British Electric Foundation


B.E.F. 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.

History

Ware and Marsh's first release as B.E.F. in 1981, 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. There was also a vinyl release, Music for Listening To, mainly targeted for export sales, which was slightly truncated. 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. 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,.
The album's production was mainly in the Heaven 17/ B.E.F. style and featured Glenn Gregory covering Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" and Lou Reed's "Perfect Day". This B.E.F.'s album also featured covers by Billy Mackenzie, Paul Jones, Paula Yates, Gary Glitter, Bernie Nolan, as well as "Anyone Who Had a Heart" by Sandie Shaw, and "Ball of Confusion (That's What [the World Is Today)|Ball of Confusion]".
It was not until 1991 that a second volume appeared, with the album this time being handled by Ten Records through AVL rather than by the main unit of Virgin Records. Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two again featured Tina Turner and Billy Mackenzie, whilst B.E.F.'s version of "Family Affair (Sly and [the Family Stone song)|Family Affair]" gave them and singer Lalah Hathaway a top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart. 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", a recording which became a top 20 chart hit early in 1991.
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."

First live performance

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.
Setlist:
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.