Incidentally, anyone (Johnny James, perhaps) know why the single version swapped the 'view without a room' to 'room without a view'?

I presume John Robie tried to cover up the rather sloppy (but charming) vocal performance in the remix.
Did he also make the decision to change the above line to make more sense?

I guess there's three possible scenarios:

A) they had already recorded two versions at the time of the LP and Robie used the alternate line in the remix;
B) they re-recorded the vocals (at least in part) at the time of the remix;
C) Robie spliced the lyrics from the LP version to swap ‘room’ and ‘view’ around.

I think C) seems unlikely and, with B), you'd think they'd've tidied up the vocal performance a bit better than they did (perhaps Bernard couldn't be arsed).


I am slightly bothered that they swapped them. I like the obtuseness of ‘view without a room’.

I wonder if there are versions sitting in the vaults that might partly explain what happened here. Maybe there's a second version, more akin to the LP version, with the 'view' / 'room' lyrics reversed.
Maybe it'll be on the box set? :-)


Still, Sub-Culture (despite Robie's interference) is an absolute gem.

According to Hooky in his New Order book, Barney suggested they sabotage Robie's chair during a recording session. Hooky didn't get along with him so Robie seemed to hold him primarily responsible. At the dinner during the premiere of Pretty in Pink, Robie shoved a mushroom vol-au-vent into Hooky's face in retaliation.

When questioned about the lack of a sleeve design for Sub-Culture sleeve, Saville has said he simply was never asked to provide a design. My theory is that there was probably much debate on whether to pull a second single from an album (when they'd never had even one previously). Robie was known for working quickly, but perhaps they were worried Saville's legendary tardiness would cause delays that could push the release too far out (it came 6 months after Low-Life as it was).

Thanks. It does seem kind of likely that there might’ve been various vocal takes and Robie either accidentally or deliberately used a different part.

Kind of wish they'd played around with the images a bit. I think there were different photos used for the cassette, so would've been nice to see those used as well.

From the official NO channel:

New Order - Shellshock [HD Upgrade]

...and I imagine there are other alternative versions (like the live version of "World") that could be included as well.

Alternates that they could include:

Blue Monday (original video, which I think Steve created)
The Perfect Kiss (edited version from 'International' limited edition; although not really worth it as it's just an edit, I think)
True Faith (alternate version from 'International' limited edition; which features a bit more Glasto footage)
Round&Round (Patti version)
Regret (Baywatch/TOTP version, which sometimes gets classed as an official video)
World (The Price Of Love) (S. Hauger Radio Edit Remix Video; the 'live' one Andy mentions above)
Round&Round-94 (not sure if this differs at all, but presumably has the 94 version of the song; featured on (the best) of VHS)
True Faith-94 (the 94 version, which features clips from other promo videos; featured on (the best) of VHS)
True Faith-94 (Perfecto Mix) (a longer version of the True Faith video, with additional scenes)
Blue Monday-95 (Hardfloor Vocal Mix) (a longer version of the 95 video)
Crystal (Gina Birch Version)
Temptation-98 (live footage put to the 98 mix)
Crystal (Leos Carax Version)
Ceremony *
Everything's Gone Green *
Temptation *
Turn (Napoli) *
Turn (Tokyo)*
Turn (Vienna) *
People On The High Line (Claptone Remix)

* These were, I think all done around the same time by Michael Shamberg

^ Liked the use of a brief snippet of BLT bass for the bleeps.

It's not on the box set. Just the PR dept getting it slightly wrong I suspect.

Not a big deal but couldn't they have used something album appropriate? The "Love Vigilantes" snare hit, something from the "The Perfect Kiss" intro or even the bell at the end of "Sunrise"...

BLT in Brotherhoods Collector Edition is broken in Deezer - wrong version, abrupt end, lol. https://www.deezer.com/en/album/243849 - Please help.

Lloyd Cole, Thom Yorke and Hooky: Tweets