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After creating a marvelous electronic debut, Glenn Gregory, Ian Marsh, and Martyn Ware decided to tamper with their winning formula a bit on Heaven 17's 1983 follow-up to Penthouse and Pavement. The result, which added piano, strings, and Earth, Wind, & Fire's horn section to the band's cool synthesizer pulse, was even better, and The Luxury Gap became one of the seminal albums of the British new wave. The best-known track remains "Let Me Go," a club hit that features Gregory's moody, dramatic lead above a percolating vocal and synth arrangement. But even better is the mechanized Motown of "Temptation," a deservedly huge British smash that got a shot of genuine soul from R&B singer Carol Kenyon. Nearly every song ends up a winner, though, as the album displays undreamed-of range. If beat-heavy techno anthems like "Crushed By the Wheels of Industry" were expected of Heaven 17, the melodic sophistication of "The Best Kept Secret" and "Lady Ice and Mr. Hex" -- both of which sound almost like show tunes -- wasn't. If there's a flaw, it's that while the band's leftist messages were more subtle and humorous than most of their time, they still seem rather naïve. But the music, which showed just how warm electro-pop's usually chilly grooves could be, is another matter entirely. [Note to collectors: there were differences in the original British and American pressings of the album. The 1997 reissue by Caroline follows the order of the British pressing, adding some extended remixes.]
© Dan LeRoy /TiVo
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Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Greg Walsh, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - John Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Plytas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Composer, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Glenn Gregory, Composer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Heaven 17, MainArtist - John Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Composer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Russell, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sarah Gregory, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Martyn Ware, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Ian Craig Marsh, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 1983 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Composer, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Glenn Gregory, Composer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Greg Walsh, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Composer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Karol Kenyon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Russell, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Vocals, Drum Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Don Myrick, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Harris, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Louis Satterfield, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer, Co-Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Craig Marsh, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rahmlee Michael Davis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Karol Kenyon, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - John Baker, Conductor, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Composer, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Glenn Gregory, Composer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Don Myrick, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Harris, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Heaven 17, Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Brian Tench, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Walsh, Producer - Louis Satterfield, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Composer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - John Barker, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rahmlee Michael Davis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Russell, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Composer, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Glenn Gregory, Composer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Phillips, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Heaven 17, MainArtist - John Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Composer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Plytas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Composer, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Glenn Gregory, Composer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Don Myrick, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Harris, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Phillips, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Louis Satterfield, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Composer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - John Barker, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rahmlee Michael Davis, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
DISC 2
Martyn Ware, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Ian Craig Marsh, ComposerLyricist - B.E.F., Producer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Martyn Ware, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Greg Walsh, Producer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2012 Virgin Records Limited
Martyn Ware, Composer - Glenn Gregory, Composer - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Ian Craig Marsh, Composer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2012 Virgin Records Limited
Martyn Ware, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Ian Craig Marsh, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2012 Virgin Records Limited
Martyn Ware, Composer - Glenn Gregory, Composer - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Greg Walsh, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Composer - B.E.F., Producer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Martyn Ware, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Ian Craig Marsh, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - John Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Plytas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Howard Gray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martyn Ware, Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Greg Walsh, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - John Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Allom, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gavin McKillop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Plytas, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2006 Virgin Records Limited
Martyn Ware, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Gregory, ComposerLyricist - Heaven 17, MainArtist - Greg Walsh, Producer - Brothers In Rhythm, Remixer, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - British Electric Foundation, Producer - Ian Craig Marsh, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2012 Virgin Records Ltd This Labelcopy information is the subject of Copyright Protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2012 EMI Records Ltd ℗ 2012 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
After creating a marvelous electronic debut, Glenn Gregory, Ian Marsh, and Martyn Ware decided to tamper with their winning formula a bit on Heaven 17's 1983 follow-up to Penthouse and Pavement. The result, which added piano, strings, and Earth, Wind, & Fire's horn section to the band's cool synthesizer pulse, was even better, and The Luxury Gap became one of the seminal albums of the British new wave. The best-known track remains "Let Me Go," a club hit that features Gregory's moody, dramatic lead above a percolating vocal and synth arrangement. But even better is the mechanized Motown of "Temptation," a deservedly huge British smash that got a shot of genuine soul from R&B singer Carol Kenyon. Nearly every song ends up a winner, though, as the album displays undreamed-of range. If beat-heavy techno anthems like "Crushed By the Wheels of Industry" were expected of Heaven 17, the melodic sophistication of "The Best Kept Secret" and "Lady Ice and Mr. Hex" -- both of which sound almost like show tunes -- wasn't. If there's a flaw, it's that while the band's leftist messages were more subtle and humorous than most of their time, they still seem rather naïve. But the music, which showed just how warm electro-pop's usually chilly grooves could be, is another matter entirely. [Note to collectors: there were differences in the original British and American pressings of the album. The 1997 reissue by Caroline follows the order of the British pressing, adding some extended remixes.]
© Dan LeRoy /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:29:51
- Main artists: Heaven 17
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Catalogue
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2012 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 2012 Virgin Records Limited
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