Ware and Marsh's first release as B.E.F. in 1980, a collection of instrumentals entitled Music for Stowaways, was initially available only on cassette and was inspired by the appearance of the first SonyWalkman (at first marketed in the UK as the Sony Stowaway). There was also a vinyl release, Music for Listening To, mainly targeted for export sales, which was slightly truncated (though with the addition of a track not found on the cassette). In the late 1990s, a CD release with this title contained the complete contents from both versions.
In 1982, with Heaven 17 already established with Glenn Gregory as the lead vocalist, B.E.F. released an album entitled Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One on Virgin Records, which involved other artists covering classic songs.[1] However, as this album came out before the 'age of the featured artist', the record was classed as a 'Various Artists' compilation, similar to albums released at the time by Ronco or K-Tel, and not a record by the British Electric Foundation,[2] (so its number 25 placing in the UK top 100 albums chart is seen as a hit for Virgin Records and not the B.E.F. or BEF).[3]
It was not until 1991 that a second volume appeared, with the album this time being handled by Ten Records through AVL (Associated Virgin Labels Limited) rather than by the main unit of Virgin Records. Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two again featured Tina Turner (singing "A Change Is Gonna Come") and Billy Mackenzie (singing "Free"),[1] whilst B.E.F.'s version of "Family Affair" gave them and singer Lalah Hathaway a top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart (this time credited to 'BEF featuring Lalah Hathaway').[4]Scritti Politti's Green Gartside was another guest on the album, performing "I Don't Know Why I Love You", a track recorded in the same set of sessions that included Scritti Politti's pop-reggae version of "She's a Woman" (featuring Shabba Ranks), a recording which became a top 20 chart hit early in 1991.[5]
Dark was released 27 May 2013, with Ware explaining the album would consist of
"Very dark versions of tunes that have to be of a certain type. Basically it's dark reinterpretations, primarily looking at things differently from a lyrical point of view. It's almost like soundscape stuff, in much the same way as "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" on "Reproduction" was kind of like a soundscape."[6]
First live performanceedit
In March 2007, B.E.F. made their first live performance, as part of the line-up for the Tribute to Billy MacKenzie Concert held at Shepherds Bush Empire, London, in memory of their three-time guest vocalist, and in aid of Sound Seekers. The B.E.F. line-up consisted of Martyn Ware on keyboards, a guitarist/keyboardist and a bassist, with Glenn Gregory and Billie Godfrey, Heaven 17's female vocalist.[7]
Setlist:
The aforementioned "Free"
Heaven 17's "Let Me Go" (Gregory revealing that it was MacKenzie's favourite Heaven 17 track)
A version of "Temptation" similar to the original demo, with guest vocalist Claudia Brücken (who was present with two other acts: Onetwo and Claudia Brücken/Andrew Poppy)
Following this concert, the stripped-down cover of "Party Fears Two" was recorded in studio and was featured on Heaven 17's 2008 album Naked as Advertised.
Vinyl L.P. album released by Virgin UK mainly for export to other countries, featuring selected tracks from the Music for Stowaways cassette (TCV 2888) plus exclusive track "A Baby Called Billy"
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources British Electric Foundation news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message B E F British Electric Foundation was a band production company formed by former Human League members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh which became largely eclipsed by its best known project Heaven 17 with lead singer Glenn Gregory Contents 1 History 2 First live performance 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksHistory editWare and Marsh s first release as B E F in 1980 a collection of instrumentals entitled Music for Stowaways was initially available only on cassette and was inspired by the appearance of the first Sony Walkman at first marketed in the UK as the Sony Stowaway There was also a vinyl release Music for Listening To mainly targeted for export sales which was slightly truncated though with the addition of a track not found on the cassette In the late 1990s a CD release with this title contained the complete contents from both versions In 1982 with Heaven 17 already established with Glenn Gregory as the lead vocalist B E F released an album entitled Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One on Virgin Records which involved other artists covering classic songs 1 However as this album came out before the age of the featured artist the record was classed as a Various Artists compilation similar to albums released at the time by Ronco or K Tel and not a record by the British Electric Foundation 2 so its number 25 placing in the UK top 100 albums chart is seen as a hit for Virgin Records and not the B E F or BEF 3 The album s production was mainly in the Heaven 17 B E F style i e synthesisers and LinnDrums and featured Glenn Gregory covering Jimmy Webb s Wichita Lineman made famous in a version recorded by country star Glen Campbell and Lou Reed s Perfect Day This B E F s album also featured covers by Billy Mackenzie The Secret Life of Arabia and It s Over Paul Jones There s a Ghost in My House Paula Yates These Boots Are Made for Walkin Gary Glitter Suspicious Minds Bernie Nolan You Keep Me Hangin On 1 as well as Anyone Who Had a Heart by Sandie Shaw a recording which was released as a single that charted at number 71 in Australia and Ball of Confusion a recording of the Whitfield and Strong song by Tina Turner that drew the attention of Capitol Records resulting in Turner being signed by the label Her next single Let s Stay Together would be co produced by Ware and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart making the US top 20 also It was not until 1991 that a second volume appeared with the album this time being handled by Ten Records through AVL Associated Virgin Labels Limited rather than by the main unit of Virgin Records Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two again featured Tina Turner singing A Change Is Gonna Come and Billy Mackenzie singing Free 1 whilst B E F s version of Family Affair gave them and singer Lalah Hathaway a top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart this time credited to BEF featuring Lalah Hathaway 4 Scritti Politti s Green Gartside was another guest on the album performing I Don t Know Why I Love You a track recorded in the same set of sessions that included Scritti Politti s pop reggae version of She s a Woman featuring Shabba Ranks a recording which became a top 20 chart hit early in 1991 5 Dark was released 27 May 2013 with Ware explaining the album would consist of Very dark versions of tunes that have to be of a certain type Basically it s dark reinterpretations primarily looking at things differently from a lyrical point of view It s almost like soundscape stuff in much the same way as You ve Lost That Loving Feeling on Reproduction was kind of like a soundscape 6 First live performance editIn March 2007 B E F made their first live performance as part of the line up for the Tribute to Billy MacKenzie Concert held at Shepherds Bush Empire London in memory of their three time guest vocalist and in aid of Sound Seekers The B E F line up consisted of Martyn Ware on keyboards a guitarist keyboardist and a bassist with Glenn Gregory and Billie Godfrey Heaven 17 s female vocalist 7 Setlist The aforementioned Free Heaven 17 s Let Me Go Gregory revealing that it was MacKenzie s favourite Heaven 17 track A version of Temptation similar to the original demo with guest vocalist Claudia Brucken who was present with two other acts Onetwo and Claudia Brucken Andrew Poppy David Bowie s Drive In Saturday another MacKenzie favourite The Associates Party Fears Two in a slower stripped down version Following this concert the stripped down cover of Party Fears Two was recorded in studio and was featured on Heaven 17 s 2008 album Naked as Advertised Discography editYear Album UK Catalogue Label Notes1981 Music for Listening To BEF 1 B E F Virgin Records Vinyl L P album released by Virgin UK mainly for export to other countries featuring selected tracks from the Music for Stowaways cassette TCV 2888 plus exclusive track A Baby Called Billy 1981 Music for Stowaways TCV 2888 B E F Virgin Records Cassette only release limited number edition of 10 000 copies 1982 B E F Presents Sandie Shaw Anyone Who Had a Heart VS 487 Vinyl 7 1982 B E F featuring Tina Turner Ball of Confusion VS 500 Vinyl 7 1982 Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One 25 V 2219 B E F Virgin Records listed as a Various Artists compilation album on the UK Top 100 albums chart1982 Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One VV 2219 Vinyl 5 x 7 singles1991 BEF featuring Lalah Hathaway Family Affair 37 TENX 369 Ten Records AVL Vinyl 12 1991 Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two B E F Ten Records AVL 1991 BEF Featuring Billy MacKenzie Free TEN 369 Ten Records AVL Vinyl 7 2011 British Electric Foundation 1981 2011 8 B E F Virgin Records Box set including Vols 1 amp 2 Music For Stowaways A Baby Called Billy and tracks from Dark2013 Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Three Dark Standard CD and iTunes releases plus 2 disc limited edition CD release autographed by WareReferences edit a b c Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Who s Who of Indie and New Wave Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 31 ISBN 0 85112 579 4 VARIOUS ARTISTS VIRGIN full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Officialcharts com BEF FEAT LALAH HATHAWAY full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Officialcharts com Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 36 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 SCRITTI POLITTI full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Officialcharts com Heaven17 com news section Live debut of BEF January 17 2007 Billy MacKenzie Tribute Concert February 2007 Archived from the original on 10 October 2007 Retrieved 21 April 2007 Billy MacKenzie Tribute Concert Shepherd s Bush Empire London The Independent April 2007 Retrieved 1 February 2009 dead link British Electric Foundation Boxed Set 1981 2011 Postpunkmonk com 14 October 2011 External links editBritish Electric Foundation discography at Discogs B E F at AllMusic Official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title British Electric Foundation amp oldid 1186472751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
