The Ramifications of Pissing off John Denver

If you’re a longtime reader of this blog you know that I’m a resident of the glorious city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You probably also know that I hate people.

As you may or may not know the G20 Summit is in Pittsburgh today and tomorrow. In addition to the leaders of the free world descending on my wonderful city, a lot of hippie dippie douchebag protesters are taking up shop as well. This is my warning to all those twats; you start shit I’m going to find you and beat you to death with a 12” Sigue Sigue Sputnik single.

Keep my city cool you bastards.

Now, music.

New Order
Run 2
MTO
Regret (Fire Island Mix)
Regret (Junior Dub Mix)
Regret (New Order Mix)

It’s been too fucking long since I got a good New Order post in. But this shit is confusing, so pay attention because this will be on the exam. And I will disclaim in advance that I got all this information from Wikipedia and a New Order fan page, so I’m not entirely sure of its accuracy.

New Order’s 1989 album Technique has a song on it called “Run.” When released as a 12” single, the band opted to use a remix instead, which was called “Run 2.” Apparently John Denver thought this version swiped from “Leaving On A Jet Plane” (I do not hear that AT ALL) and he was pissy about it, suing the band. The single was never re-released. Various releases since then claim to have the 12” version of “Run 2″ on them, but they apparently do not. This is the original 12” version of the song. I am not including the 12” version because it is included on the bonus disc to the 2008 re-release of Technique, and that album is bad-ass, you should buy it.

On a side note, how did John Denver’s people come across the 12” single to “Run 2?” I doubt there was a big overlap in the fan bases at the time.

But wait, there’s more confusion! (Yes, I know “Confusion” the name of a New Order song, that’s why I said it.)The b-side to said legal clusterfuck was “MTO” which may or may not stand for various things. On the previously mentioned deluxe version of Technique it is included as a bonus track – or is it!? Actually the “Minus Mix” is included, however, it is labeled as the regular version!

There is no additional insanity to report when discussing the 12” for “Regret” other than the strange fact that it’s the highest charting New Order track in America. Odd. Oh, and the New Order mix is bad-ass.

I’m on a pretty solid 80s kick this week thanks to a pretty good pickup from Jerry’s Records this week. Hopefully I can get one more post in tomorrow night.

5 Responses to “The Ramifications of Pissing off John Denver”

  1. marc says:

    Technique remains to this day my favorite New Order album (album being the key word).

  2. georgethe23rd says:

    Seen the New Order Recycle project? "A careful restoration of Joy Division/New Order's years on Factory Records (and maybe a little before and after)." Should include Run. http://neworder-recycle.blogspot.com/

  3. Anonymous says:

    You really think a little more vomit and dog shit on the sidewalks of the South Side is going to harm anything?

  4. The Lost Turntable says:

    Good point.

  5. C34 says:

    sorry about the unpopular creeps that are Johnny Marr-ing your streets. Love the New Order post and the rants/info…and look into more OMD…one of my faves, even if you don't post their stuff (I have everything I know of, but could be missing out, who knows)…they did a lot more experimental stuff…they can have a totally odd pop song, and then a song with a Speak and Spell and typewriter as the main instruments in the next, and pull them both off deftly…you might looove their Technique.

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