BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1981
“The Sound of the Crowd” is a song by the British synthpop group The Human League. It became the band’s commercial breakthrough, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1981.
Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey and keyboard player Ian Burden, the song was recorded at Genetic Sound Studios, Reading, in March 1981. Originally released as a stand-alone single in April 1981, it was subsequently re-recorded and incorporated into the studio album Dare, later in the year.
“The Sound Of The Crowd” was the first Human League song to feature female vocals, from new band members Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, interacting with Philip Oakey’s baritone lead.
Apart from the catchy imperatives such as “Get in line now!” and “Get around town!”, the song contains some more obscure lyrics such as “Make a shroud pulling combs through a backwash frame” and “Stroke a pocket with a print of a laughing sound”. Discussing the song in a 2009 interview Ian Burden said:
On The Sound of the Crowd I scribbled down some stream-of-consciousness words so that I could demonstrate the vocal parts to him (Oakey) without having to do the naff la-la-la-hum-hum-hum type of explanation. He went off and wrote a new chorus vocal, but surprisingly kept my verse lyrics!
The single was the first to feature a distinctive, though short-lived, marketing tactic, where Human League singles were labeled ‘Red’ or ‘Blue’ to help buyers differentiate between the band’s musical styles. ‘Red’ was for dance tracks, ‘Blue’ for pop songs. “The Sound Of The Crowd” was designated ‘Red’. When asked to explain the system, vocalist Sulley explained that “Red is for posers, for Spandy (Spandau Ballet) types.” Oakey added: “Blue is for ABBA fans.”
The group first appeared on Top of the Pops to perform the song on 30 April 1981 when it was at no. 53 in the UK Singles Chart. The single entered the UK Top 40 a week later at no. 34 and after three weeks it reached its peak position of no. 12. A second Top of the Pops performance took place on 21 May 1981 when the single was at no. 15.
The original 7″ B side “The Sound of the Crowd (Add Your Voice)” is an instrumental remix of the A-side, an edit of which was later used as the closing track of the remix album Love and Dancing, issued in 1982 under the name of The League Unlimited Orchestra. A longer instrumental version of “The Sound of the Crowd” was featured on the B side to the 12″ release.
SIDE A:
The Sound Of The Crowd (Complete) 6:28
SIDE B:
The Sound Of The Crowd (Instrumental) 4:10
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 416-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 20 Apr 1981
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style:Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Mastered By [Disc Cut At Tape 1 By] – Denis Blackham
Photography By [Photographs By] – Adrian Wright*
Producer – Martin Rushent, The Human League
Written-By – Burden*, Oakey*
NOTES:
RED
“Still vocals and synthesizers only.”
Etched in A-side runout groove: A BILBO ELECTRONIC BOPPA!
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
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 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
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
Thanks for this one too!!
Another great post Paul on this neuro-mantique week, Human League always a cool band.
I know it’s nine years old, but check out Little Boots – Symmetry Featuring Phil Oakey, a really fab song.
You’ve made this my favorite week since the Associates / Bill MacKenzie week! Thank you so much!
I will never forget the Wham! fortnight we had in 2014. I didn’t think it was ever going to end. 😀 Good times.
Wow congratulations. In one week we have had Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Visage, Soft Cell and The Human League! Possibly the greatest week ever on here!! Fantastic stuff. Have a great weekend
great choice again paul, the human league are one of my favorite bands, and i still listen to dare, and the remixes quite often. in fact, i made my own remixes of all the tracks off dare in 2013 using all the instrumentals, and extending the regular tracks. https://dare2013remix.wordpress.com/ there is a cool user on youtube that has recreated all the synth tracks using a similar synthesizer, very authentic stripped productions : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWufzBEL3AM he also has the multitracks on ebay, and i have them, and they are great for making remixes. keep up the excellent work paul, and reminding everyone… Read more »
Coolio Paul, been a great week. I don’t think I’ve heard this extended version before.
Can anyone help clear up a mystery that I haven’t solved in 30 years – the version of Sound Of The Crowd on the 1988 Greatest Hits (white cover) is different to the version on Dare (off the top of my head I think it has a slightly shorter intro).
Does anyone know what version the Greatest Hits one is? A 7″ or radio mix perhaps?
According to Wikipedia:
Although the song would later appear on the band’s Dare album, a re-recording of the track was included.
The song in its original 7″ mix appears on all The Human League’s “Greatest Hits” compilation albums.
Ah yes, sorry I missed that nugget in your notes too, Paul. 😀 Well that’s that cleared up.
Thanks! these was a awesome synthpop themed week ! i Love synthpop and all these artists and bands !
You’re welcome Jermajesty 🙂
Thanks Paul. I have the 12 mix of this on the remastered Dare/Fascination cd. What I like is the full length Hard Times/Love Acrion mix. Do you have that please?
Can´t listen to that without the George Michael video on my mind 🙂
Yes, I have it, Omar. I thought the remastered CD sounded pretty bad very flat.
Great week! I recently discovered Human League’s ‘I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH’ single version, much more raw / rock-oriented (to me at least). Wish the band would to a large-scale tour.
Take care!
That would be a dream come true 🙂
This one, along with “Love Action” are on my fondest Eighties memories. This mysterious sounding track always made me get stuck listening to it.
Love The Human League.
Thanks, Paul.
You’re welcome Alberto 🙂
I don´t recall ever listening to the long version. Phil Oakey with his unique voice could read the telephone book to me if there was a hypnotic rhythm in the background. Love him. Love The Human League. Talking about his voice – I love the Pet Shop Boys song “This used to be the future” from their 2009 “Yes” album – a duet with Phil. Just fabulous!
He could read the telephone book to me too Song_and_Dance. Love his voice so much. The Human League are perhaps my favorite 80s synth-pop band. Have a great weekend 🙂
The Human League are perhaps my favorite 80s synth-pop band.
Don’t let Duran Duran hear you say that…