The Official Secrets Act is the second studio album by the English band M, 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 <sup>(1)</sup>
  10. "Official Secrets" – 6:03
  11. "Abracadabra (Sunset–Sunrise Mix) – 2:51
  12. "Danube" – 3:33 <sup>(1)</sup>
  13. "The Wedding Dance" – 3:37 <sup>(1)</sup>
  14. "Mambo La" – 2:29 <sup>(2)</sup>
  15. "Don't Believe What the Papers Say" – 1:12
  16. "The Bride of Fortune" – 4:20 <sup>(3)</sup>

All tracks written by Robin Scott except,<br />

<sup>(1)</sup> "Abracadabra", "Danube" & "The Wedding Dance" written by Scott/Novik<br />

<sup>(2)</sup> "Mambo La" written by Unknown<br />

<sup>(3)</sup> "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

References