"Substance" is an album by the British rock band Joy Division. Released in July 1988, the album compiles all the non-album, single, and B-side recordings that the band released with their original label Factory Records. The album encompassed most of the band's significant works that were not already featured on their two primary albums: Unknown Pleasures and Closer.
Interestingly, "Substance" offers some variations in tracks compared to their original releases. For instance, it includes the 12" single version of "She's Lost Control" that is notably different from the version on "Unknown Pleasures".
Furthermore, "Substance" showcases a glimpse of the band's transition into New Order following the unfortunate death of lead singer Ian Curtis in 1980. The bonus tracks of "Substance" include previously-unreleased mixes and new order tracks, cementing the significance of the album in rock history.
Despite the initial controversy surrounding its release, mainly due to the exclusion of certain tracks and the change in some sequencing, "Substance" charted on Billboard and peaked at No. 146 on August 20, 1988. It also reached as high as No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart, underlining its commercial success in addition to its cultural impact. It served as a comprehensive purview of Joy Division's brief yet vital existence and remains a crucial piece for anyone seeking to understand the band and their music.
