The Luxury Gap
Encyclopedia
The Luxury Gap is the second album by the English
synthpop
band Heaven 17
. Released in 1983, it is the band's biggest selling album, peaking at number 4 in the UK charts and was certified Platinum (300,000 copies sold) by the BPI
in 1984.
In contrast to their debut album, Penthouse and Pavement
, the singles charted strongly, particularly "Temptation
" which reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and was the 32nd biggest selling single of 1983. Other hits included "Come Live With Me" (UK#5) and "Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry" (UK#17).
, Ian Craig Marsh
, Martyn Ware
.
The US Arista issue of this album omitted "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Let Me Go", both of which had appeared on a US-only release titled Heaven 17 (featuring most tracks from Penthouse and Pavement
) in 1982. They were replaced with re-recorded versions of "Let's All Make a Bomb" and "Song With No Name" (from Penthouse and Pavement, and released as B-sides in the UK).
Bonus tracks on 2006 remastered edition
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band Heaven 17
Heaven 17
Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating from Sheffield in the early 1980s. The trio comprises Martyn Ware , Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory...
. Released in 1983, it is the band's biggest selling album, peaking at number 4 in the UK charts and was certified Platinum (300,000 copies sold) by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
in 1984.
In contrast to their debut album, Penthouse and Pavement
Penthouse and Pavement
-2010 3-disc Special Edition:Disc 1:#" Fascist Groove Thang"#"Penthouse And Pavement"#"Play To Win"#"Soul Warfare"#"Geisha Boys And Temple Girls"#"Let's All Make A Bomb"#"The Height Of The Fighting"#"Song With No Name"...
, the singles charted strongly, particularly "Temptation
Temptation (Heaven 17 song)
"Temptation" is a single by Sheffield band Heaven 17, originally released in April 1983, peaking at number 2 in the UK charts. This was the second single to be taken from their second album The Luxury Gap, after November 1982's "Let Me Go"....
" which reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and was the 32nd biggest selling single of 1983. Other hits included "Come Live With Me" (UK#5) and "Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry" (UK#17).
Track listing
All songs written by Glenn GregoryGlenn Gregory
Glenn Gregory is an English musician. A founding member of Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Temptation"....
, Ian Craig Marsh
Ian Craig Marsh
Ian Craig Marsh is a former English musician. He was a founding member of the electronic band The Human League, writing and playing on their first two albums and several singles, until leaving in 1980 to form B.E.F...
, Martyn Ware
Martyn Ware
Martyn "Teddy Bear" Ware is a British musician and music producer. He is the chairman of a local football team: PPA. As a founder member of both The Human League and Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation"...
.
- "Crushed by the Wheels of IndustryCrushed by the Wheels of Industry"Crushed by the Wheels of Industry" is the last single of 1983 from synthpop trio Heaven 17 which appeared on the album The Luxury Gap. It was written by all three members. The single was released in late 1983 and peaked at #17 in the UK, spending 7 weeks on the chart...
" – 5:54 - "Who'll Stop the Rain" – 3:04
- "Let Me Go" – 4:23
- "Key to the World" – 3:42
- "TemptationTemptation (Heaven 17 song)"Temptation" is a single by Sheffield band Heaven 17, originally released in April 1983, peaking at number 2 in the UK charts. This was the second single to be taken from their second album The Luxury Gap, after November 1982's "Let Me Go"....
" – 3:34 - "Come Live With MeCome Live with Me (song)"Come Live with Me is a 1973 single written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and recorded by Roy Clark. "Come Live with Me" was Roy Clark's twelfth hit on the country chart and his only number one. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of sixteen weeks on the country...
" – 4:18 - "Lady Ice and Mr Hex" – 3:46
- "We Live So Fast" – 3:49
- "The Best Kept Secret" – 5:09
The US Arista issue of this album omitted "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Let Me Go", both of which had appeared on a US-only release titled Heaven 17 (featuring most tracks from Penthouse and Pavement
Penthouse and Pavement
-2010 3-disc Special Edition:Disc 1:#" Fascist Groove Thang"#"Penthouse And Pavement"#"Play To Win"#"Soul Warfare"#"Geisha Boys And Temple Girls"#"Let's All Make A Bomb"#"The Height Of The Fighting"#"Song With No Name"...
) in 1982. They were replaced with re-recorded versions of "Let's All Make a Bomb" and "Song With No Name" (from Penthouse and Pavement, and released as B-sides in the UK).
Bonus tracks on 2006 remastered edition
- "Let Me Go (Extended Mix)" – 6:22
- "Who'll Stop the Rain (Dub)" – 6:15
- "Crushed By the Wheels of Industry (Parts 1 and 2)" – 6:59
- "Come Live With Me (12" version)" – 4:34
Chart performance
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch Albums Chart | 20 | 9 |
| French Albums Chart | 18 | 51 |
| German Albums Chart | 7 | ? |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 11 | 10 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 17 | 5 |
| UK Albums Chart | 4 | 36 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 200 | 72 | ? |
Personnel
- Glenn GregoryGlenn GregoryGlenn Gregory is an English musician. A founding member of Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Temptation"....
– vocals - Ian Craig MarshIan Craig MarshIan Craig Marsh is a former English musician. He was a founding member of the electronic band The Human League, writing and playing on their first two albums and several singles, until leaving in 1980 to form B.E.F...
– synthesizer programming - Martyn WareMartyn WareMartyn "Teddy Bear" Ware is a British musician and music producer. He is the chairman of a local football team: PPA. As a founder member of both The Human League and Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation"...
– LinndrumLinn LM-1The LM-1 Drum Computer, manufactured by Linn Electronics Inc., was the first drum machine to use digital samples of acoustic drums. Conceived and designed by Roger Linn, it was also one of the first programmable drum machines...
, synthesizer programming, vocals - Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
- Drums