The Return of the Durutti Column
reissue liner notes (Anthony H. Wilson)

Once upon a time

The row took place in the front room of Alan Erasmus and Charlie
Sturridge's flat.  The managers of the Durutti Column, Alan and me,
announced that as we were now about to make our first record, we
thought we should use a genius we knew called Martin Hannett.  The
members of the group, that is the members of the group less Vini who
wasn't there -- presumably ill -- said they thought we should use a
genius they knew called Laurie Latham.

Funny how quickly you become absolutely committed to something you
just "thought".  That day was it, the healthy members of the band
went on their own to work with Laurie, who was a genius as it turned
out.  They became the Mothmen; that group sloughed several skins until
it became the backing band for a Manc singer with incredible red hair.

And on a tragic note, Mothman guitarist Dave Rowbotham was axed to
death in a brutal slaying in Burnage, Manchester in the early 90's;
see 'Let me tell you a story about Cowboy Dave' from the Mondays'
'Yes Please' album.

Back to '78 and that was how it came about that we booked a week in
Cargo studios, Rochdale for Vini and Martin -- our geniuses -- just to
see what would happen.

Martin arrived with these great big black cardboard-fronted machines;
synthesizers -- remember this was 1978 and Vini arrived with his
beloved Les Paul.

For two days, the Monday and Tuesday, Martin did nothing but create
strange rhythm/noise tracks.  Occasionally Vini would strap on the
guitar and play some notes onto the tracks.  But it was hard to get
Martin to notice as he pored over the primitive electronics.

By the second night Vini had had enough; he was now bored.  Wednesday
came and Martin went back up to Rochdale on his own.  He spent the day
mixing down the stuff he'd got.  'Return of...' is the result, a pure
breath of beauty and, naturally, brevity.

We include on this CD the other two tracks Vini did in the early
style.  Although Vini was later to record lyrically his response to
the death of our partner Ian Curtis in 'Missing Boy' from the 'L.C.'
album, 'Lips that Would Kiss' ('...form prayers to broken stones.')
was the first instrumental response.  Together with Madeleine it was
released by our friends in Belgium, Aneek and Michel on
Crepuscule/Factory Benelux.  We also include remastered versions of
Martin's work on the synthesizer that was included as a flexi-disc in
the first 2,000 sandpaper-sleeved Fact 14's.  Titled 'Test Card', its
catalogue number was Fact 14c.  Weird.

A few months later, there was a delightful experiment, also at Cargo,
when Jez of ACR provided some words and vocals for 'Sleep Will Come'.

And finally, 'Experiment in Fifth' was part of the work between this
album and the second work, 'LC'.  It does however use the same 5ths
progression as its brother 'Requiem' on this album.  Oh, and it
signals the arrival of the Stratocaster.  The Les Paul was finally put
aside, but that's another story.  And another album.


The Return of the Durutti Column
All tracks written by Vini Reilly.
Produced by Martin Hannett.

Vini Reilly: Guitar.
Martin Hannett: Switches.
Pete Crooks: Bass.
Toby: Drums.

Thanks to Gammer for his melody.

Recorded at Cargo, Rochdale.
Mixed at Strawberry, Stockport.
Engineers: Chris Nagle and John Brierley

Published by The Movement of the 24th January Publishing/
Zomba Publishing.


Related Works

Lips that Would Kiss and Madeleine,
written by Vini Reilly.  Produced by Martin Hannett.
Published by The Movement of the 24th January Publishing/
Zomba Publishing.  A Factory/Benelux Record 1980.

First Aspect of the Same Thing and Second Aspect of the Same Thing,
written and produced by Martin Hannett.  Published by Copyright
Control.  A Factory Communications Record 1979.

Sleep Will Come,
written and produced by Vini Reilly.  Vocals by Jeremy Kerr.
Published by The Movement of the 24th January Publishing/Zomba
Publishing and Copyright Control.  A Les Disques Du Crepuscule Record
1980.

Experiment in Fifth,
written and produced by Vini Reilly.  Published by The Movement of the
24th January Publishing/Zomba Publishing.  A Les Disques Du Crepuscule
Record 1980.