Well, yesterday's Retro Spin, and my start of making my way through the 80's discography of The Human League was a bust. 1980's Travelogue wasn't for me, and it left me in a relative mundane state to want to continue on through their albums. But today, perhaps there's hope. With 1981's Dare, I at least know I'm going to get a hit that I know and like.
Computer operators, Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, met at the youth arts club, Meatwhistle in 1977. The event provided an unstructured space for teenagers to experiment with music, early video equipment, and drama, fueling the two's creativity. Together, they purchased a Korg 700S synthesizer and learned how to play it. They'd be invited to perform at a friend's 21st birthday party, and in turn, form the band, The Dead Daughters.
A few months later, they added friend, Adi Newton, and changed their name to The Future. Newton would serve as another synth player, but leave relatively early to form the group, Clock DVA. Rather than focus on adding another keyboardist to replace him, the two focused on finding a singer. While they initially had their sights set on Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), he was unavailable. Instead, they turned invited a school friend, Philip Oakey to take the helm. The only snag was that Oakey had no musical background. Instead, he was more so known for his sharp style of dressing. Ware would say he was ideal because, "he already looked like a pop star".
The trio would change their name to The Human League, taking it from the boardgame, StarForce: Alpha Centauri. They'd be signed to the independent label, Fast Product, when Ware's friend, Paul Bower delivered their demo to owner, Bob Last. They released their first single and began performing live around the area. However, quickly became concerned of their stagnant stage presence from their reliance on technology and tape machines to deliver most of the music. To help with this, they brought in director of visuals, Philip Adrian Wright.
Their live performances began to see a boost, aided all the more by being invited to support Siouxsie and the Banshees. However, their biggest surge in popularity would occur in 1978, when David Bowie attended one of their shows, and stated to NME that he'd, "Seen the future of pop music".
1979's The Dignity of Labour EP would soon be released by Fast Product but be their last with the label, as they'd be approached and signed by Virgin Records. However, because of his early support, the band would extend an offer to Bob Last to take the role as their manager. Then the problems began. Despite offering the band creative freedom, Virgin immediately set stipulations and began demanding changes to their style for their first single to make them more commercial. Since they had received such a large advance, which they couldn't pay back, the band was in no position to push back, but requested the single, I Don't Depend on You, be released under the name, The Men.
The single would fail, and as a result, the label would permit them to return to their original sound and style for their 1979's studio album debut, Reproduction. The was led by the single, Empire State Human, which also failed. As a result, Virgin cancelled the anticipated tour which would have followed.
Virgin allowed The Human League to release the EP, Holiday '80, in 1980, which garnered them their first TV appearance on BBC TV's Top of the Pops. Unfortunately, their claim to fame as pioneers of electronic pop music was usurped by Gary Numan, which began causing internal rifts between Ware and Oakey. Whereas Ware wanted to stay true to their original roots, Oakey pressed for a more pop oriented sound. Things would come to a head, prompting Ware to walk out, and with him went Marsh.
Last tried to reconcile the three, but ultimately, it was deemed they simply couldn't go on together. Oakey would stay as The Human League, while Marsh and Ware would form Heaven 17 with their original choice for a singer, Glenn Gregory. In keeping the name, Oakey not only assumed all the debt of the band so far, but the obligations of the contract with Virgin. Further, the split required that he pay the two departed members one percent of royalties for the next album. Things got further complicated, as without a band, Oakey was pressed for how to perform at the upcoming tour, which was just ten days away, and the news already reporting that the band was done.
That seems a good place to pause on the history of the band until tomorrow. For now, let's dive into 1981's Dare.
I'm sorry to say that it was more or less the same drivel I was greeted by last time, with the exception of closing out with Don't You Want Me. Overall, it was a pretty lackluster listening session, which left me bored. In fact, that boredom actually equated to me paying very little attention to the music, which quickly fell to the background.
Frankly, I'm not seeing the appeal of The Human League. Rather than a legacy band of the 80's, I kind of feel like they just got lucky a handful of times. I'm not impressed. The band is 0 - 2 in my book, and I'm not enjoying hearing their albums so far. Rather, I'm drudging through them at this point simply to check them off.
Candidly, that sucks. Listening to music should be an enjoyable experience. Not a mundane checkbox. Sadly, for now, that's what it's become with The Human League. Maybe that will change with tomorrow's album, 1984's Hysteria. Sadly, I don't foresee it being as impactful as the Def Leppard variety.
Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.
Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.
