Howard Jones – Human’s Lib (Deluxe Remastered & Expanded Edition) (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 02:29:39 minutes | 1,70 GB | Genre: Synth-pop, New Wave
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Cherry Red Records
Cherry Red Records is both delighted and proud to announce the newly remastered and expanded release of Howard Jones’ debut album Human’s Lib.
Released in March 1984, Human’s Lib entered the UK Album Charts at No.1 selling over 100,000 copies in the first week and spending a total of 57 weeks in the chart whilst achieving Double Platinum status with sales in excess of 600,000 copies.
Four songs from this album were released as singles in the UK, all of which reached the Top 20: ‘New Song’ peaked at No.3, ‘What Is Love?’ at No.2, ‘Hide and Seek’ at No.12, and ‘Pearl in the Shell’ at No.7.
As well as achieving great success in the UK (# 1), Human’s Lib and the various singles taken from it also enjoyed tremendous success internationally in such countries as USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and throughout most of Europe.
Human’s Lib is an unintentionally revealing title for Howard Jones’ debut album. What first seems like a play on words reveals itself as something of an empowering manifesto, a shift that mirrors his music. Upon first glance, Human’s Lib appears to be state-of-the-art synth pop circa 1984: a record where every element outside of the human voices appears to be electronic. While that may well be true, Jones isn’t a futurist the way such peers as Depeche Mode or Eurythmics are. At his core, Jones is a reconstituted free spirit, preaching the power of positive thinking and advocating universal love. His dedication to synthesizers does camouflage Jones’ innate hippie, which gives the album an appealing dichotomy: underneath his electronics and stylish haircut, he’s singing about subjects better suited to acoustic guitars and tie-dyed T-shirts. Still, Human’s Lib benefits from Jones’ complete immersion in synths, giving the album a glimmering sheen that remains emblematic of the dawn of MTV. In particular, “New Song” is quintessential post-New Wave synth pop, all percolating blips and analog washes held together by a massive melodic hook. Throughout Human’s Lib, Jones usually relies on texture, a move that makes the album an ingratiating artifact, but there are moments where his songcraft surfaces. Usually those are on singles, such as “Pearl in the Shell,” which flattens a Tamla/Motown beat for the music video era. But it’s the searching “What Is Love?” — the album’s biggest hit everywhere outside of the U.S. — that points the way toward Jones future: it’s a big, soaring ballad that hints at the adult contemporary he’d later embrace. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist:
1-1. Howard Jones – Conditioning (04:34)
1-2. Howard Jones – What Is Love? (2018 Remaster) (06:33)
1-3. Howard Jones – Pearl in the Shell (2018 Remaster) (04:00)
1-4. Howard Jones – Hide and Seek (05:39)
1-5. Howard Jones – Hunt the Self (03:42)
1-6. Howard Jones – New Song (2018 Remaster) (04:15)
1-7. Howard Jones – Don’t Always Look at the Rain (2018 Remaster) (04:12)
1-8. Howard Jones – Equality (04:28)
1-9. Howard Jones – Natural (04:27)
1-10. Howard Jones – Human’s Lib (04:05)
1-11. Howard Jones – China Dance (03:56)
1-12. Howard Jones – New Song (Portuguese 7″ Single Mix) (04:07)
1-13. Howard Jones – What Is Love? (Rough Mix) (03:59)
1-14. Howard Jones – Don’t Put These Curses on Me (Instrumental) (03:22)
1-15. Howard Jones – Human’s Lib (Farmyard Mix) (03:54)
1-16. Howard Jones – Pearl in the Shell (Rough Mix) (04:11)
1-17. Howard Jones – New Song (Mix Take 1) (04:20)
1-18. Howard Jones – New Song (Alternative 12″) (06:31)
1-19. Howard Jones – What Is Love? (Extended Mix) (06:36)
1-20. Howard Jones – Hide and Seek (Extended Mix) (08:34)
1-21. Howard Jones – Pearl in the Shell (US 12″ Mix) (08:59)
1-22. Howard Jones – Conditioning (Original Mix) (04:08)
1-23. Howard Jones – New Song (New Extended Mix) (05:46)
1-24. Howard Jones – Hunt the Self (Live at The Marquee) (05:30)
1-25. Howard Jones – Bounce Right Back (Instrumental) (04:07)
1-26. Howard Jones – Total Conditioning (12″ Version) (08:00)
1-27. Howard Jones – Law Of The Jungle (2018 Remaster) (03:18)
1-28. Howard Jones – Always Asking Questions (Rough Mix) (04:05)
1-29. Howard Jones – Equality (Rough Mix) (04:20)
1-30. Howard Jones – Hide and Seek (Rough Mix) (05:49)
