Howard Jones “Human’s Lib”

sfilzen — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 20:20:53 +0000

Howard Jones “Human’s Lib” released 35 years ago (in the UK) a couple of days ago, on March 5th, 1984 (the US version came out in June of ‘84 and I probably got this copy right around that time). Human’s Lib was Jones’ debut album and it hit #1 on the UK album charts upon its release on the strength of the previously released hit singles from the LP. (It went to #59 on the US charts). Those included “New Song,” “What Is Love?” (I adore those tracks) and “Hide and Seek.” The final single, “Pearl in the Shell,” came out in the spring of ‘84. “New Song” made it to #3 in the UK and #27 in the US. “What Is Love?” did even better, hitting #2 in the UK and #33 in the US in the summer of ‘84 which is about the time I hit peak Howard Jones (and began to dabble with vegetarianism at the age of 13 after reading in a Smash Hits article – likely purchased mainly for Duran Duran photos – that Jones was a vegetarian). The dark and ambient (in comparison to then mostly upbeat boppy synth pop sound on the rest of the album) single “Hide and Seek” went to #12 in the UK, I’m not sure if it was released in the US. “Pearl in the Shell,” which features Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ Davey Payne on saxophone, cracked the top 10 in the UK, going to #7.

We got a chance to see Howard Jones perform a couple of summers ago as part of a retro tour that included Modern English, Paul Young, Men Without Hats and (part of) English Beat. Jones put on an amazing show, for the few songs he was up there, rocking his key-tar and working the crowd masterfully.

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Howard Jones “Human’s Lib”

sfilzen — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:39:44 +0000

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

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Howard Jones “Human’s Lib”

Howard Jones “Human’s Lib”