The provided source material details the release and content of A Factory Sample, the inaugural double 7-inch EP from the independent record label Factory Records, released in January 1979. The information is drawn from a blogspot page (Source 1), an official Factory Records discography page (Source 2), and a dedicated release page (Source 3). The data focuses entirely on the release's historical context, musical content, packaging, and distribution, with no mention of free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes in the consumer goods categories typically associated with such terms. Consequently, the requested article cannot be written as the source material does not contain any relevant information on free samples, promotional offers, or related consumer programmes. The following is a factual summary based exclusively on the provided chunks.
Release and Content Overview
A Factory Sample was released as a double 7-inch vinyl EP in January 1979, bearing the catalog number FAC 2. It was the inaugural music release from the Manchester-based independent record label Factory Records. The EP was produced in a limited run of 5,000 copies, with an initial pressing of 1,000 copies released on 24 January 1979, followed by an additional 4,000 copies on 1 March 1979. The release was funded primarily by a small inheritance received by co-founder Tony Wilson alongside his television earnings. The EP's runtime is approximately 28 minutes across nine tracks.
The EP is divided into two sides, each featuring recordings from different artists. The A-side, titled "Tears in Their Eyes," includes: * Joy Division's "Digital" (2:50) and "Glass" (3:51). Both tracks were produced by Martin Hannett. The version of "Glass" used on this EP was later included on the album Still. * John Dowie's three spoken-word comedy pieces: "Acne" (1:43), "Idiot" (1:53), and "Hitler's Liver" (2:27). These were produced by C.P.
The B-side, titled "Occasional Labour," features: * The Durutti Column's "No Communication" (4:57) and "Thin Ice (Detail)" (3:16), also produced by Martin Hannett. * Cabaret Voltaire's "Baader-Meinhof" (3:15) and "Sex in Secret" (3:32). These tracks were written by Richard H. Kirk, Stephen Mallinder, and Chris Watson, with Mallinder on vocals and bass for the recordings.
The groove notations on the records read: Side A (Joy Division): "Everything"; Side B (The Durutti Column): "is repairable"; Side C (John Dowie): "Everything"; Side D (Cabaret Voltaire): "is broken."
Packaging and Design
The EP was released in an unconventional format for the time, played at 33⅓ RPM instead of the standard 45 RPM for 7-inch singles. The packaging was a distinctive gatefold sleeve made of black and metallic silver-dyed rice paper, designed by Peter Saville to evoke an industrial, abstract aesthetic. The sleeve was enclosed in a heat-sealed plastic wrapper for protection.
The release included five promotional stickers—one for each featured artist (Joy Division, The Durutti Column, John Dowie, and Cabaret Voltaire) and one for Factory Records itself. The reverse of the stickers was printed with "FasPrint Permanent." The EP avoided conventional liner notes or protective jewel cases, prioritising an artistic and non-commercial presentation that highlighted the label's avant-garde ethos.
Distribution and Promotion
Factory Records independently distributed A Factory Sample through its own network, primarily selling it via independent record shops and at live gigs within the UK post-punk scene. Promotion was centred on Manchester's underground music community, leveraging the label's ties to the Factory club nights at the Russell Club, where featured artists like Joy Division had performed. The EP received airplay on BBC Radio 1 from influential DJ John Peel. A positive review in the New Musical Express (NME) by Paul Morley helped build buzz in post-punk circles.
The initial run of 1,000 copies sold out quickly through word-of-mouth and grassroots efforts, establishing the EP as a cult success. It did not achieve mainstream chart placement.
Legacy and Reissues
The EP's cultural impact was significant, marking Factory Records' entry into the music industry and propelling emerging acts like Joy Division into prominence. The tracks served as the band's debut recordings.
Reissues and compilations have included: * The 2012 compilation An Arc of Hives by LTM Recordings, which reissued John Dowie's tracks "Acne", "Idiot", and "Hitler's Liver". * The 2019 40th anniversary box set Use Hearing Protection: Factory Records 1978–79 (Warner Music), which included a faithful vinyl reissue of the complete double 7-inch EP (FAC 2) and also featured John Dowie's tracks. * Unofficial bootlegs emerged in the 1980s, such as a 1988 12-inch LP pressing of the EP's contents. These were not authorized by Factory Records and deviated from the intended 7-inch design.
Counterfeit copies of the original release exist, with information available on how to identify them.
Conclusion
The provided source material offers a comprehensive historical account of A Factory Sample, the seminal 1979 Factory Records EP. It details the release's limited pressing, unique packaging, eclectic musical lineup, and grassroots distribution. The information is specific to music history and record collecting and contains no references to free samples, promotional offers, or consumer product trials. Therefore, it is not possible to construct an article on the requested topic using the given data.