B.E.F. (HEAVEN 17) : MUSIC OF QUALITY AND DISTINCTION VOLUME ONE [VIRGIN - ESP 1982] LP

British Electric Foundation  "Music Of Quality And Distinction Volume One"  LP

(Virgin)  1982  made in Spain

cat. num. I-204184

#synth pop  #heaven 17  #soul  #tecnopop

with: Tina Turner, Paul Jones, Billy Mackenzie, Paula Yates, Gary Glitter, Bernie Nolan, Glenn Gregory, Sandie Shaw, John Foxx, etc

The production arm of early synth popsters Heaven 17 and occasionally a recording entity in its own right, B.E.F. (or British Electric Foundation) was formed by Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh just after their exit from the original lineup of the Human League. Ware and Marsh had formed the Human League in 1977 as a completely electronic synthesizer band.

Though there are many interesting tracks, Music of Quality and Distinction, Vol. 1 is quite a scattered album, including synthesizer updates of pop classics as well as a few straight-ahead takes with bizarre vocals. Several of the covers turn out quite well, including Tina Turner's "Ball of Confusion," Glenn Gregory's "Wichita Lineman" and Billy Mackenzie's "The Secret Life of Arabia" (from Bowie's Heroes). Paula Yates' tiny voice gives "These Boots Are Made for Walking" a painful lack of aggression, and Mackenzie's rendition of Roy Orbison's "It's Over" turns heartache into hysteria. Most of the songs are familiar, so listeners will at least be able to hum along with Bernadette Nolan's "You Keep Me Hanging On" and Gary Glitter's "Suspicious Minds."