#FortnightFridayMusic
Oct 31 2025:: #Electric

British Electric Foundation - “Ball of Confusion” feat. Tina Turner, 1982

...or, How a Couple of Noodly English Synth Boys Helped a Struggling Rock and Roll Powerhouse Come Back Better than Ever Before

British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.) was a band/production company formed by former Human League members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh. In 1982 they crafted “Music Of Quality And Distinction (Volume One),” an album featuring a variety of vocalists, including some of their favorites from prior generations, covering classic songs from the 60s and 70s, backed with their own synth stylings.

They invited Tina Turner, struggling at the time to establish herself independent of ex-husband Ike, to cover The Temptations’ “Ball of Confusion.” The track became a hit in Norway and only Norway, oddly enough, but that was enough to get the attention of Capitol Records, who promptly signed her.

Ware and Marsh’s subsequent recording of Tina covering of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” became a hit across the globe and was the starting point for Tina’s comeback album Private Dancer. The rest, as they say, is history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsDsbZChSdo

#BritishElectricFoundation #BEF #Heaven17 #HumanLeague #MartynWare #IanCraigMarsh #synth #SynthPop #TinaTurner #TheTemptations #BallOfConfusion #AlGreen #LetsStayTogether #PrivateDancer #80s #80sMusic

Time for your occasional reminder that - as far as I know - Ian Craig Marsh is still missing!

Have you seen this man?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Craig_Marsh

If so, let us know!

#IanCraigMarsh
#HumanLeague
#Heaven17

(And don't bother Ian Craig - he is a different person and was last reported teaching music and drama in a girl's school. I sure his job is difficult enough without people asking him, "Excuse me, Did *you* write this song?")

"Come Live With Me" from the album, "The Luxury Gap" by Heaven 17.

https://youtu.be/IGZOkhjTALI

Heaven 17, The Luxury Gap, 1983 on Virgin

Heaven 17 included Martyn Ware and Ian Criag Marsh who had been founding members of The Human League – Glenn Gregory took the place of Philip Oakey to make Heaven 17.

This was their second studio album (and best selling album) – with the single “Temptation” being the best known hit.

My copy, via Pitchfork Records in Concord NH, is a UK pressing from CBS’s Aston Clinton plant. (The US release was on Arista and has a different track list).

#1980s #1983 #ConcordNH #GlennGregory #Heaven17 #HumanLeague #IanCraigMarsh #MartynWare #NewWave #PitchforkRecords #SynthPop #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #Virgin