Question - Masters Of The Ceremony Megamix

Back in late 1990, I remember reading about the above 'megamix' and was quite interested to hear it.

Over the years, I've tried to find a copy online, but with no success. Googling it today draws a complete blank, with absolutely no reference to this online whatsoever.

Now, I'm guessing it's probably not the greatest thing ever committed to vinyl (I have a load of other 1980s New Order bootlegs, and they're invariably terrible), but I'd still be interested in hearing it.

It was apparently mixed by a 'DJ Eject' and released on a bootleg.

Here's a cutting of 'Record Collector' #136, 12/1990, which is where I first read about it:

I'm starting to think that it either didn't exist and RC got it wrong, or it was very much a 'bedroom effort', with extremely limited release.

Anybody able to satisfy my curiosity?

Whilst we're on the subject, of megamixes, I used to have a mix of Bizarre Love Triangle/Angel Dust on tape? Anybody remember that? I'm sure it wasn't that great, but it would be nice to hear it again, if anyone has it.

Never heard of that Masters Of Ceremony one or the Megatrax one but I think the disc pictured below that I have is the ON-USound one mentioned in that cutting at the end. Haven’t played it in years. From memory TPK, BLT and BM and maybe more are mega mixed on it and Bronksi Beat mixed in also or on the b side or something , really can’t remember without giving it a spin

I think you’re right, Fotz.

I bought that disc myself, from HMV in Manchester. 1990, I think. Around the same time, I bought the Arthur Baker ‘Minimal’ remixes of ‘Confusion’.

I read that article too and assumed it was the mix on Demos, Outtakes and Rarities. There were three of these bootleg cassettes and they got steadily less worthwhile.

Michael Monkhouse wrote: I read that article too and assumed it was the mix on Demos, Outtakes and Rarities. There were three of these bootleg cassettes and they got steadily less worthwhile.

I'm not sure I'm aware of those compilations. I'll look them up.

I've been looking through some of my old trade lists, and the Masters Of The Ceremony megamix is mentioned on a couple of them.

Apparently, it's 45 minutes long (or thereabouts). Crikey! That might be a bit excessive.

It either covers about 15-20 tracks by the band, or (more likely) mixes the usual tracks with various other songs from the era.

Three cassettes I picked up at a record fair in 1992. The most interesting was the first cos it had 586 Pts One and Two, Haystack, Homage and the Hassie flexidisc. There's a tracklisting here but it doesn't specify which versions https://www.discogs.com/New-Order-Demos-Outakes-Rarities/release/7935833 . The funny part is that I thought Haystack had a woman on vocals so it was an old Inadequates track! I was right about the flexi tracks, and assumed 586 was an early version (half-right) and Homage an old demo (right again). Record Mirror and An Ideal For Living proved invaluable back then. The best part about the second one was Let's Go / Waiting for so long, which was also the best part of the third one! Milking it, really, but I'm sure there were two megamixes on there.

I have the rarities 2 cassette, with the photo of Barney, but it's on orange paper instead of green. It includes soundcheck versions of Angel Dust and All Day Long from the Playhouse Theater in Edinburgh, 11 September 1986. I LOVE these versions, because they used a singular/heavier drum machine sound live, and you can hear how beautiful the sequenced tracks are by themselves.

Also had the London 6.12.85 cassette. Kudos for starting with Atmosphere for the first time, the closest ever to a definitive TPK, and the full soundcheck featuring some JD to boot. Vague memories of some BLT demos and As Tit Is When tit Was with alternative lyrics, but it's been fucking Decades (see what I did there).

Thanks for the info, both. Although I didn't have those exact cassettes, I certainly had some similar ones. It was great to finally get to hear some of those rarities (Homage, Video 5-8-6, Theme etc.). I also had some similar tapes that included all the various soundtrack variants.

I have that AIIWIW demo mentioned.

I also have a demo of BLT, with different lyrics. It's basically like those early live performances of the track ("You will take me by the hand and I won't leave you far behind", etc.). However, I'm not 100% convinced it isn't either a rehearsal or a soundcheck, as it has Bernard talking about the drum machine at the beginning.

It's labelled as a demo, but I guess that was probably the bootlegger 're-classifying' it to make it sound like something that might be of interest. Case in point, from the same period, I supposedly have demos of Paradise and Sub-Culture. I think I bought these thinking they would be different:

Paradise could be a demo, but is probably just soundcheck/rehearsal). Sub-Culture is just the RM Remix.

Fooled by the bootleggers, once again.

Yeah, I had a BLT 'demo' where he talks about the sequencer. I assumed it was a soundcheck. Different lyrics too - 'Keep your thoughts inside your head; think too much and you'll be dead...' The worst bootleg rip off was RIAD Fazed and Dazed on The Remix CD, which I mentioned in the Rarities thread. I'm convinced the bootlegger did it at home and bunged it on there to fool even the most obsessive completist. makes the Sly n Robbie take sound like Hendrix.
For years I thought Theme was Homage (A MGM). Finally heard the true horror through arsistance on these forums, and bought it on the Bemucous compilation.

perspexorange wrote: Thanks for the info, both. Although I didn't have those exact cassettes, I certainly had some similar ones. It was great to finally get to hear some of those rarities (Homage, Video 5-8-6, Theme etc.). I also had some similar tapes that included all the various soundtrack variants.

I have that AIIWIW demo mentioned.

I also have a demo of BLT, with different lyrics. It's basically like those early live performances of the track ("You will take me by the hand and I won't leave you far behind", etc.). However, I'm not 100% convinced it isn't either a rehearsal or a soundcheck, as it has Bernard talking about the drum machine at the beginning.

It's labelled as a demo, but I guess that was probably the bootlegger 're-classifying' it to make it sound like something that might be of interest. Case in point, from the same period, I supposedly have demos of Paradise and Sub-Culture. I think I bought these thinking they would be different:

Paradise could be a demo, but is probably just soundcheck/rehearsal). Sub-Culture is just the RM Remix.

Fooled by the bootleggers, once again.

thats interesting about those demos or rehersal tracks.

hooky is selling off a lot of them, and maybe those will show up if someone here gets access to them.

i have a feeling they will all go for a lot of money to the major collectors.

later -1

Yeah - I had that RIAD 'Phased & Dazed' mix on here:

https://www.discogs.com/New-Order-The-Remix/release/7706942

Yeah, the mix was certainly amateur, but the other tracks made it a worthwhile compilation to get. There were a lot of those previously mentioned soundtrack variants, plus things like the Paradise and Run 2 remixes on CD.

'Theme (sometimes known as 'Theme (Hommage A MGM)') is a bit of an odd one, isn't it?

It originally appeared on the 'Crépuscule Collection 1 - The Quick Neat Job' compilation in 1986. Then it appeared on the 'Moving Soundtracks (Volume One)' compilation in 1991. Both releases credited it to 'Be Music' and used the full name.

It next appeared on the LTM compilation 'Cool As Ice (The Be Music Productions)' in 2003. Again, this was under the 'Be Music' banner but this time reduced to just 'Theme'.

Finally, it made an appearance on the other LTM compilation 'New Order Presents Be Music' in 2017. It was now relabelled as 'Lavolta Lakota Theme' and credited solely to 'Peter Hook'.

For years, it was always assumed by most fans that it was the band in disguise as 'Be Music' (although the band members worked separately under that umbrella). However, that last release seems to indicate that Hooky was the only one who worked on it.

I'm sure I read somewhere that it was the music the band 'Lavolta Lakota' walked on stage to, hence the new name. I think Hooky used to do their live sound and was where he pinched Dave Hicks from for Revenge.

negative1 wrote: ...and maybe those will show up if someone here gets access to them.

i have a feeling they will all go for a lot of money to the major collectors.

I think this is the problem. I doubt anyone who posts here will be able to outbid the major collectors. So it seems doubtful that these will ever be propagated any further than the buyer.

I hope I'm wrong though. It would be real shame for all of these to just sit with one individual for the rest of his life.

With any luck, 'Johnny James' has copies of most of this (if not all), and we get to hear the best stuff on the forthcoming box sets.

I was looking through the online catalogue yesterday. It has a lot clearer pictures than the printed one (and more pictures too), so it's easier to make out what might be on the various tapes. There does look like there might be some real gems featured in the auction.

perspexorange wrote:

'Theme (sometimes known as 'Theme (Hommage A MGM)') is a bit of an odd one, isn't it?

It originally appeared on the 'Crépuscule Collection 1 - The Quick Neat Job' compilation in 1986. Then it appeared on the 'Moving Soundtracks (Volume One)' compilation in 1991. Both releases credited it to 'Be Music' and used the full name.

It next appeared on the LTM compilation 'Cool As Ice (The Be Music Productions)' in 2003. Again, this was under the 'Be Music' banner but this time reduced to just 'Theme'.

Finally, it made an appearance on the other LTM compilation 'New Order Presents Be Music' in 2017. It was now relabelled as 'Lavolta Lakota Theme' and credited solely to 'Peter Hook'.

For years, it was always assumed by most fans that it was the band in disguise as 'Be Music' (although the band members worked separately under that umbrella). However, that last release seems to indicate that Hooky was the only one who worked on it.

I'm sure I read somewhere that it was the music the band 'Lavolta Lakota' walked on stage to, hence the new name. I think Hooky used to do their live sound and was where he pinched Dave Hicks from for Revenge.

Information about New Order is more interesting than New Order's actual music. You're out of my league. As I wrote on the other thread, I ''needed'' The Remix for the versions of Sister Ray, RIAD, Paradise and Blue Funday. I already had the rest and my equipment didn't affect the sound quality (ask my wife). As that beyond appalling Ruined never appeared anywhere else, certainly not on anything official, it's bound to be a ploy by the bootlegger. I never thought RIAD could sound any worse than in Sly and Robbie's hands. The funny part is that they were also involved in Grace Jones' She's Lost Control, and that was total and utter fucking shit too.

perspexorange wrote: Thanks for the info, both. Although I didn't have those exact cassettes, I certainly had some similar ones. It was great to finally get to hear some of those rarities (Homage, Video 5-8-6, Theme etc.). I also had some similar tapes that included all the various soundtrack variants.

I have that AIIWIW demo mentioned.

I also have a demo of BLT, with different lyrics. It's basically like those early live performances of the track ("You will take me by the hand and I won't leave you far behind", etc.). However, I'm not 100% convinced it isn't either a rehearsal or a soundcheck, as it has Bernard talking about the drum machine at the beginning.

It's labelled as a demo, but I guess that was probably the bootlegger 're-classifying' it to make it sound like something that might be of interest. Case in point, from the same period, I supposedly have demos of Paradise and Sub-Culture. I think I bought these thinking they would be different:

Paradise could be a demo, but is probably just soundcheck/rehearsal). Sub-Culture is just the RM Remix.

Fooled by the bootleggers, once again.

For those of you who haven't heard this BLT Soundcheck/Rehearsal ive uploaded it here .I'm sure its the same one you have mentioned Perspex. I ve got it labelled as "soundcheck" at the London Central Poly gig 06-12-1985.

https://we.tl/t-lc0s00LBsa

Thar's the cassette I had. Great Gigi AND sound check. Bet you never thought I'd say anything positive eh.

Atrocity wrote:

For those of you who haven't heard this BLT Soundcheck/Rehearsal ive uploaded it here .I'm sure its the same one you have mentioned Perspex. I ve got it labelled as "soundcheck" at the London Central Poly gig 06-12-1985.

https://we.tl/t-lc0s00LBsa

Thanks for this. I can confirm that this is the same as mine. And thanks for identifying the gig/soundcheck. That was something that I was planning to do this weekend. Well spotted!

Michael Monkhouse wrote: Thar's the cassette I had. Great Gigi AND sound check. Bet you never thought I'd say anything positive eh.

HaHa.

We all know, deep down, that you're a fan, Michael. But it's still great to hear you praise the band from time to time.

And you're right. Great gig and soundcheck. Any gig that has Procession, Sunrise and 5-8-6, alongside classics like AoC and TPK, is bloody good as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah, that's that out of the way. For Decades. Until A Later Date or a Blue Monday morning, night and day. Mine had the gig first but otherwisehttps://100greatestbootlegs.blogspot.com/2017/03/bootlegs-of-month-march-2107.html?m=1 . What a great sound check and gig setlist. The Perfect Kiss is pretty much the definitive take, plus they start with Atmosphere for the first time, and there's some classic between-song banter. Probably the best N O boot I had.

Fotz wrote: Never heard of that Masters Of Ceremony one or the Megatrax one but I think the disc pictured below that I have is the ON-USound one mentioned in that cutting at the end. Haven’t played it in years. From memory TPK, BLT and BM and maybe more are mega mixed on it and Bronksi Beat mixed in also or on the b side or something , really can’t remember without giving it a spin

I have this too, but with a blue label. I was never quite sure of its origin, so good to learn of it. It's a Bronski Beat mix on the B side. It's been so long since I played the New Order side I forget what's on there - but, oh wonders of the internet, seems liek it's this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy4OOaxxSKI

Yeah - my label is blue too.

I'm wondering if Fotz' copy has a blue label too. Might just be the flash on the camera making it appear white etc.

As I mentioned above, HMV Manchester had multiple copies of this on their shelves back in 1990. I always thought this a little odd, as it seemed fairly 'unofficial'.

I remember that I had pretty limited funds the day I spotted it and had the choice between this and the aforementioned Arthur Baker remixes of 'Confusion' (the ones on the 'Minimal' label). I opted for 'Confusion', but picked up this Megamix the following month at the same shop.

I have this Blue Order on CD:

https://www.discogs.com/fr/Various-The-Megamixes/release/596566

perspexorange wrote: Yeah - my label is blue too.

I'm wondering if Fotz' copy has a blue label too. Might just be the flash on the camera making it appear white etc.

Erm, nope. That very pale colour of the label in the photo is definitely the actual colour. And i didn’t use the flash on my phone camera. The label is a very very pale green(ish).

Yes I also bought that Minimal Records 12” release with the Confusion remixes sometime circa 1990.

Actually gave the Blue Order 12” a spin just now. Tracks mega mixed together are TBTHOG 12”, True Faith Pettibone remix ( heavily looped in places), BLT Pettibone 12”, Sub Culture Robie 12” , Round & Round ( Saunderson mix I think), BM original 83 and a snippet of The Beach and a looped “ tell me how/ tell me now/ tell me how/ tell me now” which is quite comical before finally a sudden jump into a brief section of TPK to finish.

Fotz wrote:

Erm, nope. That very pale colour of the label in the photo is definitely the actual colour. And i didn’t use the flash on my phone camera. The label is a very very pale green(ish).

Ah, cool. Thanks for confirming. Never seen one with any other colour than blue.

Actually, just checked Discogs.

They have both colours listed:

https://www.discogs.com/NO-BB-Blue-Order-Mega-mix-Bonus-Bronski-Beats/release/12191765 https://www.discogs.com/NO-BB-Blue-Order-Mega-mix-Bonus-Bronski-Beats/release/457170

I learn something new every day.

And, looking at Discogs, they've prohibited sale, so they must class 'em as bootlegs. Naughty old HMV, eh?

Actually I guess a very very pale turquoise rather than pale green?

For those of you who haven't heard this BLT Soundcheck/Rehearsal ive uploaded it here .I'm sure its the same one you have mentioned Perspex. I ve got it labelled as "soundcheck" at the London Central Poly gig 06-12-1985.

https://we.tl/t-lc0s00LBsa

Wow thanks for this - never heard this before, very strange hearing different lyrics (glad Barney changed them in the end). Do you think this could end up on the Box sets, sounds as good as some of the stuff on the first 2.

perspexorange wrote:

Whilst we're on the subject, of megamixes, I used to have a mix of Bizarre Love Triangle/Angel Dust on tape? Anybody remember that? I'm sure it wasn't that great, but it would be nice to hear it again, if anyone has it.

Managed to find a copy of this BLT/Angel Dust mix. As suspected, it's nothing to fax home about...

I would upload it, but I doubt anyone's particularly interested. However, if anyone does have a burning desire to hear it, just PM me.

By the way, I have some info on 'The Masters Of Ceremony' mix, courtesy of a friend.

It does exist and apparently, it is all New Order / Joy Division tracks (i.e. no other bands). From all accounts, it was made by a work colleague of the above friend, so is pretty much 'fan made', rather than produced by a 'remix company' (DMC, Razormaid etc.).

Not too fussed then. If you get into fan mixes, you never stop, and a lot of it's crap in the first place. Phased n Dazed, anyone? Still, thanks for sharing, as my mother says.

31 years after first reading about this mix in 'Record Collector', I've finally got hold of a copy of 'The Masters Of The Ceremony FAC. Mix'. Direct from the master tape no less.

And, it's...

Well, I'll let you be the judge of it.

I've uploaded it for all to hear...

https://we.tl/t-3CUJMlS1zH

Well, at least we got to hear it.

Big thanks to my friend who kindly shared it.

PS As I was uploading anyway, I've slung the BLT/Angel Dust remix in the same location.

Both files are FLACs, so relatively large, especially the Masters mix (489Mb).

Yeah, for obsessives only! Feels like I've been here before.