"Thieves Like Us"
Single by New Order
B-side"Lonesome Tonight"
ReleasedApril 1984
RecordedDecember 1983
Genre
Length6:36
LabelFactory - FAC 103
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)New Order
New Order singles chronology
"Confusion"
(1983) 		"Thieves Like Us"
(1984) 		"Murder"
(1984)
Audio
"Thieves Like Us" on YouTube

"Thieves Like Us" is a single by British band New Order, released in April 1984 by Factory Records, catalogue number FAC 103. It is named after the 1974 film Thieves Like Us, directed by Robert Altman. Guitarist and lead singer Bernard Sumner stated during a TV interview in 1984 that the song's title was suggested by John Benitez (an associate of the song's co-writer, Arthur Baker).[2]

The B-side is "Lonesome Tonight". Both tracks appear on the group's 1987 Substance compilation, and on the 2008 Collectors Edition of Power, Corruption & Lies, as well as the extended instrumental version of "Thieves Like Us" (originally the B-side to "Murder").

Like many of their releases, the record was produced by the band, although "Thieves Like Us" was co-written by Arthur Baker during the New York sessions for "Confusion".

An instrumental version of the song is featured in the 1986 movie Pretty in Pink.

The single's cover design by Peter Saville is based on a metaphysical painting by Giorgio de Chirico[3] and the 19th century English board game The New and Fashionable Game of the Jew. It forms a set with their next single, "Murder".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Arthur Baker, Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; except where indicated

12": FAC 103 (UK)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Thieves Like Us" 6:36
2."Lonesome Tonight"Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner5:11
7": FAC 103 (UK Promo)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Thieves Like Us" 3:54
2."Lonesome Tonight"Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner3:52
7": Tonpress S-534 (Poland)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue Monday"Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner7:29
2."Thieves Like Us" 6:36

Chart positions

Chart (1984-1985) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 84
Ireland (IRMA)[5] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[6] 14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 18

References

  1. ^ ASCAP entry
  2. ^ Pop Elktra. Belgium TV. 28-5-1984
  3. ^ Poynor, Rick No more rules: graphic design and postmodernism p.78
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 215. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Thieves Like Us". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 24, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  7. ^ "New Order – Thieves Like Us". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. ^ "New Order: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2023.

3. Sumner, Bernard. Pop Elektron. Belgium TV. 28-5-1984.

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