recorded Unknown Pleasures at Strawberry Studios

Joy Division’s debut album, Unknown Pleasures , was recorded at Strawberry Studios , Stockport , in April 1979. Producer Martin Hannett significantly altered their live sound, a fact that greatly displeased the band at the time; however, in 2006, Hook said that in retrospect Hannett had done a good job and “created the Joy Division sound”. The album cover was designed by Peter Saville , who went on to provide artwork for future Joy Division and New Order releases. Unknown Pleasures was released in June and sold through its initial pressing of 10,000 copies. Wilson said the success turned the indie label into a true business and a “revolutionary force” that operated outside of the major record label system. Reviewing the album for Melody Maker , writer Jon Savage described the album as an “opaque manifesto” and declared it “one of the best, white, English, debut LPs of the year”.