Factory Records catalogue

The following is a list of items with recorded Factory Records numbers. The list primarily includes music releases. The list 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.

Note that the list is not necessarily chronological. Special numbers were reserved for significant Factory output: FACT 25 for Joy Division's "Closer", FACT 50 for New Order's "Movement", FACT 75 for New Order's "Power, Corruption & Lies", FACT 100 for New Order's "Low Life", FACT 200 for New Order's "Substance", FACT 250 for Joy Division's "Substance", etc.

Many of the catalogue numbers, especially those above FAC 330 weren't allocated (or released).

The Factory numbering system

There are some “hidden intentions” behind the arcane Factory Records numbering.

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.

The "FACT" designation (as opposed to "FAC") usually denotes an album.

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. (In typical Factory fashion this number was mistakenly re-assigned to 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.)

Sometimes it can be a bit of a witticism: 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

References

External links

* [http://www.cerysmaticfactory.info CerysmaticFactory] , extensive site
* [http://www.factoryrecords.info/ Dennis Remmer's extensive Factory discography] , with pictures and descriptions of most Factory numbers
* [http://home.planet.nl/~frankbri/index.html/ Factory Benelux]
* [http://www.factory-overseas.de/ Factory Overseas] , Australia, Japan & Canada
* [http://www.factoryrecords.net/catalogue/index.htm/ FAC 421] , David Sultan's site
* [http://www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/ltmhome.html LTM Recordings official site] , features much of the former Factory catalog on CD and DVD