{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = Sunset Now | cover = Heaven-17-sunset-now-virgin.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Heaven 17 | album = How Men Are | B-side = Counterforce | released = 20 August 1984 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * Synth-pop * new wave | length = 3:40 | label = * Virgin * Arista | writer = * Glenn Gregory * Ian Craig Marsh * Martyn Ware | producer = * British Electric Foundation * Greg Walsh | prev_title = Crushed by the Wheels of Industry | prev_year = 1983 | next_title = This Is Mine | next_year = 1984 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|g4cKLko6KLA|"Sunset Now"}}}} }} "'''Sunset Now'''" is a song by the English synth-pop band Heaven 17, released on 20 August 1984 as the first single from their third studio album, ''How Men Are'' (1984).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=News |magazine=Record Mirror |date=11 August 1984 |page=4}}</ref> It was written by Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, and produced by Marsh and Ware (British Electric Foundation) and Greg Walsh. It reached No. 24 in the UK, remaining on the charts for six weeks.<ref name=occ>{{cite web|title=Heaven 17 - Full Official Chart History|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18889/heaven-17/|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref> A music video was filmed to promote the single.
== Critical reception == Upon release, Adrian Thrills of the ''NME'' stated: "It is difficult to take an active dislike to Heaven 17, 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'' 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'' commented: "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 excellent third album in September."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heaven17.de/reviews/h17rev81.htm |title=Heaven 17 - Articles and reviews |publisher=Heaven17.de |access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> Aaron Badgley of AllMusic retrospectively said: "'Sunset Now', 'Flamedown' and the brilliant 'This Is Mine' are just a few of the reasons for this album's greatness".<ref>{{cite web|author=Aaron Badgley |author-link=Aaron Badgley |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/how-men-are-r9152 |title=How Men Are - Heaven 17 | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref>
== Formats == '''7-inch single''' # "Sunset Now" – 3:40 # "Counterforce" – 3:02
'''12-inch single''' # "Sunset Now (Extended version)" – 5:21 # "Flamedown" – 3:14 # "Counterforce" – 3:02 #" Sunset Now (Album version)" – 3:40 # "Counterforce II" – 3:08
'''12-inch single (US release)''' # "Sunset Now (LP version)" – 3:40 # "Counterforce 1" – 3:02 # "Sunset Now (Extended version)" – 5:21
'''Cassette single''' # "Sunset Now (Album version)" – 3:42 # "Counterforce" – 3:02 # "Sunset Now (Extended version)" – 5:20 # "Flamedown" – 3:14 # "Counterforce" – 3:02 # "Sunset Now (Album version)" – 3:42 # "Counterforce II" – 3:07 First two tracks not credited on cover.
== Personnel == Credits sourced from the original album liner notes
'''Heaven 17''' * Glenn Gregory – lead and backing vocals * Martyn Ware – LinnDrum programming, backing vocals, producer * Ian Craig Marsh – Fairlight CMI synthesizer, producer
'''Additional personnel''' * Greg Walsh – Fairlight CMI programming, producer * Afrodiziak – backing vocals
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Chart (1984) ! Peak<br>position |- | align="left" | Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=Illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|page=137|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | 93 |- | align="left" | Irish Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|last=Ward|first=Jaclyn |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/ |title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know |publisher=Irishcharts.ie |access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | 18 |- | align="left" | UK singles chart<ref name=occ/> | style="text-align:center;"|24 |- | align="left" | US Hot Dance/Disco Club Play<ref>{{cite web|author=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/ |title=Music Charts, News, Photos & Video |publisher=Billboard |date=2018-01-28 |access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | 39 |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{discogs master|type=single|63022}}
{{Heaven 17}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunset Now}} Category:1984 singles Category:Heaven 17 songs Category:Songs written by Martyn Ware Category:Songs written by Glenn Gregory Category:Songs written by Ian Craig Marsh Category:1984 songs Category:Arista Records singles Category:Virgin Records singles