An Ideal for Living
Encyclopedia
An Ideal for Living is the debut EP
released by Joy Division
in 1978, shortly after changing their name from Warsaw.
All tracks were recorded at the Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham
, on 14 December 1977. A 7" version was released in June on the band's own Enigma Records label (not to be confused with the American record label of the same name
), followed by a 12" version in October on the band's own Anonymous Records label. All tracks were re-released on the band's 1988 singles compilation Substance
.
7" vinyl (Enigma PSS139) and 12" vinyl (Anonymous Record ANON 1)
member beating a drum, which was drawn by guitarist Bernard Sumner
(called "Bernard Albrecht" on the poster sleeve), and the words "Joy! Division" printed in a blackletter
font. The cover design fuelled controversy over whether the band had Nazi
sympathies. As the cover hints, the release reflects the band's early punk
influences, as opposed to the bleak post-punk
the band would later develop.
The 12" version was released later with an image of scaffolding, in an attempt to distance the band from blatant Nazi overtones.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
released by Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
in 1978, shortly after changing their name from Warsaw.
All tracks were recorded at the Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, on 14 December 1977. A 7" version was released in June on the band's own Enigma Records label (not to be confused with the American record label of the same name
Enigma Records
Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
), followed by a 12" version in October on the band's own Anonymous Records label. All tracks were re-released on the band's 1988 singles compilation Substance
Substance (Joy Division album)
Substance 1977-1980 is a singles compilation album by the post-punk band Joy Division, released on Factory Records in 1988. It is companion to a similar singles compilation by their subsequent band New Order, also entitled Substance. It peaked at #7 in the UK album chart and #146 on the Billboard...
.
Track listing
All tracks written by Joy Division.7" vinyl (Enigma PSS139) and 12" vinyl (Anonymous Record ANON 1)
- "WarsawWarsaw (song)"Warsaw" is the opening song by Joy Division on their An Ideal for Living EP. It was slated for release on the album that became Warsaw, which was originally scrapped by the band and not released until 1994. The song is available on a number of compilations including Substance...
" – 2:26 - "No Love Lost" – 3:42
- "Leaders of Men" – 2:34
- "Failures" – 3:44
Cover
The cover has a black-and-white picture of a blonde Hitler YouthHitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
member beating a drum, which was drawn by guitarist Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
(called "Bernard Albrecht" on the poster sleeve), and the words "Joy! Division" printed in a blackletter
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
font. The cover design fuelled controversy over whether the band had Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
sympathies. As the cover hints, the release reflects the band's early punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
influences, as opposed to the bleak post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
the band would later develop.
The 12" version was released later with an image of scaffolding, in an attempt to distance the band from blatant Nazi overtones.