Human League – Human (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Human” is a song recorded by British synthpop band The Human League, and released as the first single from their 1986 album Crash. The track, which deals with the subject of infidelity, was written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

In 1985, the recording sessions for the Human League’s fifth album were not going well, and the band did not like the results, which was causing internal conflict. Virgin Records executives, worried by the lack of progress from their at-the-time most profitable signing, suggested the band accept an offer to work with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who already had material to work with; and had expressed an interest in the band from their U.S. releases. Jam and Lewis had recently emerged as in-demand talent due to their success with Janet Jackson and her Control album.

Of the ten songs on Crash, Jam and Lewis wrote three, “Human” being one of them. It is a mid-tempo ballad which lyrically is an exchange between a man and a woman in a relationship who have reunited after a separation. In the first two verses Philip Oakey is apologizing to his partner for being unfaithful during her absence, and in the song’s breakdown Joanne Catherall’s spoken-word confession reveals that she too was unfaithful. The song’s title is derived from the chorus, in which both parties in the relationship explain that they are “only human” and “born to make mistakes”. The song is a composition in common time with a tempo of 102 beats per minute. It is set in a key of A♭ major, with a chord progression from D♭-E♭-f.

“Human” became the second million-selling and final number-one single for The Human League on the US Billboard Hot 100 (after “Don’t You Want Me”) and their second chart-topper on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart (after “(Keep Feeling) Fascination”). Jam and Lewis’ R&B-based production was also popular on American urban radio, bringing the Human League into the top ten of the U.S. R&B chart for the first time. The song hit #1 in the US; however, in the UK, where R&B was less popular, “Human” peaked at number eight in the UK singles chart.

SIDE A:
Human (Extended Version) 5:06

SIDE B:
Human (A Cappella Version) 2:01
Human (Instrumental Version) 5:04

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Human U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
1986 Human U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles #3
1986 Human U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
1986 Human U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary #3

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: A&M Records – SP-12197
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Downtempo, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Executive-producer – John McClain
Producer – Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Written-By – J. Harris III-T. Lewis*

NOTES:
Produced for Flyte Tyme Productions, Inc.
Original version appears on the LP “CRASH”

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

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Charlie
Charlie
February 23, 2024 9:17 am

Greetings Dj Paul, and thank you very much for your excellent contributions, but it can no longer be downloaded! Could you please upload it again?. thank you

Chris
Chris
May 31, 2021 6:20 am

Any possible chance of a re-upload?

Angie
Angie
February 15, 2019 12:21 pm

Thank you for this all time favorite.

Nubben
Nubben
August 8, 2017 5:07 pm

Who would have thought – Jam & Lewis pairing up with THL! Classic Flyte Tyme sound and superb song.

Thanks Paul!!

Grant
Grant
August 6, 2017 10:06 am

YES! Perhaps my favorite Human League song – this will be such a treat to hear, especially in your careful transfer to digital. Thanks so much, DJPaul!

memoryboy
memoryboy
July 18, 2017 5:07 pm

I’ve always felt that this song fit right in with Human League’s Discography of Singles. It’s a different style than “Don’t You Want Me’ and their earlier recording’s. This is one of my favorites. I remember it being played on the radio back then. I love the single version as well as the extended version. Thanks Paul for posting….

Spencer
Spencer
July 17, 2017 9:04 pm

Thanks for this Paul!

On a side note, I wonder why on earth did labels only put partial acapellas on some releases?!? just baffles me. It’s like, why even bother to put it on to begin with if you’re only putting a portion of it.

Same thing happened with Salt ‘N’ Pepa’s ‘Shoop’, Tone Loc’s ‘Funky Cold Medina’ and Neneh Cherry’s ‘Buffalo Stance’.

Jermajesty
Jermajesty
Reply to  Spencer
July 18, 2017 6:03 am

I guess it’s like those instrumentals where the chorus or backing vocals get left in.

Possibly back then the labels wanted the acapellas to be something that was still listenable as a track, or like a reprise, just affording the vocals more appreciation.

Whereas modern day acepellas seem to be included so that they can easily be remixed/mashed up by bedroom remixers and DJs.

Charles
Charles
July 17, 2017 6:54 pm

Whoa! This single is weak! I don’t even remember knowing the fact that The Human League made it. I remember the song, but man, this is bad. P.U.

Jermajesty
Jermajesty
July 17, 2017 3:42 pm

Thanks Paul, can never have enough League.

Alberto
Alberto
July 16, 2017 8:18 am

As usual, you did a *stellar* rip. Nice to hear those tracks in hi-res, it adds new and unexpected twists.

Thank you so much and have a great weekend.

Alberto

THEIRLAW
THEIRLAW
July 15, 2017 10:01 pm

hi pal, big thanks for this. been waiting long time. lovely.

Song_and_Dance
Song_and_Dance
July 15, 2017 12:08 pm

Lovely song. Just lovely. As the 12inch version is a bit boring I made and edited version one hundred years ago 🙂 It starts with a acappella bit and continues with the a-side. Small adjustments can make a big difference sometimes.

Thank you, Paul.
Have a great weekend, all of you. 🙂

pjanus
pjanus
July 15, 2017 8:07 am

Another great 12″ single! Thanks my Vinyl Master 🙂

Dirk
Dirk
July 15, 2017 6:40 am

Triple thank yous! Had the 7” back then. The original extended is so much better than that dry cubase-standards rythm remix there exist, in my not so humble opinion 🙂

Richard
Richard
July 14, 2017 11:41 pm

For me the New Romantics was one of the defining sounds from the 80s and one of the reasons why that decade was so memorable from a musical point of view. Thanks for this one, it’s been missing from my play list for a long time.

Osc
Osc
July 14, 2017 6:19 pm

<3 🙂

Buzz
Buzz
July 14, 2017 4:44 pm

thanks a lot, Paul, for putting this out!
Even though they say, the band almost split, when recording this and the other Jam & Lewis tracks, it is a very fine record and one of my faves, along so many others from Jam & Lewis from this period.(here’s a great little bit about that : http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/jimmy-jam-and-terry-lewis-our-life-in-15-songs-20151009/human-league-human-1986-20151008 ) I like HL for their older songs as well, but it’s a whole different path.
Please keep bringing maybe some more of the lesser known 12″s, or 7″s they did with so many artists back then.

Rafael Cova
Rafael Cova
July 14, 2017 3:38 pm

Thanks Paul! Great song, I Love The Human League! Thanks for everything! Have a nice weekend.

regards

Rafa

charly
charly
July 14, 2017 3:17 pm

Amazing, one of my favorites song ever, thank you bro!

Joey
Joey
July 14, 2017 2:00 pm

To the uninitiated, this record would seem like ground zero, their theme song. It sounds nothing like their previous work, it is essentially a different band. This was essentially Jam & Lewis, and they could have easily released this as as a duet for Janet Jackson, they really did deliver the goods with this one, it is unfortunate the rest of the record was not as good, had HL not released anything before they would have been a one hit wonder.

Omar
Omar
July 14, 2017 1:48 pm

A romantic ballad. Definitely a keeper. Thanks Paul. Keep the new wave coming!

Ezequiel
Ezequiel
July 14, 2017 1:40 pm

Hi Paul, I love this song! And I like that HL album as well.
Have a great weekend.

Hugs,

Ezequiel

Fred
Fred
July 14, 2017 1:33 pm

I love this 12″! Thanks, Paul. By the way folks, this tune was sampled in the Extended Club Mix of Ralph Tresvant’s Sensitivty (also produced by Jam and Lewis). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSy3JLjsyp8

John von Ahlen
July 14, 2017 12:57 pm

Brilliant song by the equally brilliant Human League. Crash may not have been their finest hour but this one is a total classic.

Thanks again Paul! Keep up the good work 🙂

Jeff
Jeff
July 14, 2017 12:55 pm

Paul, this has been such a fabulous week. Like you joked, very Adult Contemporary, but hey, I love this format. Our college radio station was that during the day so I am most familiar with the format. You have provided stellar 12-inch versions; ballads with a beat. This entire week will make a great playlist courtesy of you for those Summer nights spent outside in front of bonfires or fire pits spent with friends or loved ones sipping red wine out of beautiful crystal glasses. I really loved this song back in the day. Very different for Human League, but… Read more »