /> <sup>(1)</sup> "Abracadabra", "Danube" & "The Wedding Dance" written by Scott/Novik<br /> <sup>(2)</sup> "Mambo La" written by Unknown<br /> <sup>(3)</sup> "The Bride of Fortune" written by Scott/Westwood
Personnel
- Robin Scott â vocals, guitar
- Brigit Vinchon â vocals
- David Vorhaus, Wally Badarou â synthesizer
- Julian Scott â bass guitar
- Philip Gould â drums
- Mark King â guitar, drums; bass on "Maniac"
- Gary Barnacle â saxophone
with:
- Paddy Keenan â Uilleann pipes on "Keep It to Yourself"
- Dónal Lunny â arrangement on "Keep It to Yourself"
- Bill Whelan â arrangements on "Relax" and "Official Secrets"
- The Dublin Symphony Orchestra â orchestra on "Relax" and "Official Secrets"; Audrey Parkes â leader
- Billy Brown, Brigit Vinchon, Deidre Costello, Denis Blackham, Des Smith, John Keogh, Mog Aherne, Robin Scott â vocals and whistling on "Working for The Corporation"
Technical
- Dave Aston, Denis Blackham, Philip Begley â engineer
- Peter Ashworth â front cover photography
References