The Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu) explained

The Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)
Cover:Heaven 17 Height of the Fighting 1982 Single Cover.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Heaven 17
Album:Penthouse and Pavement
B-Side:Honeymoon in New York
Released:12 February 1982
Length:2:55
Label:Virgin
Producer:Martyn Ware, Ian Craig Marsh
Prev Title:Penthouse and Pavement
Prev Year:1981
Next Title:Let Me Go
Next Year:1982

"The Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)" is a song by British new wave and synth-pop band Heaven 17, released on 12 February 1982[1] as the fifth and final single from their debut album, Penthouse and Pavement. It was written by Martyn Ware, Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory, and produced by Ware and Marsh.

"The Height of the Fighting" was remixed for its release as a single, with more aggressive drums plus brass both missing from the album track. The added horn section was performed by Beggar and Co.[2] The song failed to make a chart appearance in the UK Singles Chart, but did reach the unnumbered 'bubbling under' section for three consecutive weeks, which would have been equivalent to a position between 76 and 100 at a time when the main charts covered the top 75.[3] [4] [5]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Red Starr of Smash Hits considered the single a "pointless rehash of an album track in a truly dreadful cover". They added: "The sooner BEF give up this dead-end synthetic funk and turn their talents back to writing classic stuff like "Dreams of Leaving" and "Radio WXJL" from Travelogue the better."[6] Sunie of Record Mirror noted: "It doesn't quite match the magnificent "Penthouse and Pavement" single but it's pretty fab nonetheless."[7]

In a retrospective review of the album, Dan LeRoy of AllMusic considered the song one of the "standout combinations of witty lyrics and whiplash electro-grooves".[8] Tim O'Neil of PopMatters commented that the song "acts as both a satire of gung-ho militarism and a rallying cry for anti-capitalist insurgency".[9]

Track listing

7" single (UK release)
  1. "The Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)" - 2:55
  2. "Honeymoon in New York" - 2:12
7" single (European release)
  1. "The Height of the Fighting" - 2:59
  2. "Penthouse and Pavement" - 6:23
7" single (New Zealand release)
  1. "Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)" - 2:55
  2. "He-La-Lu" - 2:58
  3. "Honeymoon in New York" - 2:12
12" single
  1. "Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)" - 2:55
  2. "He-La-Lu" - 2:58
  3. "Honeymoon in New York" - 2:12

Personnel

Heaven 17

Additional personnel

Other

Notes and References

  1. Simon Hills . 6 February 1982 . News: Heaven 17 get Beggared . . 3 . 0144-5804.
  2. Rimmer. Dave. 18 February 1982. Heaven can wait. Smash Hits.
  3. Chartfile: UK Singles - Bubbling Under . . 27 February 1982 . 27 . 0144-5804.
  4. Chartfile: UK Singles - Bubbling Under . . 6 March 1982 . 27 . 0144-5804.
  5. Charts: Top UK Singles - Bubbling Under . . 13 March 1982 . 35 . 0144-5804.
  6. Starr. Red. 18 February 1982. Singles. Smash Hits.
  7. Sunie. 13 February 1982. Singles. Record Mirror. 9.
  8. Web site: Dan LeRoy . Penthouse and Pavement - Heaven 17 | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic . 2018-09-23.
  9. Web site: Heaven 17: Penthouse and Pavement . PopMatters . 2006-11-30 . 2018-09-23.
  10. Top 100 Singles . . 8 March 1982 . 4 . 49 . 6 . 0144-0691.

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