New Order Ceremony b/w In a Lonley Place

I'm looking for the original version of Ceremony that was recorded before Gillian joined the band. I know this version has never been on CD. Do all Factory 7" contain the original version? Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

It was just released on the 2 CD "Singles" collection:

http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3338826

 

Are you sure that's the first version? I thought Singles had the second version with Gillian?

 

I have the original 7" single... and I never knew that the versions that appear on CD are all different than that original single. I will have to give a listen and compare (although I do not have the newest Singles compilation).

 

The version on 'Substance' isn't the same as the orignal single?

 

Nope. The version on Substance is a later recording that feature Gillian on keyboards. New Order recorded an earlier version as a 3 piece shortly after Ian's suicide.

 

That's Gillan, smarty...

 

I guess that was supposed to be a joke? I can't tell. FWIW Ian Curtis was the lead singer of Joy Division. After he took his own life in 1980 Joy Division changed their name to New Order and added keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. Yes, I am aware of Ian Gillian of Deep Purple fame...

 

Apparently the recent New Order singles comp *does* have the original 7 inch version of Ceremony. This would be it's first appearence on CD..

 

I don't have the 7 inch 45, but I do have the 12 inch 45.
Are they the same versions?
Dark green cover
Ceremony 22/1/81 FAC 33/12A
In A Lonely Place 22/1/81 FAC 33/12B

 

If that is the case then about time. The re-recorded version is poor in comparison and sounded like a demo. This has been the version included on compilations.

 

Can I ask a really dumb question that's been bugging me for years? What does "b/w" stand for?

 

Ceremony "backed with" In a Lonley Place

 

That's what I always thought it must mean, thanks.

 

I'm in the same boat.

I thought that the 7" was the re-recorded version, but my memory on this is a little fuzzy so I'm not really sure...

 

Here's the cover of the 12 inch:

 

Speaking of Ceremony I just listened to a demo of said song that was recorded at Western Works 6 weeks after Curtis' suicide. Amazingly drummer Stephen Morris handles the vocals on Ceremony and a few other tracks Peter Hook sings one or 2 songs and Bernard sings one track. Very strange.

The best version of Ceremony for me is the live version done at Curtis' final gig. It can be found on Still..

 

I prefer the re-recorded version, which I associate with the blue and white Factory 12". It's the 7" version that sounds like a demo to me.

 

It's a shame they never did a proper studio version as Joy Division. Curtis' singing on the live version on Still is one of the most intense things I've ever heard. Also a shame the recording didn't capture all of his vocals..

 

Unless I'm mistaken (don't have it in front of me) the Heart and Soul box contains a rehearsal recording of "Ceremony" with Ian Curtis on lead vocals.

 

It does but it's a pretty rough recordings and (I think) it runs too slow on Heart and Soul. Of course, the live version on Still is with Ian.

 

The original 7" of Ceremony (with the embossed "copper" cover) has the original 3-piece New Order version.

I believe early copies of the 12" single (blue sleeve) have the 3-piece original.

The green 12" single has the later 4-piece version.

The 3-piece version of Ceremony made it's first official appearance on the "Singles" collection.

It's a shame that "Run 2" is still the LP version on said Singles collection.

 

Thanks

 

My blue and white 12" has the four-piece version, I'm pretty sure.