The Human League, a band once described as “the future of pop music” by David Bowie, is the subject of a new anthology, A Very British Synthesizer Group, to be released on Virgin Records via UMe on November 18. Described in a press release as “a sound and vision anthology featuring all the hits,” the 2-CD Deluxe Edition and the Deluxe 3-LP vinyl boxed set versions cover the entire history of the group in 30 songs, including seven previously unreleased DJ edits.
Both packages include a 20-page booklet featuring a new essay by David Buckley plus rare memorabilia and photographs. The 3-LP box includes vinyl discs that were mastered at half-speed at Abbey Road Studios. Pre-order is available for the CD here and for the LP collection here.
The Human League begin a tour of Europe and the U.K. later this month. Details on their website.
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A Very British Synthesizer Group features the artwork of Sheffield artist Pete McKee, who says of the group, “The Human League’s look was totally unique and innovative and it also provided one of those jaw-dropping moments on Top of the Pops that made your Ddd angry, but inspired you. The League were unashamedly a pop band but also had that edge that made them credible. The girls were no-nonsense working class lasses who became fashion icons in their own right, make up, hair and clothes were imitated in night clubs and youth clubs across the country but few boys dared to copy Phil’s hair and stiletto heels. It was a pleasure to work on the artwork for this fantastic anthology. I wanted to capture the League as the style and fashion icons who had such an impact on so many of us during the ’80s.”
The Human League A Very British Synthesizer Group Track Listing
(*denotes previously unreleased)
2-CD Deluxe
Disc One
Being Boiled: A-Side Single
The Dignity of Labour [Part 3 ]** – Dignity of Labour 12” single
Empire State Human: A-Side Single
Only After Dark (Single Edit) – Travelogue Free 7”
Nightclubbing** – Holiday ’80 EP
Boys and Girls**: A-Side Single
The Sound of The Crowd (Instrumental Version)**
Hard Times: B-Side Single
Love Action (I Believe In Love): A-Side Single
Open Your Heart: A-Side Single
Don’t You Want Me: A-Side Single
Mirror Man: A-Side Single
You Remind Me Of Gold**
(Keep Feeling) Fascination (Extended Version)**
The Lebanon (Single Version)**: A-Side Single
Louise (DJ Edit): A-Side Single
Disc Two
Life On Your Own: A-Side Single First Commercial Release
Human – Extended Version
I Need Your Loving (DJ Edit): A-Side Single First Commercial Release
Love Is All That Matters ( DJ Edit): A-Side Single First Commercial Release
Heart Like A Wheel (William Orbit Remix): A-Side Single
Soundtrack To A Generation (Edit): First Commercial Release
Tell Me When (Radio Edit): First Commercial Release
One Man In My Heart: A-Side Single
Filling Up With Heaven: A-Side Single
Stay With Me Tonight (Single Version): A-Side Single
All I Ever Wanted (Radio Edit): First Commercial Release
Night People (Radio Edit): A-Side Single First Commercial Release
Never Let Me Go (Album Version)**
Sky (Radio Edit): A-Side Single
Watch The Human League’s “Human” video
3-LP Box Set
SIDE A
A1: Being Boiled – Fast Product Version
A2: The Dignity of Labour – Part 3
A3: Empire State Human
A4: Only After Dark
A5: Nightclubbing
A6: Boys and Girls
SIDE B
B1: The Sound Of The Crowd – Instrumental
B2: Hard Times
B3: Love Action ( I Believe In Love ) – Edit
B4: Open Your Heart
B5: Don’t You Want Me
SIDE C
C1: Mirror Man
C2: You remind Me Of Gold
C3: (Keep Feeling ) Fascination – Extended Version
C4: The Lebanon
C5: Louise – DJ Edit
SIDE D
D1: Love On Your Own
D2: Human – Extended Version
D3: I Need Your Loving – DJ Edit
D4: Love Is All That Matters – DJ Edit
D5: Heart Like A Wheel – William Orbit Remix
SIDE E
E1: Soundtrack To A Generation – Edit
E2: Tell Me When – Edit
E3: One Man In My Heart
E4: Filling Up With Heaven
SIDE F
F1: Stay With Me Tonight
F2: All I Ever Wanted – Radio Edit
F3: Night People – Radio Edit
F4: Never Let Me Go
F5: Sky – Radio Edit
Watch the video for “Don’t You Want Me,” one of the Human league’s signature songs
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