The Luxury Gap is the second studio album by the English synthpop band Heaven 17. It was originally released in April 1983, on the label Virgin. Recorded under the working title “Ashes and Diamonds”, it is the band’s best-selling album, peaking at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart 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 number 5) and “Crushed by the Wheels of Industry” (UK number 17).
The band performed the album in its entirety on 14 October 2011 at London’s Roundhouse, the first night featured Heaven 17 (Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory) performing the album in “3-D sound” developed by Ware himself. The show is a sequel of sorts to the Penthouse and Pavement concerts the band played in 2010.
A new deluxe edition of the album in 2012 was promoted with a tour of the UK in October and November followed by some dates in Germany and Belgium. The band played the original album in its entirety followed by a selection of Heaven 17 tracks and two Human League tracks “A Crow and a Baby” and “Being Boiled”. A cover version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”, similar to the one recorded by The Human League in 1979, and a cover version of the Associates’ track Party Fears Two were also performed.
Tracks
1 Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 05:54
2 Who’ll Stop The Rain (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 03:04
3 Let Me Go (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 04:22
4 Key To The World (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 03:42
5 Temptation (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 03:34
6 Come Live With Me (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 04:18
7 Lady Ice And Mr. Hex (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 03:45
8 We Live So Fast (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 03:49
9 The Best Kept Secret (Glenn Gregory; Ian Craig Marsh; Martyn Ware) 05:09
Musicians
Synthesizer |
Martyn Ware |
Programming |
Martyn Ware |
Programming |
Ian Craig Marsh |
Sax |
Don Myrick |
Trombone |
Louis Satterfield |
Trumpet |
Rahmlee Michael Davis |
Trumpet |
Michael Harris |
Background Vocals |
Martyn Ware |
Vocals |
Glenn Gregory |
Other Musicians
1 Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry
Guitar |
John Wilson |
Piano |
Nick Plytas |
Piano |
Greg Walsh |
Programming |
Greg Walsh |
2 Who’ll Stop The Rain
Guitar |
John Wilson |
Guitar |
Ray Russell |
3 Let Me Go
4 Key To The World
Guitar |
Ray Russell |
Vocals |
Carol Kenyon |
5 Temptation
6 Come Live With Me
7 Lady Ice And Mr. Hex
Drums |
Simon Phillips |
Guitar |
John Wilson |
Keyboards |
Nick Plytas |
Percussion |
Simon Phillips |
9 The Best Kept Secret
Drums |
Simon Phillips |
Percussion |
Simon Phillips |
Liner Notes
Producer – British Electric Foundation, Greg Walsh
Arranged By – British Electric Foundation, Greg Walsh
Arranged By (The Orchestra) – John Barker (Tracks 5, 6, 9)
Conductor (The Orchestra) – John Barker (Tracks 5, 6, 9)
Engineer – Greg Walsh
Cover, Painting – Ray Smith
Engineered At – Air Studios
Engineered At – The Town House
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Virgin Records Ltd
Copyright (c) – Virgin Records Ltd