Customer Reviews

The Human Leauge Original Remixes & Rarities

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This CD release was nothing short of a miracle for Human League fans who wanted the catalogue to finally be completed on a CD issue. The idea was to give fans the remixes and b-sides that were only available on deleted vinyl. The original announced CD had a very different track listing. All of these songs, except for You Remind Me of Gold were already available on CD. For anyone who will ask, The 12" version of The Sound of the Crowd was released on two CD compilations previously. Classic Alternatives Vol 1 and the other I can't rememeber. Anyway, the "remastered" sound leaves a lot to be desired here. There are pops and clicks that can be heard on both the extended version of Life on Your Own and on Non-stop. It sounded as if the source recording was vinyl. It's a shame because Caroline Records treats their Human League re-issues as a labor of love. Both of these songs appear on their re-issues of Dare and Hysteria, and the songs sound much better than on this CD. Also the beginning of the Don't You Want Me remix has very noticable analog hiss, though they did manage to keep the tempo correct (it was sped up on the Love & Dancing CD in order to mix it in with the previous song). The remix of Fascination has also been edited. Why this was done I don't know. It now fades out at the end...Also, the alternate version of Marianne, only available on the Australian vinyl version of Travelogue is nowhere to be seen on this compilation. The same can be said about the original (better) all synth version of I Love You Too Much, which can only be found on the Fascination EP on vinyl and cassette.

Very disappointing.

While there are some pops and clicks on some of these recordings it is not because the recording source is suspect it is because the tracks that have those artifacts where created back between 1981 and 83 when samplers where hugely expensive- hard to get and didnt have much memory at all- the way the producer created most of the non stop unlimited remixes was with a
good old razor blade and tape. A skill that is dieing off. The producer- Martin Rushent- has been said that most of these remixes had SO MANY cuts and edits in the original tape that many times it could only be run through the machine once or twice before it would disintegrate!!! Be glad that these are availible as many many other great artists from the best period of new music (late 70's early to mid 80's) are still not on CD and possibly never will be. While the record companies pump out tons of garbage that has no right to be released tons of great stuff will sit in vaults- people that would spend good money will wait forever- point in case the first two albums (1980 and 81) by Polyrock. They where FINALLY just released on a small label and you had better snatch them up while you can cause the value of them will skyrocket just like the double CD of The Producers(the New Wave-Power Pop band not the remade movie) albums- they where released on a small label on cd and now less then 9 years later they are fetching 80 bucks or so!!

Many people waited years and years for this thing to come out. If only for The Sound Of The Crowd (12" Version) it is worth to buy. I must say that the track-listing isn't quite right here. I saw it on several other sites. Track 3 isn't Love Action (Instrumental Mix) but it's Hard Times (Instrumental Mix). Track 4 is Non-Stop (B-side of Open Your Heart), track 5 is Don't You Want Me (Special Extended Dance Mix), track 6 is Mirror Man (Extended Mix), track 7 is You Remind Me Of Gold (Mirror Man B-side), track 8 is (Keep Feeling) Fascination (Improvisation), track 9 is Total Panic (Fascination B-side), track 10 is The Lebanon (Extended), track 11 is Life On Your Own (Extended), track 12 is Together In Electric Dreams (Extended), track 13 is Human (Extended) and finally track 14 is Heart Like a Wheel (Extended). So, as you can see, there is no Love Action (Instrumental Mix), Open Your Heart (12"Version) or Love Is All That Matters (Jam & Lewis Mix). Instead of them, you'll get some really cool B-sides and remixes.

Great CD! I had always hoped they would release the Fascination! EP on cd. Just for the extra tracks. This is just about it! It has the right "Hard Times" version (the "Hard Times" on the reissue of Dare isn't quite the same). "Mirror Man" and "You Remind Me of Gold", great to have this on CD!

This Human League CD might not be that RARE! If you read the
track listing, you will find many extended mixes
{not always 12"). You will also hear many 'B' sides, with
editing based on the technology that was available. The most
exciting, vibrant track is "Heart Like A Wheel".

Also, "Sound of the Crowd", 12 mix; "Love Action", but not the
12" mix.The other 12 tracks are still danceable. Long live Korg
syntheziers! Best of all might well be Philip Oakley's commanding
presence as lead vocalist. Of all the bands of that time,
(Kraftwork,Depeche Mode, etc.)only Phil had that Sheffield voice
perfectly in time to the sound of the crowd.

Another album by Human League "Dare", still sends chills along
the spine.It was a record breaking selling LP, (along with ABC's
"Look of Love") and the digitally remastered CD is approximately
2 hours long. This could well be the better choice, especially if
you belong to the 'Mirror Man" crowd. All decended from Sheffield,
England - roaming the globe withlaptops under their arms. Human
League are in essence a whole bunch of dancing fun. Let's not
forget the girls, Joanne Catherell and Susan Tulley.

Many music fans have been waiting for a Remix Album for The Human League for years. After being released I can say now that this album is disappointing. A vocal version for the songs "Don't You Want Me" and "(Keep Feeling)Fascination could've been included. Although this versions are very good they're not the same with little or no vocals at all. Also, they could've include the 12" version of "Love Action."

Love this group and love that they've stuck together over the years. Great stuff.

Personally, I've always wanted an extended version of Human, as the regular single is under 4 minutes. The version of the song on this collection is 5:05. I do like it. I just wish it was 10 minutes longer. Guess I'll have to get software and figure how to extend it (or just loop it with RealPlayer V.10!). The rest of the mixes on this CD are also good.

Could it have been better? Sure. But as I paid under $8US for the disk, I have absolutely no complaints and feel that I got my money's worth! Four stars!

DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY GET SMART IT'S THAT OLD TRICK THE SLICK COVER IS HOW THEY WANT YOU TO JUDGE IT BUT YOU JUDGE SOMETHING ONLY BY IT'S COVER YOU WILL END UP TAKEING ONE UP THE U KNOW WHERE EVEY NOW AND THEN SOMETIMES THE COVER DOES TELL IT ALL BUT NOT THIS TIME ?THEY DONT EVEN SOUND HUMAN NO ONE WILL DANCE TO THIS EVEN ON CRACK... WELL MAYBE A FEW BUT THERE BUGGING.. .....AND THEY SOUND LIKE THERE IN LEAGUE WITH ....THE DEVIL-SATAN OUT TO STEAL ARE MONEY HEY CAN YOU SEND ME MY MONEY BACK PLEASEEEEEE'S !