An Ideal for Living

An Ideal For Living is Joy Division’s first EP. The record was made shortly after they renamed the band’s name from Warsaw to Joy Division. Released in 1978 by the band’s own label, Enigma, this record cost £400.

The cover was originally a black-and-white picture of a Hitler-Jugend member drawn by Bernard Sumner (referred to as Bernard Albrecht at the time) with the band name of “Joy Division” printed in a blackletter font.

When the EP was reissued on 12-inch vinyl, the original cover was replaced by artwork showing scaffolding, making the original 7" a notable rarity for collectors.