BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1980
“Empire State Human” is a song by the British synthpop group The Human League. The song was written by Philip Oakey, Martyn Ware, and Ian Craig Marsh. It was co-produced by The Human League and Colin Thurston and recorded at Monumental Studios in Sheffield.
The song was the third single to be released by the original line-up of the Human League, and the first and only single from the band’s 1979 debut album Reproduction. Upon its first release in October 1979, the single failed to chart. However, it was re-released in June 1980 and fared slightly better, reaching number 62 in the UK Singles Chart. For the re-release, Virgin Records included a free copy of the single “Only After Dark” with the first 15,000 copies as a sweetener.
Lyrically, “Empire State Human” is a song about becoming powerful using the analogy of size, with Oakey declaring that he wants to be “tall” a total of 60 times in 3 minutes. The uncut magazine drew a comparison with Oakey’s own personal ambition:
“ “I wanna be tall, tall, tall, as big as a wall, wall, wall”. Oakey’s Nietzschian pop fantasy reflected his own burgeoning full-on pop ambitions… ”
The B-side, “Introducing”, is an instrumental produced by The Human League. Oakey sang on the original recording but the vocals were not used on the released version.
The open-shirted man on the cover artwork is band member Ian Craig Marsh’s father.
SIDE A:
Empire State Human 3:11
Producer – Colin Thurston, The Human League
SIDE B:
Introducing 3:14
Producer –The Human League
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – VS 351-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: Jun 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Other [Clothes] – Colley
Written-By – Marsh*, Ware*, Oakey*
NOTES:
Reissue as 12″ with the same tracks as the original 7″ VS 294 (released 12 October 1979)
Find the 12″ at 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: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: 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
Username: btg
Password: burningtheground
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In case you’re wondering why I said thank you again a year later, it’s because for some reason I didn’t keep the B side when I originally downloaded it… don’t know why. So, re-DLing it now!
Thanks for this, DjPaulT!
Your blog is amazing… every time I visit, new treasures. Thank you for this!!
🙂
You’re on a roll, Paul! Keep the excellent records coming! This was always my favorite Human League single. Can’t explain why.
I understand why Todd it’s one of mine too 🙂
Yes yes yes yes YES YES YES YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
🙂
Love, love, love this one. (Frankly, I’d take this over anything on Dare — don’t call the synthpop police on me.)
I love this one too and the first two Human League albums are very ahead of their time 🙂
Hooray!
My favourite band in the whole world (apart from Depeche, Yazoo, JMJ, Kraftwerk, H17 etc).
Their early catalogue is so amazing, both Reproduction and Travelogue never cease to amaze.
Thanks Paul!
You’re welcome 🙂
hi paul,
always glad to see tracks from one of my favorite bands.
the human league were pioneers of the electronic scene,
and going back to the days, when they had members of heaven 17
with them, before splitting up.
empire state human is an important track, in their listing.
so it’s good to see it preserved again here from its vinyl form.
the human league still tour, and even play ‘being boiled’, which
is another one of their great early hits.
thanks again.
later
-1
One of my favorite tracks from The Human League. Thanks for your comment -1 🙂
Thanks Paul. I wish there was a longer version of this. Can you please post Hard Times/Love Action next if possible?
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
Super excited by this song Paul. You have been wonderful for introducing me to so many of the band’s music I have never heard before. Excellent stuff!
Jeff
I hope that you enjoy this early offering from The Human League. 🙂
The Human League Mark 1… Yeah !!!
Thank you Paul 🙂
You’re welcome Jay 🙂
One of my fav THL tracks although i don’t think i discoved it properly until about 2000 at a guess despite owning it on 7 inch for a many a year before this (bought second hand). There again i did own over 5000 7 inch singles. Also one of my favs live i’m always left very disappointed when they drop it. Such a shame it wasn’t extended judging by this (forgive my memory)
Also Paul i’ve been looking for the best way to ask you a question…
You recently posted Culture Club’s ‘The War song’. Coincidendly i noticed on 06 April 2019 on an old hard drive i have Culture Club’s ‘God thank you woman’ in 320 with a track missing and ‘The Medal song’ in 320. These 12s haven’t appeared on the site for many, many a year. Any chance a re-up / your preffered re-rip? Maybe you didn’t know this fact.