I heard about this ages ago, but thought I'd bring it up here on this forum - is this just a rumour or is it really true that the James Last Orchestra once did a cover of Blue Monday? One of my mates told me about this in the pub once but Ive not seen any evidence that supports this....I'm intrigued about it - would like to hear it if it existed. Anyone here know anything about this?
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James Last play New Order
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It's true!! From the early 90's if I remember, but I couldn't tell you what album it was on....
Jesus! So it wasn't a false rumuor after all?? 
I wish someone here knew where one could get hold of it - after all there must be at least a couple of posters here who must know all their is to know with New Order!
Anybody else know any more about this oddity?? It must be the most unlikely New Order cover version ever!
Yes, it was done. I was working in 'Our Price Records' in the 80's.
James Last was horribly prolific and did a sort of 80's hits album with his orchestra and yes, the track was Blue Monday. The CD is deleted now, it was on the Polydor label (if memory serves). You may well find it in charity shops/thrift stores or possibly in large second hand shops.
DON'T spend loads on it though - the guys I worked with knew I loved New Order and kept playing that James Last track - it was totally, utterly pure, unadulterated SHITE!
<~~~nightmares about lift musak tonight. Damn! 
How exactly would you describe it Chris? In what way or style - was the song rendered? Schmaltlzy? Brassy? Showbizzy? End Of the peir Roadshow-y? Was it even vagueley like the original (though I cant imagine what it would sound like).
More importantly though - were the band ever aware of this, and if yes - how did they react? Gosh - so many questions, this late in the night - must get myself to bed!
;)
It's been 14 years mate! Erm... sort of scmaltzy, mid tempo crap. No idea what the band thought or even if they heard it - never thought to enquire! 
I was living under the misaprehension that Last only paid for the rights to cover the track but NEVER actually did it - are we all sure about this?
Yeah, it definitely exists. The album, probably called "James Last Goes Pop" or something equally cringeworthy, was filled other 80's classics, mayte.
I asked the guy in my local record empourium to play it, and it lasted about 45 seconds before being frisbee'd through the stock room door.
I would do some more research on this, but I don't think I could handle the stigma if anyone ever found out that I had been visiting James Last websites....
I also heard something mentioned regarding this cover but always assumed it was just rumour mongering. So it appears it genuinely existed after all... Anybody on this forum know anything about where I could get hold of this track in any form available?
It might come in very handy for my friend's forthcoming wedding party........ :evil:
There's an interview with Hooky & Rob Gretton in the 'History In Cuttings' Zine where they claim that the royalties from the James Last recording of Blue Monday will reap £200k!
In the same interview it's said that they would make £100k out of Paul Young's (remember him?) cover of LWTUA. Not bad considering this was 1984.
