Joy Division were an English rock band that consisted of singer Ian Curtis, guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris. From 1976 to 1980, the band recorded a total of 53 songs, all of which were credited to all four members of the group, with one exception, and almost all were produced by Martin Hannett. Although together for only four years, the band has influenced many artists and the post-punk movement of the late 1970s.[1][2]

Originally known as Warsaw,[3] Joy Division released their debut extended play, An Ideal for Living, in June 1978, which showcased the group's early punk roots.[4] The song "At a Later Date" was released on the compilation Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus two weeks later.[5] Their debut studio album, Unknown Pleasures, was released in June 1979.[6] The album's production by Hannett is noted for its unusual methods, such as emphasising space and sound effects such as glass breaking.[6] Its songs are described by AllMusic as "visceral, emotional, and theatrical."[6] The album failed to gain commercial success until the release of their debut single "Transmission". However, Curtis's health began to decline as he suffered from depression and epilepsy.[3] His condition never improved and on 18 May 1980, Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen.[7] The posthumous single, "Love Will Tear Us Apart", was released a month later,[8] while their final album, Closer, followed in July.[9] Closer featured songs that were more choppy and "crumbled up" than its predecessor, and its sound is more "chaotic".[9] Before Curtis' death, the band made an agreement that should any member leave for any reason, the group would disband.[3] Because of this, Joy Division officially ceased later that year.[3] Morris, Sumner and Hook subsequently teamed with Morris' then-girlfriend Gillian Gilbert and formed New Order.[3] Their debut single, "Ceremony" and its B-side, "In a Lonely Place", were two of the final songs written by Joy Division before their break-up.[10]

In 1981, the first compilation album Still was released.[11] The album contained previously unreleased songs and live recordings, including a recording of "Ceremony"[10] and a live cover of the Velvet Underground song "Sister Ray".[11] In 1988, the compilation album Substance saw the release of previous non-album singles "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Transmission", among other songs.[12] Its release coincided with the release of New Order's singles compilation, also titled Substance, a year prior.[12][13] In 1994, Joy Division released their planned debut album under the name "Warsaw".[14] The album contained many previously unreleased songs and was recorded in 1977 when the band was still known as Warsaw.[14] Later compilations released by the band include 1995's Permanent,[15] 1997's box set Heart and Soul,[16] 2008's The Best of Joy Division[17] and 2011's Total: From Joy Division to New Order, which featured five Joy Division tracks and thirteen New Order tracks.[18]

Songs

All songs written by Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris, except where noted.
All songs produced by Martin Hannett, except An Ideal for Living, produced by Joy Division.[4]

Key
† Indicates single release
Name of song, original release, and year of release
Song Original release Year Ref(s)
"As You Said" † Non-album single
B-side to "Komakino" 		1980 [19]
"At a Later Date" (live) Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus 1978 [20]
"Atmosphere"[a] † Non-album single
A-side to "She's Lost Control" (UK)
B-side to "She's Lost Control" (US) 		1980 [22][23]
"Atrocity Exhibition" Closer 1980 [24]
"Auto-suggestion" Earcom 2: Contradiction (EP) 1979 [25]
"Candidate" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"Ceremony" (live) Still 1981 [27]
"Colony" Closer 1980 [24]
"Day of the Lords" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"Dead Souls" Still 1981 [27]
"Decades" Closer 1980 [24]
"Digital" A Factory Sample (EP) 1978 [28]
"Disorder" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"The Drawback"[b] Warsaw 1994 [14]
"The Eternal" Closer 1980 [24]
"Exercise One" Still 1981 [27]
"Failures" An Ideal for Living (EP) 1977 [4]
"From Safety to Where...?" Earcom 2: Contradiction (EP) 1979 [25]
"Glass" A Factory Sample (EP) 1978 [28]
"Gutz"[b] Warsaw 1994 [14]
"Heart and Soul" Closer 1980 [24]
"I Remember Nothing" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"Ice Age" Still 1981 [27]
"In a Lonely Place (Detail)" (demo) Heart and Soul 1997 [16]
"Incubation" † Non-album single
B-side to "Komakino" 		1980 [19]
"Inside the Line"[b] Warsaw 1994 [14]
"Insight" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"Interzone" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"Isolation" Closer 1980 [24]
"The Kill" Still 1981 [27]
"Komakino" † Non-album single 1980 [19]
"Leaders of Men" An Ideal for Living (EP) 1977 [4]
"(Living in the) Ice Age" Still 1981 [27]
"Love Will Tear Us Apart" † Non-album single 1980 [29]
"A Means to an End" Closer 1980 [24]
"New Dawn Fades" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"No Love Lost" An Ideal for Living (EP) 1978 [4]
"Novelty" † Non-album single
B-side to "Transmission" 		1979 [30]
"The Only Mistake" Still 1981 [27]
"Passover" Closer 1980 [24]
"Shadowplay" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"She's Lost Control (12" version)" † Non album single
A-side to "Atmosphere" (US)
B-side to "Atmosphere" (UK) 		1980 [22][23]
"She's Lost Control" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"Sister Ray"[c] (live)
(The Velvet Underground cover) 		Still 1981 [27]
"Something Must Break" Still 1981 [27]
"The Sound of Music" Still 1981 [27]
"These Days" † Non-album single
B-side to "Love Will Tear Us Apart" 		1980 [29]
"They Walked in Line"[b] Warsaw 1994 [14]
"Transmission" † Non-album single 1979 [31]
"Twenty Four Hours" Closer 1980 [24]
"Walked in Line" Still 1981 [27]
"Warsaw" An Ideal for Living (EP) 1977 [4]
"Wilderness" Unknown Pleasures 1979 [26]
"You're No Good for Me"[b] Warsaw 1994 [14]

Notes

  1. ^ "Atmosphere" was released in 1980 in France under the title "Licht und Blindheit" on the Sordide Sentimental label.[21]
  2. ^ a b c d e Released under the name "Warsaw"[14]
  3. ^ Written by the Velvet Underground (John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Lou Reed and Maureen Tucker).[27]

References

  1. ^ Ramirez, AJ (18 May 2010). "Walked in Line: The Musical Disciples of Joy Division". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Joy Division Bio". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bush, John. "Joy Division – Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cleary, David. "An Ideal for Living [(EP)] – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  5. ^ Curtis 1995, pp. 51–52, 140.
  6. ^ a b c Raggett, Ned. "Unknown Pleasures – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  7. ^ Curtis 1995, p. 132.
  8. ^ Curtis 1995, p. 138.
  9. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Closer – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  10. ^ a b McFarland, Kevin (29 April 2014). ""Ceremony" bridges the gap between Joy Division's end and New Order's start". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Still – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  12. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Substance – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  13. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Substance – New Order". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h Bush, John. "Warsaw – Warsaw". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  15. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Permanent – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  16. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Heart and Soul – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  17. ^ Kellman, Andy. "The Best of Joy Division – Joy Division". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  18. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Total: From Joy Division to New Order – Joy Division, New Order". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  19. ^ a b c "Komakino" (Single liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1980. FAC 28.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus (Vinyl track listing). Various. UK: Virgin Records. 1978. VCL 5003.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ "Licht Und Blindheit" (Single liner notes). Joy Division. France: Sordide Sentimental. 1980. SS 33 002.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ a b "Atmosphere" (Single liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1980. FACUS 2/UK.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ a b "She's Lost Control"/"Atmosphere" (Single liner notes). Joy Division. US: Factory Records. 1980. FACUS 2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i Closer (liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1980. FACT 25.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ a b Earcom 2: Contradiction (Vinyl track listing). Various. UK: Fast Product. 1979. Fast 9b.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Unknown Pleasures (liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1979. FACT 10.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Still (liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1981. FACT 40.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ a b A Factory Sample (Side A liner notes). Various. UK: Factory Records. 1979. FAC-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ a b "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Single liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1980. FAC 23.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ "Transmission" (Single liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1979. FAC 13. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-10-30.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ "Transmission" (Single liner notes). Joy Division. UK: Factory Records. 1979. FAC 13.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

Bibliography

See also

Categories