Factory Records: Communications 1978-92

I didn't have high hopes for this but was pleasantly surprised at the curation, the sound quality, and the general progression of the collection. I was a regular visitor to The Factory / Russell Club from it's birth until it moved to The Hacienda, so I've seen pretty much all of these artists live and it was really nice to revisit this music - in context as it were. Packaging is fine, it's simple as you would expect, but it's not a Saville work of art either. Very good value, enjoyed it very much.

This is a quality product. Eight vinyl records reflecting the fascinating history of Factory records, from humble beginnings to UK No.1’s (New Order) and then to their eventual and sad demise. I do like the simplicity of the packaging. A single brightly covered sleeve for each record - no frills. Just like Factory would have wanted it? All housed in a great heavy-duty protective box. The booklet is excellent reading but here is the only negative for me - it is printed on flimsy paper. The songs themselves are arranged chronologically. This takes you on the journey through Factory’s brief history. I think the choice of tracks is excellent. There are some fantastic songs from the usual suspects but also some real surprises. And there are also some dire ones. If Factory could have held onto James and OMD and signed the Smiths perhaps the story would have ended very differently. I’ve included a photo of Palatine (Factory’s 1991 box set) for comparison. This new box set is more logical in the way it has arranged the tracks and is on better quality vinyl. But it doesn’t have the great photography that Palatine had. In summary, this is well worth the current price tag (£67) but perhaps I wouldn’t be so sure if I had paid the full list price. Forever Factory!

Noted this a while ago but didn’t have spare cash at the time, it popped up again in a recommended list after I purchased something else and the price had dropped to a shade under £69, less than £9 per album, so had to snap it up.The box is sturdy, the albums are all in varying coloured sleeves with the same well known Factory graphic of the man with fingers in his ears.Others have complained of flimsy sleeves but personally I think this gripe is overstated, they aren’t particularly thick card but are stored in a hefty box so not sure what the problem is. The booklet is album sized and again nicely designed. I also think the complaints about the paper being thin are perhaps a bit over the top.I’m 4 albums in so far, several bands i’m unfamiliar with, some I have heard of but not heard, some nice alternate mixes from New Order that I don’t already have. The vinyl is thick and sounds fantastic.All in all a great package and at this price well worth grabbing.

I bought this the other week at a knock down price and received in good time the beautifully packaged box set. The information on all the tracks contained in the booklet is fantastic and the sleeves are all beautifully coloured. The thing that is puzzling me (and I've only just noticed this as I'm going through the records chronologically) is why is the last album in the set silver and all the rest black? Is everyone's like this? Is it just a packing error? If anyone can give me an answer I'd be grateful as I cannot find info about it anywhere else.CheersJack

This package is hard to fault musically, but this first-time vinyl release of the previously CD-only comp over 8 LPs is disappointing. Why? Because all the packaging apart from the box is paper. The record sleeves are not LP sleeves and not even as heavy as you'd expect on a 12" (with no inners, either). The book is not as shown in the CGI mockup (which is all we ever seem to get for box product shots these days), looking like an A5 hardback, but is LP-sized with the same cover as the box. Very nice content - a real treasure trove in fact, going through the essential detail for each track - but the paper is so flimsy you really have to be very careful with it. Still, the pressings can't be faulted, it's very nice design, and (despite having no spine copy) the box itself is nice and chunky. Verdict: It's OK, but London / Rhino have cut corners here and there is a nagging feeling of 'slight ripoff'. I do wish this marvellous body of work had the packaging it deserves, but it doesn't. And it's a shame.

Glad to have this addition to my collection.

What more could you want but eight albums from the best record label ever. Except perhaps another eight. There will always be artists or tracks that are missing but as a taster to factory it is essential. At the price on Amazon there was no reason left to not buy it.

An absolute bargin and a fantastic box set, just love it. Records sound amazing, love the book.... it just a great collectors piece. 10/10