Production Line

Though I subscribe to the line of thought that the fetishism for Factory Records can be a bit tiring, especially when you live in Manchester, it cannot be denied that the label put out a lot of fine music.

And not just by the usual contenders (Joy Division/New Order, Happy Mondays and Durutti Column) either. Reading through James Nice's hefty tome Shadowplayers: The Rise and Fall of Factory Records (possibly the definitive account I was searching for when reading the equivalent on Rough Trade the other week) reminded me that less recognised acts such as Section 25 and A Certain Ratio put out a series of often great, sometimes not-so-great but always interesting albums.

There were also several one-shot acts such as the Distractions, whose debut single Time Goes By So Slow was perhaps the best pure 'pop' music Factory put out until Temptation by New Order. Like Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, whose also recorded their first single on Factory, the Distractions signed to a major label soon after, but vanished when the subsequent album failed to cross over.

Another solo single on Factory is Reach For Love by Marcel King, released in 1984. Manchester born King was the singer in Sweet Sensation, who after appearing on the TV show New Faces, were snapped up by panelist Tony Hatch for his label. Subsequently, they enjoyed a big trans-Atlantic hit with Sad Sweet Dreamer. A lack of follow-up success found King washed up by his mid 20s and, according to Bernard Sumner, a "tragic figure. He used to sleep in a car in Moss Side and was a bad heroin addict".

Sumner and A Certain Ratio drummer Donald Johnson (whose older brother was also in Sweet Sensation produced Reach For Love, a subline piece of electro dance music that brings to mind Off The Wall era Michael Jackson backed by New Order. Despite whatever personal problems he might have had at the time, King pulled off a superb vocal full of aching soul.

Sadly, at the time Factory couldn't buy a hit single outside whatever New Order had. Section 25's excellent Looking From a Hilltop (also featuring production work from Sumner) suffered from a negative press vibe towards the label, which was suffering from a lack of direction in the PR department. Though Section 25's single may have been innovative to ensure mainstream appeal, Marcel King's vocal alone should have been enough to push it into the top 40. Sadly, it was not to be and an extraordinary record went unappreciated by the masses.

Tragedy would continue to follow King, who would die of a brain hemorrhage aged only 38. His sole single for Factory is one I would recommend anyone to take a listen to at the least - and you can download it through legit means, so no excuses.