Joy Division discography

Joy Division discography
Joy Division discography
Studio albums	2
EPs	3
Live albums	4
Compilation albums	12
Singles	5
Video albums	2

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 Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook after attending a June 1976 Sex Pistols concert.^[1] The first official release as Joy Division was an extended play, An Ideal for Living (1978). After releasing four singles, they released their debut studio album, Unknown Pleasures (1979). It entered the national charts of New Zealand, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, and was certified silver by Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana, Recorded Music NZ, and British Phonographic Industry.

On 18 May 1980, the eve of the band's first North American tour, Curtis was found dead in his home.^[2]^[3] The band's second and final album, Closer (1980), was released two months later to critical acclaim, which charted in New Zealand, United Kingdom, Belgium, German, Italia, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland. The band re-formed as New Order, with Sumner on vocals; they later recruited Morris's girlfriend Gillian Gilbert as keyboardist and second guitarist.^[4]

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title	Details	Peak chart positions					Certifications
Title	Details	UK ^[5]	UK Indie ^[6]	AUS ^[7]	GER ^[8]	NZ ^[9]	Certifications
Unknown Pleasures	Released: 15 June 1979 Label: Factory Formats: CD, LP, cassette	5	1	82	20	1	BPI: Platinum^[10]
Closer	Released: 18 July 1980 Label: Factory Formats: CD, LP, cassette	6	1	23	13	3	BPI: Gold^[10]

Live albums

Title	Details
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

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title	Details	Peak chart positions									Certifications
Title	Details	UK ^[5]	UK Indie ^[6]	AUS ^[7]	BEL (FL) ^[11]	CAN ^[12]	NLD ^[13]	NZ ^[9]	SWE ^[14]	US ^[15]	Certifications
Still	Released: 9 October 1981 Label: Factory Formats: CD, 2xLP, cassette	5	1	73	—	—	—	3	33	—	BPI: Gold^[10]
Substance	Released: 11 July 1988 Label: Factory Formats: CD, LP, cassette, DAT	7	1	53	—	88	25	15	—	146	BPI: Gold^[10]
The Peel Sessions	Released: September 1990 Label: Strange Fruit Formats: CD, LP	96	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Permanent	Released: 19 June 1995^[16] Label: London Formats: CD, 2xLP, cassette	16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BPI: Gold^[10]
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	63	—	97	45	—	100	—	—	—	BPI: Gold^[10]
+− Singles 1978–80	Released: 6 December 2010 Labels: London, Rhino Format: 10× 7", 10× 7" + 2× CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total: From Joy Division to New Order	Released: 6 June 2011 Labels: WEA UK, Rhino Format: CD	51	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BPI: Gold^[10]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title	Details	Peak chart positions
Title	Details	UK ^[5]	UK Indie ^[6]
An Ideal for Living	Released: 3 June 1978 Label: Enigma Formats: 7", LP	—	—
The Peel Sessions	Released: November 1986 Label: Strange Fruit Format: LP	96	4
The Peel Sessions	Released: September 1987 Label: Strange Fruit Format: LP	98	3
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title	Year	Peak chart positions					Certifications	Album
Title	Year	UK ^[5]	UK Indie ^[6]	IRE ^[17]	NZ ^[9]^[A]	US Dance ^[18]	Certifications	Album
"Transmission"	1979	—	4	—	2	—		Non-album singles
"Licht und blindheit"^[B]	1980	—	—	—	—	—
"Love Will Tear Us Apart"		13	1	19^[C]	1	42	BPI: 2× Platinum^[10] RMNZ: Platinum^[19]
"Komakino"^[D]		—	—	—	—	—
"Atmosphere" / "She's Lost Control"^[E]		34^[F]	1	27^[G]	1	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other certified songs

List of songs, with selected certifications
Title	Year	Certifications	Album
"Disorder"	1979	BPI: Silver^[10] RMNZ: Gold^[19]	Unknown Pleasures

Video albums

Title	Details	Certifications
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^[10]

Other appearances

Song(s)	Year	Album	Comments
"At a Later Date"	1978	Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus	Live version from an Electric Circus, Manchester concert in 1977.
"Digital"		A Factory Sample	Later released on Substance.
"Glass"		A Factory Sample
"Auto-Suggestion"	1979	Earcom 2: Contradiction
"From Safety to Where...?"	1979	Earcom 2: Contradiction
"Shadowplay"	2017	Silhouettes and Statues: A Gothic Revolution 1978–1986

Notes

↑ All singles charted in 1981
↑ "Licht und Blindheit" was released only in France as a limited edition single.
↑ "Love Will Tear Us Apart" did not originally chart on the Irish Singles Chart, however it did reach 19 when re-released in 1983.
↑ "Komakino" was released as a limited edition single, given away free in select record shops.^[20]
↑ "Atmosphere" was released as a single with "She's Lost Control" as the b-side worldwide. However "She's Lost Control" was released as a single with "Atmosphere" as the b-side in the US.
↑ "Atmosphere" did not originally chart on the UK Singles Chart, however it did reach 34 when re-released in 1988 to promote Substance.
↑ "Atmosphere" did not originally chart on the Irish Singles Chart, however it did reach 27 when re-released in 1988 to promote Substance.

References

↑ Walters, Sarah (3 June 2016). "Four Manchester bands we owe to the Sex Pistols' Lesser Free Trade Hall gig 40 years ago". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
↑ Curtis 1995, p. 132.
↑ Emmet Lyons,Michael Holmes,Henry Hullah (21 May 2022). "Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis had 'two personas.' Bandmates rue failure to prevent singer's suicide | CNN". CNN. Retrieved 20 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Rambali, Paul (July 1983). A Rare Glimpse into a Private World. The Face. p. 30.
1 2 3 4
Peak chart positions in the United Kingdom:
- All except The Complete BBC Recordings: "Joy Division". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- The Complete BBC Recordings: "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010: Jessie J – JX". Zobbel. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
1 2 3 4 "Indie Hits "J"". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
↑ "Discographie Joy Division". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
1 2 3 "Discography Joy Division". charts.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "British certifications – Joy Division". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 August 2023. Type Joy Division in the "Search:" field.
↑ "Discografie Joy Division" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
↑ RPM https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=7980&app=rpm Retrieved June 18, 2025
↑ "Discografie Joy Division" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
↑ "Discography Joy Division". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
↑ "Joy Division Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
↑ "New albums". Music Week. 17 June 1995. p. 42.
↑ "Search the charts". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
↑ "Joy Division | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
1 2 "New Zealand single certifications – Joy Division". Radioscope. Retrieved 20 December 2025. Type Joy Division in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
↑ "Joy Division Discography Part 1". gerpotze.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

External links

Joy Division at AllMusic
Joy Division discography discography at Discogs
Joy Division discography at MusicBrainz

[18] All singles charted in 1981

[20] "Licht und Blindheit" was released only in France as a limited edition single.

[21] "Love Will Tear Us Apart" did not originally chart on the Irish Singles Chart, however it did reach 19 when re-released in 1983.

[24] "Komakino" was released as a limited edition single, given away free in select record shops.^[20]

[25] "Atmosphere" was released as a single with "She's Lost Control" as the b-side worldwide. However "She's Lost Control" was released as a single with "Atmosphere" as the b-side in the US.

[26] "Atmosphere" did not originally chart on the UK Singles Chart, however it did reach 34 when re-released in 1988 to promote Substance.

[27] "Atmosphere" did not originally chart on the Irish Singles Chart, however it did reach 27 when re-released in 1988 to promote Substance.

[1] Walters, Sarah (3 June 2016). "Four Manchester bands we owe to the Sex Pistols' Lesser Free Trade Hall gig 40 years ago". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.

[FOOTNOTECurtis1995132-2] Curtis 1995, p. 132.

[3] Emmet Lyons,Michael Holmes,Henry Hullah (21 May 2022). "Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis had 'two personas.' Bandmates rue failure to prevent singer's suicide | CNN". CNN. Retrieved 20 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[4] Rambali, Paul (July 1983). A Rare Glimpse into a Private World. The Face. p. 30.

[UK_Charts-5] 1 2 3 4 Peak chart positions in the United Kingdom:
All except The Complete BBC Recordings: "Joy Division". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

The Complete BBC Recordings: "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010: Jessie J – JX". Zobbel. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[mwA2I] All except The Complete BBC Recordings: "Joy Division". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[mwA2s] The Complete BBC Recordings: "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010: Jessie J – JX". Zobbel. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[cherryred-6] 1 2 3 4 "Indie Hits "J"". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2010.

[auscharts-7] 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[8] "Discographie Joy Division". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 June 2019.

[nzcharts-9] 1 2 3 "Discography Joy Division". charts.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[bpi_certs-10] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "British certifications – Joy Division". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 August 2023. Type Joy Division in the "Search:" field.

[11] "Discografie Joy Division" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[12] RPM https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=7980&app=rpm Retrieved June 18, 2025

[13] "Discografie Joy Division" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[14] "Discography Joy Division". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2008.

[15] "Joy Division Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[16] "New albums". Music Week. 17 June 1995. p. 42.

[17] "Search the charts". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[19] "Joy Division | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

[RMNZ-singles-22] 1 2 "New Zealand single certifications – Joy Division". Radioscope. Retrieved 20 December 2025. Type Joy Division in the "Search:" field and press Enter.

[23] "Joy Division Discography Part 1". gerpotze.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

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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 and 1987)
Compilation albums	Warsaw Still Substance Peel Sessions 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
Songs	"Warsaw" "Digital" "Disorder" "She's Lost Control" "Shadowplay" "Transmission" "Komakino" "Dead Souls" "Atmosphere" "Atrocity Exhibition" "Isolation" "New Dawn Fades" "Love Will Tear Us Apart" "Ceremony"
Related	Discography New Order Rob Gretton Touching from a Distance Control Joy Division A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division Earcom 2: Contradiction
Category