The Durutti Column: The Return Of The Durutti Column (45th Anniversary Edition)
London Records
All Formats Available
From 28th November 2025
The Return Of The Durutti Column is re-released to mark its 45th Anniversary, remastered from the original source tapes for the first time.
How do you review a piece of art? Or rather, how do you review a record which is four and a half decades old, however arguably better known for the mythos surrounding its original sandpaper sleeve opposed to the music contained within?
I am sure that most people reading this will be familiar already, but if not. The Return Of The Durutti Column is essentially a collaboration between virtuoso guitarist Vini Reilly and legendary Manchester producer Martin Hannett. The finished project pairing Reilly’s non-Rock sketches with Hannett’s electronic textures to produce a gloriously atmospheric one-off.
This 45 Anniversary Edition is remastered from the original source tapes for the first time and comes in a number of formats. As well as a coloured vinyl with sandpaper postcard and obi strip there’s also the traditional black vinyl, both of which come with the additional tracks that were given away on a flexidisc Testcard back in 1980 and essays from Factory Records expert, and author of the excellent Shadowplayers book James Nice. Then there is the double CD version, which copies the design of the 1985 “cassette edition” with a textured “tall book” sleeve. On the first disc, as well as including the original album and tracks from the flexi there’s also space to collect tracks from the Lips That Would Kiss 12” and compilations released by Factory Benelux and Les Disques Du Crepuscule.
I imagine it will be this edition, with the second disc that’s of interest to people who have bought the original release previously. This contains 21 bonus tracks including home and studio demos (from 1978-1980), and early live tracks. As well as the essay from the aforementioned Mr Nice, the set also includes pieces from Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and MOJO editor Ian Harrison and numerous photographs.
It was this extended version which attracted my attention, mainly for the bonus material. After the tracks originally released on A Factory Sample is Won’t Look Out by Gammer and His Familiars, which eventually would be titled Summers Over. Possibly one of the earliest of Vini’s collaborations it fits well into the pastoral vibe of 1980’s Durutti Column releases with hints of prog… A version would release by Norman Gammer (and His Familiars) on the album Won’t Look Out in 1981. We then have four Home Recordings from 1978. Some may be aware of the sheer number of DC releases that have come over the years in numerous formats, often with additional tracks. Whilst these have been released on the Four Factory Records Set back in 2009, they’re not ones I’m familiar with…
These are followed by six studio ‘demos’’ recorded at Strawberry Studios in August 1980. These are some of the highlights for me, as well as I’m a face and Lindsay, tracks which are exclusive to this set, there are also several of the tracks from the main album, Sketch for summer; Requiem for a father, Madeleine and Katharine, all of which have a slightly more robust and live feel. Astute fans may ask how when the album released in January how could these be classed as demo’s when the album was released 8 months earlier? It would appear that I’m not the only one who has noticed this. It would appear the reel that only recently surfaced and it’s not clear why it was taped – demo, live backing tracks, or testing a rhythm box. The date on the reel has been questioned… maybe an error, or maybe just Vini was enjoying recording in the studio.
The set closes with seven live tracks, three from Leeds in 1980 and four from Brussels in 1981 and includes some mid song banter from the artist and a live version of Self Portrait, a studio version of which had been included on A Factory Quartet in late 1980.
But what of the original LP? Well it’s timeless obviously, unlike anything else released at the time, whether on Factory or any other label.
A work of art, then, now and forever…
Visit The Durutti Column here
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All words by Iain Key. See his author profile here or find him via his LinkTree
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