#46: Let Me go by Heaven 17

City: Montreal, PQ
Radio Station: CKGM
Peak Month: June 1983
Peak Position in Montreal ~ #3
Peak position in Vancouver ~ did not chart
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ #74
YouTube: “Let Me Go”
Lyrics: “Let Me Go”

Heaven 17 was formed in 1980 by trio Martyn Ware, Glenn Gregory, and Ian Craig Marsh. Ware was born in 1956 in Sheffield, England. Initially, he worked in the computer industry and saved money to purchase an electronic keyboard. In 1977, he co-founded Human League along with Ian Craig Marsh. After the first two albums meeting with little commercial success, Martyn Ware was ejected from the band. Ian Marsh quit Human League in protest and formed the British Electric Foundation. Ian Craig Marsh was born in Sheffield, England, in 1956. In the early seventies he was part of a community theatre group Meatwhistle. Inspired by Alice Cooper, Marsh formed Musical Vomit in 1973, performing stunts like vomiting soup on stage, and singing songs about masterbation. For his antics, Ian Marsh was expelled from school. Another member of Musical Vomit was Glenn Gregory, who was born in Sheffield in 1958. Gregory went on to work as a photographer in London, and with the band 57 Men. In 1981, he was asked by Martyn Ware to join the newly forming Heaven 17.

Heaven 17’s debut single in 1981 was “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang”. The song was banned by the BBC out of concern that the lyrics libeled United States President Ronald Reagan as a “fascist god in motion.” Still, the single reached #45 on the UK pop singles chart. Another single that year was “Penthouse and Pavement”/”Play to Win” which was a Top 20 dance hit in the USA.

In 1982, Heaven 17 released their second studio album The Luxury Gap. The lead single from the album was “Let Me Go”.

All members of Heaven 17 co-wrote “Let Me Go”. A relationship is on the rocks. The singer laments “all hopeless fantasies are making fools of me, let me go.” However, the insight is not being put into action: “I walk alone and yet never say goodbye.”  The result: “Our souls are locked and frozen.”

“Let Me Go” reached #3 in Montreal, #7 in Flushing (NY), #8 in Edmonton (AB), #9 in Hamilton (ON), and Ottawa, and #12 in Boston. Internationally, “Let Me Go” was a Top 30 hit in Finland and Ireland. It stalled at #74 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1983, a followup single, “Temptation”, reached #2 in the UK, #3 in Ireland, #11 in West Germany, #15 in New Zealand, and #20 in France. Further releases in 1983 made this the peak of success for Heaven 17. “Come Live with Me” reached #5 in the UK, and #7 in Ireland. While “Crushed By the Wheels of Industry” was a Top Ten hit in Ireland, which also charted in both France and the UK.

In 1984, “Sunset Now” and “This is Mine” became Top 30 hits in both Ireland and the UK. In December 1984, both Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory appeared as vocalists in the charity hit single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” In 1986, the single “Contenders” became a Top Ten dance hit in the USA.

In 1992, a remix of “Temptation” took the song to #4 in the UK, #9 in Ireland, and #16 in the Netherlands.

In 2008, Heaven 17 released their eighth and final studio album, Naked as Advertised. It was the first album with just the duo of Martyn Ward and Glenn Gregory, following the departure of Ian Craig Marsh from the group in 2007.

October 31, 2026
Ray McGinnis

References:
John Earls, “Heaven 17 – Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware interview,” Classic Pop, August 5, 2025.
“Sheffield’s ‘greatest band’ Heaven 17 to celebrate with homecoming gig on UK tour,” The Star, Sheffield, UK, February 28, 2019.
“Glenn Gregory Interview: Glenn talks about his Sheffield past, forming Heaven 17, composing film scores and his new project Honeyroot with DJ Keith Lowndes,” BBC, August 6, 2005.
Neils Kolling, “The Martyn Ware Interview,” The Black Hit of Space, February 2009.
Dick Clark, “Heaven 17 – Interview,” American Bandstand, June 18, 1983.
Niels