Sold Date: June 8, 2023
Start Date: May 6, 2023
Final Price: £40.00 (GBP)
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B.E.F. (British Electronic Foundation)

 Limited edition (of 500) the 2023 re-issued on Yellow Vinyl LP - SOLD OUT
In BRAND NEW and SEALED condition but this copy has a small dink to the sleeve - read below.

PLEASE NOTE - This is the last copy of have - NEW and SEALED. It has a small dink to the bottom left corner. The record label kindly sent me a replacement cover and inter sleeve. Alas that sleeve also has a dink, a smaller dink - to the top left corner. You will receive the sealed copy which has the minor dink to the bottom left corner and I will also include the replacement sleeve and inner sleeve so you can have it as a spare (may be good to frame). The second sleeve received is a smaller dink but it's worth mentioning as it's not in near mint condition. See the photos which show the SEALED LP and the spare sleeve. The last photo is a stock photo showing the colour variant.

The first reissue of seminal early 1980's electronic recordings from the British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.), aka HEAVEN 17 / ex-THE HUMAN LEAGUE's Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, with Adi Newton (CLOCK DVA / THE FUTURE), and John Wilson (HEAVEN 17), originally a cassette-only release (1981).

Following two groundbreaking albums ('Reproduction' and 'Travelogue'), the original line-up of Sheffield-based The Human League split in half in late 1980. The two primary musicians in the group, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, formed a new production company - the British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.) - and signed a deal with Virgin Records to write and produce up to six albums a year. The artists they were to produce would include Heaven 17, their own new band formed with vocalist Glenn Gregory.

B.E.F. would also release their own material, commencing with the music on this collection, which was issued in various permutations in 1981-82. Its initial release in March 1981 was a limited edition numbered eight song cassette entitled 'Music for Stowaways', with 'Stowaways' being a reference to the original name for the then-new Sony portable cassette player - later renamed the Walkman - of which B.E.F. were great fans. 'Music for Stowaways' was intended to be listened to on such a device. The cassette was followed by a seven song LP, 'Music For Listening To', which had a slightly different tracklisting, while other B.E.F. music was utilised for B-sides of early singles by Heaven 17.

This music was among the first recorded by Martyn and Ian directly after their departure from The Human League. Some tracks had evolved from other recordings they were working on at the time, such as 'Groove Thang' - an instrumental version of the debut single by Heaven 17 - and 'The Old At Rest', which derived from a version of 'Wichita Lineman' by Jimmy Webb, their very first recording with Glenn that would subsequently appear on B.E.F.'s 'Music of Quality and Distinction, Volume One' covers album in 1982.

Supporting musicians on 'Music For Stowaways' included Adi Newton of Clock DVA (who had been a member of The Future with Martyn and Ian pre-Human League) on the track 'Uptown Apocalyse', with John Wilson (who provided incredible guitar and bass for Heaven 17) appearing on Groove Thang.

The innovative sounds heard on 'Music For Stowaways' were an inspiration to many aspiring electronic artists. In 2015, Uncut magazine included it in a list of the '50 Greatest Lost Albums of All Time'.

Track Listing:

A1. B.E.F. Ident (0.34)
A2. The Optimum Chant (4:11)
A3. Uptown Apocalypse (3:11)
A4. Wipe The Board Clean (3:47)
A5. Groove Thang (4:07)
A6. Music To Kill Your Parents By (1:26)
B1. The Old At Rest (5:37)
B2. Rise Of The East (2:53)
B3. Decline Of The West (7:11)
B4. A Baby Called Billy (4:02)
B5. Honeymoon In New York (2:16)
B6. B.E.F. Indent (0:36)
UK FREE postage - Royal Mail Tracked 48.  Or you can also select eBay delivery - Evri which is also free of charge.

For overseas shipping see the postage options. Overseas customers will be responsibly for any import or handling fees imposed by your customs or postal services.
The record will be shipped using a proper quality record mailer with additional stiffeners and plenty of parcel tape. As a collector myself I know the importance of good packaging. I will occasionally use a quality recycled record mailer which are just as good to use.

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