"Sub-culture"
Single by New Order
from the album Low-Life
B-side"Dub-vulture"
Released28 October 1985
Genre
Length4:58 (Album version)
7:26 (12" remix)
3:28 (7-inch version)
4:48 (Substance 1987 version)
LabelFactory - FAC 133
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)New Order
New Order singles chronology
"The Perfect Kiss"
(1985)		 "Sub-culture"
(1985)		 "Shellshock"
(1986)

"Sub-culture" is a song by English rock band New Order. It was released as the second and final single from their third studio album, Low-Life (1985) on 28 October 1985 by Factory Records.

Release

The single release, remixed by John Robie, is a drastic departure from the album version of the track. Robie's 12" and 7" single mixes feature more club-oriented, electronic instrumentation and prominent soulful female backing vocals.

The B-side is an instrumental remix titled "Dub-vulture". An alternate seven-inch edit of the Robie remix taken from the Benelux version of the "Sub-culture" single appears on the group's 1987 compilation, Substance. This version also appears on the US 12" alongside the longer mixes.

A collection of Razormaid remixes of the track were released in 1986, which include additional vocals by Deborah Iyall of Romeo Void.[4]

Making use of the word shaft with its possible sexual connotations, the song seems to be about sexual rejection, loneliness and alienation in an urban environment.

Artwork

"Sub-culture" has only a regular black sleeve, as graphic designer Peter Saville reportedly deemed the mix of the song unworthy of his talents.[5] Saville's input was present only in a P/S/A (Peter Saville Associates) credit for typography.[6] However this rumour was debunked in 2017 when Saville stated, "I never had the authority to say that there shouldn't be a sleeve. No, all I can presume is that one was not asked for."[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner

7": 7FAC 133 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."Sub-culture"3:28
2."Dub-vulture"3:38
7": 7FAC 133 (Benelux)
No.TitleLength
1."Sub-culture"4:57
2."Dub-vulture"4:55
12": FAC 133 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."Sub-culture"7:26
2."Dub-vulture"7:57
12": Qwest 0-20390 (US)
No.TitleLength
1."Sub-culture" (Remix)7:26
2."Subvulture"7:57
3."Sub-culture" (Remix Edit)4:57

UK 7" free with Record Mirror - RM2

  1. New Order: "Sub-culture" (exclusive remix) – 4:14
  2. Raymonde: "Jennifer Wants" (exclusive track) – 2:02
  3. Hipsway: "Bad Thing Longing" (preview from their forthcoming album) – 4:09
  4. Adventures: "Walk Away Renee" (specially recorded for RM) – 3:11

Chart positions

Chart (1985) Peak
position
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[8] 29
UK Singles Chart[9] 63
UK Independent Singles Chart[10] 1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[11] 35
US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[11] 18

References

  1. ↑ Harrison, Ian (2 February 2023). "Joy Division And New Order's Top Ten Albums". Mojo. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Shade, Chris (2016). "New Order - Low-Life". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 541.
  3. ↑ ASCAP entry
  4. ↑ "New Order:DJ Remixes:Sub-culture". www.niagara.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  5. ↑ "New Order Discography".
  6. ↑ "Factory Records: FAC 133 NEW ORDER Sub-culture". Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "New Order--Sub-Culture". Discogs. 1985. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  8. ↑ ""Discography New Order". charts.nz. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  9. ↑ "The Official Charts Company: New Order". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  10. ↑ "Indie Hits "N"". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2 Oct 2008.
  11. 1 2 "New Order: Billboard singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.