lowlife

Low-Life
Studio album by New Order
Released	13 May 1985
Recorded	1984, Jam and Britannia Row Studios, London
Genre	New Wave Electronic
Length	40:05
Label	Factory FACT 100 Qwest
Producer	New Order
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Blender link Pitchfork Media (9.0/10) link Rolling Stone (favorable) link Robert Christgau (B+) link
New Order chronology
Power, Corruption & Lies (1983) Low-Life (1985) Brotherhood (1986)

Low-Life is the third studio album of the English rock band New Order. Released in May 1985, Low-Life is considered to be amongst New Order's strongest work, displaying the moment in which the band completed its transformation from post-punk hold overs to dance rock pioneers. The album shows New Order's increased incorporation of synthesizers and samplers, while still preserving the rock aspects of their earlier work.

The album's artwork is the only New Order release to feature photographs of the band members on its sleeve. On most issues, drummer/keyboardist Stephen Morris is on the front cover. Some re-releases, including the 1993 London Records CD, feature four photographs inside the case and a semi-transparent piece of paper with the band's name on. Owners can choose which band member is seen through the sleeve.

The album was preceded by the release of the full-length version of "The Perfect Kiss" as a single (only an edited version appears on the album). John Robie's remix of "Sub-culture" was also released as a 12" single. Both of these extended versions eventually were included on 1987's Substance.

The songs on this album formed the basis of New Order's live concert video, Pumped Full of Drugs, filmed in Tokyo shortly before the album's release.

The music video for "The Perfect Kiss" was directed by Jonathan Demme. The song "Elegia" was featured in the Academy Award-nominated short film More by Mark Osborne.

In 2000 Q magazine placed Low-Life at number 97 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. Low-Life (alongside New Order's 1989 album Technique) was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

In 2008 the album was re-released in a Collector's Edition with a bonus disc, including the rare 17-minute version of "Elegia" and, for the first time in digital format, the unedited 12" mix of "The Perfect Kiss".

Track listing

All songs were written by Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert

Side one

1. "Love Vigilantes" – 4:16
2. "The Perfect Kiss" – 4:51
3. "This Time of Night" – 4:45
4. "Sunrise" – 6:01

Side two

1. "Elegia" – 4:56
2. "Sooner Than You Think" – 5:12
3. "Sub-culture" – 4:58
4. "Face Up" – 5:02

2008 Collector's Edition bonus disc

1. "The Perfect Kiss (12" version)" – 8:49
2. "Sub-culture (12" version)" – 7:26
3. "Shellshock (John Robie remix)" – 6:28
4. "Shame of the Nation (12" version)" – 7:55
5. "Elegia (full version)" – 17:28
6. "Let's Go" – 3:43
7. "Salvation Theme" – 2:16
8. "Dub-vulture (12" version)" – 7:56

Personnel

New Order

• Bernard Sumner; Vocals, guitars, melodica, synthesizers & programming, percussion
• Peter Hook; 4 & 6 stringed bass, electronic percussion, backing vocals on "This Time of Night"
• Stephen Morris; Drums, synthesizers & programming
• Gillian Gilbert; Synthesizers & programming, guitars

Others

• New Order; Production
• Michael Johnson – Engineering
• Mark, Penny and Tim – Tape operators

Release details

• UK 12" – Factory Records (FACT 100)
• UK cassette – Factory Records (FACT 100C)
• US 12" – Qwest (25289-1)
• US cassette – Qwest (9 25289-4)
• UK CD (1993 re-release) – London Records (520 020-2)

Chart positions

• UK – #7
• US – #94
• AUS – #70

See also

• New Order discography

External links

• Low-Life on New Order Online
• Low-Life on World in Motion