Customer Reviews

Complete BBC Recordings

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Despite London Records insistance that the Heart & Soul boxset would have every Joy Division recording on it, it didn't. It left out some key Peel Sessions (all collected here) and what was on Still. This disc also collects some other BBC sessions, but really, little in the popular music canon of the past 25 years can compare with these songs, some of which (Transmission) appear in their most realized recorded states.

As a bonus, the Peel version of Love Will Tear Us Apart is slightly different but just as good as the various released versions. Give this CD to someone who's only ever heard Nine Inch Nails and watch them become the toast of the underground rock community. Give it to someone who was there and watch a tear roll down their eyes. An excellent re-release. In summary, perfect music.

More than 25 years after the death of Ian Curtis, the loss magnifies, and the impact made by Joy Division becomes ever more apparent. Moby. Nine Inch Nails. Interpol. The list of artists influenced by Joy Division are too many to mention.

Begin with Unknown Pleasures or the Substance Collection, but pick up the BBC sessions not only for better versions of Transmission and Exercise One -- untouched by producer Martin Hannett (just as C. Roark "tri-zeta" pointed out in the first review posted here [though I will point out the Pink Floyd influence is impossible, as Joy Division's Peel session was from January 1979 and Pink Floyd's The Wall was not released until November that year]) -- but also for what used to be rare recordings of Transmission and She's Lost Control (tracks 9 and 10 here) from Something Else (recorded for Radio One in September 1979).

When all's said and done, it's the two versions of Transmission that are worth the price of this BBC Sessions disc. The first, from the John Peel show, is a different and superior arrangement than what you'll hear on Substance. The latter, though a little raspy, is just plain intense. And that intensity is what Joy Division is all about.

The rating above does not reflect my views on the importance or the quality of this release. John Peel's radio sessions often caused bands to reimagine and recreate their music in new and challenging ways, and Joy Division is no exception. All of these versions, with the band performing these songs live-in-the-studio, give a fresh perspective on the originals since these contain little overdubs, compared to their studio counterparts.

My 2-star review reflects the case that this is out of print, very rare, and quite expensive when found. The actual album itself has been re-released as the bonus disc on the UK version of The Best of Joy Division, which is still in print and available, and cheaper as well. All of the songs on here are available on that, even the interview with Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris. Overall, I suggest you do buy this album, only in that format.

Is there such a thing as a bad Joy Division album or song? Simple answer--no there isn't. But I feel this album does not deserve a pristine 5 stars. The songs roar with raw energy and pure darkness. But without the production skills of Martin Hannett, the band sounds a bit more ammatuerish compared to the final sessions of each song on here. With that being said, it is very important to igknowledge that these song provide a fantastic contrast to the polished Hannett versions and provide better outlook to the bands' live sound--hey, that's what Peel Sessions are for. Colony hits hard with deep, tense, abstract motions...
The interview was cut short and was supposed to have Martin Hannett speaking also. What really is tops about this album are the "Something Else" TV performance of Transmission and She's Lost Control. While the sound quality/mix isn't perfect, these are without a doubt the best captured performances of these two songs--studio or live. Simply Phenominal....

First off, I'd like to start by saying that I'm not a longtime Joy Division fan. I in fact thought they were a pretty lousy band on account of Ian Curtis (who is now, ironically enough, my favorite member). Then I bought Closer and Permanent (just to check out Pete Hook; I'm a bassist) and was spellbound by the beautiful basslines, the sparse guitars, the pounding drumbeats and Curtis's detached, mournfully deep voice.

I had however, no clue as to how tight they were as a band and how intense their music could be until I heard this album. The other albums I own (Substance, Closer, Permanent) all boast the atmospheric, reverb-drenched sound of Martin Hannett's production, which I believed to be crucial to the otherworldly sound of songs like "Twenty Four Hours" or "She's Lost Control". Now however, as I hear these songs performed at the BBC, I realize that the production in fact masks the raw power of both the band and Ian Curtis.

If the idea of hearing a more intimate yet equally disturbing Joy Division appeals to you, you MUST buy this CD. Substance offers a glimpse of a powerful band bridging punk energy and new wave darkness; the BBC recordings deliver it full-blast. This is one CD you won't regret buying, as it delivers some amazing songs (missing a few good ones, alas) in a light not seen otherwise in their existing discography. What are you waiting for? Buy it!!

The emptiness of existence in the modern age has never been expressed in music so clearly as it was between 1977-1980 by Joy Division. While 1998's _Heart & Soul_ boxset captured most of the group's output, _The Complete BBC Recordings_ finishes off of the archive with two sessions from the John Peel Show along with recordings of "Transmission" and "She's Lost Control" from one of the group's rare television appearances. The studios of the BBC captures a new ambiance of the group's musical sound while Curtis' voice penetrates the listener's soul, only to remain and haunt it long after the music has clicked off. The songs on this disc are not excercises in self-pity nor enterprising efforts of life as "gloom and doom." They are instead honest reflections of one man's extraordinary pain that pull in with it the isolation of history's displaced persons in the 20th Century. This set of recordings, like all of Joy Division's musical efforts, is a testament to Curtis' genius as a lyricist and the band's minimalist approach as an artful expression of the unsettling side of life.

"Heart and Soul" is an amazing and comprehensive overview of Joy Division's brief but crucial recorded legacy. HOWEVER, it omits the following BBC Sessions: "Insight," "Transmission," (both versions), "She's Lost Control" (both versions), "The Sound Of Music" and "Twenty Four Hours." This means almost all of this CD is NOT on Heart and Soul. Which means you should buy it. Now here's my review:

True there were occasional overdubs of a guitar here or vocal there, but Peel Sessions, at least from the punk era, were a great chance to get a "live" recording, but with studio conditions more conducive to solid band performances. Joy Division, never a particularly proficient bunch of musicians, benefitted tremendously from the setting the John Peel Show offered.

Ian's voice on both these sessions was thankfully in good shape. He sounds strong and, relatively speaking, his pitch is solid. His yell at the end of "Transmission" still gives me chills, 15 years after I discovered the 12" vinyl of Session 1. Stephen, Bernie and Hooky all turn in their most consistent, assured performances of the Joy Division era.

Personally, I consider the versions of "Exercise One," "Insight" and "Sound Of Music" to be the definitive versions of these songs. But all eight of the original two Peel Sessions are nothing short of stellar. Of particular interest are the different lyrics in verse 2 of "Colony" and the overall feel of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" without the overdubbed high-hat part on the studio version.

The extra versions of "Transmission" and "She's Lost Control" come from a different British radio show, "Something Else" and were recorded on September 15, 1979. Both are good, but a tad inferior in sound quality. "She's Lost Control" is absolutely manic - a little too fast for my taste.

More than anything, it was the Peel Sessions that got me into Joy Division. If you are not a big fan of the (over)production style of Martin Hannett, then you should love this. In any case, this is top quality live-in-the-studio material from a great, unique band.

"The Complete BBC Recordings" are live radio performances by Joy Division. But these live performances are a little different than one might think. With that said this is what i mean;the John Peel sessions where recorded "almost live". Joy Division would run through a song several times, then the takes where tweaked with the produer requesting each and every musician to proform "add-ons",which where then mixed into the songs. The finished product is a highly polished live track. So when Joy Division played live in concert, earlier in the evening they would do a soundcheck, two to six songs depending on the time they had, and then play the live show, song after song to the crowds delight,but thats not the case here. The first Peel session was on Jan 31,1979 at BBC's Maida Vale studios, with Bob Sargeant producing and Kick Gomm engineering;no Martin Hannett. Keep in mind this session comes before "Unknown Pleasures" but Martin had produced two songs for them on "The Factory Sample". Four songs where used for this session and then transmitted on the radio during the John Peel show on Feb 14,1979. "Exercise one" "Insight" "She's Lost Control" and "Transmission" are the tracks from the first session. With "Unknown Pleasures" behind them along with three singles "Transmission" "Earcom 2" and "Sordide Sentimentale",Joy Division returned to BBC's Maida Vale Studios to record their second John Peel session on Nov 26,1979. Again four songs where chosen, four songs that would be a part of their second album. These songs had developed during the Buzzcocks tour; "The Sound of Music" "Twenty Four Hours" Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Colony". Only two of these songs would make it on "Closer". The second Peel session was transmitted during the John Peel show on Dec 10,1979. There are ten tracks on this album, with the last two being a more traditional live performance from BBC's T.V. program "Something Else". These two songs are from Sept 15,1979. You will notice a difference between these last two songs and the first eight. This is a brillant performance by Joy Division and a must have for any fan of their music. "We knocked on the doors of Hell's darker chamber,Pushed to the limit,we dragged ourselves in" Ian Curtis, Decades.

I am a long time JD fan and consider them the greatest straight ahead 4 piece band made up of singer/guitar/bass/drums that ever was, behind only Black Sabbath and perhaps the Smiths.
That said I give this 4 stars and not 5 becuase I think it is not a good enough collection of live material to represent the greatness of the band. But for somebody like myself who owns everything the band has ever done, it is a GREAT addition to my collection and an interesting listen. Like many of the BBC collections of bands music it is not the band at their finest, which is not to overlook some of the great BBC performances that have been done.

On this and many of the other BBC recordings, the band in this case JD suffers a little from their lack of strengths they have in the freedom of the studio and the intensity of a true audience that is present to feed off of.

Outside of owning the box set which is one of the more complete compilations you can own of a band ( where its almost all you need ) I would recommend buying the live Preston CD, which despite terrible equipment problems which result in the band playing through one bass amp and the almost bootleg quality ( the quality of a good bootleg which modern techiques have made the most of )is a much more enjoyable and intense performance of the band in its dawn of greatness.

In summary, if you love the band and own everything in their catalog, or at least the box set and listen to it regularly then this will be a pleasant surprise to have new recordings when you thought you would never again. Still, but the live Preston or Les Bains CD first. If you have those already, you want to hear this and I recommend the Nau Ensemble Joy Division interpretation called The Eternal to any fan of JD.

Apparently this album is becoming increasingly hard to find, but it is definitely worth seeking out. It collects both Joy Division Peel Sessions (early and late 1979), their BBC television appearance, and a short interview with Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris.

This is a real hidden gem. The Peel Sessions performances are excellent, and contain several rarer songs like 'Exercise One' and 'The Sound Of Music' that can be difficult to get elsewhere. These live performances really showcase the rawer, punkier side of the band compared to the studio albums. You'd think that Joy Division's songs would sound anemic when stripped of Martin Hannett's production, but that's not the case. The more direct sound actually benefits songs like 'Insight' (much better than the over-produced version on 'Unknown Pleasures') and 'The Sound of Music' (clearer vocals). A stripped-back version of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', with much more prominent guitar, isn't as good as the studio version but is an interesting take on the song. The only song that doesn't work for me is the Peel version of 'She's Lost Control'; at a much slower tempo, it lacks the frenetic drive of the original.

This is redeemed though by a blistering, manic live performance of the song from their BBC TV appearance. This, along with 'Transmission' from the same appearance, would have to be one of their best ever live performances; certainly better than those on 'Still' and 'Heart And Soul', and arguably the equal with 'Les Baines..'.

And despite its brief length, the interview at the end is also very revealing. For all their gloom-and-angst image, Ian and Steve come across as typical Northern "lads", cracking wry jokes and offering self-depreciating assesments of themselves. Its refreshing to hear Ian in particular in such a context.

Some reviewers recommend buying 'The Best Of Joy Division', which contains this material on a bonus CD, but that compilation offers nothing new for the dedicated fan who already has the studio albums and 'Substance'. So there's really nothing to be lost by seeking out this hidden gem; excellent live performances plus some rarer songs make it an important album for die-hards and collectors to own.