How Men Are
# How Men Are

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
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| Smash Hits | |

How Men Are is the third studio album by English synth-pop band Heaven 17, released on 24 September 1984 by Virgin Records. The album peaked at No. 12 in the UK and was certified Silver (60,000 copies sold) by the BPI in October 1984.

Three singles were released from this album: "Sunset Now" (UK #24), "This Is Mine" (UK #23) in 1984, and an edited remix of "...(And That's No Lie)" (UK #52) in early 1985, which was the first Heaven 17 single to fail to reach the UK Top 40 since "Let Me Go" at the end of 1982.

Although digital sample-based instruments such as the Fairlight CMI and the LinnDrum drum machine were still responsible for most of the album's sounds, How Men Are marked the beginning of an increased usage of acoustic instruments in Heaven 17's music. A small orchestra is employed on three tracks, and two tracks make use of the Phenix Horns Esquire, Earth, Wind & Fire's famous brass section. Another notable contribution to this album was made by the vocal group Afrodiziak, who sang on four tracks.

In 2006, Heaven 17's first three albums were remastered and reissued with bonus tracks.

## Track listing

All songs written and composed by Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, and Martyn Ware, except where noted.

Side one

* "Five Minutes to Midnight" – 3:46
* "Sunset Now" – 3:35
* "This Is Mine" – 3:51
* "The Fuse" – 3:05
* "Shame Is on the Rocks" – 3:59

Side two

* "The Skin I'm In" – 3:46
* "Flamedown" – 2:59
* "Reputation" (John Wilson, Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh, Martyn Ware) – 3:03
* "And That's No Lie" – 10:02

## Personnel

Heaven 17

* Glenn Gregory – lead and backing vocals
* Martyn Ware – LinnDrum programming, backing vocals, Roland System 100 bass (3)
* Ian Craig Marsh – Fairlight CMI programming, backing vocals (1), Roland System 100 (3, 6)

Session musicians

* Greg Walsh – Fairlight CMI programming, Roland System 100 bass (3)
* Nick Plytas – Roland System 100 simulated classical guitar (6), acoustic piano (8, 9)
* Ray Russell – guitars (5, 7, 9)
* John Wilson – guitars (8), bass guitar (9)
* Mo Foster – fretless bass (6)
* Phenix Horns Esquire – horns (3, 7)
* Michael Harris – flugelhorn (3)
* David Cullen – orchestral arrangements and conductor (1, 6, 9)
* Afrodiziak – backing vocals (2, 4, 8, 9)

Production

* B.E.F. – producers
* Greg Walsh – producer, engineer
* Jeremy Allom – engineer
* Ray Smith – cover paintings, photography, cover concept

## Charts

Chart performance for How Men Are :

| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
| - | - |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 28 |
| European Albums (Music & Media) | 21 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 31 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 28 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 12 |

## Certifications

Certifications for How Men Are :

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| - | - | - |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | $60,000^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||
