The 1980s saw the emergence of electronic dance music with many new bands appearing in the UK. Amongst them was Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), who were based at Meols on the Wirral. The group formed in 1978 and consisted of founding duo and principal songwriters Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals), along with Martin Cooper (keyboards, saxophone) and Stuart Kershaw (drums).
OMD had considerable success through the 1908s and early 1990s releasing 14 studio albums, seven of which were in the top ten of the UK Album charts. They released 46 singles including such well know songs as “Electricity”, “Enola Gay”, “Joan of Arc”, “Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)”, “Tesla Girls” and “If You leave”.
Their first single to chart (reaching No 67 in February 1980) was "Red Frame/White Light" from their first studio album “Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark”. The song is about a red telephone box in Meols, on the Wirral that was used by the group to make calls to organise their gigs in the late 1970s. The lyrics include the telephone number “Six three two three double 'O' three” and fans would phone the number hoping that they may speak to a member of the band. Many got through to confused home owners in their own area code as the omitted to include the dialling code for Merseyside!
On the evening of 18 August 2017 the phone box was removed by British Telecom. When fans realised that it had been removed, they campaigned for its reinstatement as a tourist attraction for other OMD fans who regularly travel to the site. It has subsequently been restored and returned to its original location as an art installation in time for the band's 40th anniversary. A blue plaque on the wall next to the phone box explains its significance in pop history.
Red Frame / White Light Lyrics
Red frame white light
Six three two three double 'O' three
Red frame white light
Telephone box
Red on gray
Red frame white light
You have a gray book
On a metal shelf
Red frame white light
Numbered calls
Selected places
Red frame white light
Six three two three double 'O' three
Red frame white light
Telephone calls
Black and white
Red frame white light
You have a yellow book
With adverts
Red frame white light
Telephone box
Red on gray
Red frame white light
Six three two three double 'O' three
The Virtual Cache
In order to claim a find on this cache, you will need to post a photo of yourself or personal object, such as your GPS, or something showing your caching name with the phone box in the picture.
To keep the theme of this virtual cache, your picture should also include a musical connection. This could be a suitable drawing, or a CD, cassette or single/album, but would be much better if it had a link to O.M.D. or involved playing a musical instrument. The ultimate photograph would of course be a selfie with an O.M.D. band member at the location!!!
Any finds logged without the required photograph will have the log deleted.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.