Howard Jones “Human’s Lib” 1984. Today, February 23rd, is Howard Jones’ birthday (b. 1955). Human’s Lib is Jones’ debut album and it’s very 80s Brit new wave bleep-bloop synthpop. It entered the UK charts at #1, with four hit singles: “New Song” (#3), “What is Love?”  (#2), “Hide and Seek” (#12) and “Pearl in the Shell” (#7). Only “What is Love?” and “New Song” charted in the US. I recall both videos getting heavy airplay on MTV that year.

“What is Love?” is probably my favorite track (as it was back in ‘84): the synthpop tempered by some really rich textures, harmonies and mid-tempo beats.

Overall, it’s an upbeat album, bouncy and energetic, and although one critic commented at the time of its release that it read like a “revolving self-help manual,” I do occasionally enjoy a sunny, fun record with positive reinforcement. From “New Song” –

I’ve been waiting for so long
To come here now and sing this song
Don’t be fooled by what you see
Don’t be fooled by what you hear

This is a song to all of my friends
They take the challenge to their heart
Challenging preconceived ideas
Saying goodbye to long standing fears

Don’t crack up, bend your brain, see both sides
Throw off your mental chains

Don’t crack up, bend your brain, see both sides
Throw off your mental chains

I don’t wanna be hip and cool
I don’t wanna play by the rules
Not under the thumb of the cynical few
Or laden down by the doom crew