An Ideal for Living

Infobox Album
Name = An Ideal for Living
Type = ep
Artist = Joy Division


Released = June 1978
Recorded = December 14, 1977
Genre = Punk rock
Length = 12:47
Label = Enigma - PSS139
Producer = Joy Division
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:d9fpxqehldje~T1 link]
*"Melody Maker" (favourable) [cite journal | last = Brazier | first = Chris | author-link = Chris Brazier | title = Joy Division: An Ideal for Living | journal = Melody Maker | date = 24 June 1978 | pages = 23 ]
Last album =
This album = "An Ideal for Living" (1978)
Next album = "Transmission" (1979)

"An Ideal For Living" is the debut EP released by Joy Division in 1978, shortly after changing their name from Warsaw.

All tracks were recorded at the Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham, on December 14, 1977. A 7" version was released in June, followed by a 12" version in September. Both releases were on the band's own label, Enigma Records (not to be confused with the American record label of the same name).

Track listing

7": Enigma / PSS139 (UK)

# "Warsaw" (2:26)
# "No Love Lost" (3:42)
# "Leaders of Men" (2:34)
# "Failures" (3:44)

* also released Sept 1978 on 12" (Anonymous Record / ANON 1)

Cover

The cover has a black-and-white picture of a blonde Hitler Youth member beating a drum, which was drawn by guitarist Bernard Sumner, and the words "Joy Division!" printed in a blackletter font. The cover design fueled controversy over whether the band had Nazi sympathies. As the cover hints, the release reflects the band's early punk tendencies, as opposed to the bleak post-punk the band would later develop.

The 12" version was released later with an image of scaffolding, in an attempt to distance the band from blatant Nazi overtones. [source: Joy Division film]

References