Confusion (New Order song)
"Confusion" is a single released by British group New Order in August 1983 with the catalogue number FAC 93.[5][note 1] It was the follow-up to their breakthrough hit "Blue Monday" and is unique for having both Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner playing bass guitars on it. The song is produced by influential New York DJ Arthur Baker. As a result, it was recorded in New York, a rarity for the band. Three remixes served as B-sides on the initial 12" release: "Confused Beats", "Confusion Instrumental" and "Confusion Rough Mix". The two tracks on side A ("Confusion" and "Confused Beats") are mixed together, which when played in sequence, act as a thirteen and half minute long remix by Arthur Baker. The "Rough Mix" on side B is the original song mixed by New Order.
| "Confusion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by New Order | ||||
| Released | August 1983 | |||
| Recorded | 1983 | |||
| Studio | Unique Recording Studios, New York City[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 8:12 (1983) | |||
| Label | Factory – FAC 93 Streetwise | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| New Order singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video
The video for the single features live footage of the band in concert, intercut with images of nightlife in New York City, specifically at the "Fun House", and producer Arthur Baker and DJ John "Jellybean" Benitez at work.
Other versions
An edit of the Rough Mix represents the single on the 2005 compilation Singles. A re-recorded "Confusion" as well as the original "Confusion Instrumental" appear on the group's 1987 Substance release. The track reappeared on the 1995 remix collection The Rest of New Order as an acid techno remix by Pump Panel, which was used in 1998 as part of the soundtrack for the film Blade. Samples from The Pump Panel remix are featured on the tracks "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" by Public Domain, "Play It Louder" by Randy Katana and "Phatt Bass" by Warp Bros and Aquagen. The 2016 re-release of Singles includes the promo 7" edit of "Confusion".[6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Arthur Baker, Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; except where indicated
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Confusion" | 8:12 |
| 2. | "Confused Beats" | 5:19 |
| 3. | "Confusion Instrumental" | 7:38 |
| 4. | "Confusion" (Rough Mix) | 8:04 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Confusion" (Alternative Mix) | 5:30 |
| 2. | "Confusion" (Essential Mix) | 5:10 |
| 3. | "Confusion" (Trip 1-Ambient Confusion) | 3:40 |
| 4. | "Confusion" (a cappella) | 1:17 |
| 5. | "Confusion" (Con-om-fus-ars-ion Mix) | 7:05 |
| 6. | "Confusion" (Ooh-Wee Dub) | 6:50 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Confusion" (Pump Panel Reconstruction Mix) | 10:11 |
| 2. | "Confusion" (Pump Panel Flotation Mix) | 9:15 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Confusion" (Koma and Bones Edit) | 3:45 |
| 2. | "Confusion" (Arthur Baker 2002 Edit) | 3:09 |
| 3. | "Confusion" (Electroclash Edit) | 3:40 |
| 4. | "Confusion" (Outputs Nu-Rocktro Edit) | 3:41 |
| 5. | "Confusion" (Asto Dazed Edit) | 4:22 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blue Monday" (So Hot Mix) | Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner | 7:47 |
| 2. | "Confusion" (Acid House Mix) | 5:54 |
- Released in 2004.
Chart positions
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart[7] | 72 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 7 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 7 |
| UK Singles Chart | 12 |
| UK Indie Singles | 1 |
| US Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80[8] | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot Black Singles[9] | 71 |
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart [A] | 64 |
- [A] – Whacked Records re-release
References
- "Photographic image of record label" (JPG). I.ytimg.com. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- Howard, David N. (2004). Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings (1st ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-634-05560-7.
- Petridis, Alexis (7 January 2021). "New Order's 30 greatest tracks – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- "ASCAP entry". Ascap.com. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- New Order - Confusion, Discogs.com, Retrieved 6 August 2009
- "New Order / Updated and improved Singles compilation on the way". SuperDeluxeEdition.com. 23 June 2016.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 215. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 188.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 428.
Notes
- The catalogue number given here is for the UK version. For other countries, see New Order - Confusion at discogs.com Retrieved 6 August 2009