"Thieves Like Us" is a single by British band New Order, released in April 1984 by

Factory Records Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label founded in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus. The label featured several important acts on its roster, including Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, the Durutt ...

, catalogue number FAC 103. It is named after the 1974 film '' Thieves Like Us'', directed by

Robert Altman Robert Bernard Altman ( ; February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was a five-time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director and is considered an enduring figure from the New H ...

. Guitarist and lead singer

Bernard Sumner Bernard Sumner (born 4 January 1956) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is a founding member of the bands Joy Division, New Order, and Electronic. Sumner was an early force in several areas, including the post ...

stated during a TV interview in 1984 that the song's title was suggested by

John Benitez John Benitez (born November 7, 1957), also known as Jellybean, is an American musician, songwriter, DJ, remixer, and music producer. He has produced and remixed artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and the Pointer Sisters ...

(an associate of the song's co-writer, Arthur Baker). The B-side is "Lonesome Tonight". Both tracks appear on the group's 1987 '' Substance'' compilation, and on the 2008 Collectors Edition of ''

Power, Corruption & Lies ''Power, Corruption & Lies'' is the second studio album by English rock band New Order, released on 2 May 1983 by Factory Records. The album features more electronic tracks than their 1981 debut '' Movement'', with heavier use of synthesizers ...

'', as well as the extended instrumental version of "Thieves Like Us" (originally the B-side to "

Murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person wit ...

"). Like many of their releases, the record was produced by the band, although "Thieves Like Us" was co-written by Arthur Baker during the New York sessions for "

Confusion In medicine, confusion is the quality or state of being bewildered or unclear. The term "acute mental confusion"

". An instrumental version of the song is featured in the 1986 movie ''

Pretty in Pink ''Pretty in Pink'' is a 1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about love and social cliques in American high schools in the 1980s. A cult classic, it is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" film. It was directed by Howard Deutch, produc ...

''. The single's cover design by Peter Saville is based on a

metaphysical painting Metaphysical painting ( it, pittura metafisica) or metaphysical art was a style of painting developed by the Italian artists Giorgio de Chirico and Carlo Carrà. The movement began in 1910 with de Chirico, whose dreamlike works with sharp contras ...

Giorgio de Chirico Giuseppe Maria Alberto Giorgio de Chirico ( , ; 10 July 1888 – 20 November 1978) was an Italian artist and writer born in Greece. In the years before World War I, he founded the '' scuola metafisica'' art movement, which profoundly influ ...

Poynor, Rick ''No more rules: graphic design and postmodernism'' p.78 and the 19th century English board game ''The New and Fashionable Game of the Jew''. It forms a set with their next single, "Murder".

Track listing

*Released in Poland under licence of Factory Records, 1985

Chart positions

References

3. Sumner, Bernard. ''Pop Elektron''. Belgium TV. 28-5-1984. {{DEFAULTSORT:Thieves Like Us (Song) New Order (band) songs 1984 singles Songs written by Bernard Sumner Songs written by Peter Hook Songs written by Stephen Morris (musician) Songs written by Gillian Gilbert Songs written by Arthur Baker (musician) Factory Records singles 1984 songs UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles