Pandora's Box

**Pandora's Box** is the title of an OMD song first released on the group's eighth studio album *Sugar Tax* and later remixed for release as the second single from the album and the follow-up to the highly successful Sailing on the Seven Seas.

The song remains on of the group's best known and is regulalrly performed during live concerts.

## Origins

Written by Andy McCluskey (credited as OMD), the song was inspired by the life of American actress Louise Brooks (1906-1985), famous in the 1920s and 30s. *Pandora's Box* is the title of one of her best known films, produced in Germany in 1929. Her performance in the silent film made her into a star in Europe. By 1938, Brooks had starred in seventeen silent films and eight sound films.

AM said of the song in 2021: "*I was fascinated when I started to discover photographs of her in vintage shops. My fascination came from the way she looked and then I started learning about her*."

*See also*: American Venus

## Single release

Pandora's Box was released as OMD's twenty-third single on 24 June 1991, about six weeks after the release of the parent album *Sugar Tax*, and just after Sailing on the Seven Seas had dropped out of the UK charts. The single version was remixed by Steve Anderson for DMC and OMD, with B-side All She Wants Is Everything, a brand new track which had not been included on the album. Several other remixes of Pandora's Box were also issued for the various formats (see below).

### Chart performance

Pandora's Box initially entered the UK charts at no.59 on 30 June 1991, going up to no.26 the week after. After being featured on *Top of the Pops* on 11 July the single went up to no.13 the week after, then to its peak position of no.7 on 21 July. It was featured again on *Top of the Pops* on 25 July, allowing the single to stay in the same position for a further week before slipping down again. In total Pandora's Box spent seven weeks in the Top 40. It was also OMD's sixth and final Top 10 single.

(NB Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It For You was also in the Top 40 and at no.1 for all the period that Pandora's Box was in the charts)

The song was re-named "Pandora's Box (It's A Long, Long Way)" for release in the US. It reached no.19 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay [1] and no.11 on Dance Club Songs charts. [2]

### Formats and tracklistings

*UK releases only*

7" & Cassette single, Virgin VS 1331 / VSC 1331
A. Pandora's Box B. All She Wants Is Everything (cassette tracks A1 & A2, repeated B1 & B2) - *no timings stated*

12" single VST 1331
A1. Pandora's Box (Constant Pressure 12" Mix), A2. Pandora's Box

B1. Pandora's Box (Abstract Mix)

CD single VSCDT 1331
1. Pandora's Box
2. All She Wants Is Everything
3. Pandora's Box (Constant Pressure 12" Mix)
4. Pandora's Box (Diesel Fingers 12" Mix)

CD VSCDT 1331 issued in a cardboard slipcase was the second in the Special collectors edition triple CD set, which had begun with VSCDX 1310, and bears a large 'M' on the label.
CD single - Special edition wooden box VSCDX 1331
1. Pandora's Box (4:06)
2. Pandora's Box (Lost Girl Mix) (3:59)
3. Pandora's Box (Abstract Mix) (6:39)
4. Pandora's Box (American Venus 7" Mix) (3:53)

*See Discogs for details and other releases.*

### Promo video

A promo video featuring original footage from the *Pandora's Box* movie was made. Use of the footage allegedly cost US$ 5,000. McCluskey is the only band memeber to feature and is seen miming to the song and in various locations, all shot in black and white in line with the movie footage.

## Live performance

OMD began their Sugar Tax tour on 01 July 1991, just after Pandora's Box had been released as as single, and the song was naturaly included on the setlist, usually towards the end or as an encore. It was also performed on the successive Liberator tour. It was performed for the first time by the 'classic' reformed band line-up on the History of Modern tour beginning in October 2010. It has featured regularly on live setlists since then.