A Certain Ratio’s 1985 live album Live In America is being reissued to mark its 40th anniversary.
Due out next month and marking the latest release in an ongoing series of reissues of material by the Manchester band, it will be made available on CD, vinyl, limited edition cassette and in digital formats.
Originally available as a self-released cassette that the band sold on tour in 1986, Live In America compiles performances from ACR’s summer 1985 tour of North America with New Order when both acts were signed to Factory Records. The venues that the band played at during the tour were Felt Forum in New York City; Opera House in Boston; Agora Theatre in Akron; Bismarck Theater in Chicago; and Warner Theatre in Washington DC.
The lineup featured on the album consists of Andrew Connell on keyboards, Donald Johnson on drums and vocals, Jez Kerr on bass and vocals, Martin Moscrop on guitar and trumpet, and Anthony Quigley on saxophone. That same lineup went on to release Force the following year, shortly before Connell left the project.
In a new press statement, A Certain Ratio’s current lineup collectively said: “The tour was fun and we were very well looked after by New Order and especially Rob Gretton, New Order’s manager. Rob always made sure that we were well fed and watered and would fulfil any request we had.
“Sometimes the promoters wouldn’t want us to eat in the same swanky restaurants as New Order due to costs and because we were the ‘warm up’ act. When this happened, Rob would just tell them that he would pay for ACR. He watched our performances every night and gave us his opinion on how he thought it went. He was one of our biggest fans and we miss him dearly.”
Listen to the Live In America performance of ‘Shack Up’ below.
Mute will release Live In America on August 8, 2025.
