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Factory Records discography
Factory Records discography
Factory Records discography
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The following is a list of items with recorded Factory Records numbers. The list primarily consists of music releases but also includes promotional graphics, film, etc. However, the list was not confined to creative output. A party (FAC 83), a lawsuit (FAC 61) and a cat (FAC 191) appear on the list along with other miscellany.

Number allocation was only roughly chronological. Special numbers were reserved for significant Factory output. For instance, albums by Joy Division and New Order are typically cataloged under multiples of 25; the sole exceptions to this are two Joy Division albums: Unknown Pleasures (FACT 10) and Still (FACT 40). The final recording issued by Factory, Happy Mondays' 1992 single "Sunshine & Love", bears the number FAC 372; nevertheless, a handful of recordings issued earlier (sometimes years earlier) have higher catalogue numbers.

After Factory Records declared bankruptcy in 1992, Factory co-founder Tony Wilson continued to assign Factory numbers to numerous events and magazine interviews through to his death in 2007. Other late-period Factory catalogue items include a film (FAC 401), a recording issued by another label (FACT 500), a poster for a 2004 memorial event honouring Rob Gretton (FAC 511), and Tony Wilson's own coffin (FAC 501).

Several numbers (e.g., FAC 317/318/319) were multiply allocated to unrelated projects. As well, many of the catalogue numbers, especially those above FAC 330, weren't allocated at all (or were allocated to unreleased or unrealized projects).

For Factory Benelux, see Factory Benelux discography.

The Factory numbering system

[edit]

The last digit of the number may designate the following (but inconsistencies abound): 1 - Factory Corporate, 2 - Happy Mondays (singles), 3 - Joy Division / New Order (singles), 4 - Durutti Column, 6 - Factory Classical.[1]

The "FACT" designation (as opposed to "FAC") usually denotes an album. The "FACD" designation is oftentimes used to denote compact disc releases of albums, though it is sometimes applied to LP and cassette releases as well; the designation "FACTUS" is typically used for American releases regardless of format.

Sometimes the number can contain a further insight:

  • FACT 24, Various Artists: A Factory Quartet (album [x2]): 2 records, 4 artists, thus 2/4. (In addition, Durutti Column ["4"; see above] is on this release.)
  • FAC 148, Styal Mill Sponsored Bucket (sponsorship): One of 48 blades on the mill wheel, thus 1/48.
  • FAC 289, New Order: Campaign Technique (notepaper): Campaign ran in February 1989, thus 2/89. (This number was also used for The Wendys The Sun's Going to Shine For Me Soon single 2 years later. Double number assignments occur a few times within the catalogue.)
  • FAC 321, Jonathan Demme: The Perfect Kiss (video). This is the reverse number of the release the video was made for: FAC 123, New Order: The Perfect Kiss. In addition, as noted above, 123 would signify a New Order single, and 321 a Factory Corporate project.

Catalogue

[edit]
No. Artist Title Designer Format Date Notes
FAC 1 Various Artists The Factory (Club No. 1) Peter Saville event/poster May 1978 [2][3]
FAC-2 Various Artists: Cabaret Voltaire, Joy Division, Durutti Column, John Dowie A Factory Sample Peter Saville 2×7" January 1979 Purported 12" versions are bootlegs[4][5]
FAC 3 Various Artists The Factory (Club No. 2) Peter Saville event/poster October 1978 [6][7]
FAC 4 Various Artists The Factory December (Club No. 3) Tony Wilson event/poster December 1978 [8][9]
FAC 5 A Certain Ratio All Night Party / The Thin Boys Peter Saville 7" May 1979 5,000 copies[10][11]
FAC 6 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Electricity / Almost Peter Saville 7" May 1979 5,000 copies[11][12]
FAC 7 Peter Saville Factory notepaper Peter Saville stationery May 1979 [13][14]
FAC 8 Linder Sterling The Factory Egg-Timer Concept for a menstrual abacus. "But this little artefact was never made, except for the sketches and four prototype beads."[15]
FAC 9 Various Artists No City Fun (The Factory Flick) film 13 September 1979 by Charles Salem and Malcolm Whitehead[16]
FACT 10 Joy Division Unknown Pleasures Peter Saville, Joy Division album June 1979 [17][18]
FACT 10+4 Joy Division, Various Artists FACT 10+4 Peter Saville poster June 1979 poster advertising FAC 5, FAC 6, FACT 10, FAC 11, FAC 12[19]
FACT 10 40 Joy Division Unknown Pleasures Peter Saville, Joy Division album July 2019 40th anniversary pressing
FAC 11 X-o-dus English Black Boys / See Them A-Come Peter Saville 12" February 1980 [20]
FAC 12 The Distractions Time Goes By So Slow 7" September 1979 [21]
FAC 13 Joy Division Transmission / Novelty Peter Saville 7" October 1979 [22]
FAC 1312 Joy Division Transmission / Novelty Peter Saville 12" December 1980 [22]
FAC 13 T Joy Division, Factory Records Transmission Factory logo Peter Saville, Colin White T-shirt April 2004 [23]
FACT 14 Durutti Column The Return of the Durutti Column Tony Wilson (sandpaper), Steve Horsfall (normal) LP January 1980 First 2000 copies in sandpaper sleeve[24][25][26]
FACT 14-C Martin Hannett Testcard (The First Aspect of the Same Thing / The Second Aspect of the Same Thing) Peter Saville flexi-disc January 1980 Free with initial copies of FACT 14[25]
FACT 14-C Durutti Column The Return of the Durutti Column Peter Saville cassette 1986 [25][26]
FAC 15 Various Artists Zoo Meets Factory Halfway, Leigh Festival Peter Saville event, poster 27 August 1979 festival, featuring Factory and Zoo bands[27][28]
FACT 16 A Certain Ratio The Graveyard and the Ballroom cassette January 1980 reissued as FACT 16-C;[29] side one is studio, side two is live at the Electric Ballroom, 26 October 1979[30]
FAC 17 Crawling Chaos Sex Machine / Berlin Jon Savage single August 1980 See also FAC 27[31][32]
FAC 18 Section 25 Girls Don't Count // Knew Noise / Up to You Ben Kelly, Peter Saville 7" July 1980 7" B-side 33rpm[33][34]
FAC 18 Section 25 Girls Don't Count // Knew Noise / Up to You Larry Cassidy 12" December 1980 3 different sleeves on 12", with photos of Jenny Ross (later Jenny Cassidy), Julie Waddington or Angela Cassidy[33][34]
FAC 19 John Dowie It's Hard To Be An Egg / Mind Sketch 7" May 1981 [35][36]
FAC 20 Liz Naylor Too Young To Know, Too Wild To Care Planned film concept by Wilson, script by Naylor. Never went beyond notes.[37]
FAC 21 Fractured Music "F" Logo Peter Saville/Martyn Atkins logo/badge March 1981 (logo)
June 1981 (badge)		 Fractured Music was Joy Division's publishing arm. 400 maroon badges, 200 black[38][39]
FAC 22 A Certain Ratio Flight // Blown Away / And Then Again Peter Saville/Martyn Atkins 12" October 1980 [40]
FAC 23 Joy Division Love Will Tear Us Apart // These Days / Love Will Tear Us Apart (Again) Peter Saville, Ben Kelly 7", 12" June 1980 7" B-side has both songs, at 33rpm[41][42]
FACT 24 Various Artists: Durutti Column, Blurt, Kevin Hewick, The Royal Family And The Poor A Factory Quartet Peter Saville album December 1980 [43][44][45]
FACT 25 Joy Division Closer Peter Saville, Martyn Atkins album July 1980 [46]
FACT 26 Durutti Column Durutti in Paris Stephen Horsfall poster/event, cancelled April 1980 seven copies of poster produced[47]
FAC 27 Saville revenge project Rob Gretton, Alan Erasmus, Peter Saville unreleased sleeve 1980 FAC 159 states: "Cancelled Saville/Gretton revenge programme project for alternative FAC 17 sleeve";[31] Erasmus visiting Saville's London office because the sleeve for FAC 17 was so late[32]
FAC 28 Joy Division Komakino / Incubation / As You Said flexi-disc July 1980 Outtakes from Closer[48][49]
FAC 29 The Names Night Shift Ian Wright 7" January 1981 [50][51]
FACT 30 Sex Pistols The Heyday cassette December 1980 Interviews by Fred and Judy Vermorel in August 1977 for The Inside Story[52]
FAC 31 Minny Pops Dolphin Spurt Martyn Atkins single January 1981 [51][53]
FAC 32 Crispy Ambulance Unsightly and Serene (Not What I Expected / Deaf) Martyn Atkins 10" 1980 [54]
FAC 33 New Order Ceremony / In A Lonely Place Peter Saville 7", 12" January 1981 Two different 12" mixes with different sleeves[55]
FAC 34 ESG You're No Good Stephen Horsfall 7" June 1981 [56][57]
FACT 35 A Certain Ratio To Each... Ann Quigley (art), Peter Christopherson (design) LP May 1981 [58]
FAC 36 Joy Division U.S. Joy Division Closer campaign advertisement June 1981 US advertising campaign for Closer (FACTUS-36)[59]
FACT 37 Joy Division Here Are The Young Men Peter Saville VHS, Beta August 1982 Ikon FCL IKON-2[42][60][61]
FACT 38 A Certain Ratio Below the Canal VHS not completed[62]
FAC 39 Tunnelvision Watching The Hydroplanes Peter Saville 7" June 1981 clear vinyl[57][63]
FACT 40 Joy Division Still Peter Saville 2×LP, cassette, CD October 1981 Various cover designs; CD missing unlisted LP track "Twenty-Four Hours"[64][65]
FAC 41 Stockholm Monsters Fairy Tales Mark Farrow single January 1982 [66]
FACT 42 A Certain Ratio The Double 12" Ann Quigley (art), Peter Christopherson (design) 2×12" January 1982 FAC-22 and FACTUS-4 packaged together; released in Italy, France, Australia and New Zealand[67][68]
FAC 43 The Royal Family and the Poor Art Dream Dominion (Art on 45 / 5:12 Dream / 4:12 Dominion) Trevor Johnson 12" February 1982 [69]
FACT 44 Durutti Column LC Les Thompson album November 1981 [70]
FACT 45 Section 25 Always Now Peter Saville/Grafica Industria LP, cassette September 1981 [71]
FACT 46 Various Artists The Video Circus video screenings, posters June 1980 onward three hours of promotional video shown at gigs and galleries[49]
FAC 47 Factory anvil logo Peter Saville logo July 1980 [72]
FAC 48 Kevin Hewick Ophelia's Drinking Song / Cathy's Clown / He Holds You Tighter Martyn Atkins 7" 20 November 1981 [73]
FAC 49 Swamp Children Little Voices / Call Me Honey / Boy Ann Quigley 12" October 1981 [74][75]
FACT 50 New Order Movement Peter Saville album November 1981 [76]
FAC 51 The Haçienda Ben Kelly nightclub 21 May 1982 [77]
FAC 51-B New Order Merry Xmas From The Haçienda and Factory Records (Rocking Carol / Ode To Joy) flexi-disc December 1982 4400-edition flexidisc given away at Haçienda's first Christmas [78]
FAC 52 A Certain Ratio Waterline / Funaezekea Ben Kelly 12" December 1981 [79]
FAC 53 New Order Procession / Everything's Gone Green Peter Saville 7" September 1981 Sleeve available in nine different colours printed on grey card: yellow, blue, purple, orange, brown, green, black, red, aqua[80]
FAC 54 Haçienda Construction VHS 1981 Footage of the Haçienda under construction; some tapes sent out to Factory friends; some footage used on FACT 71[81]
FACT 55 A Certain Ratio Sextet Denis King, Ben Kelly LP January 1982 [42][82]
FACT 56 Various Artists A Factory Video Peter Saville VHS, Beta August 1982 Ikon FCL IKON-3[83][84][85]
FAC 57 Minny Pops Secret Story / Island Rob van Middendorp 7" September 1982 [86][87]
FAC 58 Stockholm Monsters Happy Ever After / Soft Babies Mark Farrow 7" August 1982 [88][89]
FAC 59 52nd Street Look Into My Eyes (edit) / Express (edit) Paul Taylor 12" August 1982 white label 7" exists[90]
FAC 59-T 52nd Street Look Into My Eyes / Express Paul Taylor 12" August 1982 [90]
FACT 60 The Wake Harmony James Kay, The Wake LP September 1982 Also FBN 29 (with extra track "Chance")[91]
FAC 61 In the Matter of Factory (Communications) Limited and in the Matter of the Companies Acts 1948 to 1980 lawsuit 16 March 1982 Martin Hannett's writ to wind up Factory Communications Ltd[92][93]
FAC 62 A Certain Ratio Knife Slits Water / Tumba Rumba 7" September 1982 [94]
FAC 62 A Certain Ratio Knife Slits Water / Kether Hot Knives (Mix In Special) 12" September 1982 [94]
FAC 63 New Order Temptation / Hurt Peter Saville 7", 12" April 1982 [95]
FAC 64 Durutti Column I Get Along Without You Very Well / Prayer Mark Farrow 7" June 1983 [96][97]
FACT 65 A Certain Ratio I'd Like to See You Again Agidi, Kennedy's Studios LP November 1982 [98]
FAC 66 Section 25 The Beast Mark Farrow 12" July 1982 [99]
FAC 67 Quando Quango Go Exciting / Tingle Alan David-Tu 12" 1982 [100]
FAC 68 Section 25 Back To Wonder / Beating Heart Mark Farrow 7" June 1983 12" test pressings exist[101][102]
FAC 69 unassigned
FACT 70 Swamp Children So Hot Ann Quigley album October 1982 Also FBN-21 with different sleeve[103][104]
FACT 71 Various Artists A Factory Outing VHS, Beta October 1983 Ikon FCL IKON-5[105][106]
FAC 72 A Certain Ratio I Need Someone Tonite / Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing Mark Farrow 12" July 1983 7" promos exist[107]
FAC 73 New Order Blue Monday / The Beach Peter Saville 12" March 1983 [108]
FAC 73R New Order Blue Monday 1988 / Beach Buggy 7", 12" March 1988 Remixed by Quincy Jones and John Potoker[108]
FACT 74 Durutti Column Another Setting Mark Farrow album August 1983 [109]
FACT 75 New Order Power, Corruption & Lies Peter Saville album May 1983 [110]
FACT 76 Jazz Defektors The Jazz Defektors Film video unreleased; 8 minute video eventually included on FACT 137[111]
FACT 77 New Order Taras Shevchenko Peter Saville Associates VHS, Beta 1983 Ikon FCL IKON-4[112]
FAC 78 James Jimone Jim Glennie 7" September 1983 [113][114]
FACX 79 A Factory Product: For your protection Xmas 79/80 Tony Wilson earplugs and breathing mask December 1979 1979 Christmas present[115][116]
FAC 79 Quando Quango Love Tempo Mark Holt (sticker), F-Dot sleeve 12" 1983 Also FBN-23 on Factory Benelux and OFNY-5 on Of Factory New York[117]
FACT 80 Stockholm Monsters Alma Mater Johnson/Panas album September 1984 [118][119]
FAC 81 Factory International Congress event September 10, 1981 Meeting of Factory staff and associates[120][121]
FAC 82 Cabaret Voltaire Yashar Mark Holt (sticker) 12" July 1983 [122][123] Also FBN-25 on Factory Benelux
FAC 83 Haçienda 1 Year Peter Saville Associates event
FACT 84 Durutti Column Without Mercy 8vo album October 1984 [124]
FACT 85 Thick Pigeon Too Crazy Cowboys Lawrence Weiner LP October 1984 [125][126]
FAC 86 Stockholm Monsters Shake It To The Bank 7" unreleased[127]
FAC 86-R The Haçienda must be built Trevor Johnson cardboard model kit December 1983 1983 Christmas present; reissued 1990[127]
FAC 87 Kalima The Smiling Hour / Flyaway 7", 12" January 1984 [128][129][130]
FAC 88 The Wake Talk About The Past / Everybody Works So Hard Jackie Gribbon, The Wake 7", 12" March 1984 Extended versions on 12"[131]
FACT 89 John Dowie Dowie Ralph Steadman VHS, Beta December 1983 Ikon FCL IKON-6[132][133]
FACT 90 Section 25 From The Hip Peter Saville LP, cassette March 1984 [134]
FAC 91 Facsoft software Computer program, never made it past the idea[135][136]
FAC 92 Marcel King Reach For Love / Keep On Dancin' 12" March 1984 7" promo exists[137][138]
FAC 92-R Marcel King Reach For Love (New York remix) // Reach For Love (dub) / Keep On Dancin' 12" February 1985 A-side and dub also released as FBN-43[139]
FAC 93 New Order Confusion Peter Saville, Phill Pennington 12" August 1983 [140]
FAC 94 F-Dot Logo Peter Saville Associates logo/sleeve/badge 1983 First used on FAC-79[141]
FACT 95 The Royal Family and the Poor The Project Phase 1 – The Temple of the 13th Tribe Trevor Johnson, Mike Keane album November 1984 [124]
FAC 96 Ad Infinitum Telstar Trevor Johnson 7" March 1984 Lindsay Reade[142][143]
FAC 97 Streetlife Act On Instinct Ron Van Roon, Tom Mulder 12" February 1984 Minny Pops[144]
FAC 98 Swing salon October 1983 Andrew Berry's hairdressing salon in Haçienda basement[145][146]
FAC 99 Molar reconstruction, Rob Gretton's dental file event
FACT 100 New Order Low-Life Peter Saville album May 1985 [147]
FAC 101 Lofts apartment concept Loft-style cooperative apartment plan by Wilson, never built[148][149]
FAC 102 Quando Quango 2 From Quando (Atom Rock) Alan David-Tu 7"/12" June 1984 [150][151]
FAC 103 New Order Thieves Like Us / Lonesome Tonight Peter Saville, Phill Pennington, Trevor Key single April 1984 Cover image based on "The Evil Genius of a King" by Giorgio de Chirico[152]
FAC 104 The Tube live at the Haçienda event 27 January 1984 Channel 4 broadcast [153][154]
FACT 105 Biting Tongues Feverhouse The Soundtrack LP February 1985 [155]
FACT 105-V Howard Walmsley Feverhouse VHS, Beta February 1985 Ikon FCL IKON-10[155][156]
FAC 106 Life Tell Me Mark Farrow 7" July 1984 French version "Dites Moi" released as FBN-37[157]
FAC 107 Stockholm Monsters All At Once / National Pastime Johnson/Panas 7" June 1984 [158]
FAC 108 Section 25 Looking From A Hilltop Peter Saville 12" June 1984 [159]
FAC 109 Caroline Lavelle Untitled and Undone single, not recorded
FACT 110 Quando Quango Pigs + Battleships Alan David-Tu LP, cassette November 1985 [160][161]
FAC 110-12 Quando Quango Love Tempo (Mark Kamins Mix) / Atom Rock (Mark Kamins Remix) 12" November 1985 Factory Australasia-only 12" with FACT-110[68]
FAC 111 Shark Vegas You Hurt Me / But Now Your Flesh Lies Rotting In Hell Mark Farrow 12" January 1986 [162]
FAC 112 A Certain Ratio Life's A Scream / There's Only This Johnson/Panas 12" December 1984 [163]
FAC 113 The Wake Of The Matter Jackie Gribbon, The Wake 7" October 1985 [164]
FAC 114 Durutti Column Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say 8vo 12"EP January 1985 [165]
FAC 115 Second generation notepaper Peter Saville Associates stationery 1984 using Factory silhouette logo [166]
FAC 116 Red Turns To ... Deep Sleep 12" 1984 plain F-Dot sleeve[167]
FAC 117 Abecedarians Smiling Monarchs / Benway's Carnival 12" April 1985 [168]
FAC 118 52nd Street Can't Afford (To Let You Go) 7", 12" October 1984 White label only[169]
FAC 119 James Hymn From A Village John Carroll 7" March 1985 [170][171]
FAC 120 Factory Silhouette logo Peter Saville Associates logo/badge July 1984 [172]
FAC 121 Various Artists Riverside Exhibition & Performances Peter Saville event A week of Factory bands showcased at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London[173][174]
FAC 122 Life Optimism / Better Mark Farrow 7" April 1985 [175]
FAC 123 New Order The Perfect Kiss / The Kiss Of Death / Perfect Pit Peter Saville single May 1985 Outer sleeve silver; inner sleeve cyan, blue or black[176]
FAC 124 Streetlife No More Silence / No More Silence (Short Version) / Chopper's Delight Ron Van Roon, Tom Mulder 12" March 1985 Minny Pops[177]
FACT 125 Various Artists Bessy talks Turkey: Xmas 1984 VHS, Beta October 1984 Promotional Christmas video of Factory acts, discussed and presented by Claude Bessy; original title Factory Video Hype; Ikon FCL IKON-11[178][179][180]
FAC 126 Alan Erasmus Alan Goes To Moscow event April 1985 Alan Erasmus A&R visit to the Soviet Union[181]
FAC 126 Alan Goes To Moscow Phil Pennington, Peter Saville poster April 1985 poster to promote Erasmus visit to Moscow[182]
FAC 127 Kalima Four Songs (Trickery / Land of Dreams / Sparkle / So Sad) Trevor Johnson 12" October 1985 [183]
FAC 128 A Certain Ratio Wild Party / Sounds Like Something Dirty Trevor Johnson 12", cassette June 1985 Extra live tracks on cassette[184]
FAC 129 Happy Mondays Forty Five E.P. (Delightful / This Feeling / Oasis) Central Station Design single September 1985 [185]
FACT 130 The Wake Here Comes Everybody Jackie Gribbon, The Wake LP November 1985 cassette prepared but unreleased[186]
FAC 131 Various Artists it isn't only lowlife who record for Factory Peter Saville Associates poster Poster promoting forthcoming releases FACT-80, FACT-85, FACT-84, FACT-95, FACT-100, FACT-110, FACT-130[187]
FAC 132 Section 25 Crazy Dancing 7", not released planned 7" version of 12" FBN-45[188]
FAC 133 New Order Sub-culture / Dub-vulture Peter Saville 7", 12" November 1985 [189]
FAC 134 Biting Tongues Trouble Hand / Panorama / Meat Mask Separatist / Boss Toyota Trouble / Probate Johnson/Panas single November 1985 [190]
FACT 135 A Certain Ratio The Old And The New Johnson/Panas LP+7", cassette January 1986 [191]
FAC 136 Factory adhesive tape Peter Saville stationery 2009 Promotional adhesive tape for Rhino Factory Records: Communications 1978-92 box set;[192] thus, not officially numbered by Wilson. factoryrecords.org dates this as 1985.[193]
FAC 137 Quando Quango Genius / Rebel 12" October 1985 7" promo 7-FAC-137[194]
FACT 137 Various Artists Shorts Trevor Johnson VHS, Beta June 1985 Ikon FCL IKON-12[135][195]
FAC 138 James Village Fire, 5 Offerings From... John Carroll 12" June 1985 FAC-78 and FAC-119 on a 12"[196]
FAC 139 The Royal Family and the Poor We Love the Moon / White Stains Johnson/Panas 7" picture disc 1986 [197]
FACT 140 The Royal Family and the Poor We Love The Moon: The Project - Phase 2 Johnson/Panas LP 1986 [198]
FAC 141 Third generation logo Peter Saville Associates stationery using Factory mark from FAC-115[199]
FAC 142 Happy Mondays Freaky Dancin' / The Egg Central Station Design 12" June 1986 [200]
FAC 143 New Order Shellshock / Shellcock Geoff Power (photo), Peter Saville (design) 7", 12" March 1986 Non-UK versions B-side "Thieves Like Us (instrumental)"[201]
FACD 144 Durutti Column Domo Arigato 8vo CD 1985 first Factory CD-only release; Wilson claimed first non-classical CD-only release in the UK[202]
FACT 144 Durutti Column Domo Arigato 8vo VHS, Beta 1986 Ikon FCL IKON-16[203][204]
FAC 145 Christmas 1985 CD wallet Peter Saville Associates Christmas card December 1985 [205][206]
FAC 146 Stockholm Monsters Partyline / Militia / Partylive Johnson/Panas 12" April 1987 7" test pressings exist[207][208]
FAC 147 Kalima Whispered Words / Sugar And Spice / In Time Trevor Johnson single May 1986 [209]
FAC 148 Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Cheshire Sponsored Bucket sponsorship Sponsored bucket in National Trust mill restoration[210]
FAC 149 Little Big Band First Project album, aborted
FACT 150 New Order Brotherhood Peter Saville Associates LP, cassette September 1986 [211]
FAC 151 Various Artists The Festival of the Tenth Summer Peter Saville Associates, Malcolm Garrett/Assorted Images event July 1986 [212]
FAC 152 From Manchester with Love T-shirt February 1986 T-shirt donated for benefit concert[213]
FAC 153 New Order State of the Nation / Shame of the Nation Peter Saville Associates single September 1986 [214]
FACD 154 Durutti Column Circuses and Bread 8vo CD September 1986 LP on Factory Benelux FBN-36[215][216]
FACT 155 Kalima Night Time Shadows Trevor Johnson album May 1985 [217][218]
FAC 156 Quando Quango Bad Blood 7", 12" unreleased[219][220]
FAC 157 Section 25 Bad News Week Mark Farrow 12" May 1987 [221]
FAC 158 Anna Domino Summer Benoit Hennebert single August 1986 also Crépuscule TWI-641[222][223]
FAC 159 Tim Difford FAC-Facts Tim Difford booklets
FACT 160 Section 25 Love & Hate A.S.K. Design Co. album March 1988 [224]
FAC 161 Out Promotion contract/event 1986 hiring of Out Promotion (Dave Harper/Nicki Kefelas) by Factory[225]
FAC 162 The Railway Children A Gentle Sound / Content / Darkness and Colour Gary Newby 12" September 1986 [226][227]
FAC 163 New Order Bizarre Love Triangle Peter Saville Associates single 5 November 1986
FAC 163153 New Order Bizarre Love Triangle / State of the Nation Peter Saville Associates 7" November 1986 Australia-only 7", in FAC-163 sleeve[68]
FACD 164 Durutti Column Valuable Passages 8vo CD November 1986 Compilation, originally compiled for US and Australia[68][228]
FACT 165 Anna Domino Anna Domino Benoit Hennebert album August 1986 Also Crépuscule TWI-600[223][229]
FAC 166-12 A Certain Ratio Bootsy / Mickey Way Johnson/Panas 12" November 1987 Australia-only release on Factory Australasia[68][230]
FAC 166-7 A Certain Ratio Bootsy / Inside 7" November 1987 Australia-only 7"[68]
FACT 166 A Certain Ratio Force Johnson/Panas LP, cassette, CD November 1986 [231]
FAC 167 The Railway Children Brighter / History Burns / Careful Gary Newby 12" February 1987 [232][233]
FAC 167-7 The Railway Children Brighter / History Burns Gary Newby 7" April 1987 Australia-only 7"[68]
FAC 168 A Certain Ratio Mickey Way (the Candy Bar) (Wild Party / Sounds Like Something Dirty) Johnson/Panas 12", cassette June 1985 Extra live tracks on cassette[234]
FAC 169 The Pleasure Crew So Good Realisation 12" October 1987 [235][236]
FACT 170 Happy Mondays Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) Central Station Design LP, cassette April 1987 [237][238]
FAC 171 Peter Saville Compact Peter Saville Associates installation September 1986 installation by Peter Saville at White Columns gallery, New York[239][240]
FAC 172 The Railway Children Overseas Single Collection album concept, aborted
FAC 173 New Order Bizarre Love Triangle Robert Longo video
FAC 174 Durutti Column Valuable Press Pack 8vo press kit 1986 Press kit for FACD 164[241]
FAC 175 Thick Pigeon Blue Christmas Paul Jackson origami box, cassette December 1986 Christmas present[242][243]
FAC 176 Happy Mondays Tart Tart / Little Matchstick Owen's Rap Central Station Design 12" March 1987 [244]
FACT 177 New Order Pumped Full of Drugs Chris Mathan, Peter Saville Associates VHS August 1986
FAC 178 The Wake Something That No One Else Could Bring (Gruesome Castle / Pale Spectre // Furious Sea / Plastic Flowers) Realisation 12" November 1987 [245]
FAC 179 Miaow When It All Comes Down / Did She Slimm Smith 12" January 1987 [246][247]
FACT 180-1 Various Artists Factory In Store Video No 1 VHS April 1987 promotional video[248]
FAC 181 The Bailey Brothers The Mad Fuckers film concept Happy Mondays film concept, aborted;[249] FAC-221 was the visit to Hollywood attempting to secure funding[250] The Mad Fuckers was the origin of the term "Madchester."[251]
FAC 182 The Hood / Jumpin' Jesus Salvation! / You Can't Blackmail Jesus 12" October 1987
FAC 182-7 The Hood / Jumpin' Jesus Salvation! / You Can't Blackmail Jesus 7" December 1987 Australia-only 7"[68]
FACT 182 Various Artists Salvation! LP, cassette, CD October 1987 Factory Australasia numbering of Factory Benelux/Crépuscule TWI-774[252]
FAC 183 New Order True Faith / 1963 Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Key single 20 July 1987 [253][254]
FAC 183 New Order True Faith Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Key paperweight July 1987 promotional paperweight[255]
FAC 183-R New Order True Faith Remix / 1963 / True Faith Dub Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Key 12" August 1987 Remixed by Shep Pettibone; different sleeve to FAC-183[253]
FAC 183-R New Order True Faith Remix / True Dub / Paradise Remix Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Key 12" August 1987 Australia-only remix of "Paradise" by Robert Racic[68]
FAC 184 Durutti Column The City of Our Lady (Our Lady Of The Angels / White Rabbit / Catos con Guantes) 8vo 12" August 1987 [256]
FACT 185 The Railway Children Reunion Wilderness Gary Newby LP, cassette, CD November 1987 [257]
FACT 186 Various Artists Festival of the 10th Summer album/video, unreleased
FAC 187 Kalima Weird Feelings / The Dance Johnson/Panas single May 1987 [258]
FAC 188 Biting Tongues Compressor / Black Jesus / Black & White Jesus Johnson/Panas 12" October 1987 [259]
FAC 189 Miaow Break the Code / Stolen Ears 7" October 1987 [260]
FACT 190 Wim Mertens Educes Me Joel Van Audenhaeghe LP, cassette September 1987 also Crépuscule TWI-808[261]
FAC 191 Fred The Haçienda cat cat [262]
FAC 192 Happy Mondays 24 Hour Party People / Yahoo / Wah Wah (Think Tank) Central Station Design 12" November 1987 7" promo exists[263]
FAC 193 New Order Touched by the Hand of God Peter Saville Associates 7", 12", CD December 1987 From the soundtrack of Salvation![264]
FAC 194 DV8 Physical Theatre and The Durutti Column When The World (Newson Mix) 8vo VHS December 1987 Directed, edited and produced by Carole Lamond[265]
FACD 194 Durutti Column Our Lady of the Angels / When the World (Newson Mix) / Catos con Guantes 8vo CD December 1987 [265]
FACDV 194 DV8 Physical Theatre and The Durutti Column When the World (soundtrack) / When the World (album) / Final Cut / When the World (video) 8vo CD Video December 1987 Directed, edited and produced by Carole Lamond[265]
FACT 195 Wim Mertens The Belly of An Architect LP November 1987 also Crépuscule TWI-813[266]
FAC 196 Meat Mouth Meat Mouth is Murder Julie Lomax 12" October 1987 [267]
FAC 197 Fadela N'Sel Fik Johnson/Panas 12" November 1987 [268]
FAC 198-7 Vermorel Stereo/Porno 7" February 1988 Specially commissioned for the BPI Awards 1988[269]
FAC 199 Vermorel Bums for BPI poster
FACT 200 New Order Substance Peter Saville 2×LP, 2×CD, 2×cassette, DAT August 1987 [270]
FAC 201 Dry Ben Kelly, Peter Saville Associates bar 25 July 1989 [271][272]
FAC 202 Dream Flight Balloons charity sponsorship
FAC 203 New Order 12 Inches of New Order Peter Saville plastic ruler promotion for FACT 200[273]
FACT 204 Durutti Column The Guitar and Other Machines 8vo LP, cassette, CD December 1987 [274]
FACT 204 Durutti Column When The World VHS 24 October 1987 same video as FAC 194, used to promote FACT 204[274]
FACT 205 Jazz Defektors Jazz Defektors James Martin, Graeme Cooper LP May 1988 [275]
FACT 206 Kalima Kalima! Johnson/Panas LP, cassette, CD May 1988 [276]
FACD 207 Little Big Band Little Big Band CD 1988 [277]
FAC 208 Post G-Mex Haçienda Party event
FAC 209 Happy Mondays Film Shoot video
FACT 210 Cath Carroll England Made Me Chris Mathan LP, CD June 1991 [278][279]
FAC 211 Joy Division TV documentary 1989 Documentary on Channel 4 music show Wired, made to coincide with release of Joy Division catalogue on CD[280]
FAC 212 Happy Mondays Wrote for Luck / Boom Central Station Design 7", 12", CD October 1988 [281]
FAC 213 Joy Division Atmosphere / The Only Mistake Brett Wickens, Peter Saville Associates 7" June 1988 [282]
FAC 213.12 Joy Division Atmosphere / The Only Mistake / Sound Of Music Brett Wickens, Peter Saville Associates 12" June 1988 [282]
FACD 213 Joy Division Atmosphere / Transmission (live) / Love Will Tear Us Apart Brett Wickens, Peter Saville Associates CD June 1988 [282]
FAC 214 Durutti Column The Guitar and Other Marketing Devices 8vo flexi-disc December 1987 promotional flexi for FACT 204[283]
FAC 215 Vin D'Usine Blanc, Haçienda House Wine (White) Peter Saville Associates bottle
FAC 216 Vin D'Usine Rouge, Haçienda House Wine (Red) Peter Saville Associates bottle
FACT 217 To Hell with Burgundy Earthbound Central Station Design LP May 1989 [284]
FACD 218 To Hell with Burgundy Who Wants to Change the World? / Money / Mother of the Sea Central Station Design CD Possibly promo-only[285]
FAC 219 Kalima Flyaway LP, CD June 1989 [286]
FAC 220 Happy Mondays Bummed Central Station Design LP, CD, cassette, DAT November 1988 [287]
FAC 221 Factory Goes to Hollywood trip to Hollywood November 1989 Tony Wilson's visit to Hollywood to pitch a Happy Mondays film[288]
FAC 221 Factory Goes to Hollywood badge November 1989 Factory US logo badge[250]
FAC 221 The Factory Contract 8vo binder May 1990 Binder for holding artist contracts. "Two 12"x12" clear perspex plates with screenprinted signal green, silver and signal orange design, held with 4 metal bolts. The bolt positions are located to hold A4 sheets in place and allow for a variable number of pages."[289]
FAC 222 Happy Mondays/Karl Denver Lazyitis (One Armed Boxer) / Mad Cyril (Hello Girls) Central Station Design 7", 12", cassette May 1989 [290]
FAC 223 New Order Fine Time Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Key single November 1988 [291]
FACD 224 Durutti Column The First Four Albums 8vo CD box set 1 February 1988 Box set of The Return of the Durutti Column (FACT 14), LC (FACT 44), Another Setting (FACT 74), Without Mercy (FACT 84) and Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say (FAC 114)[292]
FACT 225 New Order Substance Peter Saville Associates VHS September 1989
FACT 226 Kreisler String Orchestra Kreisler String Orchestra Peter Saville Associates LP, cassette, CD September 1989 DAT planned but never released[293][294]
FAC 227 Fred Dellar Fred Fact newspaper page 1 July 1989 p. 50, New Musical Express, 1 July 1989: Factory trivia, Factory Benelux discography[295][296]
FAC 228 Karl Denver Wimoweh 89 Central Station Design 12" October 1989 [297]
FAC 229 FAC229! The Music Week Factorial Peter Saville Associates advertorial 15 July 1989 booklet with Music Week[298][299]
FACT 230 Revenge One True Passion Peter Saville LP June 1990 [300]
FAC 231 Yo John, Music Week for John Peel's 50th birthday advertisement
FAC 232 Happy Mondays W.F.L. (The Vince Clarke Mix / "Think About The Future" The Paul Oakenfold Mix / Lazyitis - one armed boxer) Central Station Design 7", 12", cassette, CD September 1989 remix of FAC 212[301]
FAC 233 Joy Division, New Order, Factory Communications Limited Substantial Matters 1986-1988 between Joy Division, New Order and Factory Communications Limited accounts 1988 [302]
FACD 234 Durutti Column Womad 88 (Live) (Otis / English Landscape Tradition / Finding The Sea / Bordeaux) Johnson/Panas CD single July 1989 [303]
FAC 235 New Order Blue Monday Manual Video Robert Breer, Peter Saville Associates Flickbook 1988 1988 Christmas present; flickbook for FAC-73-R video[304]
FACT 236 Robin Williams Robin Williams Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Johnson LP, cassette, CD, DAT September 1989 [293][305]
FAC 237 New Order Here are the Old Men VHS unreleased
FAC 238 Haçienda '96: Citius Altius Fortius shirt July 1990 T-shirt to assist Manchester bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics[300]
FAC 239 Happy Mondays Halcyon Daze #2 fanzine Happy Mondays fanzine, allocated FAC number[306]
FAC 240 Factory Year Planner Peter Saville Associates stationery January 1988 tenth anniversary wall planner (starts 24 January 1988)[307]
FAC 241 Just Say No to London t-shirt concept
FAC 242 Happy Mondays Madchester Rave On (Hallelujah / Holy Ghost // Clap Your Hands / Rave On) Central Station Design 2×7", 12", cassette, CD November 1989 [308]
FAC 242-R Happy Mondays Madchester Rave On (Hallelujah (MacColl Mix) / Rave On (Club Mix) / Hallelujah (In Out Mix)) Central Station Design 7", 12", CD November 1989 [308]
FAC 243 Steve Mason Technique Bronze Cherub art
FACT 244 Durutti Column Vini Reilly 8vo LP, CD, cassette, DAT March 1989 [309][310]
FACT 244+ Vincent Gerard & Steven Patrick I Know Very Well How I Got My Note Wrong Johnson/Panas 7", CD3 March 1989 limited 7"/CD3 with first pressing of FACT-244; outtake of "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name" from sessions for Viva Hate by Morrissey[311][312]
FAC 245 Madchester Christmas 1989 Johnson/Panas Postcard set 1989 1989 Christmas present: 5 postcards of Manchester icons, with "Manchester" changed to "Madchester"[313]
FACT 246 Duke String Quartet Duke String Quartet Peter Saville Associates, Mark Farrow LP, cassette, CD, DAT September 1989 [293][314]
FACT 247 Revenge 7 Reasons / Jesus ... I Love You Peter Saville Associates 7", 12", CD November 1989 [315][316][317]
FAC 248 Various Artists On CD At Last, On Dat Already advertisement 17 March 1990 advertisement in New Musical Express 17 March 1990 for Factory CD and DAT releases[318]
FACT 249 Kalima Feeling Fine Johnson/Panas LP, CD August 1990 [319]
FACT 250 Joy Division Substance Brett Wickens, Peter Saville Associates LP, CD, cassette, DAT June 1988 [320]
FAC 251 New Factory Building (headquarters) Ben Kelly building now indie rock club "FAC251 The Factory", run by Peter Hook
FACD 251 Steve and Gillian Loved It (The New Factory) CD September 1990 Promo, distributed at opening of new Factory headquarters[321]
FAC 252 Happy Mondays Hallelujah Radio-Only CD single December 1989
FAC 253 Rob Gretton / Tony Wilson Chairman Resigns event
FACT 254 Durutti Column Guitar One - House album Abandoned idea for album in house and dance style[322]
FAC 255 Cath Carroll Beast 12", CD, cassette October 1990 [323]
FAC 255 Cath Carroll Beast Douglas Brothers VHS October 1990 Promotional video tape, part of FAC 315[324]
FAC 256 Rolf Hind Rolf Hind Peter Saville Associates, Bracken Harper LP, cassette, CD, DAT September 1989 [293][325]
FAC 257 Electronic Getting Away with It Peter Saville Associates 7", 12", cassette, CD December 1989 [326][327]
FAC 258 FAC-Off Central Station Design T-shirt
FAC 259 Factory staff party event February 19, 1990 Tony Wilson's 40th birthday party[328][329]
FACT 260 Happy Mondays Hallelujah Central Station Design single
FAC 261 Madchester Central Station Design T-shirt
FACT 262 Happy Mondays Madchester - Rave On Central Station Design VHS November 1989
FAC 263 New Order Round & Round / Best & Marsh Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Key 12", CD February 1989 Remix FAC 263R (12" and 3"CD)[330]
FACT 264 Durutti Column Guitar Two - Acoustic album, unreleased
FAC 265 United States of the Hacienda DJ tour June 1990 Hacienda DJ tour of America during June and July 1990[331]
FACT 266 Steve Martland Steve Martland Peter Saville Associates, Neville Brody LP, CD, cassette, DAT September 1989 [293][332]
FACD 267 Revenge Pineapple Face Peter Saville Associates CD single May 1990 [333]
FAC 268 Northside Shall We Take a Trip / Moody Places Central Station Design 7", 12" May 1990 [334][335]
FAC 269 Kalima Shine Johnson/Panas single
FAC 270 Various Artists Our Dance Days album planned Mike Pickering project to release a house remixes compilation[336]
FAC 271 New Order Technique Advertising Peter Saville Associates campaign
FAC 272 Happy Mondays Step On Central Station Design 7", 12", CD, cassette March 1990 [337]
FAC 273 New Order Run 2 / MTO Peter Saville Associates 12" August 1989 Limited 20,000 copies on 12"[338][339]
FACT 274 Durutti Column Obey the Time 8vo LP, CD, cassette December 1990 DAT prepared but not commercially released[340][341]
FACT 275 New Order Technique Peter Saville Associates, Trevor Key LP, cassette, CD February 1989 [342]
FACD 276 Various Artists Factory Classical Label Peter Saville Associates CD EP July 1989 promotional sampler[343]
FAC 277 Joy Division Substance video concept
FAC 278 Karl Denver Indambinigi (Zimba / Shengali) Central Station Design 12" August 1990 [344]
FAC 279 Revenge I'm Not Your Slave Peter Saville Associates single October 1990 [341]
FAC 280 The Wendys More Than Enough 12" November 1990 promo, unreleased[345]
FAC 281 The Area Trevor Johnson shop December 1989 [326]
FAC 282 Flowers for Horse's wedding event August 1990 Flowers provided by Factory for Paul Ryder's wedding[346]
FAC 283 World in Motion Peter Saville Associates T-shirt
FAC 284 Durutti Column The Together Mix / Contra-indications (album version) / Fridays (Up-Person mix) 8vo single February 1991 [347]
FACT 285 The Wendys Gobbledygook David Knopov LP, CD May 1991 [348]
FAC 286 Various Artists Bloomsbury Classical Showcase event
FAC 287 Electronic Get The Message / Free Will Johnson/Panas 7", 12", cassette, CD April 1991 [349][350]
FAC 287-R Electronic Get The Message (DNA Groove Mix) / Get The Message (DNA Sin Mix) Johnson/Panas 7", 12" April 1991 [349]
FAC 288 Shaun on One Central Station Design T-shirt may never have been produced officially[351]
FAC 289 New Order Campaign Technique Peter Saville Associates notepaper February 1989 promotional notepaper for FACT 275[352]
FAC 289 The Wendys The Sun's Going to Shine for Me Soon / Everybody Craig Easton 7", 12" February 1991 [353][354]
FACT 290 Electronic Electronic Johnson/Panas album 27 May 1991 [355][356]
FAC 291 Factory Classical stationery stationery 1990 [357]
FAC 292 Shaun Ryder Colours single, unfinished & unreleased
FAC 293 Englandneworder World in Motion Peter Saville Associates 7", 12" May 1990 Remix FAC 293R[358]
FAC 294 Durutti Column Jazz FM radio advertisement
FAC 295 Xmas Greetings from Factory - Dec 1990 Christmas card December 1990 1990 Christmas card, photo of the then-new FAC 251[359]
FACD 296 Various Artists Factory Classical 5-CD Set Peter Saville Associates CD box set September 1989 FACD 226, FACD 236, FACD 246, FACD 256, FACD 266[360]
FAC 297 The Wendys Pulling My Fingers Off // I Feel Slowly / More Than Enough Instrumental David Knopov 12" April 1991 [361]
FAC 298 Northside My Rising Star / Instrumental Central Station Design 7" October 1990 [362][363]
FAC 299 Factory Julian Morey T-shirt
FACT 300 New Order Untitled pre-mix listening tape album
FAC 301 Think About the Future Factory Conference event 5 July 1990 [364]
FAC 302 Happy Mondays Kinky Afro Central Station Design 7", 12", CD, cassette October 1990 [365]
FAC 303 Various Artists Palatine Lane Oliver Carrie/Dragon album January 1992
FAC 304 Various Artists Palatine (The Single) John Macklin single November 1991 [366]
FAC 305-C Various Artists The Factory Tape cassette March 1991 free cassette with Select magazine[367][368]
FAC 306 Steve Martland Glad Day ( Festival of Britain / Fantasy Island / The World is in Heaven) Bill Smith Studio 12", CD October 1990 [369]
FAC 306-R Steve Martland The World is in Heaven (Extended Dance Version) 12" 1990 [369]
FAC 307 Cath Carroll Moves Like You Two 12" September 1991 [370]
FAC 308 Northside Take 5 / Who's To Blame Central Station Design 7", 12" May 1991 [371]
FAC 309 Hi-Nek T-shirt
FACT 310 Northside Chicken Rhythms Central Station Design album June 1991
FAC 311 Fourth Generation Notepaper Julian Morey stationery
FAC 312 Happy Mondays Loose Fit / Bob's Yer Uncle Central Station Design 7", 12", cassette, CD February 1991 Remix FAC-312-R;[372] Shadowplayers dates release as March 1991[373]
FAC 313 Joy Division Transmission Film video November 1991
FAC 314 Various Artists Palatine - The Factory Story Vol 1. 1979-1982: Tears in Their Eyes John Macklin LP, CD, cassette November 1991 [374]
FAC 315 Cath Carroll Press kit Two press kit July 1991 includes CD of "Moves Like You" 7" radio mix, VHS of "Beast" and "Moves Like You"[375]
FACD 316 I Fagiolini The Art of Monteverdi Bill Smith Studio CD, cassette, DAT September 1990 [376]
FAC 317 Cath Carroll England Made Me John Macklin badge Promotional badge for FACT 210[377]
FAC 317 Various Artists Classics in Motion event 7 September 1990 Factory Classical showcase with I Fagiolini, Rolf Hind, Graham Fitkin, Red Byrd, Steve Martland, Durutti Column at Tramway Theatre, Glasgow, 7 September 1990[378]
FAC 318 Various Artists Classics in Motion event 16 October 1990 Factory Classical showcase with I Fagiolini, Rolf Hind, Graham Fitkin, Red Byrd, Steve Martland, Durutti Column at Haçienda, Manchester, 16 October 1990[378]
FAC 318 Classics in Motion Peter Saville, Brett Wickens T-shirt, poster, leaflet [378][379][380]
FAC 318 Flying Start Exhibition Stand event May 1991 Stand displaying Factory artwork at Flying Start TV show exhibition[381]
FAC 319 Various Artists Classics in Motion event 29 October 1990 Factory Classical showcase with I Fagiolini, Rolf Hind, Graham Fitkin, Red Byrd, Steve Martland, Durutti Column at Bloomsbury Theatre, London, 29–31 October 1990[378][379]
FAC 319 The Adventure Babies Camper Van / Barking Mad // Lifetime at the Sink / Long Night Narrow Boat Central Station Design 12", CD September 1991 [382]
FAC 320 Happy Mondays Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches Central Station Design LP, CD, cassette November 1990 [383]
FAC 321 New Order The Perfect Kiss Jonathan Demme video clip May 1985 promotional clip for FAC 123
FACT 322 Happy Mondays Live Central Station Design CD, 2×LP, cassette September 1991 The Baby Big Head Bootleg Album bootleg recording was so popular the band released it as an official album[384]
FAC 323 New Order Untitled Peter Saville 1989 US tour book 1989 [385] Interview with Peter Saville regarding 'Untitled' [386] Online scan archive, all pages.
FACT 324 Various Artists Palatine - The Factory Story Vol 2. 1981-1986: Life's a Beach John Macklin LP, CD, cassette November 1991 [374]
FACT 325 Various Artists Martin: The Work of Martin Hannett John Macklin album August 1991 [370]
FACD 326 Rolf Hind Country Music Bill Smith Studio CD, cassette, DAT September 1990 [387]
FACD 327 Revenge Gun World Porn (Deadbeat / Cloud Nine / State of Shock / Little Pig) John Macklin CD 1991 [388]
FAC 328 Electronic Feel Every Beat 3a 7", 12", CD September 1991 [370][389]
FAC 329 The Other Two Tasty Fish DM 7", 12", cassette, CD October 1991 [390][391]
FAC 330 The Other Two The Other Two & You album not released on Factory, eventually released on London[392][393]
FAC 331 The Temporary Contemporary Design 3 table January 1991 Floating boardroom table at FAC 251[394]
FAC 332 Happy Mondays Judge Fudge / Tokoloshe Man / Stayin' Alive Central Station Design 7", 12", CD, cassette November 1991 [395]
FACT 334 Various Artists Palatine - The Factory Story Vol 3. 1979-1989: The Beat Groups John Macklin LP, CD, cassette November 1991 [374]
FACT 335 The Adventure Babies Laugh Central Station Design LP, CD, cassette June 1992 [396]
FACD 336 Red Byrd Songs of Love and Death Bill Smith Studio CD, cassette, DAT September 1990 [397]
FACD 337 The Wendys I Instruct (Enjoy The Things You Fear / Newspaper Cows / The Pop Song / The Sun's Going To Shine For Me Soon) John Macklin EP September 1991 [370][398]
FAC 338 Northside Want a Virgin single unreleased[399]
FACT 339 MTV Special: History of Factory documentary 26 January 1992 [400]
FAC 339 Palatine VHS 1992 Canada-only VHS of FAC-339[400]
FAC 341 Happy Mondays Pills 'N' Thrills and Bellyaches Launch event
FAC 342 Happy Mondays Charter Clinic idea
FACT 344 Various Artists Palatine - The Factory Story Vol 4. 1987-1990: Selling Out John Macklin LP, CD, cassette November 1991 [374]
FAC 345 Palatine: The Factory Christmas Gift 1991 John Macklin booklet December 1991 Christmas present[401][402]
FACD 346 Graham Fitkin Flak Bill Smith Studio CD, cassette September 1990 DAT scheduled but not released[403]
FAC 347 The Adventure Babies Barking Mad / Captain Scarlet / How Mortal We Are (Mad Hat Mix) Central Station Design 7", 12", CD June 1992 [404]
FAC 348 Electronic Disappointed single June 1992 unreleased on Factory, released on Parlophone 12-R-6311 1992[405]
FAC 349 The Other Two Movin' On single planned second single from FAC 330, neither released by Factory[393][406]
FAC 351 Jon Savage The Haçienda Must Be Built! Graham Newman & John Macklin book 1992 Official history of the Haçienda[407]
FAC 352 Happy Mondays Staying Alive single, unreleased
FAC 354 Palatine Celebrations event
FACT 356 Eric Satie Socrate Bill Smith Studio CD, cassette, DAT 1990 [408]
FAC 357 The Adventure Babies Laugh / Catching Up 12", cassette Unreleased, though promos were distributed November 1992. Cassette promo numbered FACD-357.[409]
FAC 362-7 Happy Mondays Stinkin' Thinkin' Central Station Design 7" September 1992 [410][411]
FACD 366 Steve Martland Crossing the Border John Macklin CD, cassette July 1992 [412]
FAC 372-7 Happy Mondays Sunshine & Love / Staying Alive Central Station Design 7" November 1992 Chronologically the last ever regular release on Factory Records[413][414]
FACD 376 Piers Adams Handel Recorded Sonatas John Macklin CD, cassette September 1990 [415]
FAC 383 The Vikings hardcore New Order fans
FAC 384 The Vikings Under Fives Sons of hardcore New Order fans
FACD 386 Walter Hus Muurwerk John Macklin CD, cassette January 1991 [416]
FACT 396 Two Guitarists Still Life album unrecorded, unreleased[417]
FACT 400 Various Artists Palatine - The Factory Story 1979-1990 John Macklin LP box, CD box, cassette box November 1991 includes error-prone Factory and Factory Benelux catalogues[374][418]
FACT 400V Various Artists Palatine - The Free Vid John Macklin VHS November 1991 Free with initial copies of FACT 400 bought from HMV[374][419]
FAC 400 Joy Division Transmission video November 1991 Promotional video for "Transmission" by Joy Division to promote FACT 400[419]
FAC 401 Michael Winterbottom 24 Hour Party People film 5 April 2002 fictionalised story of Factory Records[420]
FAC 401 24 Hour Party People Central Station Technicolour 12" promotional 12" for the film, issued to cast and crew[421]
FACD 406 Steve Martland Wolfgang: Martland plays Mozart John Macklin CD, cassette June 1992 [422]
FAC 413 Jack magazine January 2003 Jack magazine January 2003, featuring New Order interview[423]
FACT 420 Happy Mondays Yes Please! Central Station Design CD, LP, cassette October 1992 [424]
FAC 421 factoryrecords.net website David Sultan website
FAC 424 Anthony H. Wilson 24 Hour Party People Peter Saville book
FACDVD 424 24 Hour Party People Peter Saville double DVD 27 January 2003 [425]
FAC 433 24 Hour Party People film website website
FAC 441 worldinmotion.net website David Sultan website
FAC 451 Jane Stanton Love Will Tear Us Apart: A History of the Haçienda documentary May 1999 Documentary for Granada Television[426]
FAC 451 Haçienda (reconstruction for 24 Hour Party People film) set/event
FAC 461 Matthew Robertson Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album book 13 July 2006 [427]
FAC 471 A Celebration of the Haçienda Trevor Johnson event 3 December 2005 at Manchester Academy 1 with Haçienda DJs[428][429]
FAC 471 A Celebration of Madchester event 13 May 2006 at Manchester Academy 1[430]
FAC 473 Les Paul FAC 473 Peter Saville sculpture
FAC 481 Building magazine: Oh Manchester magazine 27 January 2006 Building 27 January 2006, guest-edited by Tony Wilson and Yvette Livesey[431]
FAC 491 Haçienda 25 exhibition/event
FACT 500 Happy Mondays Uncle Dysfunktional Central Station Design CD 3 July 2007 released by Sequel (SEQCD-012), not Factory,[432] but number assigned by Wilson[433]
FAC 501 Anthony H. Wilson's coffin coffin August 2007 [434][435]
FAC 511 And you forgotten a memorial event for Rob Gretton Trevor Johnson, Peter Saville event/poster 23 May 2004 [436]

References

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Factory Records discography

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The discography of Factory Records comprises the extensive catalog of recordings and related artifacts produced by the Manchester-based independent record label from its inception in 1978 until its bankruptcy in 1992. Founded by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, the label pioneered an avant-garde ethos in post-punk and electronic music, releasing over 500 items—including singles, albums, EPs, and non-musical merchandise—under a unique sequential FAC numbering system that treated all outputs as art. Its roster featured groundbreaking acts like Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, and Happy Mondays, whose works defined the "Madchester" scene and influenced global indie and dance cultures. Factory's output began with the seminal EP A Factory Sample (FAC 2) in January 1979, a collaborative release featuring tracks from Joy Division, The Durutti Column, Cabaret Voltaire, and comedian John Dowie, which introduced the label's experimental spirit without traditional artist contracts—instead opting for a 50/50 profit-sharing model. Key albums from this era include Joy Division's debut Unknown Pleasures (FACT 10, 1979), produced by Martin Hannett and noted for its atmospheric production, and their follow-up Closer (FACT 50, 1980), both capturing the band's raw post-punk intensity amid the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis. New Order, formed from Joy Division's ashes, propelled the label's evolution into electronic and dance territories with releases like Power, Corruption & Lies (FACT 75, 1983) and the iconic 12-inch single Blue Monday (FAC 73, 1983), which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide as of 2023 and remains the best-selling 12-inch single in history. The label's later years embraced the acid house and rave scenes through acts like Happy Mondays, whose Wrote for Luck (FAC 212, 1988) epitomized the "Madchester" sound, and collaborations such as ENGLANDneworder's World in Motion (FAC 293, 1990), a UK number-one hit blending football anthem with electronic pop. Subsidiaries like Factory Benelux, Factory America, and Factory Classical expanded its reach, with the latter venturing into orchestral works in 1989, while the FAC system whimsically cataloged non-recording items such as The Haçienda nightclub (FAC 51) and even Wilson's coffin (FAC 501). Despite financial mismanagement—exacerbated by losses from The Haçienda—Factory's discography endures as a cornerstone of alternative music, with reissues and compilations like Fac. Dance series preserving its legacy.

Numbering System

FAC Prefix Overview

The FAC prefix served as the foundational numbering convention for Factory Records, established in 1978 by co-founders Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus to catalog all outputs from the Manchester-based independent label. The system originated with the promotion of the label's inaugural events, with FAC 1 assigned to a black-and-yellow poster advertising the first Factory night at the Russell Club in Hulme, Manchester, on May 13, 1978, featuring acts such as Joy Division and The Durutti Column. This initial use marked the prefix's role in encompassing not just musical releases but a broad array of items, including posters, events, and promotional materials, reflecting the label's ethos of artistic integration across media. Factory employed a strictly sequential numbering approach under the FAC and variant prefixes (such as FACT for full-length albums), assigning numbers chronologically to every release irrespective of format—spanning singles, EPs, albums, videos, books, and even novelty items—without resetting sequences for individual artists, genres, or media types. This policy created a unified, chronological catalogue that emphasized the label's holistic view of cultural production, resulting in 372 FAC-designated items (with numerous gaps due to cancellations) by the time of the label's insolvency in November 1992, with FAC 372 (Happy Mondays' single "Sunshine and Love") marking the final pre-closure release. Early examples illustrate this inclusivity: FAC 2 denoted the double 7-inch EP compilation A Factory Sample in January 1979, featuring tracks from Joy Division, The Durutti Column, Cabaret Voltaire, and John Dowie; FAC 3 was a black-and-white poster for an October 1978 gig at the Russell Club with Cabaret Voltaire, Joy Division, and The Tiller Boys. Numbers were typically allocated prospectively upon project conception, which occasionally produced gaps in the sequence when planned releases were canceled or delayed, as well as posthumous assignments following unforeseen circumstances. A notable instance is FAC 23, the 7-inch single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division, recorded in January 1980 but released on June 27, 1980—after frontman Ian Curtis's suicide on May 18—allowing the track to posthumously top the UK independent singles chart. This flexible yet non-repetitive assignment method underscored Factory's commitment to artistic integrity over commercial rigidity, with the core FAC system later extended briefly to affiliated imprints through variant prefixes such as FBN for Factory Benelux.

Sub-Label and Variant Prefixes

Factory Records extended its distinctive numbering system beyond the main FAC prefix through variant prefixes associated with sub-labels, formats, and promotional items, enabling targeted categorization while upholding the label's conceptual approach to cataloguing. These variants were typically employed for genre-specific, regional, or format-driven releases, ensuring consistency with the core FAC sequence through shared numbering logic and artistic oversight. Sub-prefixes were assigned based on operational needs, such as European distribution or experimental video production, but all maintained close ties to the Manchester-based parent label. The FACT prefix was used for full-length albums, running parallel to FAC numbers but maintaining overall sequential assignment (e.g., Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures as FACT 10). The FACD prefix was adopted starting in 1985 for compact disc formats, reflecting the label's adaptation to emerging digital media while preserving the sequential integrity of the catalogue. Dance and electronic releases generally used the standard FAC prefix, with no dedicated genre-specific variant. Factory Benelux, a semi-independent sub-label launched in 1980 for Benelux region distribution, utilized the FBN prefix to manage localized releases, operating with autonomy in production but aligned with Factory's aesthetic and numbering conventions. For example, FBN 1 was assigned to Section 25's "Je Veux Ton Amour" single in 1980, marking the sub-label's debut and emphasizing regional adaptations of UK artists. This structure facilitated efficient European market penetration without disrupting the main catalogue flow. Other variants included IKON for the Ikon FCL video imprint, focused on filmed performances and promotional visuals, often mirroring FAC numbers for audio-linked releases to reinforce multimedia synergy, and FACUS for US-distributed releases via licensees like Enigma. Irregularities and gaps in the system, particularly in the FAC 400 series, arose from financial constraints leading to unissued numbers, exacerbated by the label's bankruptcy in November 1992, which halted several planned allocations and left portions of the sequence incomplete. This reflected broader operational challenges but did not undermine the prefixes' role in delineating the Factory ecosystem's diverse outputs.

Main Catalogue

Singles and EPs

The Factory Records singles and EPs, identified by the FAC prefix within the label's idiosyncratic numbering system, represented a pivotal output of the Manchester-based imprint, blending post-punk innovation with later dance and alternative influences. Launching with the double 7" EP A Factory Sample (FAC 2) in January 1979—featuring tracks from Joy Division ("Digital", "Glass"), The Durutti Column ("Sketch for Summer", "Conduct"), John Dowie ("Sittin' in My Hotel", "Quiet"), and Cabaret Voltaire ("No Escape", "At Home With Dagmar")—these releases prioritized experimental soundscapes, limited-edition packaging, and Peter Saville's graphic designs over mainstream commerciality. Approximately 150 such singles and EPs were issued from 1978 to 1993, often in 7" or 12" vinyl formats, with occasional flexi-discs or picture discs that underscored Factory's ethos of treating singles as standalone artistic expressions rather than mere album promotions. Produced frequently by Martin Hannett in Factory's Cargo Studios, early singles captured the gritty, echoing aesthetic of Manchester's post-punk scene, while later entries evolved toward electronic and club-oriented sounds. Unique production elements, such as the flexi-disc format of Joy Division's "Komakino" (FAC 28, 1980, 7"), highlighted the label's aversion to standardization, with many releases limited to 5,000 copies or featuring bespoke inserts like feathers or tracing paper. Sub-label integrations, such as A Certain Ratio's debut under the Facdance banner tied to main FAC sequencing (e.g., Fac 2 recontextualized as FAC 5, "All Night Party," 1979, 7"), further expanded the catalogue's diversity without disrupting the core numbering. Though Factory rarely chased chart placements, several singles achieved significant UK success, establishing the label's cultural impact. The following table highlights representative examples across eras, focusing on seminal releases with key details:
FAC No.ArtistTitleYearFormatsNotable Details
FAC 2Various ArtistsA Factory Sample (EP)1979Double 7"Debut EP; 5,000 pressed with free stickers; Saville design; no chart entry.
FAC 13Joy Division"Transmission"19797"/12"Produced by Martin Hannett; textured sleeve variants; no chart entry.
FAC 23Joy Division"Love Will Tear Us Apart"19807"/12"Hannett production; Saville's white-on-black sleeve; UK #13.
FAC 33New Order"Ceremony"19817"/12"Green/cream sleeve variants; no chart entry initially.
FAC 53New Order"Everything's Gone Green"19817"Nine color sleeve variants; no chart entry.
FAC 73New Order"Blue Monday"198312"Saville's die-cut sleeve; best-selling 12" ever (over 2 million UK sales); UK #9.
FAC 103New Order"Thieves Like Us"19847"/12"Promo 7" edits; UK #18.
FAC 123New Order"The Perfect Kiss"19857"/12"Extended mixes on 12"; UK #46.
FAC 183New Order"True Faith"19877"/12"/CDVideo single included; UK #4.
FAC 192Happy Mondays"24 Hour Party People"19877"/12"Cultural anthem; UK Indie #10.
FAC 272Happy Mondays"Step On"19907"/12"/CDCover of John Kongos; UK #11.
FAC 320New Order"Regret"199312"/CDPost-bankruptcy release; UK #4.
These selections illustrate Factory's progression from underground post-punk to Madchester-era hits, with EPs like Kalima's Four Songs (FAC 127, 1985, 12") and Section 25's Looking from a Hilltop (FAC 108, 1984, 12") exemplifying the label's support for extended-play formats that allowed deeper exploration of atmospheric and electronic textures. Limited editions, such as the numbered picture disc of Royal Family & the Poor's "We Love the Moon" (FAC 139, 1986, 7"), further emphasized collectibility and artistry. Despite the label's 1992 bankruptcy, FAC 320 marked a poignant close to the main catalogue, reaffirming Factory's legacy in elevating singles to cultural artifacts.

Albums

Factory Records' album releases, denoted by the FACT prefix within the broader FAC numbering system, represented the label's primary artistic output from its inception in 1978 through its closure in 1992. These full-length studio, live, and instrumental albums—totaling around 80 in the main catalogue—captured the evolution from Manchester's post-punk scene to the electronic and Madchester movements, often produced by figures like Martin Hannett and featuring innovative sleeve designs by Peter Saville. Early releases emphasized raw, atmospheric sounds, while later ones incorporated synth-pop, house influences, and dance rhythms, reflecting the label's commitment to artistic experimentation over commercial formulas. Key albums not only achieved critical acclaim but also commercial success, such as New Order's works topping UK charts and influencing global electronic music trends. The debut album era began with Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (FACT 10), released on 15 June 1979 in LP and cassette formats, produced by Martin Hannett at Strawberry Studios. Its track listing included "Disorder," "Day of the Lords," "Candidate," "Insight," "New Dawn Fades," "She's Lost Control," "Shadowplay," "Digital," "Glass," "The Kill," and "Interzone," with personnel comprising Ian Curtis (vocals), Bernard Sumner (guitar), Peter Hook (bass), Stephen Morris (drums), and Hannett's production adding echoey reverb that defined post-punk production. The album received widespread praise for its haunting intensity, peaking at No. 71 on the UK Albums Chart and later recognized as a seminal post-punk record. Following closely, The Durutti Column's instrumental debut The Return of the Durutti Column (FACT 14), released in January 1980 as an LP with a distinctive sandpaper sleeve, was produced by Martin Hannett. Tracks featured guitar-led improvisations like "Sketch for Summer" and "Conduct," performed primarily by Vini Reilly (guitar) with contributions from Chris Nolan (drums) and Tony Wilson (piano on one track). Noted for its abrasive packaging that damaged adjacent records, it garnered cult appreciation for pioneering ambient post-punk textures. Joy Division's posthumous second album Closer (FACT 25), issued on 18 July 1980 in LP and cassette formats shortly after Ian Curtis's death, was again produced by Hannett at Britannia Row Studios. The track listing comprised "Atrocity Exhibition," "Isolation," "Passover," "Colony," "A Means to an End," "Heart and Soul," "Twenty Four Hours," "The Eternal," "Decades," with the same core band lineup. It achieved No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and critical acclaim for its brooding minimalism, solidifying Joy Division's legacy in post-punk. New Order's transitional debut Movement (FACT 50), released on 13 November 1981 in LP and cassette formats, was produced by Martin Hannett despite band tensions. Tracks included "Dreams Never End," "Truth," "Senses," "Chosen Time," "ICB," "The Him," "Doubts," "Memories," performed by Bernard Sumner (vocals/guitar), Peter Hook (bass/vocals), Stephen Morris (drums), and Gillian Gilbert (keyboards). It reached No. 9 in the UK, praised for bridging Joy Division's angst with emerging synth elements. A pivotal shift came with New Order's Power, Corruption & Lies (FACT 75), released on 2 May 1983 in LP and cassette formats (later CD in 1986), self-produced by the band at Strawberry Studios. The track listing featured "Age of Consent," "We All Stand," "The Village," "5 8 6," "Your Silent Face," "Ultraviolence," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "ICB," "Liberty," and "Murder," with the standard lineup. Peaking at No. 4 in the UK and influential in electronic music for its fusion of rock and synth-pop, it marked Factory's commercial breakthrough. Section 25's double album From the Hip (FACT 90), released in March 1984 as an LP produced by Bernard Sumner and the band at Rockfield Studios, shifted toward electro and synth-pop. Tracks spanned "From the Hip," "The Process," "Agressor," "Red Lorry Yellow Lorry," "Looking from a Hilltop," and more, with lineup including Larry Cassidy (bass/keyboards), Vin Cassidy (drums), Jenny Cassidy (vocals), and Paul Wiggin (guitar). It received positive reviews for prefiguring techno influences. New Order's Technique (FACT 275), released on 30 January 1989 in LP, CD, and cassette formats, was produced by the band with Stephen Hague at Mediterranean Studios in Ibiza and Real World Studios. Incorporating acid house and Balearic beats, tracks like "Fine Time," "All the Way," "Love Less," "Round & Round," and "Mr Disco" propelled it to No. 1 in the UK, lauded for capturing the late-1980s dance revolution. Finally, Happy Mondays' Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (FACT 320), released on 5 November 1990 in LP, CD, and cassette formats, was produced by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne at Eden Studios. Tracks included "Kinky Afro," "God's Cop," "24 Hour Party People," "Loose Fit," "Voodoo Ray" (Rowland S. Howard remix), and "Step On," with the band's chaotic lineup of Shaun Ryder (vocals), Bez (percussion/dancing), and others. Debuting at No. 4 in the UK and certified platinum, it epitomized the Madchester era's hedonistic fusion of rock, funk, and house.
Catalogue No.ArtistTitleRelease DateFormatsKey Personnel/ProducersNotable Reception
FACT 10Joy DivisionUnknown Pleasures15 June 1979LP, CassetteMartin Hannett (producer)Seminal post-punk debut, influential in genre development.
FACT 14The Durutti ColumnThe Return of the Durutti ColumnJanuary 1980LPMartin Hannett (producer)Iconic for sandpaper sleeve and ambient guitar work.
FACT 25Joy DivisionCloser18 July 1980LP, CassetteMartin Hannett (producer)Posthumous classic, No. 6 UK chart, enduring critical acclaim.
FACT 50New OrderMovement13 November 1981LP, CassetteMartin Hannett (producer)No. 9 UK, bridged post-punk to synth-pop.
FACT 75New OrderPower, Corruption & Lies2 May 1983LP, Cassette, CD (1986)New Order (self-produced)No. 4 UK, key influence on electronic music.
FACT 90Section 25From the HipMarch 1984LPBernard Sumner, band (producers)Praised for electro shift, pre-techno sounds.
FACT 275New OrderTechnique30 January 1989LP, CD, CassetteNew Order, Stephen Hague (producers)No. 1 UK, captured acid house era.
FACT 320Happy MondaysPills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches5 November 1990LP, CD, CassettePaul Oakenfold, Steve Osborne (producers)No. 4 UK, platinum, Madchester anthem.
FACT 339Happy Mondays...Yes Please!September 1992CD, CassetteVariousFinal Factory album, mixed reception amid label collapse.
This selection highlights Factory's transition from post-punk austerity to dance-oriented innovation, with albums like Power, Corruption & Lies and Technique establishing the label's global impact on electronic genres. Later releases, including live efforts, preserved the era's vitality amid financial woes.

Compilation Albums

Factory Records' compilation albums encompassed multi-artist samplers, thematic collections, and artist retrospectives that highlighted the label's eclectic roster and the burgeoning Manchester post-punk and electronic scenes. These releases, spanning the FAC and FACT numbering system, served as essential promotional tools, offering affordable overviews of the label's output and introducing listeners to lesser-known acts alongside established ones like Joy Division and New Order. From the inaugural sampler in 1979 to later retrospectives in the late 1980s, these compilations reflected Factory's curatorial ethos, blending raw energy with experimental sounds to capture the spirit of the era's independent music movement. Key examples include the label's early samplers, which set the tone for its diverse artist lineup, and later collections that compiled singles and rarities to consolidate an artist's catalog. While Factory issued approximately 20-30 such releases during its active years, they prioritized quality over quantity, often featuring unique packaging and artwork by designers like Peter Saville. Below is a table of representative compilation albums from the main catalogue:
Catalogue No.TitleYearFormatContributing Artists/Tracks and Purpose
FAC 2A Factory Sample1979Double 7" EPJoy Division ("Digital", "Glass"), The Durutti Column ("Sketch for Summer"), Cabaret Voltaire ("No Escape"), John Dowie ("Sittin' in My Hotel"); Introductory sampler to showcase Factory's initial roster and the Manchester post-punk scene.
FACT 24A Factory Quartet1980Double LPThe Durutti Column (side A, instrumental works), Kevin Hewick (side B, folk-influenced tracks), Blurt (side C, avant-garde jazz-punk), Royal Family and the Poor (side D, dub-reggae fusion); Early multi-artist sampler highlighting Factory's experimental diversity beyond punk.
FACT 200Substance 1977-19851987Double LP/CD/CassetteNew Order (12 tracks including "Blue Monday", "Bizarre Love Triangle", and B-sides like "Everything's Gone Green"); Retrospective compilation of the band's singles and rarities, marking Factory's 200th release and bridging their post-Joy Division evolution.
These compilations not only boosted sales for individual artists but also reinforced Factory's reputation as a hub for innovative, scene-defining music, with formats ranging from vinyl EPs to CDs as technology advanced.

Video and Non-Music Releases

Factory Records extended its distinctive catalogue numbering system beyond audio releases to encompass a wide array of video productions and non-musical ephemera, reflecting the label's innovative multimedia ethos that integrated visual art, design, and cultural events into its identity. This approach treated posters, badges, envelopes, and promotional materials as integral "releases" assigned FAC numbers, fostering a holistic brand that blurred lines between music, graphics, and Manchester's post-punk scene. Over 50 such miscellaneous items were catalogued in the early years alone, emphasizing Factory's commitment to creative expression over conventional record-label boundaries. Video releases formed a key component of this expansion, with Factory producing promotional and live-performance content on VHS and Betamax formats until the mid-1980s. FACT 56, titled A Factory Video and released in 1982, compiled live footage from label acts including Joy Division and early New Order performances, serving as an early experiment in visual documentation of the Factory roster. Similarly, FACT 225 (New Order: Substance, 1989) was a VHS compilation tying directly to the band's 1987 compilation album, featuring music videos and live clips that promoted tracks like "Blue Monday" and "Bizarre Love Triangle," distributed in both VHS and Betamax to capture the era's evolving video market. These releases underscored Factory's forward-thinking use of video as a promotional tool linked to core music output. Non-musical items further exemplified Factory's artistic scope, with printed matter and memorabilia receiving formal FAC designations to elevate everyday ephemera into collectible artifacts. FAC 1 (1978), a poster titled "Use Hearing Protection / The Factory," designed by Peter Saville, advertised the label's inaugural club nights and established the bold, minimalist aesthetic that defined Factory's visual language. FAC 51 (1982) marked the opening of The Haçienda nightclub with an invitation and subsequent birthday posters, also by Saville, which became symbols of Manchester's vibrant nightlife and cultural renaissance. Other examples include badges and envelopes, such as those associated with FAC 51 membership cards in blue/yellow (circa 1983) and black/red (circa 1986) variants, alongside event posters like FAC 3 ("The Factory October 20th") that documented gigs and marches, highlighting the label's role in fostering community and subcultural documentation. These items, often limited in production, carried profound cultural weight by embedding Factory's ethos into tangible, everyday objects that extended the label's influence beyond sound. By the late 1980s, escalating financial pressures, including debts from The Haçienda's operations, curtailed further video and non-music output, contributing to Factory's 1992 bankruptcy and leaving some planned projects unissued. Nonetheless, these releases cemented the label's legacy as a multimedia pioneer, where visual and print media amplified its musical innovations.

Affiliated Labels

Factory Benelux

Factory Benelux was established in April 1980 through an informal partnership between Manchester's Factory Records and Brussels-based Les Disques du Crépuscule, founded by journalists Michel Duval and Annik Honoré, to extend Factory's reach into Continental Europe by releasing "spare" recordings from its artists and bespoke projects tailored for the Benelux market. Operating until March 1988, the imprint focused on vinyl singles, albums, and 12-inch EPs under the FBN prefix, often featuring exclusive mixes, additional tracks, or regional variations not available in the UK, such as Dutch-language sleeve notes or localized distribution through Belgian and Dutch networks. This sub-label distinguished itself from the main Factory catalogue by prioritizing European-exclusive content, including pioneering dance-oriented singles that Factory UK could not finance due to financial constraints, while also serving as a primary outlet for Factory material on the continent. The FBN numbering system began with FBN 1 in August 1980 and extended sequentially to around FBN 52 during the original run for exclusives, encompassing approximately 50 releases that included both original Benelux exclusives and European pressings of UK Factory titles. Early entries emphasized singles from core Factory acts, such as FBN 1, A Certain Ratio's cover of "Shack Up" (a funk-soul reworking originally by Banbarra), released as a 12-inch with extended mixes produced by Martin Hannett. This was followed by FBN 2, The Durutti Column's instrumental "Lips That Would Kiss" (Formation of the Continuum Mix), and FBN 3, Section 25's "Charnel Ground," marking the label's initial focus on post-punk and experimental sounds from Manchester bands. By 1981, the catalogue expanded to full albums, with FBN 14 featuring Section 25's "The Key of Dreams," an ambient electronic work recorded at Strawberry Studios and exclusive to the Benelux region in its original pressing. Key releases highlighted a mix of UK-based artists like Crispy Ambulance, whose debut single "From the Cradle to the Grave" / "Four Minutes from the Frontline" appeared as FBN 4 in 1980, capturing their tense, Joy Division-influenced post-punk with production by Hannett at Graveyard Studios. Belgian cold wave act The Names contributed significantly, with their 1981 album "Swimming" (FBN 9) showcasing sophisticated pop structures and tracks like "Nightshift," distributed with Benelux-specific artwork variations. International flavor came from Dutch group Minny Pops' "Sparks in a Dark Room" (FBN 15, 1982), a sparse, angular album. Later highlights included Quando Quango's electro-dance single "Tribe" (FBN 24, 1981) and 52nd Street's "Cool as Ice" (FBN 20, 1983), both featuring extended dub mixes suited to continental club scenes. Compilations underscored the label's regional identity, such as "Factory Benelux Greatest Hits" (FBN 52, 1983), a double-LP anthology compiling tracks from New Order, The Wake, and Stockholm Monsters to promote the imprint's output. The Durutti Column's "Another Setting" (FBN 30, 1983) exemplified instrumental elegance, recorded at Pink Floyd's Britannia Row Studios with contributions from John Foxx. Overall, Factory Benelux's discography reflected a blend of Manchester's post-punk legacy with European experimentalism, fostering acts like A Certain Ratio through multiple singles (e.g., FBN 28 "Wild Party," 1985) and enabling cross-cultural distribution that amplified Factory's influence beyond the UK.

Factory America

Factory America was the US subsidiary of Factory Records, established in 1986 to handle American distribution and releases. Based in New York, it operated until Factory's bankruptcy in 1992 and focused on promoting key acts like New Order and Happy Mondays in the North American market. Notable releases included New Order's Low-Life (FACD 100, 1985, US pressing) and Happy Mondays' Bummed (FACTUS 129, 1988), often with customized artwork or bonus tracks for US audiences. The label collaborated with distributed acts and issued around 20-30 items, bridging Factory's UK output to the US indie scene.

Factory Classical

Launched in 1989 as a short-lived sub-label, Factory Classical ventured into contemporary and orchestral music, reflecting Tony Wilson's interest in avant-garde arts. It released works by composers like Simon Bainbridge and Gavin Bryars, including Bryars' The Sinking of the Titanic reissue (FACDC 1, 1989). Operating briefly until 1990, it produced fewer than 10 releases, emphasizing experimental classical tied to Factory's artistic ethos.

Facdance and Other Sub-Labels

Facdance was an informal designation for Factory Records' early forays into electronic, electro-funk, and experimental dance music, beginning in the early 1980s as the label diversified beyond post-punk into club-oriented sounds. This series of releases, often under the main FAC prefix, highlighted Manchester's burgeoning dance scene and featured limited-run 12-inch singles and EPs that blended funk, electro, and synth elements, produced by key figures like Martin Hannett and Bernard Sumner. These records were pivotal in Factory's evolution, bridging the gap between the label's rock roots and the acid house era, with many pressed in small quantities of 5,000 copies or less to target DJs and underground audiences. Key artists on the Facdance-oriented releases included X-O-Dus, whose debut "English Black Boy" (FAC 11, 1981) delivered raw electro-funk with social commentary, produced by Bernard Sumner and recorded at Strawberry Studios; the 12-inch EP included tracks like "English Black Boy" and "Truth," limited to 5,000 copies and showcasing early hip-hop influences in Manchester. 52nd Street's "Look Into My Eyes" (FAC 59, 1982) exemplified jazz-funk fusion, with the 12-inch version featuring extended mixes of the title track and "Express," produced by Martin Hannett and pressed in 5,000 copies, emphasizing the label's push into boogie and soul-inflected dance. Quando Quango's "Go Exciting / Tingle" (FAC 67, 1982) brought Rotterdam-born electro-funk to Factory, with the double A-side 12-inch produced by Sumner, limited to 5,000 copies, and tracks like "Go Exciting" featuring tribal percussion and synth grooves that influenced the Haçienda's sound. Swamp Children, an avant-funk outfit linked to A Certain Ratio members, released "So Hot" (FAC 49, 1981), a 12-inch single with tracks "So Hot (The Very Best of A Certain Ratio)" and "Join the Chocolate Party," produced by Simon Topping and Steven Ward, in a run of 5,000 copies, blending jazz and electronic experimentation. These releases totaled around 20-30 across Factory's dance spectrum, with some crossovers to the main FAC catalogue for wider distribution. Other sub-labels expanded Factory's experimental scope. Double Fantasy, a short-lived imprint for niche electronic works, issued Swamp Children's "Beak" (DF 1, 1982), a limited 12-inch EP with abstract funk tracks emphasizing percussive loops and minimal synths, pressed in under 1,000 copies to test club reception. Ikon, primarily Factory's video arm but with audio tie-ins via Ikon Fonics, released promotional and experimental soundtracks like various artists' "Ikon Fonics Series" (IKON 1-4, 1981-1983), including Joy Division footage audio extracts and New Order live mixes, focused on lo-fi electronic sound design for visual media, with runs limited to promo quantities. Loudspeaker served as a promo-only sub-label for DJ tools and white-label test pressings, such as unnumbered electro demos from 1982-1984, distributed exclusively to Haçienda DJs like Mike Pickering, without commercial retail availability, totaling around 20 known items that previewed full FAC dance releases. These imprints underscored Factory's commitment to electronic innovation, often in editions of 500-2,000, fostering the label's role in Manchester's dance music diversification.
Sub-LabelKey ReleaseArtistYearFormatGenre FocusPressing
Facdance (FAC prefix)English Black BoyX-O-Dus198112" EPElectro-funk5,000
Facdance (FAC prefix)Look Into My Eyes52nd Street198212" SingleJazz-funk5,000
Facdance (FAC prefix)Go Exciting / TingleQuando Quango198212" SingleElectro-funk5,000
Facdance (FAC prefix)So HotSwamp Children198112" SingleAvant-funk5,000
Double FantasyBeakSwamp Children198212" EPExperimental electronic<1,000
Ikon FonicsIkon 1: The Factory Complication (audio extracts)Various1981Promo cassetteLo-fi electronicPromo only
LoudspeakerUnnumbered electro demosVarious1982-1984White-label 12"DJ promo electronicPromo only

Post-Closure Releases

Reissues and Remasters

Following the bankruptcy of Factory Records in 1992, London Records acquired the label's catalog and began issuing CD reissues of key releases in the 1990s, transitioning much of the material from vinyl to digital formats for broader accessibility. These early efforts included standard CD editions of Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (original FACT 10), released around 1995 under London Records (3984 28223-2), preserving the original tracklisting without significant alterations but improving production quality for compact disc playback. Similar reissues covered New Order's early albums like Movement (FACT 50) and compilations such as Substance 1977-1985 (FACT 200), often pressed in Europe and distributed internationally to capitalize on the growing CD market. In the 2000s, Warner Music Group, through its Rhino imprint, took over stewardship and initiated a series of remastered editions, enhancing audio fidelity and adding bonus content to attract collectors. Joy Division's core catalog received digital remastering in 2007, with Unknown Pleasures reissued as a two-CD set (Rhino 8122-79778-9) featuring the original album on disc one and a bonus disc of 12 live tracks recorded at Manchester's Factory club on July 13, 1979, including rarities like "Exercise One" and "Ice Age." This edition, along with remastered versions of Closer (FACT 36) and Still (FACT 40), utilized 24-bit technology for improved clarity and dynamic range, and was released in both CD and heavyweight 180-gram vinyl formats. New Order's Substance compilation saw a remastered two-CD edition under London/Rhino, expanding the tracklist to 24 songs with B-sides and 12-inch versions, while maintaining the original 1987 sequencing. A landmark release came in 2008 (UK)/2009 (US) with the four-CD box set Factory Records: Communications 1978-92 (Rhino 8122-79771-0), curated to span the label's history with 63 tracks from artists including Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, and The Durutti Column, all newly remastered and drawn from original Factory masters covering 1978 to 1992. This collection emphasized rare and obscure cuts, available in digipak format, and served as a comprehensive archival overview without altering individual album tracklists. Into the 2020s, Rhino and Warner continued updating the catalog for modern consumption, with New Order's Factory-era albums receiving stereo remasters and high-resolution formats for streaming and physical media. For instance, Power, Corruption & Lies (FACT 75) was remastered in 2020 and issued as a single LP vinyl (Warner 5021732836366), while Low-Life (FACT 100) followed with a 2022 remaster in the same format. In 2025, expanded two-CD editions of Movement, Low-Life, and Brotherhood (FACT 220) were announced for December 5 release, featuring 2024 stereo remasters by Steven Wilson alongside bonus discs of B-sides and outtakes; these also include Blu-ray audio with Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround mixes, available in high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz for streaming platforms like Qobuz. Brotherhood additionally received a standalone 2024 remaster on single LP vinyl (Warner 5021732836380). These efforts ensure the enduring legacy of Factory's output through enhanced sonic detail and immersive audio experiences.

Archival Compilations

Following the bankruptcy of Factory Records in 1992, which resulted in the loss or scattering of many master tapes and recordings, a series of archival compilations emerged in the subsequent decades to preserve and expand access to the label's legacy. These releases, often managed by successor labels like London Records and Rhino, focused on compiling rare tracks, live performances, and previously unreleased material from Factory artists, providing fans and scholars with deeper insights into the label's innovative post-punk and electronic output. Curators such as former insiders and band members played key roles in unearthing and sequencing these collections, emphasizing the cultural impact of Factory's brief but influential run from 1978 to 1992. One of the earliest major archival efforts was Joy Division's Heart and Soul box set, released in 1997 by London Records. This 4-CD collection features 81 tracks spanning the band's short career, including studio recordings, B-sides, radio sessions, and several unreleased demos and outtakes that had not appeared on prior albums like Unknown Pleasures or Closer. The set, remastered for clarity, highlights the band's evolution under producer Martin Hannett and includes live material from BBC sessions, offering a comprehensive chronological archive of their Factory-era work. Bassist Peter Hook contributed to the curation, drawing from personal archives to ensure completeness. Another landmark release is Factory Records: Communications 1978-92, a 4-CD box set issued by Rhino in 2008 (UK)/2009 (US), compiling 63 remastered tracks that trace the label's history through key singles and album cuts. Featuring artists such as Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, A Certain Ratio, and Happy Mondays, it incorporates rare 12-inch versions and lesser-known tracks to illustrate Factory's eclectic roster, though it primarily draws from existing releases rather than extensive unreleased content. A vinyl edition followed in 2019 as an 8-LP box set, expanding accessibility in analog formats and including a 40-page booklet with liner notes on the label's "communications" philosophy. This compilation serves as an essential overview, filling documentation gaps from the post-bankruptcy era. In the 2020s, archival activity continued with focused releases on individual artists, such as Joy Division's Preston 28 February 1980, a live album capturing their final tour performance just months before Ian Curtis's death. Officially released on CD by NMC Music in 1999 (SUNCD 012) but reissued in remastered digital and streaming formats in subsequent years, it contains 12 tracks of raw, intense post-punk energy recorded at The Warehouse in Preston, with no overdubs to preserve its archival authenticity. For The Durutti Column, the 2024 Vini Reilly 5-disc box set by London Records presents over 75 tracks, including the original 1985 album alongside unreleased home demos, studio outtakes, and live recordings from the Factory period, curated by Vini Reilly himself to address lost material from the label's collapse. These efforts, totaling over a dozen significant projects since 2000, have made streaming and vinyl box sets widely available, revitalizing interest in Factory's unreleased gems.
ReleaseYearFormatTracksKey Features
Joy Division – Heart and Soul19974-CD box set81Unreleased demos, BBC sessions, remastered Factory-era tracks
Joy Division – Preston 28 February 19801999 (reissues 2020s)CD/Vinyl/Digital12Live archival recording, no overdubs, final tour performance
Various – Factory Records: Communications 1978-922008 (vinyl 2019)4-CD/8-LP box set63Remastered singles/rarities from multiple artists, historical booklet
The Durutti Column – Vini Reilly20245-CD box set75+Original album + unreleased demos/live tracks, curated by artist

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  60. https://media.rhino.com/press-release/factory-records-communications-1978-92
  61. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/cjrg/
  62. https://usstore.neworder.com/en/new-order/music/vinyl/power-corruption-and-lies-1lp-2020-remaster/5021732836366.html
  63. https://www.rhino.com/article/new-order-share-new-mixes-demos-and-more-on-expanded-cd-and-blu-ray-editions
  64. https://www.neworder.com/news-1/brotherhood-ww4zm
  65. https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/new-order-albums-on-blu-ray-in-dolby-atmos/
  66. https://www.discogs.com/master/23154-Joy-Division-Heart-And-Soul
  67. https://www.discogs.com/master/561436-Various-Factory-Records-Communications-1978-92
  68. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12661-factory-records-communications-1978-92/
  69. https://www.discogs.com/master/23283-Joy-Division-Preston-28-February-1980
  70. https://www.discogs.com/release/30519733-The-Durutti-Column-Vini-Reilly
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