Power, Corruption & Lies
Encyclopedia
Power, Corruption & Lies is the second studio album by New Order
, released in May 1983 on Factory Recordings
. It is more electronic-based than their previous album Movement, with heavier use of synthesizers. In 1989, it was ranked #94 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.
In 2008 the album was re-released in a Collector's Edition with a bonus disc.
vandalized the exterior of the Kunsthalle
by spray painting the text, "Power, Corruption, and Lies".
" and "Confusion" singles. Saville also used it on Section 25
's album From the Hip, which is in many ways aligned stylistically with Power, Corruption & Lies and produced partly by New Order's Bernard Sumner
. It was common for New Order sleeves to share certain themes that represented an era of their productivity, in addition to typography, or lack of typography in this instance. The back to back singles of "Murder
" and "Thieves Like Us
" both contain the themes of Roman numerals, for instance.
The cover is a reproduction of the painting "A Basket of Roses" by French artist Henri Fantin-Latour
, which is part of the National Gallery
's permanent collection in London. The art director Peter Saville had originally planned to use a Renaissance
portrait of a dark prince to tie in with the Machiavellian
theme of the title, but couldn't find a suitable portrait. At the gallery Saville picked up a postcard with Fantin-Latour's painting, and his girlfriend mockingly asked him if he was going to use it for the cover. Saville then realised it was a great idea. Saville suggested that the flowers "suggested the means by which power, corruption and lies infiltrate our lives. They're seductive." The cover was also intended to create a collision between the overly romantic and classic image which made a stark contrast to the typography based on the modular, colour-coded alphabet he created solely for the band. It is also said that the owner of the painting (The National Heritage Trust) first refused Factory Records
access to it. Tony Wilson
, the head of the label, then called up the gallery director to ask who actually owned the painting and was given the answer that the Trust belonged to the people of Britain, at some point. Wilson then famously replied, "I believe the people want it." The director then replied, "If you put it like that, Mr Wilson, I'm sure we can make an exception in this case."
The album cover
for Power, Corruption & Lies was among the ten chosen by the Royal Mail
for a set of "Classic Album Cover" postage stamp
s issued in January 2010.
American versions of the album up until the Collector's Edition featured "Blue Monday" at the end of side one, and "The Beach" at the end of side two. The Australia/New Zealand cassette edition (available 1983–1992) featured "Blue Monday" at the end of side one.
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, released in May 1983 on Factory Recordings
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
. It is more electronic-based than their previous album Movement, with heavier use of synthesizers. In 1989, it was ranked #94 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.
In 2008 the album was re-released in a Collector's Edition with a bonus disc.
Title
The title of the album was chosen by Bernard Sumner from a 1981 conceptual art exhibition in Cologne, Germany. On the opening night of the exhibition the artist Gerhard RichterGerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has simultaneously produced abstract and photorealistic painted works, as well as photographs and glass pieces, thus undermining the concept of the artist’s obligation to maintain a single cohesive style.- Biography :Gerhard Richter was born in...
vandalized the exterior of the Kunsthalle
Kunsthalle
Kunsthalle is, generally, in German speaking regions a term for a facility mounting temporary art exhibitions. Some are run or supported by a local Kunstverein, an art association of local collectors and artists...
by spray painting the text, "Power, Corruption, and Lies".
Cover
Peter Saville's design for the album had a colour-based code to represent the band's name and the title of the album, but they were not actually written on the sleeve itself (they were, however, present on the North American sleeve). The decoder for the code was featured prominently on the back cover of the album and can also be used for the "Blue MondayBlue Monday (New Order song)
"Blue Monday" is a single released in 1983 by British band New Order, and later remixed in 1988 and 1995. The song has been widely remixed and covered since its original release, and became a popular anthem in the dance club scene.-Background:...
" and "Confusion" singles. Saville also used it on Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
's album From the Hip, which is in many ways aligned stylistically with Power, Corruption & Lies and produced partly by New Order's 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....
. It was common for New Order sleeves to share certain themes that represented an era of their productivity, in addition to typography, or lack of typography in this instance. The back to back singles of "Murder
Murder (song)
"Murder" is the eighth single by British band New Order.Released on the Factory Benelux imprint in 1984, it is an instrumental piece that contains samples of dialog from the films 2001: A Space Odyssey and Caligula...
" and "Thieves Like Us
Thieves Like Us (song)
"Thieves Like Us" is a single by British group New Order, released in April 1984 by Factory Records. It is one of the group's most popular songs. It is named after the 1974 crime movie Thieves Like Us, directed by Robert Altman...
" both contain the themes of Roman numerals, for instance.
The cover is a reproduction of the painting "A Basket of Roses" by French artist Henri Fantin-Latour
Henri Fantin-Latour
Henri Fantin-Latour was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.-Biography:...
, which is part of the National Gallery
National gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
's permanent collection in London. The art director Peter Saville had originally planned to use a Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
portrait of a dark prince to tie in with the Machiavellian
Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct", deriving from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote Il Principe and other works...
theme of the title, but couldn't find a suitable portrait. At the gallery Saville picked up a postcard with Fantin-Latour's painting, and his girlfriend mockingly asked him if he was going to use it for the cover. Saville then realised it was a great idea. Saville suggested that the flowers "suggested the means by which power, corruption and lies infiltrate our lives. They're seductive." The cover was also intended to create a collision between the overly romantic and classic image which made a stark contrast to the typography based on the modular, colour-coded alphabet he created solely for the band. It is also said that the owner of the painting (The National Heritage Trust) first refused Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
access to it. Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
, the head of the label, then called up the gallery director to ask who actually owned the painting and was given the answer that the Trust belonged to the people of Britain, at some point. Wilson then famously replied, "I believe the people want it." The director then replied, "If you put it like that, Mr Wilson, I'm sure we can make an exception in this case."
The album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
for Power, Corruption & Lies was among the ten chosen by the Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
for a set of "Classic Album Cover" postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s issued in January 2010.
Side one
- "Age of ConsentAge of Consent (song)"Age of Consent" is a song by New Order. It appears on their 1983 album Power, Corruption & Lies. It is featured in the teaser trailer of the 2006 film Marie Antoinette, and in an affecting karaoke version in the climactic scene of the 2009 film Modern Love is Automatic. The intro is also used in...
" – 5:16 - "We All Stand" – 5:14
- "The Village" – 4:37
- "586" – 7:31
Side two
- "Your Silent Face" – 6:00
- "Ultraviolence" – 4:52
- "Ecstasy" – 4:25
- "Leave Me Alone" – 4:40
2008 Collector's Edition bonus disc
- "Blue MondayBlue Monday (New Order song)"Blue Monday" is a single released in 1983 by British band New Order, and later remixed in 1988 and 1995. The song has been widely remixed and covered since its original release, and became a popular anthem in the dance club scene.-Background:...
" – 7:32 - "The Beach" – 7:22
- "Confusion" – 8:15
- "Thieves Like UsThieves Like Us (song)"Thieves Like Us" is a single by British group New Order, released in April 1984 by Factory Records. It is one of the group's most popular songs. It is named after the 1974 crime movie Thieves Like Us, directed by Robert Altman...
" – 6:38 - "Lonesome Tonight" – 5:13
- "MurderMurder (song)"Murder" is the eighth single by British band New Order.Released on the Factory Benelux imprint in 1984, it is an instrumental piece that contains samples of dialog from the films 2001: A Space Odyssey and Caligula...
" – 3:57 - "Thieves Like Us" (Instrumental) – 6:59
- "Confusion" (Instrumental) – 7:36
- Total length: 53:32
American versions of the album up until the Collector's Edition featured "Blue Monday" at the end of side one, and "The Beach" at the end of side two. The Australia/New Zealand cassette edition (available 1983–1992) featured "Blue Monday" at the end of side one.
Personnel
- Bernard SumnerBernard SumnerBernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
– vocals, guitars, melodica, synthesizers and programming - Peter HookPeter HookPeter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
– 4 and 6-stringed bass, electronic percussion - Stephen Morris – drums, synthesizers and programming
- Gillian GilbertGillian GilbertGillian Lesley Gilbert is an English musician, keyboardist, guitarist and singer, best known as a member of New Order and a founding member of The Other Two.-Biography:...
– synthesizers and programming, guitars - New OrderNew OrderNew Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
– production - Michael Johnson – engineering
- Barry Sage and Mark Boyne – assistants
Release details
- UK 12" – Factory Records (FACT 75)
- UK cassette – Factory Records (FACT 75C)
- US 12" – Factory Records/Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
(FACTUS 12) - UK CD (1993 re-release) – London RecordsLondon RecordsLondon Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
(520 019-2)
Chart positions
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... Albums Chart |
38 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Albums Chart |
66 |
| German Media Control Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... Albums Chart |
18 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... Album Chart |
3 |
| Swedish Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
16 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
4 |
| U.K. Independent UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... Albums Chart |
1 |