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How Men Are

 
Album Review: How Men Are

  • Artist: Heaven 17
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1984
  • Genre: Rock

Review

It all came together for Heaven 17 on this album, and as a result it is by far their strongest, most brilliant album. Combining their various influences (including R&B, pop, dance, electronica), Heaven 17 fused these styles together to create an almost perfect sound. There is simply not a weak track on the album. Highlights are numerous, including the very long but very wonderful "And That's No Lie." A strong melody, stunning vocals from Glenn Gregory, and tight production equal a fascinating glimpse into the human struggle. Adding a number of session players, including a guitarist, Heaven 17 was able to expand and build on their solid sound. Gregory is also allowed to branch out on this album and write more personal and political statements that were not clearly heard on their first two albums. Fans will not be disappointed, and in fact, this could be the album to win new fans over. "Sunset Now," "Flamedown," and the brilliant "This Is Mine" are just a few of the reasons for this album's greatness. ~ Aaron Badgley, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Five Minutes to Midnight (Lyrics) Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (3:47)
Sunset Now (Lyrics) Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (3:35)
This Is Mine (Lyrics) Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (3:49)
The Fuse Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (3:03)
Shame Is on the Rocks (Lyrics) Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (4:08)
The Skin I'm In Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (3:34)
Flamedown (Lyrics) Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (2:57)
Reputation (Lyrics) Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (3:05)
And That's No Lie (Lyrics) Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware Heaven 17 (10:05)

Credits

Glenn Gregory (Vocals (Background)), Greg Walsh (Engineer), Martyn Ware (Composer), Nick Plytas (Piano), Ian Craig Marsh (Vocals (Background)), Claudia Fontaine (Vocals (Background)), Walsh (Fairlight), John Wilson (Composer), Michael Harris (Trumpet), David Cullen (Conductor), Ian Craig Marsh (Composer), Ray Smith (Design), Glenn Gregory (Composer), Afrodiziak (?), Nick Plytas (?), Mo Foster (Fretless Bass), Walsh (Programming), Caron Wheeler (Vocals (Background)), Martyn Ware (?), Ray Smith (Cover Painting), David Cullen (Orchestral Arrangements), Jeremy Allom (Engineer), Jeff Allom (Engineer), John Wilson (Bass), Greg Walsh (Producer), B.E.F. (Producer), Martyn Ware (Vocals (Background)), Walsh (Chant), The Phenix Horns (Horn), Walsh (Engineer), Don Myrick (Saxophone), Ian Craig Marsh (Fairlight), Ray Russell (Guitar), Michael Harris (Flugelhorn), Martyn Ware (Linn Drum), Walsh (Producer), Glenn Gregory (Vocals), John Wilson (Guitar)
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Wikipedia: How Men Are
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How Men Are
Studio album by Heaven 17
Released September 1984 (1984-09)
Genre Synthpop
Length 38:18
Label Virgin Records
Producer B.E.F., Greg Walsh
Professional reviews
Heaven 17 chronology
The Luxury Gap
(1983)
How Men Are
(1984)
Pleasure One
(1986)
Singles from How Men Are
  1. "Sunset Now"
    Released: 1984 (1984)
  2. "This is Mine"
    Released: 1984 (1984)
  3. "And That's No Lie"
    Released: 1985 (1985)

How Men Are is the third album by the English synthpop group Heaven 17, released in September 1984 by Virgin Records. The album peaked at no.12 in the UK and was certified Silver (60,000 copies sold) by the BPI in October 1984.

Three singles were released from this album: "Sunset Now" (UK#24), "This is Mine" (UK#23) in 1984, and an edited remix of "...(And That's No Lie)" (UK#52) in early 1985, which was the first Heaven 17 single to fail to reach the UK Top 40 since "Let Me Go" at the end of 1982.

Although digital sample-based instruments such as the Fairlight CMI and the Linn LM-1 drum machine were still responsible for most of the album's sounds, How Men Are marked the beginning of an increased usage of acoustic instruments in Heaven 17's music. A small orchestra is employed on three tracks, and two tracks make use of The Phenix Horns Esquire, Earth, Wind & Fire's famous brass section. Another notable contribution to this album was made by the vocal group Afrodiziak, who sang on four tracks.

In 2006, Heaven 17's first three albums were remastered and reissued with bonus tracks.

Track listing

  1. "Five Minutes to Midnight" (3:46)
  2. "Sunset Now" (3:35)
  3. "This is Mine" (3:51)
  4. "The Fuse" (3:05)
  5. "Shame is on the Rocks" (3:59)
  6. "The Skin I'm In" (3:46)
  7. "Flamedown" (2:59)
  8. "Reputation" (3:03)
  9. "And That's No Lie" (10:02)
  10. "This is Mine (Cinemix)" (8:43) +
  11. "...(And That's No Lie) (Re-mixed to Enhance Danceability)" (6:17) +
  12. "Counterforce II" (3:08) +
  13. "Sunset Now (Extended Version)" (5:21) +

Tracks marked with "+" are bonus tracks added to the 2006 remastered version of the album; all originally appeared on various formats of the singles taken from the album and had never appeared on CD before. "Counterforce II" was originally a B-side from the "Sunset Now" 12-inch single, and was also released under the title "Chase Runner" on the Electric Dreams soundtrack.

Personnel



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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "How Men Are" Read more