Blue Room (The Orb song)

"Blue Room"
Single by The Orb
from the album U.F.Orb
B-side	Towers of Dub (Mad Professor Remix)
Released	8 June 1992
Format	Compact Disc
Genre	Ambient house Ambient music
Length	39:57
Label	Big Life
Writer(s)	Alex Paterson, Monique Giraudy, Steve Hillage, Kris Weston and John Joseph Ward
Producer(s)	Alex Paterson, Kris Weston
The Orb singles chronology
"Perpetual Dawn" (1991) "Blue Room" (1992) "Assassin" (1992)

"Blue Room" is a single by The Orb. It was released on 8 June 1992 on Big Life Records. Gallup, who compiled the UK singles chart, had recently decided that any release with more than 40 minutes of play would be classified as an album rather than single. The Orb thus decided to record a 39:57 version of "Blue Room" for a special release. "Blue Room" is the longest single to ever reach the UK charts,^[1] a record the song will retain as current rules will not count singular songs past 15 minutes.^[2] "Blue Room" entered the charts at position twelve and peaked at number eight. An edited version appears on the album U.F.Orb. The full version features a number of samples, including a small bit of the beginning of the "Mysterious Traveller" by Weather Report and a damaged portion of "Happy Birthday To You" by Marilyn Monroe at the end. The Orb caused controversy by appearing on Top of the Pops to promote the single. Instead of performing, Alex Paterson and Kris Weston played chess. The performance had a profound impact on Robbie Williams who later declared "that Top of the Pops changed my life".^[3]

Track listing

12": Big Life / BLRT 75 (UK)

1. "Blue Room (part 1)" (18:45)
2. "Blue Room (part 2)" (19:01)

12": Mercury / 863653-1 (US)

1. "Blue Room (frank de wulf remix)" (7:37)
2. "Blue Room (excerpt 606)" (10:00)
3. "Assassin (oasis of rhythms mix)" (15:14)

CD: Big Life / BLRDA 75 (UK)

1. "Blue Room" (39:58)

CD: Big Life / BLRDB 75 (UK)

1. "Blue Room (radio 7)" (4:09)
2. "Blue Room (excerpt 605)" (6:00)
3. "Towers of Dub (mad professor remix)" (14:51)

	"Blue Room" (1992) Sample from The Orb's 40 minute version of "Blue Room".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

CD: Logic / 74321 10702-2 (DE)

1. "Blue Room (radio 7)" (4:09)
2. "Blue Room" (39:57)
3. "Blue Room (excerpt 605)" (6:00)
4. "Towers of Dub (mad professor remix)" (14:51)

CD: Mercury / CDP 804 (US)

1. "Blue Room (edit)" (3:09)
2. "Blue Room (Frank De Wulf Remix)" (7:37)
3. "Assassin (The Oasis of Rhythms Mix)" (15:14)
4. "Blue Room (Full Length)" (40:00)

• limited edition bonus disc with the US issue of "U.F.Orb"

References

1. EveryHit.com
2. "Rules For Chart Eligibility: Singles" (PDF). London: Official Charts Company. April 2013. p. 4. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
3. http://sabotagetimes.com/music/the-orb-playing-chess-on-top-of-the-pops-changed-my-life

• http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5071/biography
• "Boyd, Brian (1998-10-23). "Unidentified Flying Orb". The Irish Times. p. 12.
• Sullivan, Caroline (1993-04-09). "Breakdown". The Guardian.

External links

• Blue Room at Discogs