Human League: Ian Craig-Marsh, Martin Ware, Philip Adrian Wright, Joe Callis, Philip Oakey, Susan Sulley, Joanne Catherall, Neil Sutton, Russell Dennett, Jim Russell, Ian Burden.
Producers include: Human League, Martin Rushent, Ian Stanley, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis.
Includes liner notes by Paul Morley.
This album contains the best hits of Phil Oakey's 1980s synth band the Human League.
Not to be confused with the 2005 Caroline compilation of the same name, 1998's THE VERY BEST OF HUMAN LEAGUE (released on the Ark 21 label) offers a non-chronological overview of the refined British synth-pop act, ranging from 1978's moody "Being Boiled" to '95's sunny "One Man in My Heart." In between, of course, are the ensemble's biggest '80s hits, including the buoyant "Don't You Want Me" and the playful "(Keep Feeling) Fascination," which showcase the deep croon of singer Philip Oakey and the vibrant backing vocals of Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall. The disc also includes one of Oakey's mid-'80s songs with disco guru Giorgio Moroder, the surging "Together in Electric Dreams," which was recorded while the group was on hiatus. Although the later Caroline collection does feature more tracks (including many presented here), this anthology is ideal for those seeking a concise introduction to Human League or fans wanting to bypass the band's post-'90s material.
Professional Reviews
Uncut (11/03, p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...There's enough fascination amid the weeps'n'bleeps to keep feeling it..."
Mojo (Publisher) (11/03, p.141) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...At their best, nobody made pop product quite as tasty as this..."
