Blue Monday New Order

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 2:13 pm

Released exactly forty years ago today.
Best selling 12 inch single of all time.
Re-released in 1988 and 1995.
God, that makes me feel old...

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 2:26 pm

That's a good listen.

CoolClaret · Post by **CoolClaret** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 2:41 pm

One of those tracks that changed music really - in terms of tech used and style.

It is a belter and was unique at the time of release

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 2:46 pm

Still sounds fresh to me.
The original sleeve was so expensive to produce, they actually lost money on every copy sold on the original release.

Bet its earned a bit since then.

LONDONCLARET23 · Post by **LONDONCLARET23** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 3:03 pm

Still sounds box fresh today

ClaretPete001 · Post by **ClaretPete001** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 3:04 pm

Quicknick wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 07, 2023 2:26 pm
That's a good listen.

Yes but,.....How does it feel?

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 3:15 pm

So far ahead of its time and a sound that still sounds great to this day.

Back in 83 the US DJ’s were just starting to put out house music. New Order’s Blue Monday is more like something from the late eighties / early nineties.

The sounds that came out of The Hacienda gave birth to modern indie and dance music. Not often that one club is at the heart of two huge styles of music.

Papabendi · Post by **Papabendi** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 3:19 pm

I thought it was dreadful.

ChrisG · Post by **ChrisG** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 3:49 pm

The B side is pretty good too.

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:41 pm

Pretty good for a guy who couldn't really sing, and a band that couldn't really play.

And they would have been the first to admit it at the time.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:13 pm

Still got mine, somewhere.
Great track from great musicians.

MrTopTier · Post by **MrTopTier** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:25 pm

Buxtonclaret wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:13 pm
Still got mine, somewhere.
Great track from great musicians.

Was going to say I bet that’s worth a bit and then remembered it was the biggest selling 12inch of all time. Top tune.

Nonayforever · Post by **Nonayforever** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 7:13 pm

Worthy of being considered a classic.

Zom Zom · Post by **Zom Zom** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 7:35 pm

I consider it a classic. I always feel it sounds earlier than '83 somehow.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 7:40 pm

Definitely one of those iconic tracks that stands the test of time.

Swizzlestick · Post by **Swizzlestick** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 7:47 pm

Perhaps sacrilegious to say but I prefer the 1988 remix (by Quincy Jones I believe) - better tempo to it. It's a stone cold classic either way.

JohnDearyMe · Post by **JohnDearyMe** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:42 pm

MrTopTier wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:25 pm
Was going to say I bet that’s worth a bit and then remembered it was the biggest selling 12inch of all time. Top tune.

Didn't they end up losing money despite the sales because the vinyl sleeve cost too much to make?

sportak-mustgo · Post by **sportak-mustgo** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:47 pm

My ‘Gateway’ drug into New Order and Factory Records & therefore what became the soundtrack to so much of my life since - genuinely did change my life. Seen them live +25-times since early/mid 80s and they’re still pushing boundaries with the like of the MIF productions.

JanetM · Post by **JanetM** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:50 pm

Well that makes me feel really old. Got it somewhere and also Temptation from 1982.

Superjohnnyfrancis · Post by **Superjohnnyfrancis** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:04 pm

Very good tune but most parts in it are stolen from other New York club songs when they were living there. There was a documentary made on it where they broke down all the parts that were stolen and then expertly stitched together in their studio. I can’t remember if it was a radio or tv documentary maybe someone else can remember what it was called. Whether they have come to an arrangement with those other song writers I don’t know.

TheOriginalLongsider · Post by **TheOriginalLongsider** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:16 pm

It originally was just an instrumental track so the band could have a rest! Going to see Peter Hook next month. He always plays a fair bit of New order and Joy Division

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:30 am

The holes in the sleeve were a very costly mistake and I agree that the 1988 Quincy Jones mix is much better than the original.

Papabendi · Post by **Papabendi** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 1:59 pm

dougcollins wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:41 pm
Pretty good for a guy who couldn't really sing, and a band that couldn't really play.

And they would have been the first to admit it at the time.

are you trying to say Stephen Morris couldn't play?

Jimscho · Post by **Jimscho** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:14 pm

TheOriginalLongsider wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:16 pm
It originally was just an instrumental track so the band could have a rest! Going to see Peter Hook next month. He always plays a fair bit of New order and Joy Division

Is that ‘Peter Hook and the Light’you are going to see.David Potts(Pottsy) was one of my cashiers when I was Manager of Barclays Bank Swinton.He has played a number of gigs with Peter Hook.Revenge,Monaco and Peter Hook and the Light.

Big Vinny K · Post by **Big Vinny K** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:27 pm

New Order used to be my customer many moons ago - under the business name Three Little Pigs (I think from memory)

Peter Hook came into see me one day just before they were going on a 6 week tour to the states. He was just getting divorced and buying his ex a house. He wanted (and got) the money that day….financial regulation was very different back in the 1980s ! He was repaying the amount when he came back from the 6 week tour for which he was getting a lot more than the money he needed for the house. When he got back from America he repaid it in full.

We had a few famous musicians, bands etc as customers - Prefrab Sprout and Take That amongst others and Jason Orange was a regular customer….and amazingly most of the time nobody recognised him.

For those of you who know Manchester and the music scene one of my other customers was Eastern Bloc Records.

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:08 pm

Bought many a tune from Eastern Bloc. They're still putting on decent parties at the new store. I say new, it's over 10 years since they moved.

Belgianclaret · Post by **Belgianclaret** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:10 pm

Big Vinny K wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:27 pm
New Order used to be my customer many moons ago - under the business name Three Little Pigs (I think from memory)

Peter Hook came into see me one day just before they were going on a 6 week tour to the states. He was just getting divorced and buying his ex a house. He wanted (and got) the money that day….financial regulation was very different back in the 1980s ! He was repaying the amount when he came back from the 6 week tour for which he was getting a lot more than the money he needed for the house. When he got back from America he repaid it in full.

We had a few famous musicians, bands etc as customers - Prefrab Sprout and Take That amongst others and Jason Orange was a regular customer….and amazingly most of the time nobody recognised him.

For those of you who know Manchester and the music scene one of my other customers was Eastern Bloc Records.

So much for client confidentiality

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:23 pm

quoonbeatz wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:08 pm
Bought many a tune from Eastern Bloc. They're still putting on decent parties at the new store. I say new, it's over 10 years since they moved.

That’s a blast from the past.

I used to go there whenever I was in Manchester. Didn’t realise they were still going, but glad to hear it.

Must dust off my vinyl one day!!

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 6:12 pm

DCWat wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:23 pm
That’s a blast from the past.

I used to go there whenever I was in Manchester. Didn’t realise they were still going, but glad to hear it.

Must dust off my vinyl one day!!

Yeah moved round the corner to Stephenson Square. Got a cafe now and everything!

Big Vinny K · Post by **Big Vinny K** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:20 pm

Belgianclaret wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:10 pm
So much for client confidentiality

It was a lifetime ago and I’ve left anyway !!

THEWELLERNUT70 · Post by **THEWELLERNUT70** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:25 pm

JohnDearyMe wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:42 pm
Didn't they end up losing money despite the sales because the vinyl sleeve cost too much to make?

As Tony Wilson always said "if there's a choice between printing the truth or printing the legend always print the legend"

THEWELLERNUT70 · Post by **THEWELLERNUT70** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:27 pm

The bass drum beat was "inspired" by this track

https://youtu.be/6uU9ikIg8FU

LONDONCLARET23 · Post by **LONDONCLARET23** » Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:32 am

Papabendi wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 1:59 pm
are you trying to say Stephen Morris couldn't play?

Yes

Loyalclaret · Post by **Loyalclaret** » Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:34 am

Heard it on more dance floors, fields, warehouses than I care (or are able) to remember - it never sounds old.

LONDONCLARET23 · Post by **LONDONCLARET23** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 12:04 pm

A nice little band with a few catchy numbers but utterly dwarfed by the era-defining Smiths and Stone Roses that followed afterwards.

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 12:12 pm

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:43 pm

JanetM wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:50 pm
Well that makes me feel really old. Got it somewhere and also Temptation from 1982.

Yep, and Everything's gone green, and ceremony in both the green cover and the white and blue one.

No idea if any of them are worth anything. I value my "still" double album with the wierd falling down cardboard more. I remember my mum seriously hating that, moaning that she thought that having been to a music school aged 9-13 that I should like more melodic stuff. I had to tell her that if she hadn't sent me to said school then perhaps I would.

We had a similar discussion about moeran's symphony in g minor. Parts of that she describes as awfully discordant whereas I think it beautifully inspiring.

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:48 pm

Papabendi wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 1:59 pm
are you trying to say Stephen Morris couldn't play?

Shared some studio time with New Order (Cargo in Rochdale, owned by Tony Wilson) and much as I like them, they really do make the best of their talents. And like I say, they make no bones about it. Having the good ideas is what it's all about.

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:18 pm

Thought New Order were utter crap live but Joy Division were great.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:32 pm

HahaYeah wrote: ↑
Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:18 pm
Thought New Order was utter crap live but Joy Division was great.

Never really got into New Order. I don't like Bernard Sumner's voice. Much prefer Ian Curtis as a vocalist. It gave JD a darker edge, and it was the same with the lyrics - dark and foreboding.

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:35 pm

Yes maybe they could have got a better singer in.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:37 pm

Oh, and that World in Motion song. Unforgivable.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:39 pm

By the way, I do like Hooky as a person.

ClaretPete001 · Post by **ClaretPete001** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:41 pm

None of the Mcr bands I saw were particularly good live. I saw Happy Monday many times and Sean Ryder was not a charismatic front man albeit he is a charismatic personality. Saw the Roses at Spike Island and the Inspirals at Gmex.

Great gigs - great times - great music but not brilliant live acts.

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:43 pm

I saw Inspirals early on at Blackburn they were great. Never liked the Mondays, yuk their music makes me feel sick.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:49 pm

The Smiths were supposed to be flawless live.

Montevideo · Post by **Montevideo** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:51 pm

THEWELLERNUT70 wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:25 pm
As Tony Wilson always said "if there's a choice between printing the truth or printing the legend always print the legend"

Factory and New Order both made 3p per copy sold.
Factory were responsible for the manufacture and distribution of the record - which included the expensive die cut sleeve.
The manufacturing costs equated to 4p per record.
Therefore New Order made 3p on each record sale....
... and Factory lost 1p.

ecc · Post by **ecc** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:53 pm

Whilst I'm a New Order fan and understand the importance of "Blue Monday", I've never really liked it.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:58 pm

Now I've gone and mentioned Joy Division, I've got a Day to the Lords earworm.

LONDONCLARET23 · Post by **LONDONCLARET23** » Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:26 pm

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑
Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:32 pm
Never really got into New Order. I don't like Bernard Sumner's voice. Much prefer Ian Curtis as a vocalist. It gave JD a darker edge, and it was the same with the lyrics - dark and foreboding.

You make good points.

New order cobbled together a decent career despite only having a few passable tunes. Ibiza/acid house/Madchester prolonged their shelf life.

Joy Division & The Smiths encapsulated and defined an era.