Another Big Idea (1996-2015)

This deluxe 9 CD set contains three studio albums (Bigger Than America, Before After, Naked As Advertised), a previously unreleased album (Space Age Space Music), the remix albums Retox/Detox, the concert album How Live Is, plus 48 bonus tracks (remixes, tribute tracks, non-album singles) and an illustrated 28 page 12x12 book with credits and annotation based on brand new interviews with the band. In 1988, after their fifth album for the Virgin label, Martyn Ware, Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory decided to rest Heaven 17. In 1996, after various British Electric Foundation and individual projects, the ensemble re-grouped to record the first album in this set, "Bigger Than America". The album featured two singles "Designing Heaven" and "We Blame Love", both of which would see many remixes released, and 1998's 2CD release "Retox/Detox" featured nothing but remixes. In 1998, Heaven 17 decided to play live for the first time, and a concert was recorded and released in 1999 as "How Live Is". Around this time the band also recorded cover versions of songs by Madonna, U2 and Prince for Cleopatra Records tribute albums. A brand new studio album, "Before After", the last to feature Ian Craig Marsh, was released in 2005 and (aside from a cover version of "Don't Fear The Reaper") featured the singles "I'm Gonna Make You Fall In Love With Me" and "Hands Up To Heaven", both of which attracted many remixes. In 2008 "Naked As Advertised - Versions 08" featured new interpretations of Heaven 17 and Human League classics alongside a cover version of "Party Fears Two". This fully-annotated set ends with the previously unreleased instrumental album "Space Age Space Music". Recorded in 1998, the idea was to issue the album, and invite singers to record their own melody lines and lyrics. The concept was never realised…