What was Factory Records’ first number one single?
Founded in the 1970s by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, Factory Records quickly became synonymous with Manchester’s unparalleled music scene. Rallying the best of those from the city’s post-punk efforts, the label epitomised the creativity, energy, and forward-thinking ability of those primarily in the indie arena, supporting artists alongside running one of the most iconic venues, The Haçienda.
Launched just two years after the formation of Joy Division by their manager, Rob Gretton, and others, Factory Records initially emerged as a defiant response to the staleness of those making the music industry an over-commercialised space. According to Ian Curtis, this initiative was a godsend, mainly because he had long craved a space where he would be given the freedom to create and support where it counted.
From the beginning, therefore, Factory Records’ success hinged on its forward-thinking ethos alongside the impressive talent within its roster. Its first release, A Factory Sample, set the label on a path to victory with tracks by Joy Division, alongside The Durutti Column, Cabaret Voltaire, and John Dowie. It was a majorly celebratory moment, not only springing them into action but establishing them as a team of unrivalled creatives who knew exactly what the music industry needed.
Its ties to Joy Division and later New Order were almost instantaneous. In many ways, Joy Division was inextricable from the label’s formation, which many used to their advantage, creatively and professionally. According to Curtis, the label and the band were able to thrive from day one because there was a mutual understanding of how productive environments were created and nurtured, which paved the way for two fundamental pillars of success: commercial accessibility and creative liberation.
So, what was the first Factory Records number one?
Although the label would eventually go bust, Joy Division brought a significant amount of success to the label, particularly after Curtis’ tragic passing in 1980. In fact, the posthumous single ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ attracted a surge of attention, solidifying the band’s legacy and Curtis’ ability to write from the heart, even if the subject matter seemed challenging to swallow or navigate as a listener.
Released a month after Curtis’ passing, the song became the first of the band’s to enter the charts, achieving the top spot on the UK Indie Chart and number one in New Zealand the following year. As a result, this was also Factory Records’ first number-one hit, signalling a poignant moment for their journey and story with the band and laying the groundwork for the emergence of New Order.
While Factory Records enjoyed significant success with the New Order, the label eventually collapsed due to several reasons, including an unsustainable financial model that warranted various losses. The Haçienda was a significant source of this downfall, as were many of their marketing and commercial choices with New Order, alongside inadequate commercial management to see the business through its hardships.
