There's an interview with Stephen Morris in that 'Pop' magazine, and he clearly states that he's currently curating a new box set comprising old video clips, rare tracks etc

Interesting.Thanks for the info.What is that 'Pop' magazine you read that in, Emile? Do you mean that 'Classic Pop' mag? I actually saw a latest issue of that in WH Smith the other day but didn't look at it.

I'll be fascinated to see what old video footage is included that hasn't already been in circulation/YouTube for years.

Yes, it's the 'Classic Pop' magazine. My mistake. Decent interview

Haha, I remember all the horror that went on here back when Retro came out. I think I had the username "Low-Life" or "Re-Member" back then and did my fair share of moaning about it as well. To be fair, other people ended up compiling the box set. If Steve is somehow directly involved, I have hope. Back when the "Live in Glasgow" DVD came out, there was loads of live footage on the second disc I had never seen before, so who knows what else he might have lurking in the vaults.

I remember being so disappointed with Retro. Knowing that it could have been great and for whatever reason is what just so wishy washy. A real missed opportunity, and not what Gretton had in mind at all.

I guess there's also the elephant who isn't in the room this time around to contend with too: Hooky. Not a case of if, but when he'll throw a spanner in the works. But I guess Morris wouldn't work on this project unless it had clearance. Who knows?

I'd like as much footage from 87-89 as possible please, a good quality Hooky doing The Happy One on OSM, and likewise the BBC Rock Around the Clock broadcast, and all TOTP appearances as clear as hell. Yes, they're on Youtube, but it would be nice to have them crystal clear on disc.

The wondrous world of New Order releases:
1. There's a vaguest, non-commitallest, imprecisest hypothetical conditioned suggestion something might like could just may maybe perhaps emerge on the proverbial horizon.
2. Everyone on the forums gets a collective boner and with their free hand comes up with dream scenarios so far-fetched they make Hieronymus Bosch look like EastEnders.
3. I dare imply they should get real cos it won't be for at least 3 years and even then it'll be like anal sex, i.e. fucking shit.
4. They respond, Fuck you and yer fucking cynicism and pessimism yer fucking morbid wanker, yer pissing on our joint bonfire and spoiling all the fun.
5. Nothing for at least 3 years and even then it's like anal sex, i.e. fucking shit.
6. Repeat until death.

Edited by user 21 March 2016 04:49:39(UTC)  | Reason: I felt like it.

I saw a big sign, 'New Order - Sold Out!' I thought, They did, didn't they.

Those wonderful bunnymen did put out a nice thing, even though I already had it all.new order put out something stupid , and was just not needed. So new order made up for it by writing about 35 new interesting songs since ( not including the 8 fine songs from BL), and the bunnies have zero interesting songs since flowers. I still love plenty of bunnie's songs, and cherish memories of these 2 great bands- cost a lot to see the bunnies about 30 times, NO about 15, but no regrets - and twice they played together

Well that's all subjective and personal taste, isn't it? Low-life's a great record but the band recorded and released a slew of great songs post-85. Almost undeniable. I personally found the naughties-era albums to be a bit patchy but when even they hit their high points they could be pretty special. Also, if New Order truly stopped being a good band for you in 1985 why do you devote so much time to them on these forums and documenting all of their releases post-85? Some fans prefer to take refuge in the "generally accepted best" particularly the Factory era but I personally find stuff like Crystal, Who's Joe, Turn, I'll Stay With You, Academic and Singularity to be close to or better than a great deal of that older stuff.



Retro bar the bonus disc was a wasted opportunity. The band didn't seem interested, the label were border-line uninterested and it ended up being dropped in the lap of a few celeb mates to compile. The concept was definitely flawed and just didn't seem to work. The bonus disc was a last minute panic because they knew it had ended up a fairly random compilation of commonly-available stuff most fans already had. This new box-set which has been mooted in the music press is a brilliant opportunity to right that wrong. It's a chance for the fans to finally get a New Order archival release that will stand the test of time. I wish them all the best and hope they get it right.



Can't think of anything worse, truly. But then that's just me. It's personal preference but I've found bands performing live with orchestras can be very hit and miss. Maybe I've seen the wrong ones. That said the studio orchestral bits on Music Complete do work well and don't interfere with the sound too much. The arrangement on Tutti Frutti for instance really works.



Bollocks. I've seen the band regularly(ish) recently and even if you read reviews of recent gigs people have had a lot of compliments for Bernard's recent vocal performances. They're vastly better than they were during most of the Get Ready and Sirens' gigs. The whooping has gone which has greatly improved how the songs come across. Besides, do you seriously expect Bernard to sing exactly as he did in 1985 or 1989? That's just incredibly naive. He's sixty now so expecting him to belt out Age Of Consent exactly as he did in 1983 is a bit misguided. I think Music Complete demonstrated on a few tracks he's found his feet with singing in a lower register, he sounds pretty good on Nothing But A Fool. His lower range seems to have "come of age" for sure.

You do have a point with the recent sets being a tad repetitive but they have introduced newer songs (Lonesome, Academic) and new arrangements (WFTSC, BLT) so it's a bit unfair to say they've been totally static. At the end of the day not everyone going to their gigs are hardcore fans like us. Some people want to hear Blue Monday and the more established songs and would feel disappointed if they were omitted so 50 people in the front row could enjoy "The Happy One".

Edited by user 20 March 2016 15:20:21(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Interesting your thoughts on Ian Mculloch's voice and Bernard's.I feel Mculloch's voice isn't a patch on what it used to be whereas i think Bernard's has actually improved.I haven't bought a Bunnymen album since What Are You Going To With Your Life? ( some really good songs on that album) in 1999 but have heard a few recent (2014) songs and i thought Mculloch was really struggling with vocals.Shame because his voice in the Bunnymen's 80s pomp was fantastic to say the least as were the band themselves.

Quite honestly I think that goes for every rerelease except the Glasgow DVD 2. I've never known a band so endlessly reworked yet remaining so credible. If Simply Red got the same treatment they'd be massacred.

Well anyway i won't be parting with my cash for this box set unless there's a lot of previously unseen , good quality, video footage of gigs or long lost tv appearances and rare tracks.I very much doubt though that there is any long lost footage of tv stuff.Most of the tv appearances over the years are out there now.Even stuff like Thieves Like Us on Southampton TV in 1983 or the same song again on Music Convoy in 1984 have been on YouTube for years now, though the Southampton TV thing could do with a good quality clip seeing the light of day.But i'm seriously fascinated to see what if any footage Steve has that's never been seen.And what rare tracks could there possibly be that even the modest New Order collector hasn't already got????? Even though Retro was a balls-up i just can't understand the point (other than money) of doing another box set if there's nothing on it that isn't already out there