Mapping The Definitive Editions - Low-life

Do you know if the JD ‘live’ set is still in the works too, JJ? Hope so.

Seriously I very rarely post on here, but I’ve experienced a load of death this year and if New Order want to recoup some profit on this stuff, get it out before your customers die. Stop fannying around!

We're currently on course for THIS year.

EmileStrunz wrote: Seriously I very rarely post on here, but I’ve experienced a load of death this year and if New Order want to recoup some profit on this stuff, get it out before your customers die. Stop fannying around!

Me too - this year has been brutal. I'm sorry for your losses. I hope you're doing ok.

Johnny James wrote: We're currently on course for THIS year.

It must be pretty annoying to be pestered all the time but I guess you know we fans can't help ourselves. Thanks for checking in :)

Johnny James wrote: We're currently on course for THIS year.

Thanks Johnny. Good news!

I echo Jonathan's sentiments. Really appreciate you checking these forums and letting us know.

Jonathan wrote:

EmileStrunz wrote: Seriously I very rarely post on here, but I’ve experienced a load of death this year and if New Order want to recoup some profit on this stuff, get it out before your customers die. Stop fannying around!

Me too - this year has been brutal. I'm sorry for your losses. I hope you're doing ok.

Johnny James wrote: We're currently on course for THIS year.

It must be pretty annoying to be pestered all the time but I guess you know we fans can't help ourselves. Thanks for checking in :)

Cheers. And thanks Johnny for responding.

Sometimes it’s only music that gets you through

Lost a couple of friends suddenly and young recently. The cat popping his cloggs last week was the last straw!!

Johnny James wrote: We're currently on course for THIS year.

This won’t even happen NEXT year! (2023) 🙈

😈

It's off to production now. 2022 still on course.

Johnny James wrote: It's off to production now. 2022 still on course.

That's great news Johnny - will give me something to look forward to when the summer holiday is over and it gets darker and colder towards the end of the year.

Any idea how long it'll be until its release and tracklist are announced?

Great news, JJ. Thanks.

Looking forward to this.

Mr Discography wrote:

Johnny James wrote: It's off to production now. 2022 still on course.

That's great news Johnny - will give me something to look forward to when the summer holiday is over and it gets darker and colder towards the end of the year.

Any idea how long it'll be until its release and tracklist are announced?

No idea, but probably pretty soon.

Fantastic news, Johnny!

You’re the man!

Can’t wait!

Johnny James wrote: It's off to production now. 2022 still on course.

Fingers crossed there's no global vellum shortage atm ;)

Great news.

Can we expect a white box or a grey/silver? Could go either way.High hopes for a great remastered 12" TPK.Would Shellshock fall in with the Low Life era or the Brotherhood era? It was halfway between so neither really , though i'd say if it has to be in with one box at a push i'd say the Low Life box but it's a tough one.Maybe it won't feature on either of them.No great loss for me as i've never been a massive fan of the song (ducks for cover).

Fotz wrote: Can we expect a white box or a grey/silver? Could go either way.

Hadn't thought about the box colours for each set. Assuming it gets a release, I guess white will be reserved for Substance.

The two sets so far have been pastel shades. Assuming it'll be a different colour for each of the definitive editions, could be something like:

• Low-Life: grey (although that will clash with the Music Complete box)
• Brotherhood: pastel metallic dark blue
• Technique: pastel purple
• Republic: pastel orange
• Get Ready: pastel red
• Waiting For The Sirens' Call/Lost Sirens: maybe a pastel shades of one of the colours from the Lost Sirens sleeve not used for previous sets?

We're certainly a long way from all these sets coming out, but kind of fun to speculate.

Fotz wrote: Would Shellshock fall in with the Low Life era or the Brotherhood era? It was halfway between so neither really , though i'd say if it has to be in with one box at a push i'd say the Low Life box but it's a tough one.Maybe it won't feature on either of them.No great loss for me as i've never been a massive fan of the song (ducks for cover).

Shellshock is my favourite New Order song - has been since I first heard it in 1988 when I bought Substance. If the Collector's Editions are anything to go by, Shellshock will be included with the Low-Life Definitive Edition 12 inches. Hoping we finally get a digital release of the full 9:42 12" version.

I’m also a big fan of Shellshock (the Pretty In Pink soundtrack version being my favourite).

In my opinion, it fits more on LowLife, but I’m more than happy for it to be picked up on Brotherhood.

I’m just happy that we’re talking about the next set. Great news.

Fingers crossed that we get an official release of the fantastic ‘original’ vocal version of ‘Let’s Go’.

perspexorange wrote: I’m also a big fan of Shellshock (the Pretty In Pink soundtrack version being my favourite).

I'll be chuffed to get a remastered digital release of the full 9:42 full 12", but the Substance edit has always been my favourite version - it's missing the extra verse heard on the Pretty In Pink/12" versions, but I never liked the fade-out of the Pretty In Pink mix, and feel the 12" drags on a bit by the end. Substance edit is the ideal length and version for me.

I don't know what it is or was about Shellshock for me.Maybe i just got off to a bad start with it by first hearing the 7" on the radio just before its release, i found it limp with poor lyrics ('You call me on the phone..' blah blah) and i didn't like Bernard's vocal.Thing is, you could say the lyrics to say, Confusion were no better but the lyrics and melody to Shellshock never did much for me.I do like some of the sounds and beats on the 12" version though, some of it is indeed fun, funky and playful and the dub version Shellcock is quite bonkers with even a guitar solo right at the end! But the song was never anywhere near up there with monumental classics like AoC, YSF,BM, TLU, TPK, BLT etc.Oh well.

Fotz wrote: Great news.

Can we expect a white box or a grey/silver? Could go either way.High hopes for a great remastered 12" TPK.Would Shellshock fall in with the Low Life era or the Brotherhood era? It was halfway between so neither really , though i'd say if it has to be in with one box at a push i'd say the Low Life box but it's a tough one.Maybe it won't feature on either of them.No great loss for me as i've never been a massive fan of the song (ducks for cover).

Shellshock is a bit of a tricky one regarding the eras. It was released nearer to Brotherhood yet it's followup, State of the Nation was recorded before Low-Life was released.

I suspect is it will be included with the Low-Life set and State/Shame will feature on the Brotherhood set along with Touched by the Hand of God and the Salvation! tracks. But then where does that put Let's Go?

I guess Let’s Go can be dealt with in both box sets. LowLife for the vocal version as, from all accounts, it was originally meant to be on that LP.

Then Brotherhood can pick up the Salvation tracks (if, indeed, it’s decided to include these, which I guess is not a certainty).

Alternatively, if Substance is done as a box set, Salvation tracks could be included as bonuses on that, I guess. Along with TF and TBTHOG 12”s.

I’d love for let’s go vocal to be released as a bonus vinyl 12”.

perspexorange wrote: I guess Let’s Go can be dealt with in both box sets. LowLife for the vocal version as, from all accounts, it was originally meant to be on that LP.

Then Brotherhood can pick up the Salvation tracks (if, indeed, it’s decided to include these, which I guess is not a certainty).

Alternatively, if Substance is done as a box set, Salvation tracks could be included as bonuses on that, I guess. Along with TF and TBTHOG 12”s.

I can't really see Substance getting the box set treatment. Only if physical media sales somehow tick up could I see how even a remastered/deluxe edition would be worthwhile. There wouldn't be as much of a production expense but I think the Definitive Editions are making it redundant.

Andy wrote:

perspexorange wrote: I guess Let’s Go can be dealt with in both box sets. LowLife for the vocal version as, from all accounts, it was originally meant to be on that LP.

Then Brotherhood can pick up the Salvation tracks (if, indeed, it’s decided to include these, which I guess is not a certainty).

Alternatively, if Substance is done as a box set, Salvation tracks could be included as bonuses on that, I guess. Along with TF and TBTHOG 12”s.

I can't really see Substance getting the box set treatment. Only if physical media sales somehow tick up could I see how even a remastered/deluxe edition would be worthwhile. There wouldn't be as much of a production expense but I think the Definitive Editions are making it redundant.

I do agree that Substance probably doesn’t need a proper ‘definitive’ box. A simple remastered and slightly expanded version would do me.

But if they did do a ‘definitive’ edition, it could pick up Salvation etc.

Does Sputnik and Skullkrusher really deserve to be remastered? 😈

For those who don't know, there's a CD version of Shellshock (9'40) here :

https://www.discogs.com/fr/master/394344-Blank-Jones-So80s-Soeighties-6

Andy wrote: I can't really see Substance getting the box set treatment. Only if physical media sales somehow tick up could I see how even a remastered/deluxe edition would be worthwhile. There wouldn't be as much of a production expense but I think the Definitive Editions are making it redundant.

How can you say that when the remastered 12" single tracks have not been included in the boxes, only released concurrently on new 12" pressings?

Substance needs a definitive box set.

Jcp7 wrote: For those who don't know, there's a CD version of Shellshock (9'40) here :

https://www.discogs.com/fr/master/394344-Blank-Jones-So80s-Soeighties-6

I knew of that, but didn't want to buy the whole compilation for that one track when I knew there'd be remastered, lossless digital downloads of the 12" on the way sometime soon.

50poundnote wrote:

Andy wrote: I can't really see Substance getting the box set treatment. Only if physical media sales somehow tick up could I see how even a remastered/deluxe edition would be worthwhile. There wouldn't be as much of a production expense but I think the Definitive Editions are making it redundant.

How can you say that when the remastered 12" single tracks have not been included in the boxes, only released concurrently on new 12" pressings?

Substance needs a definitive box set.

It's been said before, but I think it essentially needs a remastered set (perhaps at a lower price point than the main definitive editions) including:

• Double vinyl mirroring the original 1987 Substance LP

• 3 x CDs with the same 28 tracks as the original double cassette from 1987. Only difference should be the full 12" version of 'The Perfect Kiss' on the CD, as the truncated one added nothing to the original release, and the full version was always on the vinyl edition even in 1987. All other re-recordings (Temptation and Confusion) and edits unique to Substance (Subculture, Shellshock, Hurt) should be kept, as they were decent edits shortening what were very long 12" versions, and made Substance what it is. Any more mucking about with tracklistings of the core album, and it'll cease to be Substance.

Not averse to a fourth bonus CD with a few other rarities as an addition to the remastered core Substance.

Also accompany it with digital releases of all the seven inches, including B-sides - as a companion to all the digital.12 inches that have been put out.