What JD stuff to buy a newbie?

Hey, which is the best Joy Division CD to buy for someone that's never listened to them? An introduction by:

• Closer?
• Substance?
• Unknown Pleasures?

The heart & soul box set, athough complete, seems a bit much for someone who's new to this world.

Its hard to say because once you get one of them you're probably going to go all the way and get Heartandsoul.

Substance

should probably say why.... just look at the tracklisting. A great mix of early JD and the hits that followed.

Permanent is a bit hit and miss but to be honest get any album and give it a chance and you'll be hooked.

oh just get them unknown pleasures. start at the beginning (and the best).

Get Permanent. It has singles and album tracks.

Bought my brother a copy of Permanent as his intro to the band, for a studio album I would've bought Unknown Pleasures.

permanent would be a good introduction, although substance is is a better colllection. substance is more aimed at the fan, containing some early rough tracks.

then get unknown pleasures and closer.

I agree totally with the above.

Permanent or Substance is the best start.

First true album has to be Unknown Pleasures as the sound has weathered better than on Closer. I'm sure if done in the right order they will buy the lot.

Best starting them with the hits first, as they still sound fantastically crisp after nearly 30 years.. ^5's to Hannett

Spotnick wrote: You should go straight to Heart & Soul... that's the full package, for not too much.

Then 25 years later cough up for Closer...!

Steve Lea wrote:

Spotnick wrote: You should go straight to Heart & Soul... that's the full package, for not too much.

Then 25 years later cough up for Closer...!

Zing!

I'd recommend Substance, since it's the easiest JD release to track down in shops and it features their most accessible songs.

My first purchase was Still. I got Substance shortly thereafter and then bought vinyls of Unknown Pleasures and Closer. I was 13-14, and it sucked me right in.

I lent my friend Substance when he started getting into their music (had only heard LWTUA before) and it did a good job in drawing him in to discover the rest of the stuff. When H&S came out in 97, I lent it to him as well, and he was blown away at how fresh they still sounded 17 years later.

I think that's the best part of getting a new fan into JD, is that it does still sound fresh twenty odd years later.