Murder (song)

For other songs named "Murder", see Murder (disambiguation).
"Murder"
Single by New Order
Released May 1984
Format 12"
Recorded Winter 1982
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:55
Label Factory Benelux - FBN 22
Writer(s) Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner[1]
Producer(s) New Order
New Order singles chronology
"Thieves Like Us"
(1984)
"Murder"
(1984)
"The Perfect Kiss"
(1985)

"Murder" is the eighth single by British band New Order.

Released on the Factory Benelux imprint in 1984, it is an instrumental piece that contains samples of dialogue from the films 2001: A Space Odyssey and Caligula. It was originally recorded in Winter 1982 during the sessions for the band's second album Power, Corruption & Lies.

The B-side is an instrumental version of the previous single by the group, "Thieves Like Us". The sleeve art is a "night-time" version of the sleeve art from the previous single.

Both tracks are available on the CD version of 1987's compilation, Substance, although neither track appears on the LP issue. "Murder" does not appear on Disc 1 of Substance, which otherwise contains versions of every New Order single A-side up to 1987. It instead appears on disc 2, which otherwise contains versions of every New Order B-side through 1987 (including "Thieves Like Us (Instrumental)").

'"Murder" was only released in Belgium as a single, but was available in the UK on import and made number 92. As such, it is the band's only release to miss the UK Top 75.

The Charlatans covered the song as an exclusive download for their 2008 single Oh! Vanity. The Charlatans' lead singer Tim Burgess is a notable fan of the band and has cited Power, Corruption & Lies as his favourite album.[2]

It was also covered by K-X-P and the track included on the Power Corruption & Lies Covered CD (free with Mojo (magazine), Feb 2012)

Track listing

12: FBN 22 (Benelux)
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Murder"  Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner 3:55
2. "Thieves Like Us Instrumental"  Arthur Baker, Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner 6:57

Chart positions

Chart (1984) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[3] 92
UK Independent Singles Chart[4] 2

References

  1. ASCAP entry
  2. "Tim Burgess". The Guardian.
  3. "Chart Stats: New Order". ChartStats.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  4. "Indie Hits "N"". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 2 Oct 2008.