The “Fine Blue Temptation” Spotify Playlist (A New Order Tribute)
The “Fine Blue Temptation” Spotify Playlist (I Hate Radio) - A New Order Tribute
Every Tuesday (or Monday night) I put out a new curated playlist for your listening enjoyment. You can "Just Hit Play" or check out the song list below for Easter Eggs about the bands.
Once every few months I put out a legacy playlist which features one band or bands linked together by a specific topic. Today's playlist is a tribute playlist to one of my all-time favorite bands "New Order."
Other legacy playlists have included Prince, The Hold Steady, REM, Women to the Front, The Flaming Lips, a tribute to 80's-90's goth, and a tribute to 80's dance club music.
The Prince tribute playlist was the most popular playlist I have ever created (RIP).
Last week's playlist was my Prissy Kombat Face playlist.
The Story - Why New Order
Before I start, let me state unequivocally that there is only ONE New Order, and that New Order includes Peter Hook.
New Order, as I recognize them, includes at least Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris (the surviving members of Joy Division). But, for most of their best work, New Order also included Gillian Gilbert on keyboards and backup vocals.
I have written at length about my long history of love for New Order and my long history of love for Joy Division (for those who don't know when Joy Divisions singer Ian Curtis committed suicide, the rest of the band continued on as New Order.
I was lucky enough to see New Order in their prime at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas on the Brotherhood tour (in the mid-80's) and I remember it as one of the best concerts that I have ever seen (read the story above for more context).
The biggest band for me in Junior High was The Rolling Stones. The biggest bands for me in high school were The Clash, the Sex Pistols, and the Ramones. The biggest bands for me in College were Joy Division, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Depeche Mode.
Possibly my favorite musician of the lot, however, was (and is) Peter Hook.
In my opinion, his bass was indispensable to understanding post-punk. His bass, as much as Tom Verlaine's guitar or the influence of Jamaican music was foundational to post-punk.
He was the one thing that kept New Order from becoming too cheesy - even in the late 80's and throughout the 90's when cheesy became kind of cool.
Also, I included the Joy Division song "Love Will Tear Us Apart" because it applies to Hook and Bernard's split as much as it does to anyone (if you have read the competing accounts of the break-up you know what I mean).
There is probably no better time to have a New Order playlist because they are a Manchester band and Peter Hook's family was directly affected by the recent terrorist attack. Stay strong Manchester! We are with you, much love!
Anyway, this playlist includes most of my favorite New Order songs. Enjoy the journey!
Closing Time
I won't lie, it hurts me to link Bernard's book too, but I am trying to be fair and balanced (kind of). By the way, if you read both New Order histories, the book about The Hacienda and watch 24 Hour Party People, you officially qualify as an expert on New Order (that is my story and I am sticking to it).
Okay, another playlist down. Next week I will be mixing up new music again.
I call my site "On Pirate Satellite" because of the song "This is Radio Clash" by The Clash
The crazy names of the playlists were inspired by Captain Beefheart.
