Resurrecting a very old thread...


Just discovered this 'cover' version myself, having read an old article in 'Sounds' from 24/01/87. This news article details this controversial release.

Just a short summary of this for the uninitiated (of which I was one yesterday!).

It appears that 'Savoy Books', which issued literature of a subversive / seditious nature back in the 80s, decided to release a cover version of 'Blue Monday', which also featured lyrics from Springsteen's 'Cadillac Ranch'. This was late 1986 / early 1987, I think.

Here's the track in question:


Apparently this record was deemed a little too controversial to distribute, with most companies outright refusing to have anything to do with it.

The main controversy appears to relate specifically to these two points:

a) The cover of the record (which has been censored on the YouTube clip above). You can view the original artwork here, in all it's 'glory':

https://www.discogs.com/...-Monday-/release/3536473

Basically, it depicts then Manchester Police Chief Constable, James Anderton; a controversial figure back in the day who advocated 'work camps' for offenders and believed he received orders direct from God. Anderton is shown on the cover with the back of his head blown out, and various very 'extreme' words appear in scrawled writing alongside the image.

b) The name of the band that released it; namely 'The Savoy Hitler Youth Band', featuring vocals by 'Lord Horror'.

Now the choice of the song coupled with the Nazi band name, seems to me to be a 'not so subtle' dig at New Order.
Which brings me onto my point, really.

The two head honchos of Savoy Books were David Britton and Michael Butterworth, the latter of whom you'll probably be familiar with from the book, 'The Blue Monday Diaries'.
This book talks about the author's time in the studio with New Order, where he was an invited observer when the band were recording PC&L and the titular song in question. This book also delves into Butterworth's trials and tribulations with his bookstore and their ongoing battles with the Greater Manchester Constabulary.

So, I'm just wondering how much Mr Butterworth was involved in this record.
I've tried to search through the book, but there doesn't appear to be any reference to this particular song (although I may have missed this). However, it appears that he and Britton released a series of books under the 'Lord Horror' title. I think these were mainly written by Britton.

If Mr Butterworth was involved in this record, which does seem likely (even if it was just selling the record), I wonder how much that pissed the band off.
I mean, it's not a very subtle way of trying to say that the band are fascists.

Now, having read the book, it is obvious that Mr Butterworth does not believe that the band had fascist tendencies. In fact he mentions in a few places that this image of the band and Factory was unwarranted.

So, it therefore seems a little harsh of him to be involved in a record that appeared to perpetuate this unfounded rumour.
Especially considering the band had been so generous in their acceptance of him, giving him full access to Britannia Row at the time of recording, in order that he could write a book. (It should be pointed out that, for reasons that I can't remember right now, was shelved for 30 years or so, so didn't really help the band with promotion at the time).

I'd like to think that there was nothing malicious in the intentions of Mr Butterworth (et al) with this record. I'm sure that it was part joke and part 'sticking two fingers up' at the establishment. However it does seem a little crass to have green lit something like this, when he would've known that the band were fighting an uphill battle with the music press over them being (unfairly and unjustly) labelled as Nazi sympathisers.

I'm sure that the band were pretty pissed off with it. In fact that 'Sounds' article that started me on this quest to find out more includes a quote from Hooky:

"We've seen the record and the whole thing is a pile of shit!"


Not sure why I've decided to post this, but just thought it was fairly interesting. Anyone know anything else about this?

Cheers for the reply, Fotz.

Bit of a longshot, I know. I'm not really expecting too much in the way of information, given it's fairly obscure.

I just think it's quite an interesting thing for someone who was relatively close to the band to do something as 'arsey' as this (I say 'relatively', as the band were fairly 'prickly' at this stage in their career).

I wonder if he was pissed off with them for some reason.

Many thanks for this info, Daws. And thanks for taking the time to post.

Interesting stuff indeed, To be fair, their website's also quite intriguing.

It certainly seems more likely that the Blue Monday cover was a light-hearted swipe at New Order, rather than anything particularly malicious.