NEW ORDER - PROCESSION, 1981

After the death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis in May 1980, the remaining three members of the band elected to carry on under the name New Order. Struggling to find their new direction, the band released two singles which significantly illustrated the bands progression between the past and future while leading up to their debut album Movement: ”Ceremony” which was originally written by Curtis and still deeply embedded in Joy Division’s sound, and “Procession” which hinted more towards New Order’s evolution in the years to come (the b-side “Everything’s Gone Green” was the the first song by the group to incorporate computer generated sounds).

Both singles were produced by Martin Hannet, though this would be their last involvement together due to Hannetts’ worsening substance abuse and legal disputes with Factory Records. “Procession” is also notable for the brief female backing vocals by the recently added fourth member Gillian Gilbert. There are 9 variations of the sleeve available; all have a grey cardstock background with graphics in black, red, blue, brown, yellow, orange, green, aqua and purple.