Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (Thirty Three and a Third series) [Paperback]

Chris Ott (Author)

Book Description

Series: 33 1/3 | Publication Date: March 31, 2004

Joy Division's career has often been shrouded by myths. But the truth is surprisingly simple: over a period of several months, Joy Division transformed themselves from run-of-the-mill punk wannabes into the creators of one of the most atmospheric, disturbing, and influential debut albums ever recorded. Chris Ott carefully picks apart fact from fiction to show how Unknown Pleasures came into being, and how it still resonates so strongly today. EXCERPT The urgent, alien thwack of Stephen Morris' processed snare drum as it bounced from the left to right channel was so arresting in 1979, one could have listened to that opening bar for hours trying to figure how on earth someone made such sounds. Like John Bonham's ludicrous, mansion-backed stomp at the start of "When The Levee Breaks"-only far less expensive-the crisp, trebly snare sound with which Martin Hannett would make his career announced Unknown Pleasures as a finessed, foreboding masterpiece. Peter Hook's compressed bass rides up front as "Disorder" comes together, but it's not until the hugely reverbed, minor note guitar line crashes through that you can understand the need for such a muted, analog treatment to Hook's line. Layering a few tracks together to create a six-string shriek, Hannett's equalization cuts the brunt of Sumner's fuller live sound down to an echoing squeal, revealing a desperation born of longing rather than rage. This is the way, step inside.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A new entry is a series about famous LPs. Welcome is Ott's appreciation of Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division's debut album (a work of "unparalleled drama and scope," Ott raves). The short-lived English band's career was short-circuited by lead singer Ian Curtis' suicide not long after recording Unknown Pleasures. Ott describes Joy Division's musical approach and re-creates its frenetic and distinctive stage shows in a manner that should satisfy those who remember the band, and possibly bring it new fans.

Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Chris Ott writes about the record with a chilly elegance that evokes the austerity of the music itself.” –The Boston Phoenix, 7/8/04 (Mike Miliard )

"Once Ott forgoes the facts and gives in to his passion, he brings the reader closer to the band's 'unparalleled gravity and grandeur.'" —San Francisco Bay Guardian, 5/19/04

"New fans will find it to be a useful introduction to the band as it details their story from the very beginning to the tragic end. Even the more dedicated fan might be interested in reading another person's opinions about the different songs, the importance of JD's music, and why the band still plays an important role in the history of alternative music." -Joy Division website, 5/24/04

“Compelling and so despairing that at one point I had to stop reading it for a bit. ” –Alternative Weekly, 6/10/04

“Joy Division’s gestation period is competently recounted in the narrative and each important individual is dealt with fairly. Including Hannett and Wilson. Ott’s approach and reaction to his subject is commendably unflinching. Well written.” – Jason Dropor, Record Collector, October 2004 (Jason Dropor )

"Though the recording of the album is naturally the centerpiece of the book, (Ott) delves enough into the evolution of the band and background events leading up to the recording of said album (as well as certain post-album events leading up to Ian's suicide) to properly provide context for said rekkid….you don't have to be a regular gear-rag reader to understand what he's talking about….overall recommended." David Hill, Shredded Paper Magazine, Fall 2004 issue

"Throwing format to the wind, "Pleasures" goes to town on the ban's entire oeuvre. Ott is admiring, but his love for the group doesn't keep him from letting them look the fool when appropriate—and it's his way into the head of bandleader Ian Curtis, who might have survifed his all-great-artists-die-young illusions if some concrete afflictions (epilepsy and the drugs required to tame it, for instance) didn't piggyback onto the ones he invented for himself. A-" —Austin American-Statesman, 10/17/04

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (March 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826415490
• ISBN-13: 978-0826415493
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #531,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A book about ian Curtis, not the LP, November 20, 2004

By 

Siriam (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (Thirty Three and a Third series) (Paperback)

"The title "Unknown Pleasures" in all likelihhood refers to Proust's "Remembrance of Things Past", a divisive, drawn out autobiography of the author's wilful self-absorbed youth" (Page 82)

If that sentence does not grate then this book is definitely for you as it admirably sums up the author's approach - "Unknown Pleasures" is a recording that like Jeff Buckley's "Grace", has become near mythical as a memorable initial recording followed by the singer's early death with no time to subsequently disappoint by later output . As a result many writers on limited evidence feel able to extrapolate their views and this book is sadly no exception.

Chris Ott is clearly a long time US based devotee of the group and their output and as an American has done a lot of homework on the Mancunian rock scene of 1976-1980. He covers well how it grew out of copying the London led punk scene and was then left behind by Joy Division as they moved on from their initial incarnations as the Stiff Kittens and Warsaw. His detailed coverage of the early recordings and John Peel "Top Gear"sessions and the growing contact with Rob Gretton and Tony Wilson plus producer Martin Hannett (whose cutting edge if erratic approach to new recording techniques was used so effectively but at the cost of alienating group members by his control freak approach), is the best retelling of the story I have seen to date.

Where the book starts going astray is half way through as we move to the recordings of the songs that made it to the final LP and the remainders that were used on later releases and compilations. That Ian Curtis developed quickly as a great lyricist and singer and that he was a major catalyst with other members of the group in how songs were developed is well covered - however the hagiography with which Ott imbues him and the interaction of his private life (relying heavily on his widow's recent biography) lead to an overemphasis on the tragic suicide that occurred shortly after and little evaluation of the LP and its subsequent impact (the small sales of 15,000 in six months being little explanation of why the recording is cited in many "best of" lists). Instead what is provided is a retelling of Curtis's quick and sad decline in health and the tragic interaction of drugs and manic live performances reflecting the growth of intensity in his epilepsy seizures. One sad result is the rest of the group become a mere backdrop, which as New Order subsequently showed they were clearly not.

20 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars These positive reviews are all fake!, June 23, 2004

By 

james factor (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (Thirty Three and a Third series) (Paperback)

Obviously Chris Ott has signed in under all these different names to give his own book positive reviews If have have ever seen a fake name before, then certainly 'David Forsythe' is it!

This book is totally derivitive and not worth buying. Whole paragraphs seem to be lifted from the Deborah Curtis book. Chris waxes on in a prose style not worthy of a freshman in college. I think he should go back to his failed indie rock band.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh sigh., February 11, 2008

By 

spitgrrl (libraryland, indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (Thirty Three and a Third series) (Paperback)

I thought this would be an overly pedantic study of the album, but it is really more of an overview of ALL of Joy Division's recordings with little focus on "Unknown pleasures" itself. This wasn't unwelcome to me as someone who always gets confused as to the chronology of Joy Division recordings. Moreover, the book contains a decent (but not overwhelming) amount of biographical anecdotes which, ultimately, makes this a very readable and enjoyable book.