Factory Records Top 10 excluding Joy Division/New Order etc.

[Dirty Epic]

Aug 11, 2022 20:43:56 GMT Del Boy said:

I don't know a lot on these lists but I do know Electronic – “Getting Away With It” and the early OMD track Electricity. I must admit I didn't know they were on the label. 

Oh yes Del, Tony Wilson apparently liked OMD after seeing them live at Eric's in Liverpool (or something like) and signed them on the spot then like a few Factory acts (ACR and James) they moved on to a major label and had more success.

[Cartman]

OMD did one I liked, Enola Gay, in late 1980, that was very good

[Lord Emsworth]

Aug 11, 2022 18:36:56 GMT Dirty Epic said:

All very good selections LE.

I sort of excluded the likes of OMD (who are brilliant) and the New Order side projects as they're quite well known and Electronic were arguably the best and most successful of these. Even A Certain Ratio were borderline for me to include but not many know how important and influential they were to the punk funk sound and for me they're a key foundation in the Manchester music history as much as the more usual suspects.

ACR, 52nd Street and Section 25 and even The Durutti Column deserved to have had bigger success (including financially!) than they had maybe/maybe not due to Factory's questionable business model but that business model enabled them to enjoy the underground success and recognition they have gained a few decades on from when these tracks came out and generally I wouldn't have things any other way with how Factory mapped out a path for Manchester's music and media future.

Great stuff DE

More selections when I think of them

I always had a soft spot for this earlyish 1986 Factory single...

FAC 162

The Railway Children – A Gentle Sound

[Lord Emsworth]

Aug 11, 2022 18:25:34 GMT Lord Emsworth said:

Also I'm going with Electronic – “Getting Away With It” (FAC 257)

Seven more to go, inspired idea DE

Actually five as, like you DE, I have to include the wonderful Moody and splendid Shack Up...

Electronic – “Getting Away With It”

Aug 11, 2022 18:36:56 GMT Dirty Epic said:

All very good selections LE.

I sort of excluded the likes of OMD (who are brilliant) and the New Order side projects as they're quite well known and Electronic were arguably the best and most successful of these. Even A Certain Ratio were borderline for me to include but not many know how important and influential they were to the punk funk sound and for me they're a key foundation in the Manchester music history as much as the more usual suspects.

ACR, 52nd Street and Section 25 and even The Durutti Column deserved to have had bigger success (including financially!) than they had maybe/maybe not due to Factory's questionable business model but that business model enabled them to enjoy the underground success and recognition they have gained a few decades on from when these tracks came out and generally I wouldn't have things any other way with how Factory mapped out a path for Manchester's music and media future.

Next up, gots to be innit...

(Four to go)

Happy Mondays - Wrote For Luck

[Lord Emsworth]

This is Shaun Ryder's favourite Factory single triv fans

Marcel was in Sweet Sensation in 1974 and then popped up with this underrated gem

Three to go

Marcel King - Reach for Love

[Dirty Epic]

Aug 19, 2022 8:54:38 GMT Lord Emsworth said:

This is Shaun Ryder's favourite Factory single triv fans

Marcel was in Sweet Sensation in 1974 and then popped up with this underrated gem

Three to go

Marcel King - Reach for Love

That one almost made my list LE.

6 Music have given it a few spins too.

[Lord Emsworth]

Finishing with The Wake's Judas and, like you DE, Feel Every Beat by Electronic

James - Hymn From A Village
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Electricity
Electronic – Getting Away With It
ESG - Moody
A Certain Ratio - Shack Up
Electronic – Feel Every Beat
The Railway Children – A Gentle Sound
Happy Mondays - Wrote For Luck
Marcel King - Reach For Love
The Wake - Judas