• Artist: New Order
• Title: Shellshock
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987? – Plan 9

We seem to have an endless supply of 12 inches. Almost all of them are Mary’s; she’s quite the completist collector. Here is another piece of pop art from New Order. This version of “Shellshock” is almost 10 minutes long. “Original version appears on the original picture soundtrack Pretty in Pink” is printed on the typically minimalist back cover. The flip side has an instrumental version of “Thieves Like Us.” Why do we keep these things? Is my wife leading a secret second life as a DJ for ’80s dance parties?

More data

• Artist: New Order
• Title: Technique
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – A promo at our store
• Keeper: Yes

If I have any attachment to this record, New Order’s Technique, it’s that I got it when my brother and I had a record store in Norfolk, VA. And that’s about it because this is not an album I played a lot. I’m not a huge New Order fan, but I love some of their stuff. Technique is a little bland and maybe too pop for me. My favorite song by far is the last one, “Dream attack.” And the lower case “a” is how they spell it.

The second pic is from the liner. The back of the jacket is the usual NO minimalism with just a bar code in the center.

• Artist: New Order
• Title: Confusion
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

“Confusion” has always been my favorite New Order song. I first it heard it when my friend Jeff Arthur played it for me. Anyhow, the truth is out: I’m a natural-born metallist that likes to dance. And this is a great dance song. There are a number of “Confusion” 12 inches out there. This version has four tracks:

“Confusion”
“Confusion Beats”
“Confusion (Instr.)”
“Confusion (Rough Mix)”

It was published by Streetwise and according to the very thorough New Order Discography site it’s pretty rare:

Q: What’s the deal with the Streetwise testpressing from the New Music Seminar?
A: The Streetwise testpressing (SWRL 2213) with blank, handwritten and/or stamped labels was made for the “New Music Seminar” in New York. As a part of the new Music Seminar New Order played at the Garage on July 7, 1983. Approximately 400 of these 12 inchers were made.

• Artist: New Order
• Title: The Perfect Kiss
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Unknown
• Keeper: Yes

I think I’ve left that Mano Negra record cover up there long enough for everyone to enjoy it. This cover for New Order’s “The Perfect Kiss” is also handsome, if not as irresistible. Typical of New Order the cover is minimalist but also refined. This is only a 12 inch single and the cover is a metallic silver with the title embossed along the edge. The dust cover is swanky too with one side colored a deep blue and the other listing the tracks in, again, a very minimalist graphic design.

I like the song. I’m pretty sure “The Perfect Kiss” and Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” were separated at birth. They’re not identical twins stylistically, but I’m here to tell you the melodies are very similar. Now, I’m guessing that few people are fans of both bands, which may be why no one seems to have noticed. But I was working in a chain record store when the Bon Jovi track was a hit. We had a number of teenagers at the store, I was only 19 or 20, and I got to listen this one more times than I care to remember.

Fac 123

I don’t know much about this project other than it’s a concept album that “features a wildly diverse group of artists, including The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and John Frusciante, New Order/ Joy Division Bassist Peter Hook, Thievery Corporation, Black Eyed Pea’s Fergie, Hybrid, Film Composer Harry Gregson-Williams, as well as an unreleased Jim Morrison vocal track.” There are a bunch of other heavies involved including guitar hero Nuno Bettencourt in the core band. (That note is for you GT.) And, word is that Perry Farrell and friends are currently working closely with Stop Global Warming and Global Cool.

I like the first single “Wish Upon a Dog Star” which has a fresh sound, without being too far from solid pop. You might be able to hear it here, and some other songs here. The full album, Ultra Payloaded Satellite Party, comes out May 15. You can join the party.