Ceremony to Superheated - revisiting and reviewing every core song

Dennis Remmer wrote:

Just on the Flexi. What I understand is that the 2 tunes were commissioned by Tony for use on a Granada Reports Xmas show transmitted - I believe - 23 December 1982. But it could also be 1981. Can anyone remember

I was going to mention this programme, as I knew the tracks were used on it. I thought that must've been either December 1981 or 1982. But then I checked my spreadsheet of TV programmes, and it says 23/12/83.

I've no idea where I got that date from and I suspect the year I've recorded is a typo. I really can't see that Tony would've used the tracks as late as 1983.

It could be either 1981 or 1982, with the latter probably more likely, given the fact that they appeared on that year's flexi. However, 1981 is certainly possible. Maybe Tony (or the band) thought it would be a shame to waste the tracks and gave them to punters the following year (i.e. the first Christmas after the club had opened).

Still, I wonder why I have that 1983 date recorded. I'm usually pretty meticulous on things like this. Very confusing (not to mention very sloppy of me).

Incidentally, the 23rd December 1981, 1982 and 1983 were all weekdays, so could be candidates for 'Granda Reports' showings (I'm guessing that the programme was only on weekdays, not weekends).

If anyone has a copy of the programme, I'd love to see it (I suspect not though; can't see that many people videotaping news snippets in 1982, especially if it was only the music, not the band themselves, appearing).

Hmm, a cursory check of various sources state the programme was broadcast on one of the following:

23/12/81 (Hooky's book - "These two songs were part of the "Granada Reports" TV programme (background music only) broadcast on 23 December 1981."). To be fair to Hooky, I think a lot his precise dates for release were culled from external sources (the internet etc.), so this date could be similar and not necessarily correct.

24/12/81 (Mark Johnson's book - "These songs, given away as a flexi to those spending Christmas Eve 1982 at The Hacienda (4400 copies were produced), were recorded for Tony Wilson. Wilson used snatches of the songs on "Granada Reports" the previous Christmas Eve as the musical backing to a video showing, among other holiday sights, turkeys sacrificing their lives as a bequest to the nation." We know Johnson's book has a number of errors though. So, again, date might be spurious.

23/12/82 (a guy on the 'missing episodes' forums, who seems fairly knowledgeable - see post dated 10/03/19 here https://missingepisodes.proboards.com/thread/10760/rock-music-granada-reports-1973 - "23 Dec 1982: New Order provided the soundtrack to a short film by Tony Wilson, which took an irreverent look at the Christmas season. The tracks ‘Rocking Carol’ and ‘Ode to Joy’ were released on the Hacienda Club’s Christmas flexi-disc in 1982.")

It does, therefore, appear that this item is lost. Shame. Now I know how those 'Dr Who/The Avengers/Dad's Army' fans feel. :-(

No mention of 1983 though, so I think I'm safe to correct my records.

It doesn't really help you though, Dennis. Sorry.

Dear friends,

I have just about completed my book manuscript for Sonic Bond. The artwork is yet to be finalised, but here is a working mockup:

mockup

I can also report that Mark Reeder has provided the Foreword, and it is fascinating!

Now, here is something for you guys. Because the way I've written the book is from a fan's perspective, I would also like the inside colour images section to include a selection of quality photos of the band as taken by fans across the years from the early days to now.

Email me straight away if you're interested and send a lowres pic. I can't promise inclusion, but I'd love to try. My window of opportunity for this is probably only until this weekend.

Excellent that this is in the final stages, Dennis, and good news on the Mr Reeder foreword. Congrats!

Looking forward to reading it. Please make sure you let us all know hen it's available for pre-order.

How did you get on with the finalising of the sessionography etc?

congratulations, and looking forward to it.

not a fan of pink. but hey, its the words that count.

later -1

Not important now but i remembered recently about a message or note that Bernard asked Steve Lamacq to read out before one of the session tracks aired on Lamacq's Radio 1 evening show in October 2001. He said he'd found it frustrating and exhausting that Get Ready had taken months and months to record and that he wished he could record an album in 2 weeks like they'd done with Unknown Pleasures but sadly that no longer seemed possible.

In that Roger Lyons interview on Martyn Ware's podcast he said Bernard was the kind of musician whom when he came up with a great idea would spent a week exploring and exhausting all the possibilities for that idea before usually concluding that the original idea was the best and settling on it. So probably no wonder it takes months and months to do an album eh

I see that the book is now up for pre-order on Amazon and slated for pre-xmas release

https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Order-Track-Every-Album/dp/1789522498

I have to say that I've read a couple of books in this series and found them quite disappointing (either badly written, or worse - factually inaccurate), so it will be good to have one that I know to be decent quality

My only real complaint is that the stock artwork template that the publisher uses for the series is terrible. I realise you won't have had a choice in it, but it's incongruous to have such an ugly looking book cover about a band who have routinely used fantastic artwork and design principles

Well, I'll definitely be getting one.

Before pre-ordering, just wondered if Dennis might be doing a signed version, as I'd certainly be interested if he was (providing p&p from 'down under' isn't too pricey, of course).

GotBlueEyes wrote: I see that the book is now up for pre-order on Amazon and slated for pre-xmas release

https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Order-Track-Every-Album/dp/1789522498 I have to say that I've read a couple of books in this series and found them quite disappointing (either badly written, or worse - factually inaccurate), so it will be good to have one that I know to be decent quality

That's very kind. We've just completed final edits, and its off to the printers - should be in time for Xmas I'm told. It's been interesting taking my stream of thought blog writings and turning them into a cohesive book. I think you'll enjoy it - it is very much written from a fan's perspective and what the music means to me/us.

GotBlueEyes wrote: I see that the book is now up for pre-order on Amazon and slated for pre-xmas release My only real complaint is that the stock artwork template that the publisher uses for the series is terrible. I realise you won't have had a choice in it, but it's incongruous to have such an ugly looking book cover about a band who have routinely used fantastic artwork and design principles

I'm quite OK with the cover. The photo of Bernard is a good one.

Watch this space.

Dennis

perspexorange wrote: Well, I'll definitely be getting one.

Before pre-ordering, just wondered if Dennis might be doing a signed version, as I'd certainly be interested if he was (providing p&p from 'down under' isn't too pricey, of course).

I'm sure I can manage that 😎

Dennis Remmer wrote:

I'm quite OK with the cover. The photo of Bernard is a good one.

Yes - was only a minor niggle based on the publisher's pretty perfunctory approach to their graphic design. Compared to say the 33 1/3 books (which are equally hit and miss fan-written affairs) - at least they have adopted a nice aesthetic for their covers

In the circumstances I think you've done the best job you can. Good pic of Bernard, coloured to match the Technique sleeve

In actual fact it's largely just the clip art vinyl quadrant in the top left with "on track" written on it that I really take offence to!

Looking forward to getting my copy

Here you go my dear NOOL compatriots... it's at the printers, should be arriving in stores for (or just after) Christmas.

On Track - New Order

The first retailer that will have it will be Burning Shed - the official Sonicbond shop, as they are supplied directly, but it's also already listed at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Dymocks, and even (registering peak excitement) Walmart. Pretty much everywhere!

Publication date remains 23rd December in the UK. US depends on how long it takes to ship.

I hope you enjoy it; it's the culmination of many things, and this forum was a major influence. As per the blog from which it came, all opinions are my own (and Mark Reeder's [in the foreword]).

Cheers Dennis

Thanks for the update, order placed.