aka The Vinyl Villain incorporating Sexy Loser
#065: New Order – ‘Ceremony’ (Factory Records ’81)
Good morning friends
another one which will most certainly divide the millions of readers of this excellent blog into exactly two divisions: one which will think that I am a total tosser, and one which will think that I am a real genius.
Given the number of singles New Order released over the years, there will obviously be quite a lot of opinions about which one was the best of the lot – which easily makes the first division the bigger division, I would reckon. I just had a quick look @ discogs: 36 7“ singles have been issued, their filter says. But those include things like single sided promo versions on coloured vinyl, stuff that no-one can afford anyway …‘Blue Monday’ being a good example.
What I’m trying to say, first division, is: even if you number the lot down to ‘the pure’ 7“ releases, it’s still quite a bulk of records, so even if the chances are not exactly 1:36 against my choice, they are still pretty low I’m afraid.
But 7 inches is the topic, ‘original’ ones at that, so I had to draw the line somewhere. ‘Blue Monday ’88’ could theoretically have featured, but it is shite, of course. ‘Temptation’ could have featured, but there was no way it could have made the top, because even if you had heard the 12“ only once in your life, you would never include the 7“ in any chart whatsoever! Also JC featured it just a few weeks ago, which might or might not be a good reason not to pick it.
mp3: New Order – Ceremony
I first fell in love with ‘Ceremony’ when I heard it on ‘Still’ – and, as you know, old love never fully dies. I know I am easily aroused, but when Barney opens with the ‘this is why events unnerve me’ – bit, it still sends shivers down my spine … and that’s quite a task after 43 years, isn’t it?
As far as I’m concerned, they never released a better 7“. A better 12“: yes, easily. Feel free to disagree, but if you are in the second division with me, let me know …
Take good care,
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
If I look closely at the criteria, I also belong to the second division. Everything is subjective, of course, but Ceremony is great and a song that is too rarely mentioned.
Agree, although tempered by the awareness that this isn’t really New Order as such, just a respectful closing the door on Joy Division. The band could never emulate Curtis as lyricists or vocalists, so, from hereon, had to be very different.
When limiting to 7″, yes – agreed.
I don’t often comment on guest posts, but want to do so on this occasion, even if only to repeat from a posting back in October 2017. Apologies that it’s long comment
The release of the debut single from New Order, inevitably, was going to be an occasion of refection about the death of Ian Curtis.
My recollection is that Ceremony was slipped out, almost unnoticed and with very little fanfare. Picking up my copy at the local record shop in the area of Glasgow where I lived, I was secretly pleased when the long-haired rocker behind the counter said it was unlistenable and depressing and wasn’t prepared to play it in the shop for me.
It meant I would get to hear it at home, albeit on a record player that was as basic as there (a Dansette) although I had hopes of getting to play it on the ‘big stereo’ if my folks weren’t in (they were!!).
The amazingly effective and affecting bronze-coloured sleeve that looked like some sort of memorial plaque, almost as if it was paying respect to the old band, only added to my excitement as I raced down the road as quickly as I could without running – that would have been uncool and pathetic.
The needle hit the groove and I listened in awe to music that was comfortingly familiar albeit it was lacking the vocal was lacking power and authority. It didn’t stop it being a brilliant debut single, and if New Order had wanted to call it quits there and then, I’d have been okay with it.
I wasn’t alone in thinking back then that Ian Curtis was the principal songwriter, lyrically and musically, and so if there weren’t many more tunes that he’d been involved with before the suicide, the new band might struggle to match the heights of their first release. Subsequent events proved otherwise….
Ceremony has been overshadowed by a great deal of what followed, particularly during the imperial phase up to an including the release of Technique in 1989. But, as Dirk reminds us, it is a very special 7″ single.
Most of their “imperial” phase highlights were on 12″ singles, their 7″ always seemed poor in comprassion, but I would argue a case for Procession, the opening keyboard sound always a cue to rejoin the indie disco floor
paul
Ceremony is a fine 7″ single that stands upon its’ own merits. I bought it when it came out and I still love it now.
All hail Division 2!!!
Darren 157
Maybe…Everything’s Gone Green. I’ll say no more. FIK 422.
This (first and only?) Ceremony 7″ version is so great that I spontaneously chose Dirk’s side.
A relatively new article that deals with the genesis of Ceremony: Listen to Joy Division’s early take of ‘Ceremony’ (Far Out Magazine, 2022)
[sk]
Ceremony. And True Faith, the other book end of their great 7″ singles in the 80s- in between its the 12s all the way but the trip from Ceremony to True Faith is incomparable. From the darkness to the light.