| An Ideal for Living | ||||
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| EP by Joy Division | ||||
| Released | 3 June 1978 (7")/ 10 October 1978 (12")[1] |
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| Recorded | 14 December 1977 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock | |||
| Length | 12:47 | |||
| Label | Enigma Anonymous |
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| Producer | Joy Division | |||
| Joy Division singles and EPs chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
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12" cover
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [2] |
| Melody Maker | (favourable)[3] |
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 14 December 1977. A 7" version was released in June on the band's own Enigma Records label (not to be confused with the American record label of the same name), followed by a 12" version in October on the band's own Anonymous Records label. All tracks were re-released on the band's 1988 singles compilation Substance.
All tracks written by Joy Division.
The cover has a black-and-white picture of a blonde Hitler Youth member beating a drum, which was drawn by guitarist Bernard Sumner (called "Bernard Albrecht" on the poster sleeve), and the words "Joy! Division" printed in a blackletter font. The cover design fuelled controversy over whether the band had Nazi sympathies. As the cover hints, the release reflects the band's early punk influences, 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.
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