4 CD box set celebrating the roots of The Hacienda the infamous Manchester Nightclub and Music Venue.

I was fortunate enough to go to The Hacienda in 1983 seeing both New Order and The Smiths. The converted boatyard, as was the venue as I remember, was one of the strangest I’d been in simple lines of construction, the bollards around the dancefloor etc, but no carpet.  Nearly all venues I’m convinced back then had carpet not always on the main floor, but certainly around the bar areas and entranceways.

The Club opened in 1982 and became an iconic symbol of Manchester’s cultural and music scene, this compilation features music played by the DJ’s at the club in a roughly sequenced order from the early years of post punk, American soul, UK pop without thankfully delving into the baggy, brit pop, and later the rave scene which led to the club’s demise.

The music on the 4 CD set is as diverse as the people who frequented the venue itself. Suicide, The Teardrop Explodes, Soft Cell, Echo and The Bunnymen, Simple Minds, Dexys, and ABC all big hitting artists associated with most clubs appear, but as 12 inch single remixes were standard issue back then we are gratefully given some choice versions here. Remix versions of Siouxsie and The Banshees “Slowdive”, Grandmaster Flash “The Message”, Blancmange “Living On The Ceiling” and Bow Wow Wow “See Jungle” to name a few.

“Sitting outside of the obvious dancefloor fillers, you get Gregory Isaacs “Night Nurse, The Temptations “Ball Of Confusion”, Edwin Starr “War”, Shalamar “Night to Remember”, as well as some eclectic numbers, Barry Gray Orchestra “Thunderbirds”, The Birthday Party “Release the Bats”, Thomas Dolby, Joseph K, and Gang Of Four.

This really is a great compilation which has been endorsed by New Order’s Peter Hook who has written a foreword. There’s notes from people who were involved in the club and mini biographies of all the acts featured on the compilation.

It’s a great tribute to a great Club… Treat Yourself 

Leggy`s Score 9/10    

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