New Order – ‘Temptation’ / ‘Hurt’ UK 12” and 7″ (Factory, FAC63, 1982)

‘Temptation’ was the third (or fourth, depending on whether you count the Factory Benelux 12” variant of ‘Everything’s Gone Green’ as a unique variant) single release by New Order, released May 1982, it was a big deal at the time. The first unique release after the debut ‘Movement’ album, it highlighted that the band had finally parted ways from the influence of Martin Hannett as the producer, and both sides of the single saw the band’s sound build further on the minimal electronic sequencer-driven sound that ‘Everything’s Gone Green’ had first ushered in. Yet, it retained a somewhat delicately ramshackle vibe too, ahead of the polished dance-beat driven sound that would subsequently re-write the band’s DNA for their more electronic-based tracks.

This original UK issue featured here came in 7” and 12” variants. On a personal level, January 1982 had seen me start a Saturday morning job that supplemented my childhood pocket money and birthday/Christmas gifts that had hitherto been the main source of funding my record buying habits. This extra money in the pocket made all the difference when it came to being able to buy different variants of releases, so I bought both of these variants on the same day when the single was first released in May 1982.

And it was important to get both, of course. Because, not only were the sumptuously-sleeved Peter Saville designs different from one another, the mixes of the music on each side were different too.

Oddly enough, both the 7” and 12” releases share the same catalogue number of FAC63. Later Factory releases for New Order might append a -7 to the catalogue number for the 7” editions, which helped. It’s funny to think that a label so renowned for its catalogue numbers didn’t even have variants between 7” and 12” for a good long while!

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Track lists;

7”:
A: ‘Temptation’ (5’16”)
B: ‘Hurt’ (4’42”)

12”:
A: ‘Temptation’ (8’51”)
B: ‘Hurt’ (8’02”)

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The well publicised theory goes that both the 7” and 12” mixes of ‘Temptation’ are in fact simply one long version split into two. You can check this out on YouTube and decide for yourself how compelling an argument this is, as in some quarters it is disputed, arguing that they are from two different recordings.

Nevertheless, what is known for sure is that both the original 7” mix and the original 12” mix were subsequently released digitally on CD later. For example, the 7” mix can be found on the 2005 (and 2016) compilation ‘Singles’ and 2011’s  ‘Total (From Joy Division to New Order)’. The original 12” mix can be found on 2002’s ‘Retro’ box set, the 4 CD deluxe version of 2023’s ‘Substance’ re-issue. I mention this because there are quite a number of variations of mixes of ‘Temptation’ on the go in circulation. One of the main variants is the version that was included on 1987’s ‘Substance’ compilation album, which also found its way on to the ‘Touched By The Hand Of God’ CD single. Somewhat controversially, this is a re-recorded version that to some degree jettisons the gently ramshackle nature of the original 12” mix in favour of a harder sounding, more dance-floor-friendly re-tooled mix, not least the somewhat more mechanical sounding steam hammer snare drum. Even more extreme is the ‘Temptation 98’ version found as the opening track of the limited edition bonus CD on 2002’s ‘Retro’ box set.

When it comes to ‘Hurt’ though, it is not as straightforward. As far as I am aware, the 7” mix of ‘Hurt’ has never been re-issued on CD. And this is significant, because the 7” mix isn’t just a faded-out version of the 12” mix or the like – no, the 7” mix is unique and quite different to the 12” mix. For example, some close-listening on a pair of headphones to get a good take on the stereo panning will reveal that on the opening section of the song, when the icy string-synthesizer elements come in at the 0’31” mark, on the 12” mix they are panned left and echoes to the right, on the 7” mix it is the opposite balance. It’s also pretty evident that the with the 7” mix, it is pretty relentless after the drums of Steve Morris come pounding in at the 1’08” mark – there is a brief let up in the instrumentation at the 1‘47” mark, but otherwise it is full-on till it fades out. By comparison, the 12” mix has several breakdown sections where the instrumentation thins out to only sequencer synth, rhythm and vocals – as well as at 1’47” like the 7”, there are prominent breakdowns at 3’39”, 4’46” and much later 6’17”.

But there is more variation when it comes to ‘Hurt’. As it turns out, the original 12” mix does not appear to have been re-issued on CD or digitally either. Instead, a very slightly different ‘variant’ mix has become the go-to version on all CD re-issues. The main difference to tell these versions apart are the section from 6’17 through 6’28” or so – there is much more in the way of faster-repeat echo on the snare drum and when Bernard’s vocals come back in at 6’24” there is an altogether more dub-like echo treatment applied, heard panned towards the left.

My theory is that this version first got released on the very popular Canadian/US ‘1981-1982’ 12” EP in late 1982. Again, with that extra Saturday job money in my pocket, that was a tastily sleeved import-only release that I couldn’t resist and which I bought at the time – it’s the US version I have – and that definitely has the ‘variant’ 12” mix of ‘Hurt’ on it, not the original 12” mix.

In general, both ‘Temptation’ and ‘Hurt’ have an interesting sound, with its primitive sequencer driven synth/rhythm bedrock. The 1982 John Peel Session version of ‘5 8 6’ (and of course ‘Video 5 8 6’) is mapping out similar territory. In my book, ‘Hurt’ every bit as good as ‘Temptation’ and I’ve always tended to think of this single as more of a double-A side proposition than just straightforward A and B sides. (Has to be said in passing that Donna Summer’s ‘Our Love’ [YouTube link] must have been an influence on ‘Temptation’ as well as the very obvious kick drum for ‘Blue Monday’?!)

But, we’re not done yet with the version craziness twists and turns of ‘Hurt’! Neither side of the original UK 12” managed to make it on to the 1987 ‘Substance’ compilation album in their original forms. As discussed earlier, ‘Temptation’ was represented by a re-recorded version, which the small print on the packaging revealed as dating from May 1987. For ‘Hurt’, it was edited down from the original 12” version on the original Factory Records CD edition – so, you can hear that dub-like echo variation I referenced above in the ‘Substance’ edit at approx. the 5’20” mark – but it then ends earlier after that, as it clocks in with a duration of 6’59”. But, the most recent CD re-issue of ‘Substance’ from 2023 has the edit, but, it’s an edit of the ‘variant’ 12” mix! Confusing, eh?! (Can’t vouch for other territories such as the US Qwest issues, as I don’t have these. My London Records CD of ‘Substance’ from the ’90s is the same edit as on the original Factory CD).

So, as it stands at time of writing, that original 12” mix of ‘Hurt’ remains missing in action too as far as CD/digital releases are concerned.

Some random observations

There are some text etchings on the run-out groove areas on the original 7” and 12” singles. The A side of the 7” says “TRY LISTENING TO THE 12”!”. Meanwhile, the B side of the 12” asks “WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

Another detail to note is that the original 7” plays at 33rpm, while the original 12” is at 45 rpm. Now, there have been both later 7” and 12” re-issues. I don’t have the very limited 7” re-issue from 2009, but I do have the 2019 12” re-issue and can confirm that it plays at 45rpm too, like the original. (With re-issues these days, you can never be sure if something is going be pressed to play at 45 or 33, increasingly!)

On the 2019 ‘Movement’ Definitive Edition box set, it includes ‘Temptation (Alternative 7″ Mix)’. There are differences, but they must be subtle – I need to do a deep-dive on this one to see how different it is, but it won’t make the cut in time for this post.

The 2019 12″ re-issue

On that 2019 re-issue, it is not quite a 100% accurate recreation of the original 1982 issue, though it certainly gives it a good go. The mix of ‘Hurt’ that is included is not the original 12” mix, but uses the ‘variant’ mix that, I think, was first issued on the Canadian/US ‘1981-1982’ 12” EP in late 1982. The sleeve of the 2019 12” is a pretty good recreation of the original 12”, though it does contain additional record company text in the bottom right of the rear sleeve and the colours on the front of the speckled ‘palazzo’ painting are a good bit lighter than the original. And to get really picky, the spacing between the letters (the kerning) of the ‘temptation’ text on the front is a good bit tighter than on the original, so the word is more pleasantly spaced-out on the original.  Meanwhile, the typesetting and the ink colours on the label designs are also quite different. The 2019 re-issue does include a plain inner sleeve with contemporary ‘Factory Communications Limited’ anvil logo design though, which is a nice touch. (The same logo I think was first introduced on the inner sleeve of the ‘Movement’ LP.