Factory – Page 2

28 December, 202027 January, 2022

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: ‘Music 1977-80’ book (UK, Dinsong Ltd, 1980)

How far Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark progressed from the time they released that first limited edition 7″ pressing on Factory records in the summer of 1979 so swiftly. A re-release of the single on the new Virgin-backed label DinDisc by September alongside a high-profile support act slot for Gary Numan on his first solo live tour. The Gramophone Suite studio and release of their second single and debut album in the early months of 1980. And then by Spring, the big breakthrough with the lush re-recording of ‘Messages’ and first singles chart success. Hardly time to take breath before Autumn and even bigger, international success with ‘Enola Gay’ and, on its way, their second album, ‘Organisation’. Whew!

*^ Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Music 1977-80 book cover*

Continue reading “Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: ‘Music 1977-80’ book (UK, Dinsong Ltd, 1980)”

14 September, 202027 January, 2022

‘Peter Saville Estate 1-127’ book

It’s not a great surprise I imagine, given my musical tastes as documented on VersionCrazy, to realise that I like much of the design work by Peter Saville. ‘Estate 1-127’ is the second book solely dedicated to his work that I bought, the first being ‘Designed by Peter Saville’. That had coincided with a retrospective exhibition at London’s Design Museum in 2003, ‘The Peter Saville Show’.

Peter Saville 'Estate 1-127' exhibition catalogue front cover — *^ Peter Saville ‘Estate 1-127’ exhibition catalogue front cover*

Continue reading “‘Peter Saville Estate 1-127’ book”

28 May, 202018 September, 2023

New Order – ‘The Perfect Kiss’ UK 7″ (Factory, FAC123, 1985)

Rounding out May’s posts is the standard UK 7″ issue of New Order’s first single release of 1985, ‘The Perfect Kiss’.

On first sight, and in comparison to many other New Order singles of the ’80s in particular, it looks quite uninspiring and bland, taking minimalism all the way by being packaged in a high gloss plain black card sleeve, with minimal silver print typography on plain black labels. In the grooves though we find two edits that are unique to only this 7″ single and which have never found their way on to any later CD releases.

New Order - The Perfect Kiss UK 7" front sleeve and label design. — *^ New Order – The Perfect Kiss UK 7″ front sleeve and label design.*

Continue reading “New Order – ‘The Perfect Kiss’ UK 7″ (Factory, FAC123, 1985)”

28 December, 201918 April, 2024

Side by side: New Order – ‘Ceremony’ 2019 12” reissues and 1981 originals

Rounding off 2019, time to look back to earlier in the year and also 1981, with New Order’s ‘Ceremony’ re-issues and originals (at least the UK 12” ones anyway).

New Order - Ceremony - 2019 UK 12 inch version 1 re-issue front sleeve design. — *^ New Order – Ceremony – 2019 UK 12 inch version 1 re-issue front sleeve design.*

Accompanying the super deluxe box set re-issue of the ‘Movement’ album, the bands first four 12” single releases were re-pressed and issued afresh in March 2019 to support it. Let’s not get into the whole debate on whether this was a rather odd way of going about things, given that the super deluxe box set did not include any of the recordings from these 12” singles… Ho hum. And when I say the first four… well, two of these are versions of the one song, ‘Ceremony’, of course. Continue reading “Side by side: New Order – ‘Ceremony’ 2019 12” reissues and 1981 originals”