Atmosphere (Joy Division song)

"Atmosphere" is a song by English post-punk band Joy Division. It was originally released in March 1980 by the Sordide Sentimental label as "Licht und Blindheit" (German for "Light and Blindness"), a France-only limited edition single featuring the track "Dead Souls" as the B-side. Following Ian Curtis's death two months later, it was re-released as a 12" single by Factory Records with "She's Lost Control" as the B-side.

The single was re-released in 1988 to coincide with the release of the compilation album Substance, and a music video was produced for the song.

Release

The song was originally released on 18 March 1980 by the label Sordide Sentimental as a France-only single under the title "Licht und Blindheit" (German for "Light and Blindness"). It was limited to 1578 copies and featured the track "Dead Souls" as the B-side. John Peel played "Atmosphere" for the first time on his show on 11 March 1980 and "Dead Souls" the following night.^[1]

Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis in May 1980, "Atmosphere" was released as a single along with "She's Lost Control". "Atmosphere" was the A-side for the UK release but the B-side for the USA release. "She's Lost Control" is an alternative version of the one that appears on the band's debut album Unknown Pleasures. The single peaked at number 1 in New Zealand in August 1981, and it would later re-chart there in July 1984 (number 17) and when it was reissued in August 1988 (number 5).^[2] "Atmosphere" also hit number 34 in the UK Singles Chart during June 1988,^[3] and pick the number 2 spot on the UK indie chart in July 1988.

The single was re-released in 1988 to coincide with the release of the compilation album Substance.

Music video

A music video was released for the song with the single's re-release in 1988.^[4] It contains characters wearing black-hooded cloaks and white burial shrouds carrying around large pictures of the band. It was directed by Anton Corbijn^[4] (responsible for much of the early Joy Division photography, and who later directed the Ian Curtis biopic Control).

Reception

Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote, "Atmosphere" is another one of those prime Joy Division songs, like "Transmission" or "Love Will Tear Us Apart", where Martin Hannett's production becomes so essential to the end result that it couldn't have been heard otherwise", noting that, in regards to Ian Curtis's mental state and subsequent death, "there's a feeling of a requiem here, an awesome musical farewell."^[5]

Joy Division's bassist, Peter Hook, has said he regards the song as one of the band's greatest.^[6]

Legacy

NME voted the song number 1 in its list "The 20 Greatest Goth Tracks".^[7]

The song featured in the film 24 Hour Party People just after Ian Curtis's suicide is portrayed.^[8] The song is also used at the end of the Ian Curtis biopic Control.^[8] It was also played at Tony Wilson's funeral.^[9]^[10]

The song was used in Episode 2 of the British TV series Misfits.^[8]

The song was used in Episode 4 of the Netflix series Stranger Things.^[8]

The song was used in the final scene of the 2016 Australian film Hounds of Love.^[8]

The song was used in the 2016 American film Gold.^[8]

Track listings

All songs written and composed by Joy Division (Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner).

"Licht und Blindheit" (7")

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Atmosphere"	4:10

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dead Souls"	4:53

"Atmosphere" (12")

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Atmosphere"	4:10

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"She's Lost Control"	4:45

1988 re-release
7"

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Atmosphere"	4:10

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Only Mistake"	4:19

12"

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Atmosphere"	4:10

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Only Mistake"	4:19
2.	"Sound of Music"	3:55

CD

Track listing
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Atmosphere"	4:10
2.	"Transmission (Live)"	3:37
3.	"Love Will Tear Us Apart"	3:27

Chart positions

Chart (1981)	Peak position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11]	1

Chart (1984)	Peak position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11]	17

Chart (1988)	Peak position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11]	5
UK Singles Chart	34^[3]

References

↑ "Dead Souls" on YouTube.
↑ "Charts.org.nz – Joy Division – Atmosphere". charts.org.nz. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
1 2 "atmosphere | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
1 2 "mvdbase.com – Joy Division – 'Atmosphere'". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
↑ Raggett, Ned. "Atmosphere – Joy Division | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
↑ teamrock.com
↑ Lewis, Luke (5 March 2009). "Release the Bats – It's the 20 Greatest Goth Tracks | NME.com". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Usage in film and television: see "Joy Division - Soundtrack. 'Atmosphere'" at IMDb.
↑ "Soundtrack of a generation plays out final farewell to Mr Manchester". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
↑ "Every funeral I go to, they play bloody "Atmosphere"". Fact Mag. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
1 2 3 "Charts.org.nz – Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart". Top 40 Singles.

External links

"Atmosphere" at Discogs (list of releases)
"Licht Und Blindheit" at Discogs (list of releases)
"Atmosphere" official music video on YouTube
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Joy Division
Ian Curtis Bernard Sumner Peter Hook Stephen Morris
Studio albums	Unknown Pleasures Closer
Extended plays	An Ideal for Living The Peel Sessions (1986) The Peel Sessions (1987)
Compilation albums	Still Substance Peel Sessions Warsaw Permanent Heart and Soul The Complete BBC Recordings Martin Hannett's Personal Mixes The Best of Joy Division Total: From Joy Division to New Order
Live albums	Preston 28 February 1980 Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979
Singles/Songs	"Transmission" "Love Will Tear Us Apart" "Komakino" "Atmosphere"/"She's Lost Control" "Atrocity Exhibition"
Related	Discography Songs New Order Factory Records Martin Hannett Peter Saville Tony Wilson Rob Gretton Alan Erasmus 24 Hour Party People Control Joy Division A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division
Book Category

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