New Order‘s 4 x CD box set Retro was released in 2002.
Each of the CDs has a theme. CD1 is Pop and was curated by the journalist Miranda Sawyer. CD2 is Fan and its tracks were chosen by a friend of the band, John McCready. CD3 is Club with the responsibility for the selection falling to Mike Pickering of M People/Factory Records/Hacienda fame. CD4 is Live was put together by Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream.
It’s a nicely packaged artefact, complete with a 72-page glossy booklet, packed with snippets of info/commentary and some tremendous photos from throughout the band’s career to that point in time. It is all dedicated to Rob Gretton, the band’s manager whose initial idea it had been for the box set but who passed away some three years before it eventually saw the light of day.
The photo above provides details of the contents of CD3. Here’s three of them for your enjoyment.
mp3: New Order – Confusion (Koma & Bones Mix)
This is substantially different from the original version recorded and mixed by Arthur Baker back in 1983. This one dates from 2002 and it enjoyed a vinyl and CD release via Whacked Records. It’s got more of a classic New Order sound to it than the original.
mp3: New Order – Paradise (Robert Racic mix)
Robert Racic, who passed away from illness at the age of 32 in 1996, was an Australian DJ and record producer. He gave the remix treatment to the opening track on the 1986 album Brotherhood where it was used the following year as a b-side on the Factory Records Australasia remix release of True Faith.
mp3: New Order – Fine Time (Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley remix)
Steve Hurley is a Chicago based DJ/producer who came to prominence in the 80s thanks to his then unique mixing styles which went beyond the normal skill set of house DJs. He also has the distinction of being at the helm of Jack Your Body, which was the UK’s first ever house music #1 single. His remix of the first 45 to be lifted from Substance Technique in 1989 was originally available on the CD version of the single.
Happy to take requests for any of the others for a future posting if there’s any interest.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Fine Time was from Technique
I’d completely forgot about this I probably only played it a couple of times when I got the box set and it obviously didn’t stand out. to be honest it was only the full length Elegia that made an impact. will have to dig it out and give it another listen
I never felt this disc did NO justice, many of the remixes felt a bit post- Factory, record company cash ins. The Sabres slo and lo remix f Regret however is utterly superb, Weatherall sending New Order to dub. The fats n throb remix from the 12″ is also top quality. The Steve Silk Hurley re ix s a good ‘un and John Robie remix of Shellshock is ok. But they were never best served by remixes for me- they should have got a more interesting range of people to remix them- from the early 90s Fluke, Justin Robertson, and David Holmes (among others) would have been good.
thank you
I skipped the Retro box set (and pretty much all box sets) at the time but I was intrigued by some of the selections on the Club CD. I’m guessing Regret is an edit of the second half/dub side of the Weatherall/Sabres mix?
I agree with Swiss Adam’s thoughts about NO remixes in general. Coincidentally, I posted the Fluke remix of Spooky on Friday, which is far superior to the album version in my opinion. I like the Justin Robertson remixes of 1963 but it’s the original every time for me. A David Holmes remix of NO circa 1993? Oh, for a time machine and a wad of cash!