Just to recap, this is going to be a part of an occasional series of posts I'm going to make on this blog. This'll be where I compare an early set of lyrics to a later set of lyrics for one Joy Division song. Sometimes I may compare multiple sets of lyrics of just one song to each other. When you couple in a lot of the live variations to certain songs, you can get all sorts of results.
Today's choice is a song that lyrically really didn't receive too much variation through Joy Division's career and is often regarded as one of their poppiest and best songs: Transmission.
I can think of no other Joy Division song that was recorded in the studio or performed live more times than this song. FIVE different studio recordings (counting the Peel session), a performance live on TV, and ENDLESS amounts of concert performances. Dear God...one of their few songs that attracted a lot of attention to the band, alongside "She's Lost Control" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart".
Deborah Curtis, in her book Touching From a Distance, said this of Transmission: "The Paris gig [Les Bain Douches] later in December was attended by a young Frenchman called Franck Essner. After hearing 'Transmission' on the radio, he and his friends had tried to set up a publication of a fanzine and intended to use this as a means of acquainting themselves with the band that wrote the song they loved so much. Towards the end of the afternoon, Franck managed to talk Rob [Gretton] into the idea of an interview and they exchanged addresses. Later, he sat next to Ian for dinner and they became friends."
It has been documented that Ian only wanted one album (Unknown Pleasures) and one single. After the "Transmission" single was released, his ambitions were realized, and he wanted out of the music business. However, by the time the single was released on November 16, 1979, the band was beginning to get really huge. So Ian persevered, leading to the Closer album and the "Love Will Tear Us Apart" single. This always made me wonder. Ian only wanted ONE album, right? Well, originally, the RCA sessions from May 1978 were going to be the first album, before the deal fell through. Had those sessions been released as a proper album, would Ian have stayed in the music business, due to the band's popularity, and thus still killed himself? Keep in mind, in 1978, they were still very unknown and hadn't played too many gigs. Not to mention, we have no idea how well the album would have been received. My guess is that it would not have gotten the same universally well-received reviews as Unknown Pleasures. If the album had been officially released, followed by a single in 1979, I wonder what would have happened differently. Would Ian have met Annik? Would the material for Closer have been created? Would Ian have been several suicide attempts? One can only wonder...
Anyway, back on track! There's no way I'm going to document every version of "Transmission"; not only because there are so many, but especially given how the song didn't go through much lyrical change, as aforementioned. So, I have decided to include every studio version and a FEW live versions, each with extremely slight variation. I go in chronologically order for the first few versions, so I will be referring to the first few as "first", "second", "third", etc, but then I will start to skip around a bit.
First known version, first studio version. This is the only version that significantly differs from every other version of the song (which is understandable, given how early it is), both musically and lyrically. It has a lot of spacey, weird effects akin to the kind you would perhaps expect from the Moog that they used live for the siren sounds in "Disorder". The guitar riffs differ in some places, and Ian doesn't scream the "And we could dance" line:
RCA Sessions, Arrow
Studios, Manchester (May 3-4, 1978)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let
it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses,
frightened of the sun
We would make a fine pair,
living in the night
Left to blind destruction;
take away our sight
We could go on as though
nothing was wrong
And hide from the days to
remain all alone
Stayed in the same place,
staring all the time
Touching from a distance,
further all the time
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
And I could call out when
the going gets tough
And we could make contact
if we just holler
No language, just sound,
is all that I know
We'll synchronize love to
the beat of the show
And we could dance
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Second version, second studio version. This is when the lyrics and music start becoming more modern, like how you would expect them to be:
1st Peel
Session (January 31, 1979)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let
it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses,
frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time,
living in the night
Left to blind destruction,
waiting for our sight
We would go on as though
nothing was wrong
Hide from these days to
remain all alone
Stayed in the same place,
just staying out the time
Touching from a distance,
further all the time
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
And I would call out when
the going gets tough
The things that we've
learned are no longer enough
No language, just sound,
is all we need know
To synchronize love to the
beat of the show
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Third version, third studio version. I ALWAYS loved the double guitar riff after the second "Radio, live transmission" line in this version (and I think it's pretty exclusive to this version as well). There are also a few changes in the bass riff, which I also like:
Genetic Demo, Eden
Studios, London (March 4, 1979)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let
it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses,
frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time,
living in the night
Left to blind destruction,
waiting for our sight
We would go on as though
nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, we
remained all alone
Stayed in the same place,
just staying out the time
Touching from a distance,
further all the time
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
I would call out when the
going gets tough
The things that we've
learned are no longer enough
No language, just sound,
is all we need know
To synchronize love to the
beat of the show
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Fourth version, first known live version. I'm pretty sure this is also the earliest version where you can hear Peter Hook singing backing vocals on the choruses. Bernard Sumner might also be doing this, but I can't really distinguish his voice. Ian sings like his normal enigmatic self, while Peter pretty much barks and growls through the song:
Live at the Bowdown
Vale Youth Club, Altrincham (March 14, 1979)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let
it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses,
frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time,
living in the night
Left a blind destruction,
waiting for our sight
We would go on as though
nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, we
remained all alone
Stayed in the same place,
just staying out the time
Touching from a distance,
further all the time
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Oh, I would call out when
the going gets tough
The things that we've
learned are no longer enough
No language, just sound;
all we need know
To synchronize love to the
beat of the show
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Alright, I'm skipping ahead now to the fourth studio version. This was the demo version they recorded before the Single version. Ian sings really badly here, and his voice cracks on the word "beat":
1st
Transmission Single session, Central Sound Studios, Manchester
(Mid-July 1979)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let
it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses,
frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time,
living in the night
Left to blind destruction,
waiting for our sight
We would go on as though
nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, we
remained all alone
Staying in the same place,
staring out the time
Touching from a distance,
further all the time
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
I would call out when the
going gets tough
The things that we've
learned are no longer enough
No language, just sound,
is all we need know
To synchronize love to the
beat of the show
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
And here is the fifth and final studio version, which became the "Transmission" single version:
“Transmission”
Single, Strawberry Studios, Stockport (July 28-August 4, 1979)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let
it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses,
frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time,
living in the night
Left to blind destruction,
waiting for our sight
We would go on as though
nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, to
remain all alone
Stay in the same place,
just staying out the time
Touching from a distance,
further all the time
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Well, I could call out
when the going gets tough
The things that we've
learned are no longer enough
No language, just sound,
is all we need know
To synchronize love to the
beat of the show
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance,
dance, dance to the radio
And let's skip ahead again. From here on out, these are all just random live versions with slight differences here and there:
Futurama One Festival,
Leeds (September 8, 1979)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time, living in the night
Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight...
Sight
We would go on as though nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, we remained all alone
Stayed in the same place, just stayed out the time
Touching from a distance, further all the time
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
I would call out when the going gets tough
Things that we've learned seemed no longer enough
No language, just sound, is all we need know
To synchronize love to the beat of the show
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
“Something Else”
BBC2 TV (September 15, 1979)
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence; let it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun
We would have a fine time, living in the night
Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight
We would go on as though nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, we remained all alone
Stayed in the same place, just staying out the time
Touching from a distance, further all the time
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Oh, I would call out when the going gets tough
The things that you’ve learned are no longer enough
No language, just sound, is all we need know
To synchronize love to the beat of the show
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Live at The Warehouse,
Preston (February 28, 1980)
Radio,
live transmission
Listen
to the silence; let it ring on
Eyes,
dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun
We
would have a fine time, living in the night
Left
to blind destruction, waiting four our sight
We
would go on as though nothing was wrong
Hide
from these days, we remained all alone
Staying
in the same place, just staring all the time
Touching
from a distance, further all the time
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
I
would call out when the going gets tough
The
things that we've learned seem no longer enough
No
language, just sound, is all we need know
To
synchronize love to the beat of the show
And
we could DANCE!
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance,
dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Now this very last version actually DOES differ significantly in the last verse. It's hard to tell what Ian is saying, since he mumbles through it (given how many times he's sang the song up to this point, how could he forget the lyrics?), but I did my best to decode it (if anyone has a different interpretation please let me know). Just read it and you'll see just how weird it is:
High Hall, Birmingham
University (May 2, 1980) [Last Live Performance/Version]
Radio, live transmission
Radio, live transmission
Listen to the silence, let it ring on
Eyes, dark gray lenses, frightened of the sun
We could have a fine time, living in the night
Left to blind destruction, waiting for our sight
Sight...
We would go on as though nothing was wrong
Hide from these days, we remained all alone
Stayed in the same place, just staying out the time
Touching from a distance, further all the time
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio
I would go on as though nothing was wrong
And hide from these days where Zeus was wrong
Head to the same place, just staring at no lie
Get to the bottom of, we wouldn't shine
And we could DANCE!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!
Well, that about wraps it up. Thanks for reading, I hope you found this post informative and thought-provoking, and have a glorious New Year! :)
-Wallflower
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