Artist
Heaven 17
Crate Digger's Guide
- Studio Medium:
- Heaven 17 primarily used analog multi-track magnetic tape during their peak recording era in the early 1980s.
- Pressing Plants:
- Core records were primarily pressed at the CBS Records pressing plant in the UK.
- Lacquer Cut:
- Their tracks often utilized a wide frequency range, impacting inner-groove tracking by requiring precise cutting techniques to maintain fidelity.
- Matrix Runout:
- Look for matrix runout codes such as 'A1' or 'B1' for original 1st pressings, often accompanied by engineer etchings.
Vinyl Collector Intelligence
- Grail Pressing:
- Securing an authentic 1981 first pressing on the Virgin Records imprint remains the ultimate pursuit for anyone hunting down Heaven 17 on wax.
- Best Reissue:
- Recent deluxe BGO Records catalog remasters successfully preserve the depth of the original Heaven 17 audio master tapes.
- Mastering & Translation:
- The dense multitrack vocal harmonies and electronic sub-bass frequencies characteristic of Heaven 17's production demand a stable microlinear stylus to prevent high-frequency sibilance.
- Shelf Alternatives:
- Collectors tracking this era typically search out companion pressings from Depeche Mode (Mute Records) alongside Kraftwerk (Kling Klang).
