My favourite item in the Use Hearing Protection FAC 1-50/40 exhibition is the Fac 27 'Sex Machine alternative sleeve' artwork. It has always intrigued me as to what this actually was (and, indeed, whether or not it actually existed as opposed to just being a concept). During the 'Back in the Cellar' archive project (2009-2019) I uncovered a sketched out drawing which to my mind could have been the "alternative sleeve" - see above.

However, it always seemed a bit too jovial or jocular for a Crawling Chaos sleeve. Now that the true source has been identified (Chapter 13, page 59 of 'La Baronne Steel' by Jim) it seems reasonable to assume that the sketch (probably by AHW) was done as a rather loose interpretation before the final, less-pornographic, sleeve for Fac 17 'Sex Machine' was decided upon (see last image).



Exhibition caption

La Baronne Steel
By Jim

The alternate cover concept for Crawling Chaos's Sex Machine was a Peter Saville design using an image from the book La Baronne Steel (The Baroness Steel) by illustrator Jim. First published by les humanoides asscolés in Belgium in 1976 the book features numerous illustrations by Jim throughout. The image Saville had marked as the potential cover image was on page 59 highlighting Chapter 13.

Note: there is no mention of Rob Gretton who is generally credited on this Fac number in this caption - more information needed.

Fac 17 'Sex Machine' final sleeve

Labels: Crawling_Chaos, exhibition, graphic_design, history, Peter Saville, Rob_Gretton, Use_Hearing_Protection

ZOO MEETS FACTORY HALF-WAY
LEIGH POP FESTIVAL  OPEN AIR
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
AUGUST 27th  ALL DAY FIRST BAND 1.00 pm
£2

FACTORY ZOO RECORDS and ZOO FACTORY RECORDS BRING YOU
THE FLESH THAT BROUGHT YOU THE VINYL

LORI AND THE CHAMELEONS  JOY DIVISION  ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN  THE DISTRACTIONS
ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK
THE TEARDROP EXPLODES  ELTI-FITS  X-O-DUS
CRAWLING CHAOS  A CERTAIN RATIO

USE YOUR WITS OR USE THE BUS  NO 26 from Manchester Victoria : NO 39 from Liverpool

Festival site - Plank Lane, Leigh, Lancs

--

Handwritten rough (presumably by AHW) for the eventual Fac 15 poster for the Zoo Meets Factory Half-Way event (aka The Leigh Pop Festival). Tony Wilson designed this poster "after Peter Saville".

This translated into the eventual white-on-black poster / black-on-white draft flyer (which in this version contains a repeat of the "bring you the flesh..." line:



The reverse of the handwritten layout features the outline running order for the event:

1.00 Elti Fits
2.00 Crawling Chaos
3.00 Exodus
4.00 A Certain Ratio
5.00 Echo + Bunnymen
6.00 Distractions
7.00 OMITD
8.00 Teardrop
9.00 Joy Division

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, Crawling_Chaos, events, graphic_design, Joy_Division, Leigh, OMD, poster, The_Distractions, X-O-Dus, Zoo

RELEASE SCHEDULE

Friday 23rd May
FAC 18 Section 25 "Girls Don't Count" 7" 45/33rpm
FACT 14 Durutti Column "Return"; new sleeve, reissue 12" 33rpm
FACT 16 A Certain Ratio "GAB"; new style plastic wallet case

Friday 30th May
FAC 28 Joy Division "Komakino" free flexi-disc 7" 45rpm

Friday 6th June
FAC 17 Crawling Chaos "Sex Machine" 7" 45 rpm

Friday 13th June
FAC 23 Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart" 7" 45/33rpm

Friday 27th June
FACT 25 Joy Division "Closer" 12" 33rpm

FACTORY RECORDS (US) INC SCHEDULE

Friday 30th May
FACTUS 1 Joy Division "Unknown Pleasures" P&D's by R.TradeUS

Friday 13th June
FACUS 2 Joy Division "She's Lost Control" 12" 45rpm by RTUS

Friday 4th July
FACTUS 3 The Durutti Column "The Return of...." 12" 33rpm (Antilles)

Friday 11th July
FACUS 4 A Certain Ratio "Do the Du (casse)" 12" 45rpm (Antilles)

With regards to recent events, we feel there is very little we want to say. The feelings of Ian's friends and colleagues are private and should remain so. We'd like to thank all the people who abet us in record production, the journalists, broadcasters and friends from other companies and bands who have expressed their sympathy. For the young people who loved the music, we hope that some of the above releases help with that empty feeling that we are all going through.

The all-night party just goes on.

--

Transcript of Factory Records release schedule dated May 20, 1980 (2 days after the death of Ian Curtis) from the AHW archive.

View the full May 1980 release schedule.

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, back_in_the_cellar, Crawling_Chaos, history, Ian_Curtis, Joy_Division, Section_25, The_Durutti_Column

This is an alternative design concept for a flyer or other promotional material for the FAC 17 Sex Machine / Berlin single by Crawling Chaos.

It is not known whether this is related to work supposedly carried out by Stephen Horsfall as mentioned by Tony Wilson in "SAVILLE: The partner's story" or whether it could in fact be to do with FAC 27, the cancelled Saville/Rob Gretton revenge programme project for alternative FAC 17 sleeve.

Or it could be neither of the above but it definitely remains a curiosity when compared with the eventual artwork.

Labels: back_in_the_cellar, Crawling_Chaos, graphic_design

And so we continue with our trawl through the Factory rarities in order to dig out some valuables, some to be found in the unlikeliest of places. All prices are extracted from the 2014 Record Collector Guide, some eager Discogs listings and my own experiences.

Wim Mertens



Take one Belgian neo-classical composer and two simultaneously issued albums (on Les Disques Du Crepuscule), switch the logos and alter the labels and what happens? Er, very little. By the time Factory got its act together and added them to its catalogue, both Educes Me (FACT 190) and the soundtrack to the heavy Peter Greenaway art-house film Belly Of An Architect (FACT 195) had already sold as many copies as they could muster a few months earlier. To be fair, Belly did fairly well and shifted a few units off the back of the film's VHS release (on Palace, sigh) and via continued interest in Greenaway's work. Educes Me, on the other hand, didn't exactly benefit from being on Factory but it did get a curious re-release as a boxed-cassette. If you happen to have such an item - smartly packaged in a bright yellow hue with a colourful inlay booklet - then have a seat. Record Collector valuations clock in at an eye-watering £200. For a tape. No, really. Check out our Wim Mertens discography to feast your eyes on his other work (much of which fetches serious money - see Part 3 of our Facs In The Attic series).

Various Artists



Inevitably, that most frequent purveyor of releases comes up trumps when it comes to Factory valuables. Various Artists releases include the A Factory Quartet double-album (FACT 24 - £20), the Palatine box-set (FACT 400 - £40 to £100), particularly the vinyl and CD sets and two curios that don't feature in the RC book of dreams. The first is the 4 x 12" promo pack which has no number but comes loosely-housed in a PVC sleeve with each track's BPMs helpfully printed on it, plus four white-label copies of Pleasure Crew's I Could Be So Good For You (FAC 169), Fadela's N'Sel Fik (FAC 197 - worth a tenner on its own), The Hood's Salvation (FAC 182) and Meatmouth's Meatmouth Is Murder (FAC 196). I'd estimate a £15 price-tag, partly for at least two of the enclosed records but also for the attractive Johnson Panas sleeve. The second is Martin (FACD 325), a collection of Hannett's finest production work including Joy Division, U2 and A Certain Ratio etc.. I'd pitch this at £15 to £20 all day long for the CD and vinyl.

All of which is peanuts when compared to A Factory Sample. FAC 2 was the first release on the label, came packaged in expensive polythene outers, bolstered by some natty stickers and four sides of music. No wonder it's valued from around the £200 mark. Without the stickers, it's probably worth £100 - £125 and with a scruffy sleeve minus the polythene, around half that again.

The Wake



Before jumping the sinking Factory ferry and high-tailing it to the Sarah label, Glasgow's The Wake released some of the most beautiful songs to ever grace the label. Vinyl copies of debut-album Harmony (FACT 60) and gorgeous (and delayed) follow-up Here Comes Everybody (FACT 130) command around £20 - £25 each, although the former has just been exquisitely reissued as a double-vinyl version on Factory Benelux which may or may not have an effect on prices. The band's singles aren't too hard to come by although the 7" of Talk About The Past (FAC 88) is trickier to track down (£8).

Stockholm Monsters



This under-rated outfit feature in this article due to their two earlier singles, Fairy Tales (FAC 41) and Happy Ever After (FAC 58), both capable of reaching £15 in top condition. There are two different-coloured sleeves for Fairy Tales, a burgundy and a green one, both as easy (or as hard) to find as each other. The band's only album, Alma Mater (FACT 80) is worth £10 of anyone's money, while their superb Partyline 12" (FAC 146) might scrape a few quid less (a travesty) with 7" test pressings doubling the price.

The best of the rest







In no particular order are just some of the other least likely (and most probable) rarities worth seeking out.
The braille sleeved Electricity (FAC 6) by OMD - £60
The only Distractions single on Factory (FAC 12) - £15
The first (and only) reggae 12" by X-O-Dus (FAC 11) - £15
That infamous Sex Pistols cassette (with gold tape, pouch and card) (FACT 30) - £20 - £50
The one and only ESG 7" (FAC 34) - £30
The majestic Nightshift by The Names (FAC 29) - £15
The white vinyl John Dowie 7" with feather (!) (FAC 19) - £15
The two Dutch masters by Minnypops, Secret Story (FAC 57) and Dolphin's Spurt (FAC 31) - £12
The cassette version of Pigs and Battleships by Quando Quango (FAC 110c) - £18
The rare as hen's teeth CD promo and invite of The Other Two's Loved It (FACD 251) - £25 to £40
The first James single Jimone (FAC 78) - £12
The stand-alone Thick Pigeon album (FACT 85) - £40
The sleazy Crawling Chaos 7" Sex Machine (FAC 17) - £20
and the under-rated Chicken Rhythms by Northside on vinyl (FACT 310) - £12

Thanks to Record Collector and Discogs for prices.

Part 3 will feature rarities recorded by Factory artists and issued on Factory Benelux and Les Disques du Crepuscule.

Labels: Crawling_Chaos, ESG, Fadela, James, John_Dowie, Meat_Mouth, Minny_Pops, OMD, Pleasure_Crew, Quando_Quango, Stockholm_Monsters, The_Distractions, The_Hood, The_Names, The_Wake, Thick_Pigeon, Wim_Mertens, X-O-Dus

Belgian label EE Tapes presents 'Spookhouse', a collection of largely unreleased recordings by ex-Factory Records/Benelux band Crawling Chaos from 1987. This is a CD release in a limited edition of 500 copies.

Tracklisting

1. Big Nail [3:46]
2. Spookhouse [4:43]
3. Scotland Gate [3:29]
4. Yes Boss [1:30]
5. Da [1:20]
6. The Box [5:53]
7. Veggie Squad [3:11]
8. Yeti Cometh [1:57]
9. Dave Judgement [3:07]
10. Memory Loss [3:11]
11. The Game [2:27]
12. Creosote Dreams [2:00]
13. Little Prick [2:53]
14. Camera Action [3:26]

Artist: Crawling Chaos
Title: Spookhouse
Catalogue number: EE25 - CD
Release date: n/a but coming soon

Labels: Crawling_Chaos, EE_Tapes

Check out the official Crawling Chaos website at www.crawlingchaos.co.uk. It contains an extensive discography, biography, photo galleries plus lots more.

Labels: Crawling_Chaos

... from the Factory Shareholder's Analysis End of Year '80

And then there's...

FACTORY BENELUX

FAC BN 1 A Certain Ratio; "Shack Up" 7" 45rpm. August ’80

FAC BN 2 The Durutti Column; "Lips that would kiss": 12" 45rpm October ’80

FAC BN 3 Section 25: "Charnel Ground"; 7" 45rpm. November '80. According to our New Zealand correspondent if you turn the sleeve upside down the sand dunes look like a woman's armpit. Coffee table chick my arse.

FAC BN 4 Manhattan Project or Nicky ; single ind demo form at moment and singer writer may or may not be in London or NYC. Release uncertain.

FAC BN 5 Crispy Ambulance; single recorded late this month, Jan.

FACtBN 6 Blurt; "Live in Berlin" 10" 33rpm 8-tracker..if they can find the Tapes...the last time they saw them...........

FACT BN 7 Crawling Chaos; for afficionados of FAC 17...like me and Claud Bessy, an album of driving music from the North East. To be recorded, March.

FACTORY U.S.

FACTUS 1 Joy Division; "Unknown Pleasures"; released Summer 80

FACUS 2 Joy Division; "She's lost control/Atmosphere" not to be confused with

FACUS 2 UK (which we forgot to mention above) which is "Atmosphere/She's lost control" has a uk at the bottom of the sleeve and is 25p hheaper in UK, though of course not in US,,,,rambling again

FACUS 4 A Certain Ratio: "Do theDu(casse)" 12 45rpm 4 tracks. Released from Berkely this month, selling in England with special sticker which explains that it repeats certain tracks from elsewehere and hopefully stops all those stupid bloody complaining letters like the ones about the blasted flexi discs. Recorded at Cargo and Graveyard 4 track.

FACUS 5 "Manchester to New York direct" 75" U-Matic 525 line video tape made June 1980 for use in Hurrah's /danceteria/Mudd/Rock Lounge etc. and now showing in Australian record shops. Features some material which will be found on 625 lines on FACT 36 and 37 later this year.

FACTUS 6 Joy Division: "Closer". American release set for Late March 81.

FACTUS 7 Billboard for Factus 6.

OTHER PROJECTS

RECORDS Vini/D.C. to do single forJeanne Pierre Turmel/Sordide Sentimental and licensing deals continuing in farflung territories like N?Z., Finland..Italy….where there are a lot of bootlegs etc.

BOOKS Publishing plans await the pricing of a specially sized book to subvert the literary cartels. Conversations underway with Manchester print co-operative, Reid, Morrissey and others. Summer.

VIDEO Factory video unit virtually in action. So far a JVC KY 2000E plus a U)Matic portapac. Two machine editing to be installed as sson as someone works out the exact tidal structure of our cash flow in order to press enough "Ceremonies" and have the monies for a time base corrector and a desk to put it on.

AMERICA Apparently a returns policy is more important than beauty. It is being studied.

GIGS Up to the individual band. ACR only do two a month causethey have fragile personalities, New Order..I’m not sure cause I'm the last person to find out about their gigs. Blurt play for money,Vini for love. Some approaches can be made via R.Trade gigs…though as ever nothing is definite.

THE REVOLUTION: Get your hands on the means of production…the bleeding tools etc…..small investment in MVS, Chris and Nick, pressers of independent records to the cream now have own plant….ours is the plastic etc.

BACKLASH as in the games people play..does your heart good…ex-catholic grammar school..yes....hooligans..yes…elitists……yes. But coffee table…..well really.

OUT OF STOCK PROBLEMS : or the stock problem. Records do sometimes sell out. The only way to avoid that is to print loads, displaying a) terminal pride in that you're so confident, or b) a wilful disregard of the role of capital. When they sell out it takes time to get them out. There’s always too many or too few, never enough. For Christ's sake it's just like life. In the end everything happens. Perhaps we should start a religious sect. Great marketing possibilities.

Fraternal greetings to all interested enough to write, play or listen to the stuff. Fact 30 by the way is great, so don’t believe a word the bastards say.

Par inadvertance.

FACTORY

- -

And so endeth the Shareholder's Analysis for End of Year '80. Many thanks again to Sebfact for diligently transcribing the whole thing, typos 'n' all. Time to check out that SXXV sleeve...

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, Claude_Bessy, Crawling_Chaos, Crispy_Ambulance, Factory_Benelux, Factory_Records, Factory_Shareholders_Analysis, Ike_Yard, Joy_Division, labels, New_Order, The_Durutti_Column

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