BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
“What Is Love?” was the 2nd single by musician Howard Jones. Released in November 1983, from the album Human’s Lib, it reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the singer’s highest chart placing to date. In the US it peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the summer of 1984.
The song was originally entitled “Love?” on the demo tape which Howard Jones recorded in 1982, which itself was available at his gigs. Howard Jones also used the question mark motif around this time on posters advertising his gigs; posters which also hung behind him on stage at his early 1980s Marquee Club appearances and which read simply “Howard Jones?”.
The song was used in the 1984 film Supergirl.
SIDE A:
What Is Love? (Extended Version) 6:31
Producer – Rupert Hine
SIDE B:
It Just Doesn’t Matter 3:35
Engineer, Mixed By – Mark Lusardi*
Producer – Howard Jones
Hunt The Self (Recorded Live At The Marquee) 5:39
Engineer – Mark Lusardi*
Mixed By – Mike Roarty
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | What Is Love? | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #33 |
| 1984 | What Is Love? | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #20 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: WEA – HOW 2T, WEA – 249570-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 26 Nov 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Lyrics By – Howard Jones, William Bryant
Music By – Howard Jones
NOTES:
Also available “HUMAN’S LIB”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Ah, those demo tapes you mentioned…I borrowed a couple from one of Howard’s relatives many years ago. Sadly I had no means to copy them at the time and I don’t think the tracks have appeared anywhere since. I would love to hear them again.
One of my all-time favorite songs of the ’80s. Shocking that it wasn’t a bigger hit than it was. Classic!
Sadly it was a big hit in the UK so we were subjected to his wimpy droning on a regular basis.
I agree Pauleky classic track!
de 10, deluxe,have a nice weekend bro.!
The quality of your new rips is outstanding. Not to compare with the older ones, which all had a noisy hum on the recordings.
Thank you very much for doing all that good stuff…
You’re welcome Mike. Yeah I have done some upgrades to my equipment a new Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter and speed box have made a world of difference. Glad someone noticed 🙂
Thank you once again Paul. You can’t beat a bit of HoJo. 😀
You’re welcome Dan 🙂
thanks dude – I’m hoping you get to New Song – the mix on the 12 inch has never made it to CD as far as I am aware
Stay tuned Gerry I have it planned for future post 🙂
It has Gerry. There was a CD boxset that came out a few years back, which is still available from Howard’s website. There are 3 12″ mixes of New song on it, including the original version.
I am really looking forward to hearing the live Howard Jones track on this!
Hope you like it Stephen it’s pretty good 🙂
Ever wondering – is he gay or just puppy-stupid? No offence anyway.
yeap i agree with that one 🙂
Howard Jones – Things can Only Get Better (US 12”) (1985) [DjPaulT]
ive got thaht one of you not sure if its the same version on there but ill like a bit of howward everlasting love is a good one to if u come by it ill grab it
what i meant is the what is love is on there not sure if its the same version though
ah I see Dazz22 I think it might be the same mix. Not sure why they titled it “New Extended Mix”.
The b-sides are great though 🙂
On discogs.com there’s no listing for a US 12″ release of What Is Love. So the extended mix on the US Things Can Only Get Better 12″ might be labelled as ‘new’ to specifically differentiate it from the extended mix that would’ve already been available to US peeps on The 12″ Album?
BTW, never really heard HJ talk with such a London slant on his accent before as on that live at The Marquee track. Sounds really funny. 😀
Sounds like you have it figured out Jermajesty and I agree 🙂
One of my favorite HJ singles . Paul do u also have Life In One Day? Thanks
Omar I think I posted “Life In One Day” long ago. I’ll have to re-visit that one someday.
Lol only two dys ago i was re-checking your Hojo and thought i wish he’d do some more Hojo and repost some old deleted ones and noticed it’s been almost a year or so since last Hojo then i see this. How strange. And thanks.
You’re welcome Neil guess we were on the same wave 🙂
Maybe love is letting people be just what they want to be?
Thank you soo much for this DjPaul – really cheered me up after a thoroughly dismal day at work.
You’re wlcome Jermajesty it was my pleasure. Hope it get’s better for you 🙂