Thieves Like Us (song)

Last updated
"Thieves Like Us"
Thieves Like Us.jpg
Single by New Order
B-side "Lonesome Tonight"
ReleasedApril 1984
RecordedDecember 1983
Genre
Length6:36
Label Factory - FAC 103
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) New Order
New Order singles chronology
"Confusion"
(1983)
"Thieves Like Us"
(1984)
"Murder"
(1984)
Audio
"Thieves Like Us" on YouTube

"Thieves Like Us" is a single by British band New Order, released in April 1984 by Factory Records, catalogue number FAC 103. It is named after the 1974 film Thieves Like Us , directed by Robert Altman. Guitarist and lead singer Bernard Sumner stated during a TV interview in 1984 that the song's title was suggested by John Benitez (an associate of the song's co-writer, Arthur Baker). [2]

Contents

The B-side is "Lonesome Tonight". Both tracks appear on the group's 1987 Substance compilation, and on the 2008 Collectors Edition of Power, Corruption & Lies , as well as the extended instrumental version of "Thieves Like Us" (originally the B-side to "Murder").

Like many of their releases, the record was produced by the band, although "Thieves Like Us" was co-written by Arthur Baker during the New York sessions for "Confusion".

An instrumental version of the song is featured in the 1986 movie Pretty in Pink .

The single's cover design by Peter Saville is based on a metaphysical painting by Giorgio de Chirico [3] and the 19th century English board game The New and Fashionable Game of the Jew. It forms a set with their next single, "Murder".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Arthur Baker, Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; except where indicated.

12": FAC 103 (UK)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Thieves Like Us" 6:36
2."Lonesome Tonight"Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner5:11
7": FAC 103 (UK Promo)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Thieves Like Us" 3:54
2."Lonesome Tonight"Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner3:52
7": Tonpress S-534 (Poland)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue Monday"Gilbert, Hook, Morris, Sumner7:29
2."Thieves Like Us" 6:36

Chart positions

Chart (1984-1985)Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart [4] 84
Irish Singles Chart 5
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart14
UK Singles Chart 18
UK Indie Singles 1

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References

  1. ASCAP entry
  2. Pop Elktra. Belgium TV. 28-5-1984
  3. Poynor, Rick No more rules: graphic design and postmodernism p.78
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 215. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.

3. Sumner, Bernard. Pop Elektron. Belgium TV. 28-5-1984.