Joy Division discography explained

Artist:Joy Division
Studio:2
Live:4
Compilation:12
Video:1
Ep:3
Singles:5

The discography of English post-punk band Joy Division consists of two studio albums, four live albums, twelve compilation albums, three extended plays, and five singles. The list does not include material performed by former members of Joy Division that was recorded as New Order (formed by the surviving members of the band after the death of singer Ian Curtis) or related side projects.

Joy Division was formed in 1976 by guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook, later recruiting singer Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris. The band released its debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 on independent label Factory. On 18 May 1980, the eve of the band's first American tour, Curtis was found dead in his home. Unable to continue as Joy Division, the remaining members disbanded the group. The band's second album, Closer, was released two months later to critical acclaim. Since then, several posthumous releases have been issued from the band.

Albums

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" width="215"
DetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
[1]
UK Indie
[2]
AUS
[3]
GER
[4]
NZ
Unknown Pleasures
  • Released: 15 June 1979
  • Label: Factory
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette
5182201

Platinum[5]

Closer
  • Released: 18 July 1980
  • Label: Factory
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette
6123133
  • BPI: Gold

Live albums

TitleDetails
Preston 28 February 1980
  • Released: 22 June 1999
  • Label: NMC
  • Formats: CD, LP
Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979
  • Released: April 2001
  • Label: NMC
  • Formats: CD, LP
Fractured Box
  • Released: August 2001
  • Label: NMC
  • Format: 2-CD set
Re-fractured Box
  • Released: January 2004
  • Label: NMC
  • Format: 3-CD set

Compilation albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" width="215"
DetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
UK Indie
AUS
BEL (FL)
[6]
NLD
[7]
NZ
SWE
[8]
US
[9]
Still
  • Released: 9 October 1981
  • Label: Factory
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, cassette
5173333
  • BPI: Gold
Substance
  • Released: 11 July 1988
  • Label: Factory
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette, DAT
71532515146
  • BPI: Gold
The Peel Sessions 96
Permanent
  • Released: 8 May 1995
  • Label: London
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, cassette
16
  • BPI: Gold
Heart and Soul
  • Released: December 1997
  • Label: London
  • Format: 4-CD set
70
The Complete BBC Recordings
  • Released: August 2000
  • Label: Strange Fruit
  • Format: CD
188
The Best of Joy Division
  • Released: 24 March 2008
  • Labels: London, Rhino
  • Format: 2-CD set
639745100
  • BPI: Gold
+− Singles 1978–80
  • Released: 6 December 2010
  • Labels: London, Rhino
  • Format: 10× 7", 10× 7" + 2× CD, digital download
  • Released: 6 June 2011
  • Labels: WEA UK, Rhino
  • Format: CD
51
  • BPI: Gold
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" width="215"
DetailsPeak chart positions
UK
UK Indie
An Ideal for Living
  • Released: 3 June 1978
  • Label: Enigma
  • Formats: 7", LP
The Peel Sessions
  • Released: November 1986
  • Label: Strange Fruit
  • Format: LP
964
The Peel Sessions
  • Released: September 1987
  • Label: Strange Fruit
  • Format: LP
983
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Title! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:2em;"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
UK Indie
IRE
[10]
NZ
[11]
US Dance
[12]
"Transmission"197942rowspan="5"
"Licht und Blindheit"1980
"Love Will Tear Us Apart"13119142
  • BPI: 2× Platinum
"Komakino"
"Atmosphere" / "She's Lost Control"341271
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Notes
  1. Peak chart positions in the United Kingdom:
  2. Web site: Indie Hits "J" . . 30 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080509092232/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/j.htm . 9 May 2008.
  3. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970 - 1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
  4. Web site: Discographie Joy Division. GfK Entertainment. 20 June 2019.
  5. United Kingdom. Joy Division. 26 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Discografie Joy Division . . nl . 11 October 2018.
  7. Web site: Discografie Joy Division . dutchcharts.nl . nl . 11 October 2018.
  8. Web site: Discography Joy Division . swedishcharts.com . 24 June 2008.
  9. Joy Division Chart History: Billboard 200 . . 11 October 2018.
  10. Web site: Search the charts. 11 October 2018. The Irish Charts.
  11. Web site: Discography Joy Division. 11 October 2018. charts.nz.
  12. Web site: Joy Division Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20150922004620/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joy-division-mn0000290812/awards. 22 September 2015. 11 October 2018. AllMusic.

Other certified songs

Title! scope="col" style="width:2em;"
YearCertificationsAlbum
"Disorder"1979
  • BPI: Silver
Unknown Pleasures

Video albums

TitleDetailsCertifications
Here Are the Young Men
  • Released: August 1982
  • Label: Factory
  • Format: VHS
Their Own Story in Their Own Words
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: DVD
  • BPI: Gold

Other appearances

Song(s)YearAlbumComments
"At a Later Date"1978Live version from an Electric Circus, Manchester concert in 1977.
"Digital"A Factory SampleLater released on Substance.
"Glass"
"Auto-Suggestion"1979
"From Safety to Where...?"

See also