In '94, I got a tape of JD's RCA album sans keyboards overdubs (some italian bootleg, I believe), but being just a kid and well into NO, I didn't give it much attention. Last week, though, going through some of my old stuff, I came across it and, I must say, rediscovered it. Sure, the sound is demo quality, but what a band. What energy. What creativity. What arrangements for a band who up until a few months earlier could barely tell the difference between an electric guitar and a bass, who got into it in the first place because of a lousy Sex Pistols gig and sheer boredom. Anyone out there shares my view, or am I the lone loon?
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Anyone for the early Joy Division punk days?
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Love the RCA album, I think the band started off to a good start and only got better from there 
Havent heard that tape but I`ve got the Warsaw cd they put out a few years back,yeah its good stuff but its not as good as Closer which is stunning. :)
Originally posted by stEVErythings Gone Green Havent heard that tape but I`ve got the Warsaw cd they put out a few years back,yeah its good stuff but its not as good as Closer which is stunning. :)
Yes, but by then they weren't mere rookies anymore, were they? They already had a talented producer, they knew exactly where they were going - as stated by the likes of 'These days', 'Something must break' and 'As you said'. To compare the two albums is almost unfair.
Love the early Warsaw / Joy Division stuff, I think my collection is complete now, with many thanks to a cracking Belgian Onliner:D
The energy is raw, the music powerful and the tunes arnie too bad either. At A Later Date and You're No Good For Me Rock the Proverbial shack.
I used to get a lot of requests for the early stuff when I made the mistake of putting my collection on here and WIM about 3 years ago, funnily enough the majority of the requests for Warsaw / Joy Division came from Russia and Brazil.....not quite sure what to make of that;) 
Most of the Warsaw stuff is crap, except maybe You're No Good For Me, At a Later Date, and Novelty. The Electric Circus track really shows how they could have great energy playing those songs. The RCA album is great stuff though. The slow version of Transmission always throws me for a loop!
Call me crazy, but I guess Joy Division ended up sounding the way they did (UP/Closer), and eventually became New Order, much under the influence of one certain Martin Hannett - not that this is at all a bad thing, mind. From the early tracks, I get the impression that given production carte blanche at the time (ok, I know they couldn't tell their elbows from their arses back then, production-wise), they would have ended up sounding a much heavier, rockier band - I reckon most JD live recordings back me up here. I know Ian liked Kraftwerk and all, but would we have got 'Insight', for instance, 'She's lost control' or 'As you said' if it werent't for Martin's production?
I know I could be wrong, since I don't know how much the band just showed Martin their arrangements, and it'd be up to the latter to just tape the songs, or how much Martin actually interfered, but it doesn't sound that crazy to me when I compare those recordings before and after Martin had a go at them.
Ok, what I'm saying is what most JD fans already know, which is Martin helped shape their sound, but what I'm also saying is that maybe without Martin JD would have been a different band altogether, just a thought.
Originally posted by Old Blue There is a populist belief that You're No Good For Me isn't by them at all.
I've heard this, but it does sound better than most of the Warsaw stuff.
Originally posted by FAC442 who got into it in the first place because of a lousy Sex Pistols gig and sheer boredom.
That Pistols gig wasn't lousy which is why it inspired so many people in Manchester. Forget all the crap written that they couldn't play, the '76 era Pistols were a very tight live band and (imho) that Lesser Free Trade Hall gig sounds superb on the tape that I've got...
Originally posted by Garymac Love RCA , but gotta be in a certain frame of mind
RCA,is that ACR played backwards!
Originally posted by Old Blue There is a populist belief that You're No Good For Me isn't by them at all.
Aye - this has been mentioned on here a few times, and YNGFM doesnae get a mention anywhere in the Heart & Soul Booklet either does it!?!
But listening to the early Warsaw demo's (Gutz, At A Later Date, The Kill, Inside The Line) it HAS to be them
Can't remember exactly, but I think the doubt came from memory man Hooky, who didn't recollect ever having recorded the song. Good job no-one asked Barney, he can't even remember Procession!
Just played it again.....and again.......and again!
If it's not Warsaw, it's a helluva good tribute band;)
Where the fuck is Mr Hook when you need him
Originally posted by Old Blue Can't remember exactly, but I think the doubt came from memory man Hooky, who didn't recollect ever having recorded the song.
Correct. I recall someone saying in a Joy Division board that the Hookster wasn't able to remember the song "You're No Good For Me" when asked to sign a bootleg, although he signed it anyway.
