NewsEdsel to fix Heaven 17 box set errors
Edsel have promised to correct a few audio errors on the Heaven 17 Play To Win CD box set after fans highlighted instances where incorrect mixes or versions of tracks were used.
The errors on the ten CD set are as follows:
CD3: How Men Are
Track 13. Counterforce II – Repeats Counterforce (track 12) but at a different volume! (Counterforce II appears on the 2006 remastered and expanded download of “How Men Are”).
CD4: Pleasure One
Track 12. Contenders (US 7″ Edit) – Repeats Counterforce again!
CD7: Special Fortified Dance Mixes To Enhance Danceability #1
Track 5. Let Me Go (12″ Version) – The “Endless” version has been used which includes extra acapella vocals at the beginning. (The original 12″ version appears on the 2006 remastered and expanded download of “The Luxury Gap”).
CD8: Special Fotified Dance Mixes To Enhance Danceability #2
Track 1. Penthouse And Pavement (Remix by John ‘Tokes’ Potoker) – The album version from “Penthouse And Pavement” has been used. (The Remix can be found on “Endless” but is segued with other tracks).
CD9: Special Fortified Dance Mixes To Enhance Danceability #3
Track 5. We Live So Fast (Extended Version) – The “Endless” version has been used which begins with a drum beat from the preceding Megamix and then the beat gradually speeds up to reach the speed of the main track. (The original Extended version starts at the correct speed).”
In a statement the label said:
“We’ve been made aware of errors on the Heaven 17 ‘Play To Win’ CD box set. These errors affect discs 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 where mixes supplied have been incorrectly labelled. Apologies for the errors, but we will be replacing these 5 discs.
Please contact [email protected] with your proof of purchase, and delivery address and we will replace these 5 discs. The time frame for replacing the discs will be around 4-6 weeks. You will be notified via email once the replacement discs have been sent.”
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This is a thread that’s several months dead, I know, but thought you all should know that I finally ordered this set from Amazon UK on Feb. 6th (8 months after the errors were found, I believe?) and just got it here in the U.S. – and it’s STILL the set with the faulty discs. I hope DMG is still replacing them …
Did you have any luck? I bought this a year ago but only got around to listening to it last month, noticed the errors, and then discovered this post when researching. I sent a message to the listed email yesterday, but with everything going on, I won’t be surprised if I don’t hear back from them any time soon…
I just picked this up yesterday from Amoeba in Hollywood. Notes online from the label seemed to indicate that even pressings going forward would not have the corrected discs. However, all of the discs that were originally to be found in error in the box I bought have “REWORK” on the matrix and to my ears, they seem correct. There’s nothing on the outer package to indicate that this box includes corrected discs; the only difference I see is that mine did not have the red hype sticker on the front of the package.
Received the replacement CDs quite fast in France.
Thanks to Edsel for the replacement CDs and great thanks for the most beautiful CD box set every true H17 could ever dream of !
Just made me rediscover what great albums they have made and amazed by Pleasure One which I hadn’t heard for a couple of years.
H17 forever endless !
1000 thanks
I still haven’t received my replacement discs in NY yet. I’ve contacted them twice already.
Just a silly question after such a long time of listening, claiming and waiting:
are the original albums in any way newly remastered?
I mean not the old remaster, just new ones from 2018?
AFAIK, at least the Luxury Gap CD release was in quite a lot of sound discussions, at that time.
Thanks for giving me this information, finally!
All the discs in this box set are new remasters by Phil Kincade done in 2019. The first 3 albums were initially done in 2006 by Donal Whelan. I have no idea what you mean about about the sound discussion on the Luxury Gap as there has never been a problem with it.
@Neill: Thanks for the precise info.
What I meant about Luxury Gap was the following: the first CD release was tinny, the remaster with the bass “back in game” but quite boomy and muddy. Both were MILLIONS of miles away from the fantastic sounding vinyl. I own all 3 and that’s also my impression. If you have an other impression, dont’ mind.
So, for me…..if I am going to buy the box I know what I am going to get.
My replacement discs arrived today (6 June) in Washington DC. I appreciate Demon replacing the cds without any hassle but surely some QA before the original release date would have saved them time and expense.
Get mine June 3 in California.
arrived in USA yesterday
CDs arrived. Email 2. April, confirmation email 24. may, arrived 4. June, Germany, HAPPY!!!
Same here ,right at the moment they arrived,now i have a listen…
Guys i have a Question,what are you doing with the original wrong labeled Cd’s?,Do you keep them or send them back,or what …?
dto. Replacement discs received in germany today. Thanks Demon !
Had an email to say discs had been posted on 24th May, but nothing has arrived yet. They did say give it a week or so…
A few hours later after posting they’ve arrived.
Had a good listen and I can’t fault the music at all. Nice to hear the Penthouse Potoker remix completely standalone too.
I have noticed though, the label sides don’t go as near to the centre of the discs as the originals, so are not quite uniform with the other five in the set, but that’s neither here or there really.
Thanks for sorting the errors out DMG! The box set is now a pleasure to own.
Of course, it’s a minor issue. But I wonder why they couldn’t just label the CDs in exactly the same way as before.
As happy as I am about the whole release, this still leaves the impression of lack of care and professionalism in the light of all the mistakes made before.
Anyhow, thanks, Demon, for the replacements!
Replacement discs received in US today.
I didn’t email Demon until the 14th April and have just received my email re replacements being posted.
After long waiting,right at the moment i got the email that my replacement will be posted.Thank God! Happy!!! :-)
Ditto here in New York City.
I got a mail to inform about shipping repacement discs. On this my very mail was replied, where I also informed about quite some more errors. No comments about these.
I’ve sent my mail on April 4th, I’ve just received confirmation of shipment.
Have faith!
Finally, today EDSEL answered to my mail request , weeks ago. This is what they said:
“Hello,
We have replaced all the stock in our warehouse with corrected discs but we cannot guarantee which ones our retailers are stocking. Although we request for then to be returned, we have no control over whether they send them back or not.
If you do receive a faulty box, we will send a replacement.
With thanks,
DMG”
If anyone’s fussed about such trivialities (and it may help determine in years to come if you have the right discs), whilst the onbodies are identical, the matix number around the centre of the playing side have changed.
The original discs were all NORA19N 3546 – followed by 7 if it was Disc 7, 4 if it was disc 4 etc
The new ones all carry a matrix number reading HEAVEN17REWORK DISC folowed by the relevant number, ie 3, 7 etc
Still waiting for an e-mail but nothing yet :-(
Same here, no mail since my mail for replacement discs on 12th April
It makes sense that they had to do this. It will be etched in the original glass stamper, so if ever they repress them in future they won’t get them mixed up and use the incorrect ones. Mind you wouldn’t they just destroy the original ones? Not too sure about that. Nice to know though.
What is the subject of the shipping email?
I sent mine on April 2nd as well, then received a confirmation email on May 23rd that the discs had been posted & had them in my hands the next day.
I was late finding out about the errors so didn’t email them until 14th April so not surprisingly I haven’t heard anything yet.
Same here,send mine on April 13th,no email yet,i really hope they have not forgot me,cause so many people send them emails…
Sent email for replacement discs on April 2 also
What date (for those who have gotten a reply e-mail) did you send your initial e-mail?
Thanks!
Sent my email on 2nd April.
2nd April…
Sent my e-mail on 3rd April, received confirmation of posting on 24th May, and the discs arrived scarcely an hour ago. Two business days within the UK.
Yep got mine as well. I’ve held off listening to any of the box set until the replacement discs had arrived (slightly OCD I know). Time to pour a beer & turn back the years.
Ive done the same. Havent even cracked the seal. Waiting for replacements…LOL
Just got an email, mine are posted. So maybe they are going alphabetically.
They are doing them in the order they got the email requests I believe
Okay so…
Disc 3: Counterforce II is there
Disc 4: US Edit of Contenders is there (nice version, too)
Disc 7: I’m simply not au fait enough with the mixes to know if they are corrected but I think so. Let Me Go, Who’ll Stop the Rain and Sunset Now are all different lengths to the original box set pressings so it looks like it, but it needs a bigger expert than I (ie pretty much anybody here) to confirm
Disc 8: Potoker Endless version is there
Disc 9: We Live So Fast – proper 12″ now, not the Endless version
Just had an email from Demon to say…
Your replacement discs have been posted. The error you mentioned was also picked up and fixed.
Please allow a week or so for delivery.
Thanks for your patience,
DMG
Which would indicate the Sunset Now and Who’ll Stop he Rain versions should also have been fixed. Can’t wait for them to arrive.
Everything is fixed including Who’ll Stop the Rain and Sunset Now.
Mine popped through the door just this minute. Not checked them yet but at least they’re here…
Email received that disc are posted to US, should receive 10-14 days later.
Email received just now, replacement discs are on their way. Fingers crossed everything has been corrected.
Still waiting to hear about mine,how many have they got to post out I wonder?
I suspect at least 1,022 as that was the figure listed on the back of the box the limited signed print edition came in. Goodness knows how many of the non-limited ones there may be. This is assuming all purchasers emailed Demon about it.
I didn’t get an email :-(
Here too,no e-mail yet,
i hope they haven’t forgot germany
My replacement discs were posted today.
Same here!
Paul, you mentioned one week ago you wanted to try to find out about the status. Any luck?
I sent an email to them at their website seeing as they have totally ignored my message on FB.
Apparently replacement stock is expected in this week and they will start shipping probably next week. That’s what I’ve heard.
Very good, thank you very much for this info Paul.
I do find it very disappointing that there has been no update at all on the status of the replacement discs. Is there nobody at Edsel who can find the time to fire off a quick email? If there is some sort of delay at least have the decency to let your customers know what is going on rather than leaving us all in limbo.
I left a message regarding this on their FB page but have had no reply.
I have been very patient but it is now May 10 and I have not received the fixed cd’s. On other websites ppl are echoing the same complaints. Nothing seems to have been sent out.
I recently noticed they had a fixed disc for the Five Star box and I received that disc within 2 weeks.
That’s been over 5 weeks since they made that announcement about replacing discs and there still has been no communication.
They can’t possibly just be relabelling the disc’s. Having ‘Counterforce’ appearing 3 times would be ridiculous. I shall be quite perturbed to say the least if this is the case. As for the email scenario, it looks like we’re all in the same boat (unless someone knows different).
I think it’s just taking time. I’ll try and find out what the status is.
Once again, as I still do not know what the replacement discs will look like: will they put the right mixes on them or will they only change the labelling?
Anybody?
Thanks!
I would like to order the box at Amazon. Is Amazon still selling the box with the wrong discs or is the boxset already replaced in shops?
Amazon is selling with the wrong discs.
I recently purchased it from Amazon with the Track Errors
Norbert, I think (hope) they will manufacture new discs with corrected versions (keep my fingers crossed..) I already sent an email 4 weeks ago to demon music, but no replacement discs up today (they said the process needs up to 6 weeks)
I still love this boxset, one of my favourites.
Has anyone heard anything from Edsel/Demon Music Group exactly when the replacement discs will be shipped? I emailed them in early April (with invoice attached) but other than an automated response promising to respond in 10 working days, I received no further reply. The very least they can do is email a confirmation.
Oh yes a confirmation email, i’m still waiting for it…….. Oh NO! I am only a customer, how dare me to expect a confirmation! My thumbs are pressed since weeks that they haven’t forgotten me.
I too have only received the automated response, hope this doesn’t disappear down the leg side…
Indeed that’s more than a month now since i contacted them and no updates. Interestingly Martyn Ware was on a radio program the other week there discussing his career with the HL +B.E.F. and H17 and even though they played the Endless version of Let Me Go not once did he mention this box set.
Anybody ever thought about the possibility that EDSEL only will differently label the discs….so no new mixes on them, still the “not wanted” ones, but correctly listed (Higher and Higher version, Endless version etc….)
So???
One last item. “Who’ll Stop The Rain” is, once again, the “Endless” version, which fades out at the end. The Original 12″ version ends cold. It seems like “Endless” is the go to source for a lot of Heaven 17 12″ versions. Perhaps a remaster of “Endless” would be in order?
Glad you brought that up as i noticed they used the fade out version on the box set from 2012 of The Luxury Gap that nobody seemed to have picked up on at the time.
Just found an interesting item. The version of “Height Of The Fighting (He-La-Hu!)” included here is the version from “Higher & Higher”, not the original 12″ version. The H&H mix has a cowbell-like percussive element that enters the song about 4 seconds in and continues, while the original 12″ version lacks this element.
I’ve finally started listening to my discs, spotted the errors then found this page. Pleased Edsel have agreed to replace so quickly ( I remember all the trouble of the FGTH Sex Mix errors which was a real battle before they agreed to replace). What if we asked them to add in the missing We Live So Fast US single version as a thank you for our patience? I’d love to get that.
A little tip if you want that mix it’s on the greatest hits DVD and you can easily rip the audio from it.
memoryboy,
An ABC box set? You and me both mate, you and me both. As the worlds self confessed greatest ABC fan…(probably), this is something I’ve hoped to see announced every time I check out Mr Sinclair’s fantastic site.
Just caught up with this thread after receiving my set in the USA over the weekend. Sent then a screenshot of my purchase from Amazon UK and hoping I don’t have to wait forever for it to arrive.
Amazon UK messed up my order of Paul Young’s latest set, and they didn’t process a refund properly, so my money is somewhere in limbo. Yet, here I am still supporting these releases because of my love for the artist.
Sunset Now Extended missing 10-15 seconds of fade-in, compared to version on 2006 How Men Are.
Good catch. Had not got to that point yet on my play through. I emailed Demon about it and hope it can be added to the corrections.
I emailed DMG about this and they confirmed that they’ll fix this issue too! So if anyone spots any other errors, let them know immediately as I am sure time is of the essence before they press the replacement discs.
As for adding additional tracks I think that is too much to ask as it would mess up the listings on the back of the set.
Sound quality is great. Loving some of the 7″ edits. This is great… Except the errors of course…
The Remix for “Let Me Go” was repeated twice. I think that may be my biggest disappointment… Oh and the “We Live So Fast” remix error… I don’t see me rushing to get the replacement discs… I just find all this exhausting! LOL, hahaha, I’m still recovering from the Dead Or Alive box set errors…. but I will say, in the end…. I’ll take it! It’s great! Even with the errors, I’m enjoying what I’ve got.
Yes, would live to see them do an ABC box set (with no errors)
Just received mine as I’m in the states. Height Of The Fighting (He-La-Hu) sounds like it came from a vinyl frisbee, muffled and pops. Sad. That’s my favorite H17 track, too. Too bad the other version, without the dancey beat, didn’t make it to the compilation.
I just want to share that I also just found out about the Five Star replacement disc on discogs. Sent Edsel/Demon before/during the weekend. Then I saw someone mentioned it on this post. And I just got their email confirmation that my replacement disc has been sent out. I post a comment on the Five Star post. In case someone is checking there and not here, (s)he will find that information to claim his/her replacement disc.
Finally got round to actually start listening to the thing and checking out the artwork.
The missing song title words on the back cover have already been pointed out, and now looking at the booklet, the lyrics around Lady Ice And Mr Hex and We Live So Fast are distorted like a cheap photocopy.
Certainly not what you should expect from a set costing this much. Music is top notch of course and a lifelong fan of Heaven 17, just effed off with the lack of attention to the overall production effort. Welcome to the (disposable) future??
I appreciate that there may be 150 tracks but is quality control still an issue after so many mistakes in the past? Am i the only one that’s worried i have CD’s with wrong pressings that i never knew about that were corrected? How many will get this and never find out there were free replacements and / or incorrect tracks
Yes, I can empathize with that feeling
after all this i’m just wondering if Edsel will consider releasing a cd singles boxset of H17’s Virgin Years. That would be perfect!
I think they had one big H17 project in them and they’ve just done it.
I’m pleased that they are taking action, but it’s equally frustrating because it sort of forces me to buy it NOW. My plan was to hold off in case the price drops to something more affordable in a few months or so, but to make sure I don’t miss the replacement discs I’ve had to bite the bullet even though I’ll have to pay more than I’d like to.
Of course, I don’t HAVE TO do anything…
Glad they took immediate responsibility and stepped up to correct the issue in a timely manner. Sent my email and done!
Given the rise in streaming, surely it would be possible for the company that owns the master recordings to digitize everything and get it out there?
The issue I have is when master recordings are under licence for a limited period (The Tabu catalogue as an example; that Demon had the rights to from 2013-2018), now the rights are with Universal who have only slowly started to upload the catalogue and then only the basic albums without the mixes that are obviously still available. I’m expecting the same to happen with the ZTT material once the BMG Rights distribution deal expires at the end of this year.
It’s unfortunate that the record companies are still not exploiting their rich archives of tracks.
It’s incredibly expensive dusting down old tapes and baking and then digitising them. Unless it’s a major artist like The Beatles etc. I can’t see any label choosing to digitise an entire archive for posterity or possible future licensing opportunities.
is there any statement from heaven 17 about all these mistakes ?
No
thanks for quick answer paul.
i cannot understand this. it stands “heaven 17” on the box set.
do you think it would be a good idea if you start a last ditch-letter to edsel ?
surely everyone of us would sign those flame.
i personally have enough of all these un-going mistakes and confusions.
nobody of us could make so much mistakes in our jobs without any consequences.
A last ditch letter to say what? They are fixing the problem, which I agree isn’t as good as the problem not happening in the first place, but let’s keep some perspective here. It’s 150-track compilation with five or six issues. The higher the mountain the more often you will miss your footing on the way up (my Eric Cantona phrase for the day!)
i understand you paul. it was only an idea to let the “edsels & co” know that we have enough of those things. today i usually think about if i should buy a box set or wait to see what happens in the first weeks after the release – to know then if there are mistakes or wrong tracks on the set.
is this a “collector-life” i will live? if we do finally nothing – they will never change anything in the future…
the same thing with the erasure “wild”. they make the
so called “anniversary edition” not for the usual cd buyer. they made that for the fans.
and i read here almost 90% negative thoughts about the re-issue. artists should better think about what they put as bonus tracks on “deluxe editions”. with only 2 unreleased tracks and 2 live tracks you will never awake enthusiasm.