Murder, I've always felt, is quite an interesting (perhaps even marvelous) single.

From what I've read and heard, it seems that Murder was recorded in the 1982 sessions for Power, Corruption & Lies but was inexplicably left off of the final album. The information may not be public or even have ever been known, but I was wondering if anyone knew where Murder was intended to lie on the track listing for that seminal, 1983 album. I'd quite like to listen through PCL with Murder included in it's intended position between songs.

Thanks.

Edited by user 20 August 2014 19:16:29(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Good question, well original vinyl pressings of PC&L do feature a side B run out etch of "Where's Murder?"

Certainly with the later albums - especially Get Ready - the initial track listings were quite different to the finished product and included b-sides so it's probably safe to assume all the other albums went through a similar process. However back in the 80s sans Internet it was easier to keep things out of the public domain.

The quick answer is "don't know" and Discogs doesn't seem to shed any light either.

Famously, Blue Monday & The Beach were included on US Qwest CD pressings of the album but I recall Steve Morris saying in recent interview that they weren't meant to be I.e. the album was intended to be the original 8 tracks and that's it.

I always though of it as a transitional song, too much like Movement and JD to be on P,C&L, and not suited as a b-side for any of the 1983 singles, hence why it sneaked out on Benelux. Nice use of some samples from the truly dreadful "Caligula", as well.

The Light are rehearsing it for an imminent reintroduction into their live sets.

Murder doesn't fit in with Power, Corruption & Lies at all, even though it was from the same sessions. It doesn't sound the same, the mood isn't the same and it doesn't even sound finished with foggy production and sound more like a glorified demo or a monitor mix. There's nothing wrong with Murder as such, it just a track that isn't going anywhere.

The track simply sounds like the band trying to placate Joy Division fans who didn't like New Order's change of direction to a more electronic based sound. In the end they saw the track for what it was an left it off the album. The glorious Thieves Like Us was heavily delayed due to the Saville sleeve, so this is one of the reasons why it didn't see the light of day until 1984.

Murder is infact the reason why I believe PC&L to be the best New Order album, because it is the only New Order album that doesn't sound like a compromise. If Murder had of been on it, then the album would of been a compromise. So the right decision was made. Probably by Barney... :)

Great thing about New Order: Everyone can find something to like (or not like) in the different facets of their music. The uninformed may think of them as just another "'80's" band, a few synthpop hits but nothing else in their quiver. The truth is, each of the 3 tracks you mentioned are great in their own way. I happen to rate Lonesome Tonight the most highly of those three. As I've mentioned in the past, I see it as possessing qualities of both Joy Division and New Order. In fact, I can easily imagine Ian singing it instead.

There is no comparison between Murder & Lonesome Tonight. The latter is vastly superior in every respect and tends to be one of many fans favourite tracks from the Factory era.