Sub-culture (song)

"Sub-culture"
Single by New Order
from the album Low-Life
Released	28 October 1985
Format	7", 12"
Genre	Alternative dance, synthpop
Length	7:26 (12" remix) 3:28 (7-inch version) 4:48 (Substance 1987 version)
Label	Factory - FAC 133
Writer(s)	Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner[1]
Producer(s)	New Order
New Order singles chronology
"The Perfect Kiss" (1985) "Sub-culture" (1985) "Shellshock" (1986)

"Sub-culture" released on 28 October 1985, is the tenth single by New Order.

Release

It was the second and final single that also appeared on the group's album release of the same year, Low-Life. The B-side is a remix of the A-side titled "Dub-vulture". A seven inch edit of the Robie remix taken from the Benelux version of the "Sub-culture" single appears on the group's 1987 compilation, Substance.

Making use of the word shaft with its possible sexual connotations, the song seems to be about sexual rejection, loneliness and alienation in an urban environment.

John Robie's 12" and 7" single mixes provides a significant departure from the album version, using prominent vocals which feature Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Ish Ledesma of Foxy and Oxo with female backing singers. The version of the song Bernard sings in the remix has an altered line, changing the second verse's line "A view without a room" into "A room without a view". The remix was not very well received and garnered more attention for Robie's extensive rework, that managed to be less club-friendly than the original album version despite his attempts to input greater melodic range. In spite of the poor reaction and sales, New Order and Robie collaborated for the band's next two singles "Shellshock" and "State of the Nation" B-side "Shame of the Nation".

Artwork

"Sub-culture" has only a regular black sleeve, as graphic designer Peter Saville reportedly deemed the mix of the song unworthy of his talents.^[2] Saville's input was present only in a P/S/A (Peter Saville Associates) credit for typography.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner. 

7": 7FAC 133 (UK)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sub-culture"	3:28
2.	"Dub-vulture"	3:38

7": 7FAC 133 (Benelux)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sub-culture"	4:57
2.	"Dub-vulture"	4:55

12": FAC 133 (UK)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sub-culture"	7:26
2.	"Dub-vulture"	7:57

12": Qwest 0-20390 (US)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sub-culture" (Remix)	7:26
2.	"Dub-vulture"	7:57
3.	"Sub-culture" (Original album version)	4:57

UK 7" free with Record Mirror - RM2

1. New Order: "Sub-culture" (exclusive remix) – 4:14
2. Raymonde: "Jennifer Wants" (exclusive track) – 2:02
3. Hipsway: "Bad Thing Longing" (preview from their forthcoming album) – 4:09
4. Adventures: "Walk Away Renee" (specially recorded for RM) – 3:11

Chart positions

Chart (1985)	Peak position
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[3]	29
UK Singles Chart[4]	63
UK Independent Singles Chart[5]	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[6]	35
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[6]	18

References

1. ASCAP entry
2. http://www.niagara.edu/neworder/
3. ""Discography New Order". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
4. "Chart Stats: New Order". ChartStats.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
5. "Indie Hits "N"". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 2 Oct 2008.
6. "New Order: Billboard singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-11-23.