P:Machinery Explained

p:Machinery
Cover:	p.machinery.jpeg
Type:	single
Artist:	Propaganda
Album:	A Secret Wish
B-Side:	"Frozen Faces"
Released:	29 July 1985^[1]
Length:	3:49
Producer:	Stephen Lipson
Prev Title:	Duel
Prev Year:	1985
Next Title:	p:Machinery (Reactivated)
Next Year:	1985

"p:Machinery" is a song by German new wave/synth-pop band Propaganda, released as the third single from their debut album A Secret Wish. The song reached the top 10 in various countries across Europe, including France and Italy, but was most successful in Spain, where it peaked at number one. In the US, the song reached the top 10 on the dance chart. The opening line for the track was written by David Sylvian, who was approached to produce for the band but ultimately did not.^[2]

Background

David Sylvian's contribution as given by Sylvian himself:

"I contributed the keyboard melody and response at the beginning of the 'p-machine' I think the piece was called, plus a few other minor ideas here and there. I can't be more precise as my memory of the sessions aren't clear plus the pieces were recorded over more than once I believe so although the ideas remain my performance of them may not. I did restructure a piece for them arrangement wise…can't think of the title, don't have a copy of the album. It did finally give them a hit single I believe but I wouldn't swear to it."^[3]

Track listings

12", "p: Machinery (Polish)", ZTT (UK)/ Island (Europe)

1. "p: Machinery (Polish)" – 9:25
2. "p: Machinery (Passive)" – 3:44
3. "Frozen Faces" – 5:31

7", Island

1. "p: Machinery" – 3:50
2. "Frozen Faces" – 4:22

12", "p: Machinery (Reactivate)", ZTT (UK)/ Island (Spain)

1. "(The Beta Wrap Around Of) p:Machinery" – 10:47
2. "(The Echo Of) Frozen Faces" – 10:22

7", "p: Machinery (Reactivate)", ZTT (UK)/ Island (Spain)

1. "(The Beta Wrap Around Of) p: Machinery" – 4:16
2. "Frozen Faces" – 5:30

12", "p: Machinery (βeta)", ZTT (UK)/ Island (Australia)

1. "p:Machinery (Beta)" – 9:30
2. "Extracts from the Cassette Complete Machinery Including p:Machinery (Passive) and Frozen Faces" – 10:57

Cassette, ZTT Incidental Series, Action Series (UK)

1. "Introduction" – 0:25
2. "p:Machinery (Connected)" – 12:40
3. "Separation" – 0:20
4. "Frozen Faces" – 5:32
5. "Introduction" – 0:25
6. "p:Machinery (Connected)" – 12:40
7. "Separation" – 0:20
8. "Frozen Faces" – 5:32

CD, "P:Machinery (T-Empo Remix)

1. "P:Machinery (Adventurous Edit)" – 3:45
2. "P:Machinery (Passive - Original 7" Mix)" – 3:43
3. "P:Machinery (The Adventure Continues)" – 12:03
4. "P:Machinery (Polish - Original 12" Mix)" – 9:20

Digital download, "P: Machinery (αlpha)", ZTT

1. "P: Machinery" – 3:52
2. "Frozen Faces (αlpha)" – 4:23
3. "P: Machinery (Polish)" – 9:23
4. "P:Machinery (Zbigniew Rybczyński Video Mix)" – 4:36
5. "Frozen Faces (βeta)" – 5:29
6. "P:Machinery (Voiceless)" – 3:48
7. "P:Machinery (αlpha)" – 1:58

"P:Machinery (βeta)", ZTT, The Beast of Propaganda – Chapter Three

1. "Introduction" – 0:26
2. "P:Machinery (Connected)" – 12:41
3. "Separation" – 0:20
4. "Frozen Faces (A Secret Sense of Rhythm)" – 5:08
5. "Frozen Faces (A Secret Sense of Sin)" – 5:29
6. "P:Machinery (Passive)" – 3:44
7. "P:Machinery (βeta)" – 9:32

"P: Machinery (Reactivated)", ZTT

1. "P:Machinery (The Beta Wraparound)" – 10:45
2. "Frozen Faces (The Echo Of...)" – 10:20
3. "P:Machinery (The Beta Wraparound Edit)" – 4:11
4. "Frozen Faces (Βeta)" – 5:29
5. "Disturbdance Seven" – 3:14
6. "P:Machinery (The Voiceless Βeta Wraparound Edit)" – 4:23
7. "Disturbdance One" – 0:11

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1985–1986)	Peak position
Spain (AFYVE)^[4]	1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play^[5]	10
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	20

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[6]	86
Europe (European Hot 100)^[7]	82
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8]	81

See also

• List of number-one singles of 1986 (Spain)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Propaganda singles.
2. Web site: Matt P. . Propaganda's A Secret Wish: 30 Years Old Today . Movingtheriver.com . 2 July 2015 . 20 September 2019 .
3. Web site: P-Machinery . Davidsylvian.net . 16 February 2015 . 25 July 2021 .
4. Book: Salaverri, Fernando . Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 . 1st . September 2005 . Fundación Autor-SGAE . Spain . 84-8048-639-2 . es.
5. Web site: Propaganda – Awards . . 18 June 2013 .
6. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985 . . 31 January 2014 . nl.
7. European Hot 100 Singles: Hot 100 of the Year 1986 . . 3 . 51–52 . 28-29 . 29800226 . 27 December 1986 . 4 October 2021 . American Radio History .
8. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 31 January 2014 . nl.