"Sunset Now" is synthpop trio Heaven 17's first single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 of 1984 from the album How Men Are

How Men Are

How Men Are is the third album by the English synthpop group Heaven 17, released in September 1984 by Virgin Records. The album peaked at no.12 in the UK and was certified Silver by the BPI in October 1984....

. It was written by all three members. The single was released in late 1984 and peaked at #24 in the UK, spending 6 weeks on the chart. A promotional video was created for the single.

Allmusic stated "Sunset Now", "Flamedown" and the brilliant "This Is Mine" are just a few of the reasons for this album's greatness." The track is also recommended by allmusic.

The single peaked at #5 on the Writers chart and #14 on the Reader's chart for Number One Music magazine. Sounds Magazine's playlist of Carole Linfield included this track.

Formats

7" Single

1. "Sunset Now" - 3:40
2. "Counterforce" - 3:02

12" Single

1. "Sunset Now (Extended version)" - 5:21
2. "Flamedown" - 3:14
3. "Counterforce" - 3:02
4. "Sunset Now (Album version)" - 3:40
5. "Counterforce II" - 3:08

12" Single (American only)

1. "Sunset Now (LP version)" - 3:40
2. "Counterforce 1" - 3:02
3. "Sunset Now (Extended version)" - 5:21

Cassette Single

1. "Sunset Now (Extended version)" - 5:20
2. "Flamedown" - 3:14
3. "Counterforce" - 3:02
4. "Sunset Now (Album version)" - 3:42
5. "Counterforce II" - 3:07

Chart performance

Chart (1984)	Peak position	Total weeks
Irish Singles Chart	18	3
UK Singles Chart	24	6
U.S. Dance/Club Play Singles	39	?

Critical reception

Adrian Thrills for NME wrote "It is difficult to take an active dislike to Heaven 17 - men of stout hearts and sound mind one and all-but it is even harder to find anything other than flat, flawless worthinness in their music. I'd love "Sunset Now" if I could, but it tells me nothing about the frenzy of political struggle or even how I feel about my all-time favourite dancer. It is merely another record, another numb artefact. I guess the fairlight is just not the instrument from which dreams are made."

Andy Coyne for Sounds magazine wrote "Hardly a great achievement from the creators of "Fascist Groove Thang" but as pop fare it's strong enough. I know this is going to really irritate after about two weeks. Oh, what could have been."

Paul Simper from Number One magazine wrote "More happy returns. A year on, Heaven 17 seem to have refined the mannered funk of "Crushed By The Wheels". "Sunset Now" sees Glenn Gregory in fine voice, with Afrodiziak helping out on backing vocals, and points to an excellend thrid album in September. Oh and on the 12-inch there's some music from that film Electric Dreams. Well, nobody's perfect..."

Personnel

• Backing Vocals - Afrodiziak
  Afrodiziak
  Afrodiziak was the collective name used by the British singers Caron Wheeler and Claudia Fontaine in the mid-to-late 1980s. As a duo, they were best known for performing backup vocals on Elvis Costello's 1983 album Punch the Clock, especially its single, the international hit "Everyday I Write the...
  
  , Glenn Gregory , Martyn Ware
• Drum Programming - Martyn Ware
• Producer - British Electric Foundation , Greg Walsh
• Programmed By - Greg Walsh
• Synthesizer - Ian Craig Marsh
• Vocals - Glenn Gregory