"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]

"p:Machinery"
Single by Propaganda
from the album A Secret Wish
B-side"Frozen Faces"
Released29 July 1985[1]
Length3:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Ralf Dörper
  • Michael Mertens
Producer(s)Stephen Lipson
Propaganda singles chronology
"Duel"
(1985)
"p:Machinery"
(1985)
"p:Machinery (Reactivated)"
(1985)
Music video
"p: Machinery" on YouTube

Background

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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

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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

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Propaganda singles".
  2. ^ Matt P. (2 July 2015). "Propaganda's A Secret Wish: 30 Years Old Today". Movingtheriver.com. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  3. ^ "P-Machinery". Davidsylvian.net. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Propaganda – p:Machinery" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Propaganda – p:Machinery" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Propaganda – p:Machinery" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  8. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  9. ^ "Propaganda – p:Machinery". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Propaganda – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Propaganda – p:Machinery" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  14. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles: Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51–52. 27 December 1986. pp. 28–29. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via American Radio History.
  15. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 January 2014.