Blue Room (The Orb song)


"Blue Room" is a single by The Orb. It was released on 8 June 1992 on Big Life Records. The full 39-minute version features a number of samples, including a small portion 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. An edited version of the song appears on the album U.F.Orb.
"Blue Room" is the longest single to ever appear on the UK Singles Chart. It entered the listing at position 12 and peaked at number eight the next week. In Ireland, the song reached number 28, and in the United States, it peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Background

, who compiled the UK Singles Chart, had recently extended the permissible playing time of a chart-eligible single from 25 minutes to 40 minutes. The Orb thus decided to record a 39:57 version of "Blue Room" for a special release. The title "Blue Room" is a reference to the supposed Blue Room of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which was investigated as a possible UFO evidence-holding room.

''Top of the Pops'' performance

The Orb caused controversy by appearing on Top of the Pops to promote the single. Instead of performing, Alex Paterson and Kris Weston—holding a toy sheep—played a chess-like game whilst passing a globus cruciger back and forth. The performance had a profound impact on Robbie Williams, who later declared "that Top of the Pops changed my life".

Track listing

12": Big Life / BLRT 75
  1. "Blue Room "
  2. "Blue Room "
12": Mercury / 863653-1
  1. "Blue Room "
  2. "Blue Room "
  3. "Assassin "
CD: Big Life / BLRDA 75
  1. "Blue Room"
CD: Big Life / BLRDB 75
  1. "Blue Room "
  2. "Blue Room "
  3. "Towers of Dub "
CD: Logic / 74321 10702-2
  1. "Blue Room "
  2. "Blue Room"
  3. "Blue Room "
  4. "Towers of Dub "
CD: Mercury / CDP 804
  1. "Blue Room "
  2. "Blue Room "
  3. "Assassin "
  4. "Blue Room "