"Temptation" is the fourth single released by English band New Order, released on 10 May 1982 through

Factory Records Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label founded in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus. The label featured several important acts on its roster, including Joy Division, New Order (band), New Order, A Certain Ra ...

. Released as the last of a string of stand-alone singles early in the band's career, "Temptation" reached number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.

Original release

The 7" version is a more structured version with a commercial

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feel; the 12" is more chaotic with the emphasis on electronic rhythms rather than melody. The 7" version plays at 33⅓ rpm to accommodate its length of around five and a half minutes. Both versions bear the same catalogue number "FAC 63" despite these differences. The 12" versions of both "Temptation" and its B-side, "Hurt", appear on New Order's compilation EP '' 1981–1982'', released a few months after the single itself. Neither version mentioned the band's name on the sleeve; instead the song title and catalogue number FAC 63 were embossed into the cover. The vocal track on the original 12" version features an audible "startled yelp" during the song's intro. Vocalist Bernard Sumner has since explained that the scream was from him due to bandmates thrusting a snowball down his shirt during recording.

Temptation '87

A re-recorded version of the song (titled "Temptation '87 on the 2023 reissue) was created for the compilation album ''Substance 1987''. The original recording of the song is available on third CD of the 2023 expanded reissue.

Music video

In 2006 the song was interpreted in a video titled ''The Temptation of Victoria'' by filmmaker Michael Shamberg, who had directed a number of music videos for New Order. The video features Victoria Bergsman of Swedish band The Concretes, who portrays a young woman in

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who steals a vinyl copy of the song's original 12-inch release from a vintage record shop (the now defunct Bimbo Tower), along with a bouquet from a flower shop. She returns to her apartment and begins dancing to the record.

Track listing

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Temptation (New Order Song) 1982 singles New Order (band) songs Songs written by Bernard Sumner Songs written by Peter Hook Songs written by Stephen Morris (musician) Songs written by Gillian Gilbert Factory Records singles 1981 songs UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles