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Ceremony (New Order song)
1981 single From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Ceremony" is a song written by Joy Division, and first released as New Order's debut single in 1981. The track and its B-side, "In a Lonely Place", were recorded as Joy Division prior to the death of their lead singer Ian Curtis. Both were re-recorded and carried over to Joy Division's re-formation as New Order.
New Order released the song as a single twice, firstly in March 1981 and secondly in September 1981 featuring new member Gillian Gilbert; the latter recording appeared on the 1987 compilation album Substance.
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History
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Joy Division
"Ceremony" was one of the last Joy Division songs to be composed, with lyrics written by Ian Curtis. According to guitarist Bernard Sumner, the group wrote the song a few weeks before Ian Curtis died "to try and heal him through music" and keep him "involved in the band and involved in music and remind him of what ... a great future he had". Sumner concluded, "Unfortunately, it didn't work".[5]
At the time, the group felt that the song represented a major step forward and had the potential to be a major hit. Sumner characterised the song as "a very uplifting track, filled with and enhanced by Ian's lyrics".[6] Drummer Stephen Morris commented, "In my opinion, it had 'hit single' pressed through it like Blackpool rock. It was probably the only Joy Division song that I played repeatedly on cassette. I liked it that much. It was something uplifting and well...up [in mood]. It felt like the start of something new – or different, at least".[6]
There are three recorded versions by Joy Division in existence. The first is a live version, available on the Still album, from their final concert at High Hall, Birmingham University, on 2 May 1980. The second, available on the Heart and Soul four-disc box set, is from a studio session on 14 May 1980,[7] four days before Curtis's suicide. It was the group's last recording. The third is a version recorded at the soundcheck on the afternoon of 2 May 1980 (along with "Decades") and is only available via bootleg. In all recordings, the vocals are only partially audible.[6]
New Order
After the death of Ian Curtis, the remaining members of Joy Division regrouped as New Order. Their first release was a re-recording of "Ceremony" as a stand-alone single backed with "In a Lonely Place", with guitarist Bernard Sumner taking over lead vocals. Because Curtis had never transcribed the lyrics to "Ceremony" and because his singing was muted to the point of near-inaudibility on all surviving recordings, Sumner said he had to put them through a graphic equalizer to approximate the lyrics.[8]
New Order "Version 1" March 1981
On 6 March 1981, the first single of New Order and the first version of the song "Ceremony" was released by Factory Records (with the name FAC 33). Initially released as a 7" single, it was reissued as a 12" two months later.[9] Martin Hannett (Joy Division's producer) produced the record and Peter Saville designed the sleeve artwork for both releases.
The 7" record was issued in a stamped gold-bronze sleeve. The 12" sleeve was a completely separate design: gold typography on a green background.
New Order "Version 2" September 1981
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In September 1981, "Ceremony" was re-released. Gillian Gilbert played guitar on this new recording just after she joined the band. Martin Hannett again produced the record. The single was re-issued as a 12" only, with the same catalogue number (FAC 33). The original is approximately 4:34 minutes in length while the re-recording is 4:23. The re-recorded version was used on all subsequent compilations until Singles in 2005, when the original March '81 recording was released on CD for the first time. The B-side of the reissued single featured an alternate mix of "In a Lonely Place", substantially similar but identifiable by different placement of its "digital thunderclaps".
Re-issues
The single was re-issued again in April 2011 for Record Store Day in a white sleeve. This limited edition release (only 800 copies) plays at 33 rpm.[citation needed] It features the New Order recordings of "Ceremony" (the pre-Gillian Gilbert take) and the alternate mix of "In a Lonely Place" on one side, with the rare Joy Division recordings of the same tracks on the flip side.[10]
In 2019, the single was re-issued in two editions: a "green sleeve" edition with contents identical to the original issue, and a "white and blue" sleeve edition with the September 1981 version of "Ceremony" (with Gillian Gilbert) on the A-side, but the original mix of "In a Lonely Place" on the B-side (unlike the September 1981 reissue with a similar cover, which featured the alternate mix).[11]
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Track listing
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All tracks are written by Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner.
- Usually a green sleeve.
- Usually a cream and blue sleeve.
- White sleeve
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Charts
Notes:
- 1 – charted in 1983 and 1984.
References
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