Thieves Like Us

Album: The Best of New Order (1984)
Charted: 18
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • New Order linked up with influential New York DJ Arthur Baker for this synthpop single. The band penned it during the same sessions in the Big Apple that also spawned out their hit tune "Confusion."
  • The song is named after the 1974 Robert Altman film Thieves Like Us. The title was suggested by Arthur Baker's associate, John "Jellybean" Benitez.
  • Ironically, given the song title, Peter Hook stole the bass line from Hot Chocolate's 1974 song "Emma." Hook recalled to TeamRock:

    "I did bump into (Hot Chocolate frontman) Errol Brown and felt that I had to confess, and Errol Brown said to me 'Well done, my boy!' Which was very nice of him I thought. These days, he'd be bloody suing you, wouldn't he?"
  • This was released as the follow-up to New Order's best-known song "Blue Monday." However Hook thinks this is a much better tune. He told Q magazine: "I honestly thought 'Thieves Like Us,' the single after 'Blue Monday,' was far superior. 'Blue Monday''s not a song, it's a feeling, but once people hear that drum riff they're off."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.