Style over Substance? New Order offered both on their unforgettable 1987 compilation - and it's getting expanded as a 4CD set this fall.
The newly-remastered Substance 1987 collects once more a dozen classic sides from the British electronic band, from 1981's ceremony to the then-new "True Faith" as well as exclusive updates of "Temptation" and "Confusion." The double vinyl is pressed on black or retail-exclusive red and blue discs, while the 2CD and double cassette (the latter exclusive to the band's official stores) offers the same program of B-sides to the 12 tracks. The third disc of the 4CD set adds another 10 cuts, including dub versions and the original takes of "Temptation" and "Confusion"; the fourth disc debuts a much-coveted live set recorded in California in the wake of the original album release - a unique set that matched the Substance 1987 track list.
Formed in the wake of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis' passing, New Order found Curtis' remaining bandmates - singer/guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris - regrouping around a more explicitly electronic, dance-oriented sound. With keyboardist Gillian Gilbert added to the line-up shortly thereafter, the quartet became the jewel of Factory Records' roster, releasing influential and unique 12" singles that set British dance floors alight. "Blue Monday" is considered one of the best-selling 12" releases of all time, reaching the Top 10 of the U.K. charts as well as Billboard's dance survey. Other popular hits from the set included "The Perfect Kiss," the Arthur Baker co-write "Thieves Like Us," "Shellshock" (heard on the soundtrack to the John Hughes classic Pretty in Pink), "Bizarre Love Triangle" and Substance's single "True Faith," which cracked the Top 5 of the U.K. charts while becoming the band's first Top 40 hit in America.
The reissued Substance is available November 10. Also available on that date are reissues of three 12" singles released in support of the original album: "True Faith," "True Faith (Remix)" and a unique 1988 version of "Blue Monday." All pre-order links for the compilation are below.
Substance 1987 (Expanded Edition) (Factory/Warner Music U.K., 2023)
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2MC: New Order Store (U.S.) / New Order Store (U.K.)
CD 1
- Ceremony
- Everything's Gone Green
- Temptation 87
- Blue Monday
- Confusion 87
- Thieves Like Us
- The Perfect Kiss
- Sub-Culture
- Shellshock
- State of the Nation
- Bizarre Love Triangle
- True Faith
CD 2
- In a Lonely Place
- Procession
- Cries and Whispers
- Hurt
- The Beach
- Confused (Instrumental)
- Lonesome Tonight
- Murder
- Thieves Like Us (Instrumental)
- Kiss of Death
- Shame of the Nation
- 1963
CD 3
- Ceremony (Original)
- Mesh
- Temptation (12")
- Confusion (Original 12")
- Dub Vulture
- Shellcock
- Bizarre Dub Triangle
- True Dub
- Confusion (Dub 87)
- True Faith (Remix)
CD 4: Live from Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, California 1987 (previously unreleased)
- Ceremony
- Everything's Gone Green
- Temptation 87
- Blue Monday
- Confusion 87
- Thieves Like Us
- The Perfect Kiss
- Sub-culture
- Shellshock
- State of the Nation
- Bizarre Love Triangle
- True Faith
James Regan says
I doubt we’ll ever get a vinyl version of the best of… so this will do, I snagged the indie color version before it sold out.
Dad says
So excited for this release. They’ve done a grab job with the track listing, especially adding all the b-sides that appeared on the original tape versions. Hope the remastering doesn’t suffer from loudness wars style volume like their original Singles collection!
Dad says
That was meant to be great job, not grab job!
RobC says
Disc 3 also includes The Perfect Pit so it's an 11 track disc.