Gang of Four "The Peel Sessions Album" (1990)

The Peel Sessions Album (compilation)
release date: 1990
format: cd (SFRCD107)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer:  Bob Sargeant (1-8); Phil Stannard (9-11)
label: Strange Fruit - nationality: England, UK

Compilation album as well as a heavily enhanced reissue of the original The Peel Sessions album from 1986. The album nicely compiles three John Peel-sessions for the BBC on one album - the first four tracks are identical to the original 1986 ep release, then follows four tracks from the second session recorded Jul. 2, 1979, and ending with the last three tracks from the band's third session, recorded Mar. 9, 1981.
This is a fine compilation.

Gang of Four "The Peel Sessions" (1986)

The Peel Sessions, ep
release date: 1986
format: vinyl (SFPS008) / cd (1990)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Bob Sargeant
label: Strange Fruit - nationality: England, UK

Ep by Gang of Four in the The Peel Sessions series by Strange Fruit Records. The original vinyl ep contains four tracks - in 1990 the album was issued as a digitally remastered cd issue, which basically is a different album containing eleven tracks.
Recorded: Jan. 9, 1979.
First Transmission: Jan. 18, 1979.

New Order "The Peel Sessions" (1987) (ep)

Limited Edition

The Peel Sessions, ep
release date: Dec. 5, 1987
format: vinyl (LTD. metallic finish - SFPS039) / digital
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,05]
producer: Tony Wilson
label: Strange Fruit - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Truth" - 2. "Senses" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "I.C.B." (4 / 5) - 2. "Dreams Never End" (4,5 / 5)

3rd ep by New Order in a Special Metallic Finish Limited Edition Sleeve. This was the first recording for BBC Radio 1's John Peel Show, but it was only released as the second Peel Sessions by New Order and the 39th overall album by Strange Fruit Records. These four tracks were all recorded in Jan. 1981 at a point where the band had so far only released two singles, and they all appear on the debut album Movement (1981), but the recording sessions for the John Peel Radio Show were made before the final versions for the debut album. It's really only a mystery as to why Strange Fruit Records (and John Peel) didn't release this session as the first with New Order. Maybe, Factory Records had a say because all songs appear on their release with the band? Anyway, this is a fine album showing the band with strong bonds to the post-punk sound of Joy Division.

[ collectors' item - 'metallic finish', ltd. edition sleeve - from ~ €40,- ]

Joy Division "The Peel Sessions - Joy Division" (1987) (ep)

The Peel Sessions - Joy Division, ep
release date: Sep. 1987
format: digital (SFPS 033)
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Tracklist: A) 1. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - 2. "24 Hours" - - B.) 1. "Colony" - 2. "Sound of Music"

4-track ep by Joy Division. These are the first John Peel recordings with the band but it figures as the second Joy Division Peel Sessions release [!]. Like the other Peel Session with the band, this also contains 4 previously unreleased tracks. It was recorded two months earlier than SFPS 013 on Nov. 26, 1979 and had its first broadcast 14 days later on Dec. 10, 1979. Both original vinyl releases were reissued on one cd as Peel Sessions (1990), a compilation of the two Peel Sessions - Joy Division. The John Peel BBC Radio 1 broadcast series has been a huge commercial success with the album releases of hundreds of radio transmitted live recordings. The Peel Sessions was released on Strange Fruit Records, a record label established by Clive Selwood and John Peel in 1986, primarily to release selected recordings of the many John Peel BBC 1 radio broadcasts on album. Actually, the very first album release was The Peel Sessions - New Order.

Joy Division "The Peel Sessions - Joy Division" (1986) (ep)

The Peel Sessions - Joy Division, ep
release date: Nov. 1986
format: vinyl (SFPS013) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,94]
producer: Bob Sargeant
label: Strange Fruit - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Exercise One" - 2. "Insight" - - B) 1. "She's Lost Control" - 2. "Transmission"

4-track ep by Joy Division, which is actually the second John Peel recording with the band consisting of four previously unreleased tracks. It was recorded Jan. 31, 1979 and it had its first broadcast 14 days later on Feb. 14, 1979. All tracks are great examples of the band's strength, and they are brilliant versions of tracks found on the first album (#2 and #3) but also one track (#1), which was composed and played when the band's name was Warsaw, and track #4, which was released as a single only. The album was the first Joy Division release in the John Peel Sessions but it follows the first release by New Order.
The album is the 13th of the Peel Sessions released on Strange Fruit [SFPS013].

New Order "The Peel Sessions: New Order" (1986) (ep)

The Peel Sessions: New Order, ep
release date: Sep. 27, 1986
format: vinyl (SFPS001) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,63]
producer: New Order
label: Strange Fruit - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Turn the Heater On" (4 / 5) - 2. "We All Stand" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Too Late" (3 / 5) - 2. "5-8-6" (3,5 / 5)

2nd ep by New Order. This was actually the second recording for BBC Radio 1's John Peel Show, as the first recording session was later released as SFPS 039 in '87. This ep is released with the catalog number SFPS 001, which indicates that it was the very first release by Strange Fruit Records, the record company co-founded by John Peel, primarily to release the many radio transmitted broadcasts of live studio sessions. These four tracks were all recorded Jun. 1982, and track #A2 and #B4 were later released on Power, Corruption & Lies (1983). The other tracks were only played on this occasion. "Turn the Heater On" is a rare track as it's a cover version of a reggae song (by Keith Hudson, apparently, played as a tribute to Ian Curtis who supposedly was very happy with the song). New Order hardly ever played cover songs except from their own Joy Division tracks and first from around 2000. I enjoy this ep as it shows the band in the transition period with a lot of post-punk and Joy Division trademarks, and with especially 5-8-6 the sound they move towards within synthpop.