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Music of Quality and Distinction: The British Electric Foundation

Stuart Maconie looks back at the pioneering work of The British Electric Foundation. Contributors include Martyn Ware, Glenn Gregory, Paul Jones and Elly Jackson of La Roux.

Another chance to hear Stuart Maconie look back at the pioneering work of British Electric Foundation (BEF), the production company formed by Sheffield-born Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh when The Human League split up in 1980.

BEF released two volumes of Music of Quality and Distinction, in which well-known songs were re-interpreted using synthesizers and sequencers, in order to show that electronic music could have soul. Artists such as Tina Turner and Billy McKenzie of The Associates Turner performed on the albums, which have in turn influenced contemporary artists including La Roux.

Contributors include BEF's Martyn Ware, Heaven 17's Glenn Gregory, Radio 2's Paul Jones and Sandie Shaw, who sang on Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One and Elly Jackson of La Roux.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 25 May 2023 01:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music

Music Played

  • Heaven 17

    (WE DON'T NEED THAT) FASCIST GROOVE THANG

    • PENTHOUSE & PAVEMENTS.
    • VIRGIN.
    • CD REF-1.

  • BLAIR, HENRY AND RAY TURNER

    SPARKY'S MAGIC PIANO

    • SPARKY'S MAGIC PIANO AND OTHER STORIES.
    • EMI.
    • CDEMS-1466.

  • The Tornados

    TELSTAR

    • THE ORIGINAL SIXTIES HITS OF THE TORNADOS.
    • MUSIC CLUB.
    • MCCD-161.

  • Roxy Music

    LADYTRON

    • ROXY MUSIC - THE EARLY YEARS.
    • VIRGIN.
    • CDV-2919.

  • Kraftwerk

    RADIOACTIVITY

    • THE MIX.
    • EMI.
    • CDP-796671-2.

  • Kraftwerk

    TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS

    • TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS.
    • Capitol.
    • CDP 7-46473 2.

  • The Human League

    Being Boiled

    • Vigour, Discipline and Disgust.
    • FAST PRODUCT / EMI.
    • 0777-7896092B.

  • The Human League

    DON'T YOU WANT ME

    • GREATEST HITS.
    • VIRGIN.
    • CDV-2792.

  • Heaven 17

    (WE DON'T NEED THAT) FASCIST GROOVE THANG

    • PENTHOUSE & PAVEMENTS.
    • VIRGIN.
    • CD REF-1.

  • B.E.F. & Glenn Gregory

    Wichita Lineman

    • MUSIC OF QUALITY AND DISTINCTION VOL. 1.
    • VIRGIN.
    • V-2219.

  • B.E.F.

    Optimum Chant

    • Music For Listening To.
    • Virgin.
    • BEF 1.

  • Sandie Shaw

    ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART

    • The Best Of Sandie Shaw.
    • Virgin.
    • VTCD-34.

  • B.E.F.

    YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON

    • MUSIC OF QUALITY AND DISTINCTION VOL. 1.
    • VIRGIN.
    • V-2219.

  • B.E.F. & Tina Turner

    BALL OF CONFUSION

    • Music of Quality and Distinction Vol 3.
    • ..
    • ..

  • B.E.F. & Paul Jones

    THERE'S A GHOST IN MY HOUSE

    • MUSIC OF QUALITY AND DISTINCTION VOL. 1.
    • VIRGIN.
    • V-2219.

  • Heaven 17

    Temptation

    • Best Of The 80's - Heaven 17.
    • Disky.
    • SI-993812.

  • B.E.F. & Billy MacKenzie

    Free

    • Vinyl Single.
    • 10 Records.
    • TEN 386.

Credit

Producer Frank Wilson

Broadcasts

  • Sat 8 Oct 2011 22:00
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  • Sun 3 May 2015 04:00
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  • Fri 5 Oct 2018 01:00
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  • Wed 17 Aug 2022 02:00
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  • Thu 25 May 2023 01:00
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