The Official Secrets Act (album) explained

The Official Secrets Act
Type:	Album
Artist:	M
Cover:	M - The Official Secrets Act album cover.jpg
Released:	1980
Genre:	New wave
Length:	40:02
Label:	Sire
Producer:	Robin Scott
Prev Title:	New York • London • Paris • Munich
Prev Year:	1979
Next Title:	Famous Last Words
Next Year:	1982

The Official Secrets Act is M's second album, 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

1. "Transmission (The World Is at Your Fingertips)" – 4:30
2. "Join the Party" – 3:39
3. "Working for the Corporation" – 3:35
4. "Your Country Needs You" – 3:20
5. "M'aider" – 5:26

Side two

1. "Relax" – 3:42
2. "Maniac" – 3:22
3. "Keep it to Yourself" – 3:34
4. "Abracadabra" – 2:51
5. "Official Secrets" – 6:03

1997 Westside CD Reissue: WESM 502

1. "Transmission" – 4:30
2. "Join the Party" – 3:39
3. "Working for the Corporation" – 3:35
4. "Your Country Needs You" – 3:20
5. "Mayday" – 5:26
6. "Relax" – 3:42
7. "Maniac" – 3:22
8. "Keep it to Yourself" – 3:34
9. "Abracadabra" – 2:51 ⁽¹⁾
10. "Official Secrets" – 6:03
11. "Abracadabra (Sunset–Sunrise Mix) – 2:51
12. "Danube" – 3:33 ⁽¹⁾
13. "The Wedding Dance" – 3:37 ⁽¹⁾
14. "Mambo La" – 2:29 ⁽²⁾
15. "Don't Believe What the Papers Say" – 1:12
16. "The Bride of Fortune" – 4:20 ⁽³⁾

All tracks written by Robin Scott except,
⁽¹⁾ "Abracadabra", "Danube" & "The Wedding Dance" written by Scott/Novik
⁽²⁾ "Mambo La" written by Unknown
⁽³⁾ "The Bride of Fortune" written by Scott/Westwood

Personnel

• Robin Scott - vocals, guitar
• Brigit Vinchon - vocals
• David Vorhaus, Wally Badarou - synthesizer
• Julian Scott - bass guitar
• Philip Gould - drums
• Mark King - guitar, drums; bass on "Maniac"
• Gary Barnacle - saxophone

with:

• Paddy Keenan - Uilleann pipes on "Keep It to Yourself"
• Dónal Lunny - arrangement on "Keep It to Yourself"
• Bill Whelan - arrangements on "Relax" and "Official Secrets"
• The Dublin Symphony Orchestra - orchestra on "Relax" and "Official Secrets"; Audrey Parkes - leader
• Billy Brown, Brigit Vinchon, Deidre Costello, Denis Blackham, Des Smith, John Keogh, Mog Aherne, Robin Scott - vocals and whistling on "Working for The Corporation"

Technical

• Dave Aston, Denis Blackham, Philip Begley - engineer
• Peter Ashworth - front cover photography