Joy Division studio sessions

     
(1) "The Warsaw demo" 
Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham. July 18, 1977
Producer: Unknown
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
INSIDE THE LINE Not released These demos were recorded when JD were still called "Warsaw". 
GUTZ Not released
AT A LATER DATE Not released
THE KILL Not released Different to the one on "Still"
YOU'RE NO GOOD FOR ME Not released  
     

The Ideal Beginning - semi authorised EP

An Ideal For Killing - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

One or more songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

(2) "An Ideal For Living" session 
Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham. December 1977
Producer: Unknown
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
WARSAW An Ideal For Living These songs were recorded around the time Warsaw changed their name to Joy Division 
NO LOVE LOST An Ideal For Living
LEADERS OF MEN An Ideal For Living
FAILURES (Of The Modern Man) An Ideal For Living
     
An Ideal For Living

The songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

(3) Unreleased album. The RCA sessions.
Arrow Studios, Manchester. May 3rd and 4th 1978.
Producers: John Anderson, Bob Auger, Richard Searling (& Joy Division?)
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
THE DRAWBACK Heart And Soul aka "All Of This For You"
LEADERS OF MEN Not released  
WALKED IN LINE Not released The 11 songs from these sessions were supposed to have been Joy Division's first album, but the deal fell through. All these songs appeared on many different bootleg releases, most of which seem to be called "Warsaw".
FAILURES Not released 
NOVELTY Not released
NO LOVE LOST Not released
TRANSMISSION Not released 
ICE AGE Not released
INTERZONE Heart And Soul
WARSAW Not released
SHADOWPLAY Heart And Soul
     
Warsaw - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

lost treasures - unauthorised cd. the use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

One or more songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs (most LP/CD issues listed feature all 11 songs):

 

 

(4) "a factory sample" session 
Cargo studios, Rochdale. October 11, 1978
producer: martin hannett (this is the first time he produced for them)
tracks 1st official release notes
DIGITAL a factory sample Cargo studios photos
GLASS a factory sample  
     
A Factory Sample

One or both songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

(5) John Peel session 1
BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London. January 31, 1979
Producer: Bob Sargeant
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
EXERCISE ONE The Peel Sessions 1 Until its release in 1986, this remained the most requested session ever recorded for the John Peel show
INSIGHT The Peel Sessions 1
TRANSMISSION The Peel Sessions 1
SHE'S LOST CONTROL The Peel Sessions 1
     
Peel Sessions

Shadowplay - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

All songs from this session are currently available on the Best Of CD

One or more songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

(6) Genetic Demos
Eden Studios, London. March 4, 1979
Producer: Martin Rushent
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
GLASS Heart And Soul Possibly due to the lack of studio time these songs are played in a rather straight-forward and almost "business-like" manner.

Fans were delighted when the last track finally surfaced in Aug 2002
TRANSMISSION Heart And Soul
ICE AGE Heart And Soul
INSIGHT Heart And Soul
DIGITAL  Not released
     
Note: There was some confusion when we all thought that Exercise One was recorded at this session. This was because the tape that surfaced in 2002 with Digital had Exercise One right after it. However in 2004 a low generation recording of the Altrincham, Bowdon Vale (Youth) Club 14 Mar 79 soundboard turned up - and it was clear that the Exercise One recording was part of that concert.
Soul & Heart - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this productPerformances01 - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

One or more songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

 
(7) "Unknown Pleasures" sessions
Strawberry Studios, Stockport. April 1979
Producers: Martin 'Zero' Hannett
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
DISORDER  Unknown Pleasures JD's second recording with Mr. Hannett at the controls, and the results were possibly even better than the first time around.
DAY OF THE LORDS Unknown Pleasures
CANDIDATE  Unknown Pleasures
INSIGHT  Unknown Pleasures
NEW DAWN FADES Unknown Pleasures
SHE'S LOST CONTROL Unknown Pleasures
SHADOWPLAY  Unknown Pleasures
WILDERNESS  Unknown Pleasures
INTERZONE  Unknown Pleasures
I REMEMBER NOTHING Unknown Pleasures
AUTO-SUGGESTION  Earcom 2
FROM SAFETY TO WHERE...? Earcom 2
EXERCISE ONE  Still  
THE ONLY MISTAKE Still See also session No. 17
WALKED IN LINE Still See also session No. 17
THE KILL Still See also session No. 17
     
Notes: Producer Martin Hannett later stated that they ran out of time in the studio, and the "Unknown Pleasures" album would have sounded slightly differently if he had been able to spend some more time working on it. Maybe this is why some of the songs that weren't going to be on the album didn't get finished. If you compares the finished version of "Walked In Line" on "Still" with the unfinished version on the "Heart And Soul" boxset you can see why they felt it necessary to add some "post production", or at least some more guitar to these songs.
     
Unknown Pleasures

A Retrospective on ... - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

Most of these songs do not appear on any bootlegs for obvious reasons. Here are the details about the few that do:

** These "out-takes" are reportedly different mixes done by Hannett during the "Unknown Pleasures" sessions. This has never been confirmed though. 
On the "A Retrospective - Part II" LP these two out-takes are "mastered properly" according to the sleeve notes  - meaning unlike on the "A Retrospective On...." LP presumably.

 

 

 

(8) Piccadilly Radio Session
Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham. June 4, 1979
Producer: Stuart James
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
THESE DAYS Heart And Soul Not much is known about this session, or if it was even aired.
CANDIDATE Heart And Soul
THE ONLY MISTAKE Heart And Soul  
CHANCE Heart And Soul Working title for Atmosphere
ATROCITY EXHIBITION Not released  
     
Atmosphere - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

One or more songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

(9) "Transmission" sessions 1
Central Sound Studios, Manchester. Mid July,  1979
Producer: Martin Hannett
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
TRANSMISSION  Not released The first unsuccessful attempt at recording songs for a new single. These are not the versions on the Transmission 7" single (see next session).  
NOVELTY  Not released
DEAD SOULS Heart and Soul
SOMETHING MUST BREAK Heart and Soul
     
Death Trip - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

All four songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs (unless noted):

 

 

(10) "Transmission" sessions 2
Strawberry Studios, Stockport. July 28 - August 4,  1979
Producer: Martin Hannett
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
TRANSMISSION  Transmission 7" On the second attempt the single was recorded successfully
NOVELTY  Transmission 7"
     
Greatest Hits - Unauthorised CD. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this productTransmission 7

Both these songs have found their way onto at least one bootleg - despite having been issued officially many times and still being readily available in various formats

 

 

(11) "Sordide Sentimental" session
Cargo Studios, Rochdale. October-November  1979
Producer: Martin Hannett
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
ATMOSPHERE Licht Und Blindheit

Cargo studios photos 

Ice Age was recorded for a proposed Factory compliation LP called Futurama Sci-Fi festival

DEAD SOULS Licht Und Blindheit
ICE AGE Still
     

Licht Und Blindheit

One or more songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

(12) John Peel session 2
BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London. November 26, 1979
Producer: Tony Wilson
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
THE SOUND OF MUSIC The Peel Sessions 2 Like the first John Peel session it was one of the most requested ever until its release in 1987.
TWENTY FOUR HOURS The Peel Sessions 2
COLONY The Peel Sessions 2
LOVE WILL TEAR US APART The Peel Sessions 2
     
John Peel sessions 2

Joy Division EP - Italian semi official issue

All songs from this session are currently available on the Best Of CD

One or more songs from this session appeared on the following bootlegs:

 

 

(13) "Love Will Tear Us Apart" session 1
Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham. January 8th 1980 (not March 1980 as some accounts state)
Producer: Martin Hannett
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
THESE DAYS  Love Will Tear Us Apart On B side of the single
THE SOUND OF MUSIC Still  
LOVE WILL TEAR US APART Love Will Tear Us Apart Faster version - on B side
     
Greatest Hits - Unauthorised album. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this productLove Will Tear Us Apart 7Inside The Line - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

Some bootlegs feature songs from this session:

 

 

(14) "Love Will Tear Us Apart" session 2
Strawberry Studios, Stockport. March 1980
Producer: Martin Hannett
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
LOVE WILL TEAR US APART Love Will Tear Us Apart Slower version - on A side
SHE'S LOST CONTROL She's Lost Control 12" US-only 12", b/w Atmosphere
     

Notes: Due to certain members of the band's misgivings about the version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" recorded only a couple of months earlier (see session no. 13), they decided to have another go at recording the song. This somewhat slower take can be found on the "A"-side of the single, and remains the most well-known version of the song.

This version of "She's Lost Control" is also a re-recording rather than just a remix, and is noticeable for the extra final verse as well as the added keyboards. It features on various official recordings. In addition there are three variants on various releases depending on how the master tape was edited:

1) Fade out version (with the full keyboard solo)

Can be found on:
"FACUS2" & "FACUS2UK" 12" (all known versions except dutch test pressing)
"And Here Is The Young Man" compilation
"24 Hour Party People" soundtrack
"Substance" original Factory CD, Facd 250, 1988

as well as various other releases / pressings.

2) Full version (no fade out) with less keyboards is on the following:
"Martin" compilation
"Heart & Soul" box set
"Substance"  Italian CD release, CGD (INT 3000067), 1988

as well as various other releases / pressings.


3) Fade out version above with the full keyboard solo - plus a longer intro with four extra drumbeats before the start of the song:
"Atmosphere"/"She's Lost Control" 12", Dutch pressing (by CBS), VR 22496, has "STEMRA" printed on the labels, (matrix numbers: 08-22496-1B-1  A  NL  /  08-22496-2A-1  A  NL), Holland, 1983

This version with the extra drumbeats does not seem to appear on any other releases.

 Greatest Hits - Unauthorised album. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this productLove Will Tear Us Apart

One bootleg includes both songs from this session:

Love Will Tear Us Apart appeared on these bootlegs:

She's Lost Control on these bootlegs:

 

 

(15) "Closer" sessions
Britannia Row Studios, Islington, London. March 18-30, 1980
Producer: Martin Hannett
Sound Engineer: Jon Caffery
Assistant Sound Engineer: Michael Johnson
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
ATROCITY EXHIBITION Closer

Joy Division teamed up with Martin Hannett again for the recording of their follow-up to the highly acclaimed debut album. 

These sessions arguably produced the best work of both band and producer.


The strain was clearly beginning to take its toll on Ian Curtis by now, which is reflected in the vocals as well as the lyrics.
 

ISOLATION Closer
PASSOVER Closer
COLONY Closer
A MEANS TO AN END Closer
HEART AND SOUL Closer
TWENTY FOUR HOURS Closer
THE ETERNAL Closer
DECADES Closer
KOMAKINO  Fac 28 flexi
INCUBATION Fac 28 flexi
AS YOU SAID Fac 28 flexi  
LOVE WILL TEAR US APART Love Will Tear Us Apart Song reworked - see below
     
The version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is the one recorded at Strawberry Studios Stockport March 1980 (session 14 above). In 2023, Britannia Road Sound Engineer Jon Caffery told JD Central "Yes, I remember it well. They had recorded a version in Manchester (Stockport, Strawberry Studios) before coming to London. We decided it to mix it when we mixed the album, but it wasn't quite working, so Steve recorded the drums again."
     
Closer

The following bootlegs include one or more songs from this session:

 

 

 

(16) Rehearsal room "session" aka Graveyard Studio
Early 1980
Producer: Unknown
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
CEREMONY Heart And Soul Rough rehearsal recordings of what became New Order songs
IN A LONELY PLACE (cut short) Heart And Soul
     
Peter Hook supplied Ceremony and In A Lonely Place (detail) for the Heart And Soul box set, he supposedly discovered them on an old tape. According to the sleeve notes these two songs were recorded at Graveyard Studios, Prestwich, but they always sounded more like rehearsal room recordings and sure enough time is starting to unravel the mystery ...

This version of In A Lonely Place is cut short but a few years later several different and complete rehearsal versions of the song came to light, one of these was released in April 2011 on the Joy Division / New Order split Record Story Day 12� EP along with the Heart And Soul version of Ceremony.



So, we now think the tracks are from two separate 1980 rehearsals maybe a month or two apart but we'll leave this listing here for completeness. After all the two together have become known as the "Graveyard" session and have appeared as a pair on a number of bootlegs.



See our rehearsals page for the relevant rehearsals March / April rehearsal for Ceremony and May 1980 for In a Lonely Place
     
 

These songs appeared on the following bootlegs:

In A Lonely Place appeared on this bootleg:

Ceremony appeared on this bootleg:

 

 

(17) "Still" session
Britannia Row Studios, Islington, London. Some time in 1981
Producer: Martin Hannett
Tracks 1st official Release Notes
THE ONLY MISTAKE Still Martin Hannett reworked unfinished tracks from the Unknown Pleasures sessions.
WALKED IN LINE Still
THE KILL Still
     
Notes: This was, for obvious reasons, not a regular "session" as such. These songs were already recorded, but apparently never completed during the "Unknown Pleasures" sessions in April 1979 (see session no. 7 for more details). In 1981 Bernard Sumner went into the studio with producer Hannett to add some guitar to these "unfinished" tracks. According to some sources Peter Hook was also present to add some bass to "The Only Mistake".

We think Something Must Break may have been re-mixed during this session as well - the version on Heart & Soul is different to the one on Still
     
 StillAn Ideal For Killing - Unauthorised LP. The use of this image does not constitute an endorsement of this product

One song appeared on the following bootleg:

 

 

 

CREDITS: Information used in the above sessions listing has been taken from the following sources:

as well as bits and pieces of information picked up from various JD record sleeves, music papers/magazines/fanzines and books, far too many to be mentioned (or remembered!).