When I could scrape together the money, I got Reproduction, but it was a disappointment. What seemed like an age later they split and re-formed with girls who could barely sing, and made an album that was such a sell-out I gave up on them, disgusted. I went to see them, very close to Christmas in 1981, when they were number one with ‘Don’t You Want Me’. I was still disgusted, and refused to enjoy myself watching them at their peak.
Looking back, I was wrong, and obviously Dare is a classic in a different light. It’s still not quite for me, though I’m very fond of ‘Open Your Heart’ and 'Love Action'.
Whenever this pops on a playlist it takes me right back. Aged about fourteen, putting a record on I had heard of only by reputation. This, the first track, and ‘WXJL Tonight’ the closing track are timeless classics.
4 comments:
With you all the way VS. Travelogue was their finest moment for me..I had a few singles Being Boiled, Empire State Human and even the the pre-Dare Tom Baker bought from a bargain bin (ironically I remember thinking well it's all over for them now). Dare was a disappointment - it's too sugary and souless. The remix album Love and Dancing was more my thing - great versh of Hard Times too. If you haven't got it you must get Visgage's first album, which sits perfectly alongside Travelogue and Replicas. Trust Me it's a killer. And surely you've got Soft Cell's Non Stop?
I agree entirely. I'm a huge fan of all League numbers bar Don't You Want Me, or Don't You Want Me Baby as the Guilty Pleasures crowd insist on calling it. If I hear it again, I'll scream.
It's Sound Of The Crowd for me, with it's pulsing beat, gnashing synths and properly Eighties new romantic non-sensical lyrics.
I have a fondness for 'Reproduction', as my intro to the Human League came when I caught a late-night showing of 'So It Goes', on which they did 'The Path of Least Resistance'. It felt like I'd found the band I'd been looking for all my life. I absolutely got it. But 'Travelogue' as an album is unbeatable, absolutely majestic.
I sneered at 'Dare' as stuff I was way too cool for by then, though hearing it now it reminds me of quite an amazing time in my life. And I still think 'Seconds' works well.
Who still digs out 'Penthouse and Pavement' by Heaven 17, then? I still love 'Fascist Groove Thang', me.
Was never a fan of Soft Cell, at the time, and never really been back. I must have had the Visage album, though it's all something of a blur.
I like Penthouse AND The Luxury Gap. Still can't resist Let Me Go.
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