Love Will Tear Us Apart  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

Related e

Wikipedia Wiktionary Shop Featured: Rhombicuboctahedron by Leonardo da Vinci

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" is a song by the British post-punk band Joy Division. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was written in August and September 1979, and debuted when the band supported Buzzcocks on their UK tour in September and October 1979. It is one of the few songs in which singer Ian Curtis played guitar (albeit somewhat minimally). The lyrics ostensibly reflect the problems in Ian Curtis's marriage to Deborah Curtis, as well as his general frame of mind in the time leading up to his suicide in May 1980. Deborah Curtis had the phrase "Love Will Tear Us Apart" inscribed on Ian Curtis's memorial stone.

The song was first released in April 1980 and, after Curtis's suicide that May, became the band's first chart hit, reaching number 13 in the UK. It also debuted at #1 in New Zealand in June 1981. The band postponed their US tour after his death, performed a few short sets as The No-Names, then finally renamed the group as New Order. "Love" was re-released in 1983 and reached number 19 on the UK charts and re-appeared at #3 in New Zealand during March 1984. In November 1988, it made one more Top 40 appearance in New Zealand, peaking at #39. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" appears on the Substance compilation album. It was first recorded for a John Peel session in November 1979, then re-recorded in January 1980 and March 1980. It is the latter version that appears on Substance. The January 1980 version originally appeared as the single's B-side.

In 1995, to publicise the release of Permanent, the track was reissued, complete with a new remix done by Arthur Baker and a new radio edit, also known as the Permanent Mix. On Template:Start date, the single was again reissued, in its original configuration. This time, it was to publicise the Collector's Edition re-issues of the band's three albums. Although the single was now issued on the Warner label, it retained all the classic Factory packaging, down to the FAC 23 catalogue number.

Track listing

Original release

7" vinyl (Factory FAC 23)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:18
2. "These Days" – 3:21
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:06

12" vinyl (Factory FAC 23.12)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:18
2. "These Days" – 3:21
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:06

• Track 1 recorded at Strawberry Studios, Stockport, early March 1980
• Tracks 2 and 3 recorded at Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham, January 8, 1980
• In her biography "Touching From A Distance", Deborah Curtis explains that the reason for the two versions of the song, one on each side, was a result of Curtis's slightly different singing in each one; one vocal take was allegedly done when other band members told Curtis to sing "like Frank Sinatra".

1995 re-release

Cassette (London YOJMC 1)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Radio Version) – 3:38
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original Version) – 3:25

12" vinyl (London YOJX1)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original Version) – 3:25
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Radio Version) – 3:38
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Arthur Baker Remix) – 4:12
4. "Atmosphere" (Original Hannett 12") – 4:08

CDS (London YOJCD1)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Radio Version) – 3:38
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original Version) – 3:25
3. "These Days" – 3:25
4. "Transmission" (Live) – 3:44

2007 re-release

7" vinyl (Warner FAC 23)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original version) – 3:18
2. "These Days" – 3:21
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" – 3:06

CDS (Warner / FAC 23CD)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Original version) – 3:18
2. "Love Will Tear Us Apart '95" (Radio Version) – 3:38
3. "Atmosphere" – 4:08

2009 re-release

7" vinyl (Cleopatra Records)

1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - 3:17
2. "Transmission" - 3:40

• This release contains alternate versions mastered from the 1980 Martin Hannett tapes.