Factory Records Catalogue

The following is a list of items with recorded Factory Records numbers. The list primarily consists of music releases but also includes promotional graphics, film, etc. However, the list was not confined to creative output. A party (FAC 83), a lawsuit (FAC 61) and a cat (FAC 191) appear on the list along with other miscellany.

Number allocation was only roughly chronological. Special numbers were reserved for significant Factory output: FACT 25 for Joy Division's Closer, FACT 50 for New Order's Movement, FACT 75 for New Order's Power, Corruption & Lies, FACT 100 for New Order's Low Life, FACT 200 for New Order's Substance, FACT 250 for Joy Division's Substance, etc. The final recording issued by Factory in 1992 bears the number FAC 372; nevertheless, a handful of recordings issued earlier (sometimes years earlier) have higher catalogue numbers.

After Factory Records was sold to London Records in 1992, Factory co-founder Tony Wilson continued to assign Factory numbers to numerous events and magazine interviews through to his death in 2007. Other late-period Factory catalogue items include a film (FAC 401), a recording issued by another label (FACT 500), a poster for a 2004 memorial event honouring Rob Gretton (FAC 511), and Tony Wilson's own coffin (FAC 501).

Several numbers (e.g., FAC 317/318/319) were multiply allocated to unrelated projects. As well, many of the catalogue numbers, especially those above FAC 330, weren't allocated at all (or were allocated to unreleased or unrealized projects).

For Factory Benelux, see Factory Benelux discography.

The last digit of the number may designate the following (but inconsistencies abound): 1 - Factory Corporate, 2 - Happy Mondays (singles), 3 - Joy Division / New Order (singles), 4 - Durutti Column, 6 - Factory Classical.

The "FACT" designation (as opposed to "FAC") usually denotes an album.

Sometimes the number can contain a further insight:

...
Wikipedia